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A little while a go I said I was gonna make a blog series reviewing albums and hopefully gathering some sort of interest, as I am a very musically orientated person and I feel like PC blogs lack a blog as such. I never really go the chance to do so, and I started to become busier with my personal life, so I just left the idea.
Now I feel, with 2014 drawing to a close, with only a handful of major releases left (none of which would pique my interest anyways, except Minaj), there is a perfect opportunity for me to showcase my favourite albums of this year and albums I'm most looking forward to in 2015.
I feel like 2014 was a pretty good year for music, so here are my top ten albums.
10.
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[/css-div]Ariana Grande My Everything
Released August 22nd
Genre: Pop, R&B, Dance-Pop
Must Listens: One Last Time, Be My Baby, Love Me Harder
When she first brought out 'The Way' with Mac Miller, I would've never been able to say I genuinely love her music. So after Yours Truly & My Everything, I can honestly say I DO love her music, I LOVE her as a person and I think she has an INCREDIBLE voice for her age. Of course, I do get a little disappointed over the fact every song on the album was wrote for her. But then I remembered I'm not a total snob and got on with it.
In my humble opinion, the first two singles, Problem and Break Free don't do this record justice. I personally rejoiced when Love Me Harder was annouced as a single, as it was my ultimate favourite from the day the album was brought out. Don't get me wrong though, both those songs are amazing. The whole album is rippled with R&B, and I can definitely feel a lot of Mariah Carey vibes (which isn't a bad thing) in this album. 'One Last Time' has some lovely production and vocals, I just wish the drums were that little but more epic, however it is still definitely one of my favourites. 'Be My Baby' is a smooth R&B track, where her vocals are showcased perfectly, which a soaring chorus to boot. 'Love Me Harder' is just perfect in every meaning of the word. Ariana's voice fuses with The Weeknd's voice exceedingly well, and really does show of her vocal talent yet again, over a pulsing beat.
Ariana Grande definitely topped her debut with this one, and while she has a lot of nasty rumours and accusations flying over her head, I feel like she is a genuinely sweet girl and does deserve her place in the industry. Just... Please, less of the features. There's a reason this album was nicknamed My Featuring
Now I feel, with 2014 drawing to a close, with only a handful of major releases left (none of which would pique my interest anyways, except Minaj), there is a perfect opportunity for me to showcase my favourite albums of this year and albums I'm most looking forward to in 2015.
I feel like 2014 was a pretty good year for music, so here are my top ten albums.
10.
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Released August 22nd
Genre: Pop, R&B, Dance-Pop
Must Listens: One Last Time, Be My Baby, Love Me Harder
When she first brought out 'The Way' with Mac Miller, I would've never been able to say I genuinely love her music. So after Yours Truly & My Everything, I can honestly say I DO love her music, I LOVE her as a person and I think she has an INCREDIBLE voice for her age. Of course, I do get a little disappointed over the fact every song on the album was wrote for her. But then I remembered I'm not a total snob and got on with it.
In my humble opinion, the first two singles, Problem and Break Free don't do this record justice. I personally rejoiced when Love Me Harder was annouced as a single, as it was my ultimate favourite from the day the album was brought out. Don't get me wrong though, both those songs are amazing. The whole album is rippled with R&B, and I can definitely feel a lot of Mariah Carey vibes (which isn't a bad thing) in this album. 'One Last Time' has some lovely production and vocals, I just wish the drums were that little but more epic, however it is still definitely one of my favourites. 'Be My Baby' is a smooth R&B track, where her vocals are showcased perfectly, which a soaring chorus to boot. 'Love Me Harder' is just perfect in every meaning of the word. Ariana's voice fuses with The Weeknd's voice exceedingly well, and really does show of her vocal talent yet again, over a pulsing beat.
Ariana Grande definitely topped her debut with this one, and while she has a lot of nasty rumours and accusations flying over her head, I feel like she is a genuinely sweet girl and does deserve her place in the industry. Just... Please, less of the features. There's a reason this album was nicknamed My Featuring
9.
Genre: Indie Pop, Synthpop, Experimental
Must Listens: 90s Music, Miracle, Madhouse
Most of you probably know her name already. 2011's 'Somebody That I Used To Know' was a massive hit, but didn't really help her album at the time, Vows, set off. Her second offering, The Golden Echo, is absolutely deserving of more success than it had. Her voice works perfectly with every song on this album, and the production is immaculate for the most part.
