It's kind of sad that I'm old enough that major popstars are younger than me. It does however make me happy that maturity and wisdom at a young age can actually be appreciated by the public. So Lorde has given us hope for the future and "Team" is the best example of that.
44. "Flatline" by Mutya Keisha Siobhan
Much like how 2012 brought us the brief return of Girls Aloud, 2013 saw the rise and fall of the Sugababes. By that I mean, the current lineup of the Sugababes finally called it quits and the Origibabes returned to us as Mutya Keisha Siobhan. Not only that, they brought us this breezy summer single that makes me very excited for their upcoming album, if only they would BLOODY RELEASE IT!
43. "White Noise" by Disclosure feat. Alunageorge
Disclosure broke through America this year with some help from Sam Smith but "White Noise" was their biggest hit in the UK and is leagues above that Latch song. This may be due to Alunageorge being consistently amazing but considering the rest of Disclosure's album is good too, this just seems like a win all around.
42. "Bipp" by SOPHIE
No, you're computer is not having a malfunction. Those sounds would be "Bipp" by the mysterious producer SOPHIE (apparently it's a man). When a song has you questioning your sanity as you're listening to it, there is probably something really special there so congrats on taking #42 Mr. Ms. SOPHIE.
41. "I Was There (Where Were You?)" by Le Grind
There is no way in hell that this flamboyant, disco-inflected tune would not end up in the Top 50 of 2013. "I Was There" is one of the best debut singles I've heard in the past decade and Le Grind should be up to big things. Imagine if RuPaul used this during a lip synch for your life?!?! As long as the new stuff is just as gay as this song, I think us homosexuals are in good hands in terms of music. #SLAY #WORK #QUEEN
The first in my series of Track by Track Flashbacks is Disclosure's debut album Settle. A collection of schizophrenic dance hits that helped bring about the 90's house revival of 2014, Disclosure broke out as the premiere electronic producers of 2013. Now working with the likes of Madonna and getting a sleeper US hit with Latch, it looks like Disclosure are on a nonstop takeover of the world. So let's look at each track on the album to see why they have been so successful.
As most good albums have displayed, an intro that leads into the first real song can be a useful tool to display what to expect on the album. With this in mind, Disclosure somehow encapsulated their signature sound in "When A Fire Starts To Burn" while also sampling a motivational speech. It's that kind of forward thinking that makes the Lawrence brothers pioneers. Though a little repetitive, they clearly get their message across and the entire time I keep thinking how this would have been a great song for Azealia Banks to rap over (lost opportunity for Azealia).
2. Latch (feat. Sam Smith)
This is Disclosure and Sam Smith's first breakout hit in every country, really. It came out last year and somehow has just recently cracked the Billboard Top Ten. In all honestly, I don't get how. Sure, it's something different from everything else on the radio, but it's not really catchy, it's not really danceable, and it's not really pop. However, it clearly resonates with the crowd and Sam Smith does have the pipes to back it up.
3. F for You
These boys sing too! This is the first track that shows just how multi-talented Disclosure can be and was also a highlight during their concerts. It's super catchy, has weird dream-like breakdowns, and that bass is the coolest thing you heard in 2013. And if that's not enough, Mary J. Blige has come into the picture and adequately heightened the diva factor.
4. White Noise (feat. AlunaGeorge)
Now here is where things got good. I wasn't particularly impressed with Latch, which made second single White Noise take me by surprise big time. First off, that electronic melody that reincarnates throughout the song is supremely hummable and it's amazing the ways the brothers shapeshift the sound to match the different parts of the song. But really, AlunaGeorge shines with her angelic vocals that find a nice home on electronic songs like this. Hopefully, this song follows its UK success and brings Disclosure they're second hit in the US because it really is amazing.
5. Defeated No More (feat. Ed Macfarlane)
This is a real testament to Disclosure's chameleon-like production. While distinctly a Disclosure song, this chilled-out hypnotizing song wouldn't have sounded out of place on Friendly Fires last album, which Ed Macfarlane is the lead singer of. That's probably why Madonna wants to work with them so bad.
