I don't think it caused the actual shift (which really happened until about 3 years later), but it was one of the first purely pop sounding major singles following many many years of R&B influenced pop.
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PopGAF |OT4| asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
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I don't think it caused the actual shift (which really happened until about 3 years later), but it was one of the first purely pop sounding major singles following many many years of R&B influenced pop.
Wafflecakes
Member
Hype +1
People hate on her all they want....but every time I see an interview with her I like her more. She comes off as sincere and earnest.
Nicki is very articulate, and her feelings are very genuine. Underneath all that craziness is a really great person, though most people never give her a chance.
edit: Mariah's interview.
I don't know if we can handle all the shade she is going to be throwing.
Supermanisdead
Member
If anyone's interested here are acoustic performances of Treacherous and 22:
Treacherous: https://soundcloud.com/dabewing/treacherous-acoustic-webchat
22: https://soundcloud.com/dabewing/22-acoustic-webchat
These were performed after the webchat. They were embargoed until today.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2obMo7y-rvA
Both are really good, but the Treacherous performance is my favourite.
Treacherous: https://soundcloud.com/dabewing/treacherous-acoustic-webchat
22: https://soundcloud.com/dabewing/22-acoustic-webchat
These were performed after the webchat. They were embargoed until today.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2obMo7y-rvA
Both are really good, but the Treacherous performance is my favourite.
Soulscribe
Member
Previous Entry: Albums 50-41
40 -- LOOSE, Nelly Furtado (2006)
Loose is a groundbreaking hip-hop/pop fusion album thats as eclectic as it is unexpected. Following a sophomore effort that flew under the radar to mainstream listeners, Nelly Furtados partnership with Timbaland proved to be a pivotal moment in the mid-00s transition into club-friendly synths and genre consolidation. More importantly, it was albums like Loose that led the charge in friendly hip-hop, a movement that allowed artists who had otherwise no business recording hip-hop/R&B material to release it to the public with positive reception. If Nelly Furtado had released Loose five years prior, it most likely wouldnt have received the same reaction from the masses. Loose is very much the spiritual successor to P!nks early R&B material, but leans much more heavily toward the edgy club-synths that ended up defining radio pop today. Beyond the musical implications of the records release, Loose is also a brilliantly-constructed album filled with energetic songs with out-of-this-world production and esoteric lyricism.
Brightest moments: Maneater, Do It Right
39 -- LAUNDRY SERVICE, Shakira (2001)
A beautiful collection of powerhouse latin-rock anthems and brilliant pop executions, Laundry Service was hardly Shakiras musical debut, but was very much her mainstream emergence. While it lacked the subtle, more alternative flavors of her squarely Latin predecessor, Laundry Service provides an energetic abundance of songs that collide beautifully with her charmingly heavy vocals. Objection is a modern classic, and the Mayer-esque Underneath Your Clothes shows her tender emotive side. Whenever, Wherever has every element of a timeless classic, but the Estafan-penned banger is only a single gear in this well-oiled machine. The entire album is a single cohesive sound, and its exotic charm oozes throughout.
Brightest moments: Whenever, Wherever, Ojos Asi
38 -- SUPERNATURE, Goldfrapp (2005)
The true queen of weird, Goldfrapp delivered this delectable gem two years after its timeless predecessor, Black Cherry. While most critics will mostly likely prefer Black Cherry in hindsight, I prefer Supernatures edgier synth-pop material and moodier productions. Its an album that doesnt try to dress up as a pop record, but still serves quite accessible material for non-fans to find a home with. Ooh La La is both the most accessible track on Supernature and one of its best, and most songs on the album (with the exception of the admittedly duller finishers) are completely intoxicating. This album will definitely stand the test of time as more and more people get introduced to Goldfrapps creepy little world.
