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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 20:42:33 GMT 1
ALBUMS
10 Goldfrapp - Silver Eye SPOTIFY
HITS
10 Nine Inch Nails - Less Than
(language)
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 20:52:31 GMT 1
ALBUMS
9 Jessie Ware - Glasshouse SPOTIFY
Tracks 2, 7 and 10 should be singles - all examples of her lush sound of yore.
HITS
9 Marnie - Lost Maps
Inspired by refugee crisis - see also Anneli Drecker at 40.
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 21:03:15 GMT 1
ALBUMS
8 Susanne Sundfor - Music For People In Trouble SPOTIFY
OK there's no synthpop but her voice is given free reign in the open spaces of this alt-folk gem.
HITS
8 Post Precious - Timebomb
(language)
Alex Winston and MS MR's Max Hershenow. MS MR have never made my YE but both halves do this year!
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 21:15:29 GMT 1
ALBUMS
7 Bjork - Utopia SPOTIFY
A step down from the glorious comeback Vulnicura but still great. Tracks 1, 5, 8 and 13 stand out.
HITS
7 The Birthday Massacre - Under Your Spell
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 21:32:25 GMT 1
ALBUMS
6 Pixx - The Age Of Anxiety SPOTIFY
Hannah Rodgers has done well to get so high without any singles making the Hits YE (Waterslides missed the 50 by about 15 spots). But this pop act on 4AD (better than Future Islands) has made a more satisfying album than many below her. She resembles Lily Allen and may as well be her replacement.
HITS
6 Selena Gomez - Only You
13 Reasons Why was my cultural moment of the year. Not perfect but i was astounded by elements in it, including exec. producer Gomez's cover of the Yazoo classic. Bafflingly not pushed as a full-on single. Production by Eskmo - see #25 Albums. The "lyric video" features clips from the show and is more affecting than the basic credit suggests.
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 21:52:35 GMT 1
ALBUMS
5 Blondie - Pollinator SPOTIFY
Their biggest UK album for 18 years, partly due to outsourcing songs from younger artists and writers. Shame one of the Charli XCX songs had terrible distortion on the vocals. The first five tracks and tracks 10 and secret track 12 are fantastic, including the Katz-Bohens' two gorgeous standouts Already Naked and Too Much. Both those songs and the other Harry/Stein originals are evidence that they should have outsourced less and trusted their own writing more.
HITS
5 Stevie Parker - Without You
Already mentioned Ellie G and London G. This only got playlisted by Radio X yet is a song crying out for general radio. The video is quite brave, too (she does not budge an inch!)!
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 22:08:58 GMT 1
ALBUMS
4 Tangerine Dream - Quantum Gate SPOTIFY
Carrying on Edgar Froese's legacy just fine.
HITS
4 Rae Morris - Reborn
This was her song of the year, not Do It. Radio ignored it - CANNOT fathom it. Is it too Bjork-y for Radio 2 and not Bjork-y enough for 6 Music (both stations i expected to back it)? This completely changed my opinion of her. No longer the Skins soundtracker with potential, truly reborn.
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 22:29:38 GMT 1
ALBUMS
3 Sleaford Mods - English Tapas SPOTIFY
I really shouldn't have to explain this at all, there are people on these forums (UKMix, Haven) that should be into them but aren't. Go back to your 90's indie / rap / dance crossover head and remember what life was like before you left the scene behind for Radio 1 mind-numbingness. That guest spot on The Prodigy album doesn't seem to have convinced the masses outside of 6 Music to listen (even though the swear count has dropped). Election wildcard Lord Buckethead introducing them at Glastonbury was one of the moments of the year.
Key Markets is a better album, though - #6 in 2015. Only 4 genuinely classic albums this year.
HITS
3 Blondie with Laurie Anderson - Tonight
A stunning hypnotic track co-written by Charli XCX with Laurie sharing vocals on the chorus. This was a limited edition vinyl at a one-stop shop and is a hidden track on the CD edition of the album. Cousin of Fade Away and Radiate.
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 22:48:52 GMT 1
ALBUMS
2 Charli XCX - Number 1 Angel (mixtape) SPOTIFY
Astonishing that this is not an official album and will never get a CD release. The label forced her to charge a price for it! Really gets into stride from track 5 and is just brilliant pop. Her other mixtape Pop 2 misses the top 30 YE as it's not in the same league.
HITS
2 The Birthday Massacre - One
I love em, i don't expect anyone else to....
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Post by blondini on Dec 31, 2017 23:08:28 GMT 1
ALBUMS
1 The Birthday Massacre - Under Your Spell SPOTIFY
Their seventh studio album and ten years since i first got into them. Synth dominating mostly these days as they seem to have less interest in the metal touches. It's not an album to win people over, i'd go for one of the earlier ones. But it satisfies me completely.
HITS
1 Blanche - City Lights
I'm sure a lot of you worked this out. :wink: An incredible moody synth pop track that did great at Eurovision and topped my chart for a month long before the contest. I think she did OK live but the record itself is a masterpiece. Produced by Tim Bran (Dreadzone member, known for London Grammar).
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