Queen Avril Lavigne returned last year with this sick song about young revelry and bad decisions. And in all honesty, we needed a song like this. The summer after high school graduation made me realize just how short youth lasts and Avril was there to show that you could be 40 and still be young at heart.
39. "Closer" by Tegan & Sara
Tegan & Sara surprisingly left their indie roots behind to create of the best pop albums of 2013 with Heartthrob. The first single "Closer" was a sugary synth-filled hit about crushing on someone hard (Been there, done that) that managed to set the tone for the twins' new sound and also got a lot of airplay as well. A classic 2013 success story.
38. "Love Song" by Vanessa Paradis
French actress Vanessa Paradis may have been famous for her movie roles and past relationship with Johnny Depp, but she is also a rather good musician. Though most of her output is classical French love songs, strings and guitars and that crap, the first single from her last album "Love Song" was a funky, electro single that gently announced Vanessa as a force to be reckoned with. Congrats on taking the best French single of the year Ms. Paradis.
37. "The Mother We Share" by CHVRCHES
This shimmery echo-filled single caught my attention and got me really excited about Glaswegian band CHVRCHES. And thankfully, all their output has been consistently pristine, smart, and exciting as "The Mother We Share."
36. "You're Not The One" by Sky Ferreira
Sky Ferreira's comeback single was everything she wanted it to be, a scuzzy pop-rock kiss-off. Though not my cup of tea to begin with, eventually "You're Not The One" worked its way into my Heavy Metal Heart (REFERENCE!) So in the end, everyone was happy!
It's time to talk about Sky Ferreira's debut album. This has been a long time coming, considering Ferreira has been around since 2010 and promised us an album at the beginning of 2011. However, Night Time, My Time is definitely not the album we would have heard from Sky back then. Throwing away her glittery pop persona, Sky Ferreira has decided to go for the scuzzy Kurt Cobain-esque pop-rock that I guess she really wanted to make. DON'T BE SCARED! She actually pulls it off quite well and although she has made some questionable decisions(from the NSFW cover art to her disappointing drug arrest), these tracks really show what Sky wanted us to hear since the beginning.
1. Boys
The first song misleads you into thinking Sky decided to go back to her electropop roots before that grungy guitar kicks in. From then on, it's a pretty good head banger. Even though lead producers Ariel Rechtshaid and Justin Raisen (who also produced Charli XCX's debut album and worked with Queen Kylie Minogue) have been known for crystalline electropop, they channel Sky's new persona in a great new direction. It's still nice to hear Ferreira not going too Shirley Manson on us with a dreamy chorus, that sets the tone for this album to be a classic for angsty teenagers and romantics all the same with lines like "I knew it was you all along."
2. Ain't Your Right
Someone call Avril Lavigne, cos there's a new emo, eyeliner slaying popstress on the scene. This really would have been a great Avril song though. The propulsive beat with the choppy guitars keeps the new grungy Ferreira from straying too far from the pop stratosphere. She also makes anger sound so sweet with passive aggressive lines like "We'll see about that, won't we?" Maybe that's a call to all you haters out there.
3. 24 Hours
And with just one alarm clock sound, we get back the good old Sky Ferreira that gave us bright pop gems like "Sex Rules" and "99 Tears". 24 Hours was the first promo single for the album and is probably the best example of Sky's desire to mix the 90's rock scene with the synth-heavy pop music of today. And her vocals have never sounded as great as her howling the "24 HOOOURS" in the post-chorus. It's almost sad this came out in 2013 because I guarantee it would have been a number one hit back in the 90's and appeared on many a movie soundtrack.
4. Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)
This one leans a little too much on the angry rock side that could lead to you ripping your ears off. But when Sky goes into the second chorus, she gives us the best earworm on the entire album. It's also interesting to see Sky become introspective considering all the shit she has been through. I guess the pop producers really shut her down and all that anger about her ideas ignored were put in this song. It's okay Sky, your fans will always hope you're okay.
5. I Blame Myself
Sky Ferreira can really choose these singles. Second single "I Blame Myself" is amazing in that every incarnation of Sky throughout the years would have been able to confidently carry this song and kept it amazing. Once again, Sky's personal storytelling also keeps you locked in, and the multitude of pop hooks don't hurt either. As a side note, Sky received a lot of backlash for apparently being racist and using only black dancers in her video (which is amazing). Basically, her accusers are idiots and Sky is not racist as these dancers had the best talent to appear in the video. #TeamSkyForever
6. Omanko
All right, here's what I was afraid of. Sky gets a little too deep into her own head, which comes out on songs like "Omanko", which has something to do with Japanese porn. It's just not a great song. It's just noisy drums with a noisy filtered guitar and a weird horn that comes halfway through the song while Sky sings about a Japanese Christmas. Trust me, it's not as amazing as it sounds.