Brightest moments: Ooh La La, Ride A White Horse
37 -- TEENAGE DREAM, Katy Perry (2010)
What modern critics and general Perry nay-sayers dont understand about Teenage Dream is that a strong, well-crafted concept album can come in all forms and colors. Teenage Dreams genius is not in substantial or poetic source material but in its brilliant ability to take modern expectations (and stigmas) of pop music and toss it back out at the listener. What you find is that with every insufferable trope that we make fun of in regards to pop music (female singers excreting sexuality, overly esoteric lyrics, tireless hooks at the expense of depth), we end up falling in love with those tropes all over again with Teenage Dream. The album is the quintessential example of its time. Every song on the album stands as a contemporary exemplar of what we consider to be a guilty pleasure, and together every song collides into one giant commentary on the superficiality of youth issues, and the superficiality of pop music. Katy Perry is a smarter woman than we give her credit for, and though this album may seem to serve her negatively in that regard, to me it shows a ground-breaking insight into how packaged, sugary-sweet pop music can be just as influential and profound as the most celebrated classics of old.
Brightest moments: The One That Got Away, Teenage Dream
36 -- SOME NIGHTS, Fun. (2011)
To me, Some Nights is the perfect gay album. Though the project was very much crafted with youth culture in mind, its absolutely mind-blowing to me how accurate and relatable the material is in regards to young gay issues and insecurities. Dark motifs about alcoholism, domestic violence, wavering political opinions, family troubles, social justice and progressivism are showered throughout, but the most brilliant presence in Some Nights is its title track, an overwhelmingly honest and forthright confessional that could easily pass as a high-quality Queen smash. This is a spectacular pop-rock electo-opera hybrid that any slighted demographic or personality type can feel at home with, and it stands as one of the most honest and intelligent records in recent time.
Brightest moments: Some Nights, Carry On
35 -- FUNHOUSE, P!nk (2008)
Theres no sweeter vision than watching an established pop icon go back to the confines of straight pop. After flirting with faux-rock and R&B, P!nk pumps out this energetic pop gem that flirts with those neighboring genres without losing track of its intentions. What makes Funhouse so great is not revolutionary material; its the fact that the album is so unapologetically un-revolutionary. Its completely comfortable in its own skin, and yet presents a series of unforgettable vulnerability that P!nk had always flirted with but never completely committed to (Glitter in the Air does this most effectively). Her raspy vocal reaches a euphoric critical mass on Funhouse, and her ability to jump from pop-rock bangers to silky-smooth productions is actually quite remarkable. People are always the quickest to avoid handing P!nk any credits in her field, but the truth is that she has developed the most consistent and committed portfolio of songs and albums so far in modern pop music. For that, she deserves a hell of a lot of acclaim.
Brightest moments: Glitter In the Air, Sober
34 -- SPICE, Spice Girls (1996)
The Spice Girls emerged out of a new-found corporate formula for selling pop music to our generation, and with this new formula came a lot of disposable pop that simply wouldnt stand the test of time. While the Spice Girls receive most of the flack for this new shift, the fact is that their debut album is pure, high-quality sugary pop bliss. While, yes, a few tracks on Spice could be categorized as filler, the rest of the album is a celebration of tongue-in-cheekery and forces the listener to approach the album (and the genre) while leaving their expectations at the door. The production choices still stand the test of time admittedly, and for the ten years following its release, pop acts were still trying emulate its seamless and infectious hooks. Whether youre fan of the Spice Girls or not (we can all understand why you wouldnt be), the fact is if you were to define pop music by what the late 90s turnover defined it to be, then Spice ends up being one of the most perfect pop albums. Ever.
Brightest moments: Who Do You Think You Are, When 2 Become 1
33 -- BREAKAWAY, Kelly Clarkson (2004)
Theres an overwhelming sense of courage that permeates throughout Breakaway, and I couldnt help as the listener but feel like the artist went through an incredibly cathartic experience to make this album a reality. Pairing the loudness of Since U Been Gone with the heart-wrenching honesty of Because of You creates an explosive combination, and its with this album (and more specifically its lead single) that modern day hit-makers like Katy Perry owe a great deal of their success to. While were unsure of this albums legacy-work, one cannot travel through the sonic brilliance of Breakaway and not feel like they just experienced a timeless piece of contemporary pop music.