The album open's with the simmering 'Teen Heat', which features production by Rich Costey - as does most of the album - who has produced for the likes of Foster the People, Muse, Santigold & MCR to name but a few. '90s Music', the album's lead single, we weaves in and out of a bopping instrumental effortlessly, perhaps offering one of the most experimental songs on the album and also one of it's highlights. 'Miracle' offers a disco tinged sound, which works perfectly with the lyrics, structure and of course, Kimbra's voice, all of which combine to give another highlight, which was accompanied by a quirky video. 'Madhouse' synths and bass guitars galore, while 'Waltz Me to the Grave' gives a smouldering down tempo vibe, and gives slight throwbacks to her 2011 album Vows.
Whilst I listen to The Golden Echo I can't help but think about how robbed it was of success. It has so many highlights, it's production is perfect and possibly has one of my favourite songs of 2014 on it, 'Miracle'.
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[/css-div]Kimbra The Golden Echo
Released 15th August
Genre: Indie Pop, Synthpop, Experimental
Must Listens: 90s Music, Miracle, Madhouse
Most of you probably know her name already. 2011's 'Somebody That I Used To Know' was a massive hit, but didn't really help her album at the time, Vows, set off. Her second offering, The Golden Echo, is absolutely deserving of more success than it had. Her voice works perfectly with every song on this album, and the production is immaculate for the most part.
The album open's with the simmering 'Teen Heat', which features production by Rich Costey - as does most of the album - who has produced for the likes of Foster the People, Muse, Santigold & MCR to name but a few. '90s Music', the album's lead single, we weaves in and out of a bopping instrumental effortlessly, perhaps offering one of the most experimental songs on the album and also one of it's highlights. 'Miracle' offers a disco tinged sound, which works perfectly with the lyrics, structure and of course, Kimbra's voice, all of which combine to give another highlight, which was accompanied by a quirky video. 'Madhouse' synths and bass guitars galore, while 'Waltz Me to the Grave' gives a smouldering down tempo vibe, and gives slight throwbacks to her 2011 album Vows.
Whilst I listen to The Golden Echo I can't help but think about how robbed it was of success. It has so many highlights, it's production is perfect and possibly has one of my favourite songs of 2014 on it, 'Miracle'.
8.
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[/css-div]La Roux Trouble In Paradise
Released 18th July
Genre: Synthpop, New Wave, Disco
Must Listens: Uptight Downtown, Sexotheque, Tropical Chancer
Trouble In Paradise, La Roux's first offering since her debut album (as a duo, by the way), La Roux in 2009. The departure of the other half of the duo, Ben Langmaid, was probably a blessing in disguise for Elly Jackson, who fronts La Roux. There has been a tremendous burst in quality between the two albums, particularly on the production front. Something about this album feels more whole than the previous.
First track and single of the album, 'Uptight Downtown', serves up some seriously catchy guitar/synth riffs, and a catchy chorus to boot. 'Sexotheque' sees Elly chime in and out of synths that would be perfect to chill out on a hot summer's day to. 'Tropical Chancer', as it's name would suggest, sounds very tropical. A pulsating bassline only makes this song that little bit better, however, it is an insanely good song nevertheless.
All in all, this song, although only 9 tracks long, offers some seriously good summer listening, catchy hooks and amazing production, all of which Elly had a part in. It is definitely leaps and bounds ahead of 2009's La Roux.
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Released 18th July
Genre: Synthpop, New Wave, Disco
Must Listens: Uptight Downtown, Sexotheque, Tropical Chancer
Trouble In Paradise, La Roux's first offering since her debut album (as a duo, by the way), La Roux in 2009. The departure of the other half of the duo, Ben Langmaid, was probably a blessing in disguise for Elly Jackson, who fronts La Roux. There has been a tremendous burst in quality between the two albums, particularly on the production front. Something about this album feels more whole than the previous.
First track and single of the album, 'Uptight Downtown', serves up some seriously catchy guitar/synth riffs, and a catchy chorus to boot. 'Sexotheque' sees Elly chime in and out of synths that would be perfect to chill out on a hot summer's day to. 'Tropical Chancer', as it's name would suggest, sounds very tropical. A pulsating bassline only makes this song that little bit better, however, it is an insanely good song nevertheless.
All in all, this song, although only 9 tracks long, offers some seriously good summer listening, catchy hooks and amazing production, all of which Elly had a part in. It is definitely leaps and bounds ahead of 2009's La Roux.
7.
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[/css-div]Lily Allen Sheezus
Released 2nd May
Genre: Pop
Must Listens: L8 CMMR, URL Badman, Hard Out Here
Lily Allen really is the definition of a 'marmite' artist. You either love her or you don't. I'm obviously the latter. So in the late months of 2013 when she released her single 'Hard Out Here' and announced her album for 2014, I was totally ecstatic. Sheezus is her first major album release since 2009's It's Not Me, It's You, and it definitely didn't disappoint.