6. Stimulation
Unfortunately, the fun starts to get a little bit annoying at this point. Like some of their other solo work, "Stimulation" just goes on and on repeating the same riff over and over. It's interesting for about a minute and a half but really, five and a half minutes? It's too much, sorry.
7. Voices (feat. Sasha Keable)
Disclosure took it upon themselves to introduce many new talents to the music scene, and Sasha Keable was one of them. A great dance song with a great vocal can never go wrong, and really set up Keable for future success. Back to bangers, this was the last single to be released from the album and is probably the most accessible. Furthermore, it shows just how remixable their tracks are, as thisLe Youth remix can easily tell you.
Suffering from the same repetition as "Stimulation", these two tracks are just dance filler. At least "Second Chance" is short and "Grab Her!" managed to get nominated for a VMA.
10. You & Me (feat. Eliza Doolittle)
Somehow, Disclosure made a song featuring one of the worst pop singers in England amazing. Eliza Doolittle should really thank the Lawrences for introducing her to dance music. Paraphrasing a review I read somewhere, the song is extremely scattered but the chaos is so organized and interesting. With Eliza giving us a surprising heartfelt vocal (that bridge of "Can you stache my heart, somewhere in the dark, keep it safe" was a real moment of 2013), this should be a new direction for her and dubstep producer Flume keeps the it going with this insane remix for all you strobers. (Side Note: You & Me is probably my favorite song off the album.)
11. January (feat. Jamie Woon)
The indieness of this song is ridiculously high, but I suppose that's a good thing. Singer-songwriter Jamie Woon brings some edge to "Janurary" and, although a little forgettable, the track continues the flow that Settle should be known for.
12. Confess To Me (feat. Jessie Ware)
This was definitely the most anticipated collab on the album and the fan favorite amongst the Disclofans. Jessie Ware is a singer-songwriter extraordinaire whose own start was helped by this Disclosure remix of her fantastic single "Running." Based on how insanely good that was, I expected a lot from "Confess To Me" and while it does display Miss Ware's heavenly voice, that chorus really kills the song for me. Jessie's voice really should not have been messed with, but all in the name of artistry I suppose.
13. Help Me Lose My Mind (feat. London Grammar)
The only ballad on the album also happens to be ridiculously good. A big hypnotic song, Help Me Lose My Mind is a rare song that proves that ballads from Disclosure are just as good as bangers. It also brought art rock group London Grammar to the forefront, with lead singer Hannah Reid haunting vocal sealing the deal on this song as well as the album.
Settle was a great album from an extremely talented duo of producers. The best thing about the album is that Disclosure's sound was something we never expected, but we realized we needed. They managed to straddle the line of mainstream, indie, and EDM with expert finesse and never strained from their unique sound, despite its repetition at times. Overall, good job Lawrences for creating the best dance album of 2013.
2013 was a great year for music, with a lot of old pop divas coming for their thrones and newish artists finally get their first LP out in the open. We saw Miley's Wrecking Ball and Britney Jean's Work Bitch slaying the charts but both those albums failed to really amount to anything (my opinion alone, don't kill me). So now I've compiled the best albums of 2013 in order of amazingness, and keep following the blog for Track by Track Throwbacks where I go deep into each track with my thoughts!
18. Summer Camp by Summer Camp
Just by their name, you can tell that Summer Camp have your vacation in my mind with their fun and effervescent brand of pop. So roll down your windows and play this album as you're driving along the coast and think about a fun 60's summer adventure.
17. Night Time, My Time by Sky Ferreira
It's takenSky Ferreira a long time to get it together but she finally released her debut album in 2013. Dropping her bubbly electropop persona for a scuzzy pop-rock alternative, the album suprisingly doesn't run dry on pop hooks despite the Kurt Cobain-esque styling. Good job Sky!
16. Woman by Rhye
Rhye came on the scene in 2012 with the excellent "The Fall" and their new album lives up to all the hype. A collection of blissed out cuts that wrap around you like a cashmere sweater made of clouds.