Brightest moments: Breakaway, Because of You
32 -- CRAZY LOVE, Michael Buble (2009)
Michael Bubles vocals have an untouchable glisten and sheen that stay front and center in Crazy Love, one of the most well-balanced traditional records in the past decade. While the album serves many highlights with its brilliant homages to jazz classics old and contemporary, its the seamless fusion of pop and jazz that elevate the record into something more profound and meaningful. It retains the established chords and melodies that only jazz could produce, but it ushers in an approachability and an irresistible likability thats unique to Buble and Buble only. The soaring moments in Cry Me A River are so overwhelmingly powerful that the listener might risk getting sonically injured. If you havent listened to Crazy Love yet, you should.
Brightest moments: Cry Me A River, Havent Met You Yet
31 -- I AM... SASHA FIERCE, Beyonce (2008)
While I Am... Sasha Fierce is another rousing example of a collection thats greater than the sum of its parts, that fact is unrelated to the bottom-line: Sasha is a completely self-aware concept album that serves nothing if not to elevate the appeal and credentials of its artist. It takes a great deal of gravitas to market yourself as a master of two separate styles of performance, but it takes an even greater deal of talent to pull off both sides so effortlessly. Beyonce weaves her silky vocals through enchanting faux-folk-pop ballads and soft confessionals, showing her impeccable ability to transition smoothly between different tempos. The rambunctious, hard-hitting R&B/pop in the second half of the album provide us with Beyonces true calling however: her absolutely masterful ability to complement a beat with a charismatic vocal flow that only Tina Turner could compete with. Beyonce had always been compartmentalized talent-wise among different types of outlets, but its a testament to her multiple talents that an album like this can work double-duty, and create a double-dose of brilliant pop.
Brightest Moments: Halo, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
ALBUMS 30-21 COMING SOON
Wafflecakes
Member
Nicki is very articulate, and her feelings are very genuine. Underneath all that craziness is a really great person, though most people never give her a chance.
edit: Mariah's interview.
I don't know if we can handle all the shade she is going to be throwing.
I am a bit worried about having Mariah. I am not sure what would be worse....her flopping, or her being amazing knowing how unlikely it is that she will be back next season.
It would be nice if they could find some decent judges who were willing to stick around for a while. Not sure the whole revolving door of superstars looking for promo is a long term strategy that can work. Though I do expect ratings to be up this coming season.....I doubt they will be up enough to justify the paychecks (as X Factor learned with Brit).
Channeling Whitney - Greatest Love of All.
<+)O Robido O(+>
Member
I'm just... someone call the coroner. I'm done.
Ah, I see. I can hear that, but I didn't realize Toxic set that trend.
When can we expect Part II?
Edit: That was fast.
omfg
lol, nope. Started to experiment with 'shopped gifs a few weeks ago tbh. Still a learner.
I actually wanted to experiment with Gaga gifs and drag her, but I went with Xtina thanks to Royalan and botty
oh it just now makes a lot of sense that all the really good ones I've seen around are made by Xtina fans
so if it's not by you, then it's by another Xtina fan im sure
<+)O Robido O(+>
Member
Soulscribe
Member
Soulscibe *.*
I'm convinced to give Michael Bubble a listen.
downloading
Yesssssssssss, future potential stan!
Second uses Xtina, which explains his gifts.
the gifs are just for fun anywway
I used to use that tumblr for gifs, too.
Wafflecakes
Member
Lol its a good album....though not sure it belongs in any top 50.
The songs themselves are pretty great and there are really only one or two duds. The weakness of the album is that the whole is not greater than the sum of its parts. Taken in isolation the songs are excellent, but the album itself is rather one note and boring. So I guess it depends on how you like to listen to your music. Personally I just use shuffle on my "top rated" itunes playlist so it doesn't bother me much.
I can hardly remember anything from it.
Nothing stood out other than the title track and We Are Young. The rest was forgettable tbh.
Wafflecakes
Member
Lol I never liked We Are Young. I got the album on a whim during the 99c Amazon sale earlier this year.
I REALLY enjoy quite a few songs. My favorite track is All Alone.
I do agree that as a whole the album is a bit forgettable. Its still solid, quality, music though imo.
Wafflecakes
Member
Hew?
I try to be nice to indies but lets not try to compare Fun. to them anymore.....Fun. is an actual success now
Mumei you are testing my ability to resist temptation aren't you?.........