Sheezus covers a variety of topics, from her husband being able to last a long time in bed (yes seriously) in 'L8 CMMR', her struggle to overcome her two miscarriages in 'Take My Place' and a feminist anthem in the form of 'Hard Out Here' where she intelligently and satirically takes down the WHOA LOOK AT ME AND MY *****ES ****ING ALL THE TIME WITH MY CARS AND MONEY songs we've heard a lot of in the past few years. She's even cited Miley Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop' one of the reasons for writing one of her songs, 'Our Time', which is a rather good little song that is highly danceable. 'URL Badman' is rumoured to have stemmed from her feud with Azealia Banks - and multiple trolls and downright ignorant idiots there are on the web, singing the chorus over a trippy dubstep-lite instrumental that features sheep baaing, referring to the sheep mentality some people have.
Lily Allen is a consistently smart artist in my opinion - even the cover is smart, containing the words 'divide et impera. Quidquid latine digtum altum videtur', which means 'Divide and Rule. That which is said in Latin sounds profound'. She can offer up albums packed with meaning and danceable tracks, and even throw in a few with a silly meaning and still be able to pass it off as something good.
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Released 2nd May
Genre: Pop
Must Listens: L8 CMMR, URL Badman, Hard Out Here
Lily Allen really is the definition of a 'marmite' artist. You either love her or you don't. I'm obviously the latter. So in the late months of 2013 when she released her single 'Hard Out Here' and announced her album for 2014, I was totally ecstatic. Sheezus is her first major album release since 2009's It's Not Me, It's You, and it definitely didn't disappoint.
Sheezus covers a variety of topics, from her husband being able to last a long time in bed (yes seriously) in 'L8 CMMR', her struggle to overcome her two miscarriages in 'Take My Place' and a feminist anthem in the form of 'Hard Out Here' where she intelligently and satirically takes down the WHOA LOOK AT ME AND MY *****ES ****ING ALL THE TIME WITH MY CARS AND MONEY songs we've heard a lot of in the past few years. She's even cited Miley Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop' one of the reasons for writing one of her songs, 'Our Time', which is a rather good little song that is highly danceable. 'URL Badman' is rumoured to have stemmed from her feud with Azealia Banks - and multiple trolls and downright ignorant idiots there are on the web, singing the chorus over a trippy dubstep-lite instrumental that features sheep baaing, referring to the sheep mentality some people have.
Lily Allen is a consistently smart artist in my opinion - even the cover is smart, containing the words 'divide et impera. Quidquid latine digtum altum videtur', which means 'Divide and Rule. That which is said in Latin sounds profound'. She can offer up albums packed with meaning and danceable tracks, and even throw in a few with a silly meaning and still be able to pass it off as something good.
6.
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[/css-div]Gerard Way Hesitant Alien
Released September 22nd
Genre: Alternative Rock
Must Listens: Action Cat, No Shows, Zero Zero
I must admit, I was a little skeptical when Gerard Way announced plans for a solo album after the split of My Chemical Romance. However, I can happily say that it is a pretty amazing record. I feel like it makes My Chemical Romance's sound from their last album far more accessible than it was already made, but in a very good way. It still sounds different to their career too.
The album is packed with attitude and snappy lyrics you'd expect from him, and the instrumentals are always perfection. 'Action Cat', 'No Shows' and 'Zero Zero' and all the epitome of catchy, I caught myself bopping my head to each and everyone of the songs on this album on multiple occasions.
While many still have a bitter taste in their mouth after the split of the band, I do hope they listen to this album and like it. It's well made and well written, and I feel like it should help Gerard broaden his horizons as a solo artist.
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Released September 22nd
Genre: Alternative Rock
Must Listens: Action Cat, No Shows, Zero Zero
I must admit, I was a little skeptical when Gerard Way announced plans for a solo album after the split of My Chemical Romance. However, I can happily say that it is a pretty amazing record. I feel like it makes My Chemical Romance's sound from their last album far more accessible than it was already made, but in a very good way. It still sounds different to their career too.
The album is packed with attitude and snappy lyrics you'd expect from him, and the instrumentals are always perfection. 'Action Cat', 'No Shows' and 'Zero Zero' and all the epitome of catchy, I caught myself bopping my head to each and everyone of the songs on this album on multiple occasions.
While many still have a bitter taste in their mouth after the split of the band, I do hope they listen to this album and like it. It's well made and well written, and I feel like it should help Gerard broaden his horizons as a solo artist.
5.