15. Beyonce by Beyonce
Katy Perry's gold truck has nothing on Queen Beyonce's surprise release of last year. While we were all freaking out and trying to comprehend how this was even possible, the music was also pretty good! So all I have left to say is, Bow Down Bitches.
14. Settle by Disclosure
With the 90's house revival in full swing, we can thank Disclosure for getting our inner 90's kid out with their debut album. Though a little repetitive at points, this record sounds scattered and chaotic, in the best way possible.
13. Body Music by Alunageorge
Electro R&B is the new genre we never knew we needed. Thanks to Alunageorge and their first album we can now jam to sum of the weirdest and funkiest music of the 2010's.
12. Trouble by Natalia Kills
Everything about Natalia Kills' return to music was amazing. After ditching the goth Lady Gaga persona, Natalia finally releases music that sounds inexplicably like her: powerful, witty, and epic.
11. The Bones Of What You Believe by CHVRCHES
The year's smartest electropop comes from the Glasgow formed CHVRCHES. An exciting and captivating adventure from beginning to end, this is a strong debut on what is sure to be a long and successful career for the band.
10. Days Are Gone by Haim
The BBC Sound of 2013 winners deliver an excellent record that blends the California rock scene with the best of 80's pop. The Haim sisters are the coolest band in whatever country you're in and would make Fleetwood Mac proud.
9. This Is... Icona Pop by Icona Pop
The baddest bitches of Sweden Icona Pop broke the soundwaves of America in 2013 and their first album stateside is a nonstop stream of shouty bangers. Though the Swedish release has a lot more substance to it, any album with "I Love It" deserves to be in the top 10.
8. The Beat Becomes A Sound by Late Night Alumni
This Kaskade side project returns to the chilled out breezy trance music that made their second album so spectacular. Late Night Alumni's mix of acoustic guitars and dance beats was ahead of its time and the angelic vocal is a great bonus.
7. Skyer by Postiljonen
The most majestic music this year comes from Sweden (obviously) as Postiljonen warms you up with lush production and beautiful electronica. The M83-esque release innocently calls for your attention and is worth every moment of listening.
6. Samson & Delilah by V V Brown
Grace Jones has got some competition as V V Brown reincarnates herself as a dark princess of edgy pop-noir. Making the biggest 180 of 2013, V V manages to pull of one of the year's most avant-garde and exciting releases in recent memory.
5. ARTPOP by Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga may be flailing around a bit with this whole ARTPOP schtick but the album really is pretty great. A typical Lady Gaga album, you've got everything from pop to EDM to hip/hop to Middle Eastern trance music. You can always count on Mother Monster to deliver some of the weirdest and often times brilliant songs in music today.
4. Music To Make Boys Cry by Diana Vickers
The X Factor alumni's sophomore album is a work of art. Thanks to some help from master songwriter Miranda Cooper, Diana Vickers has never sounded so comfortable with each song reflecting the bubbly personality and wide-eyed romanticism that made us fall in love with Vickers to start with.
3. Nocturnes by Little Boots
With a promise to create the music she had always wanted to make, electropop mistress Little Boots returned to us with Nocturnes, a collection of moody night time electronica. The most cohesive album on the list, Boots doesn't mess around with getting us to cry on the dancefloor and many vogue houses would play this record nonstop.
2. Heartthrob by Tegan & Sara
Who knew that these Canadian twins had it in them to create one of the best pop albums of the decade? Certainly not me. One of the first releases of 2013, Tegan & Sara made sure that their debut into electropop would leave a mark and luckily, they achieved that with spectacular results.
1. True Romance by Charli XCX
It's hard to believe that Charli XCX's first album was released over a year ago and she is still releasing new music. After teasing the public with the occasional amazing single and brilliant mixtape, Charli's lovestruck (or love struck down) album is a magical testament to Charli's skill as a songwriter and there is not a single dud track amongst all the dark pop odes to romance.
There you go, the best albums from last year. Overall, I think music was the real winner. Let me know if I missed out on anything and stay tuned for further reviews of each amazing album!