7. You're Not The One
This was the first taste of Sky's new album when it came out as a single in September and it really threw me for a loop. It was a huge departure from her old sound, but it was still pretty amazing. Then the video came out, and I decided that I was sufficiently hooked. It was the first real single that made an impact for Sky without sounding like she was trying too hard. And that guitar riff was the best use of guitar in 2013. Period.
8. Heavy Metal Heart
"Heavy Metal Heart" suffers a little bit from being a little too drenched in production and sounding like noise on noise but Sky's voice brings it back. Honestly, the only thing I can say is that it would have been a great Sleigh Bells song and proves Sky's ability as a songwriter should not be underestimated.
9. Kristine
Another expression of artistry or whatever, "Kristine" provides a strange break in the album from the streak of harder hitting songs. A sufficient breather track, it displays an endearing part of Sky's weirder songwriter as she raps about a millionaire chick atop alien-like beeps and laser sounds that keep you hooked because of how bizarre it is.
10. I Will
The title track to what would have been the album's third title, "I Will" sees Sky taking on a straightforward indie-rock song a la The Yeah Yeahs. Much darker than most of the other songs on the album, her promise to "teach you a lesson" will haunt you're nightmares for a while, in a not too scary way. Overall, a nice song though.
11. Love In Stereo
"Love In Stereo" really does not belong on this record, but I'm glad she left it on. It totally breaks from this gritty rock pop persona she has spent the entire album creating. In some ways, this could have been a great Robyn song, and no higher praise can be given, especially considering that we are talking about Sky Ferreira. The sweetest I have ever heard Ferreira, the sugary synths and new wave guitar hopefully indicates that Sky still has some love for the electropop that made us fall in love with her in the first place.
12. Night Time, My Time
And just like that, Sky Ferreira does a complete 180 and goes from the best song on the album to the worst song. The title track and album closer is a weird, dark synth odyssey whose lyrics are its only redeeming factor. Sky's reverbed voice tries to distract us from the unmelodic production as much as it can but unfortunately, this is probably Sky's worst song ever. I guess she must have thought so too as she made a video to try to get us interested. It's sad because without this song, Night Time, My Time would have probably been in the top 10 albums of the year.
It's hard to think of a singer who has had a rougher time getting a start on their career than Sky Ferreira, but it happened for a reason I suppose, as her trials and tribulations helped Sky find a signature sound and inspiration for some of the highlights on the album. And it's not to say that the album was too weird to be enjoyed, it managed to get into the Billboard Top Ten albums when it came out. It's just I still prefer the pop ingenue that brought us hits like "One" and "99 Tears" to this new electro-grunge rocker. Still, this is a great album and I hope Sky is happy to finally have her true personality shine through after all the trouble she went to give us music.
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!
Miss Claire Boucher, aka the Canadian indie pop enigma Grimes, is really feeling herself. And she has every right to honestly. With a career of underground hits that send the blogosphere crazy with every mention of her name, Grimes has clearly set herself aside from the mainstream. Like her best friends Sky Ferreira, Charli XCX, and Brooke Candy
Brooke Candy feeling herself in the Genesis video
Grimes has a clear artistic point of view that not everyone will get, which has lead her to be adored by the edgy dark pop scene but ostracized by contemporary hit makers who underestimate her talent. Luckily, this may seem to change as Grimes has decided to join Jay-Z's Roc Nation and the first output of that decision is this song right here.
Earlier in the year, there were rumors that Grimes had written a song for Rihanna but the song was ultimately not used, aka Rihanna rejected it. Why so harsh Rih Rih? The song in question is "Go," with Grins hitmaker and frequent collaborator Blood Diamonds. Deciding to release the single on her own, Grimes once again caused an uproar on Twitter (maybe it's just the people I'm following) who immediately noticed the shift in sound to a more upbeat and catchy audio. Thankfully, it really captures every trend mainstream music has adopted in 2014: an emotive female vocal with dark lyrics, a hip hop edge, and a trap breakdown that doesn't give you a headache. Although I was a big fan of her visuals, I wasn't sold on Grimes as a musician until this song. So sorry Rihanna, but I'm going to have to GO GO GO with Grimes on this one.