The band was tolerable for me until someone pointed this out. Now I can't ignore the scent of amateur.
Your post is a little confusing since it makes Aim & Ignite sound like a band, but I'll assume you know it's their first album.
This kind of talk is part of why pop will never be taken seriously. Pop music is good music because it's good music, not because it sells.
Has there been discussion about how utterly woeful that Popjustice list is. What a silly website.
Have you passed one of my tests before?
Indeed. It isn't just the lead singer; the band's sound is also very reminiscent of Queen (especially the harmonies).
Wafflecakes
Member
lol I was merely pointing out that you can't really hold up a band that has had very limited success/sales as superior to a hit artist and say they are better without raising eyebrows simply because very, very few people will have ever actually listened to both to have an actual educated opinion.
Generally there is a reason that an act is a success. Fun. came out of nowhere because people actually liked their music. I am fine if YOU think they are better than Fun. because thats your right.....but your post seemed to imply that it was common sense that they were better despite the fact that I would be shocked if more than 2-3 people have heard of them.
Aim & Ignite is the name of fun.'s first album...
... Well, you didn't pass that test, Wafflecakes.
Wafflecakes
Member
Probably not lol.
Its kind of interesting to see this talked about because, in a way, I am virtually your complete opposite. I listen to very little "older" music in general (I am aware of who people are and their iconic songs but not a whole lot beyond that), and I stan for only a handful of non current artists, so it always confuses me when people do these cross era comparisons.
Not sure where I am going with this.....just musing I suppose.
#oop
Not sure why I assumed it was a different band. I even looked it up on wiki.
Soulscribe
Member
Fun.'s lead vocalist can't sing like Mercury, I was saying that the title track has the production of a Queen song. The production is fucking ace though.
Honestly I wouldn't expect anyone here to agree with Some Nights being on any top 50 list but it's always interesting to see how albums can sometimes surprise. There's an energy to the album that really resonated with me, and I'm not making any claims for how it compares with other albums in its genre. It's an isolated experience and it really worked for me. So seethe.
not you pretending there was a band called aim and ignite
Wafflecakes
Member
Oh I'm not pretending that. It just didn't sound like a title that they would have used so I never connected the dots.
I feel thoroughly ashamed.....its been a long day.
Fun.'s lead vocalist can't sing like Mercury, I was saying that the title track has the production of a Queen song. The production is fucking ace though.
Honestly I wouldn't expect anyone here to agree with Some Nights being on any top 50 list but it's always interesting to see how albums can sometimes surprise. There's an energy to the album that really resonated with me, and I'm not making any claims for how it compares with other albums in its genre. It's an isolated experience and it really worked for me. So seethe.
Oh, I'm sorry. That wasn't meant to be a response to your post (I hadn't read it yet!); it was just my train-of-thought complaining about his tendencies as a vocalist when I saw other people talking about the band. I agree about the production sounding like a Queen song, though.
One of these days you'll list an album that I have listened to in its entirety besides Norah Jones, though.
Soulscribe
Member
You haven't listened to Sasha Fierce in full?
Well, looking at the track listing for the standard edition, I have heard six of eleven songs; I haven't heard Broken-Hearted Girl, Ave Maria, Satellites, Radio, or Video Phone.
Go listen to Lungs.
Right now.
Why would I listen to an album that is only forty-sixth on 'scribe's Top 50 list? Tsk, tsk.
Supermanisdead
Member
Noooooo, these 2 are the best!
You guys sure like Lana Del Rey
Yes, bless the Queen of Pop. Real-Grammies hew?
Oh, really? I will have to give them a listen soon, then.
I know Beyonce shade is expected of me, but you ignored the correct songs from that album.
ESPECIALLY Ave Maria. In fact, hearing how she butchered that song so shamelessly was the point where I went from a sorta-fan to open hate. Ugh - she should be tared and feathered for that.
Supermanisdead
Member
I like Ave Maria -___-
I like all of I Am... so much more than the second disc.
I like all of I Am... so much more than the second disc.
Yeah, that's my ranking as well. But with many more > between 4 and B'Day.
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