Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday spending quality time with the ones you love. We're only three days in to the big 2-0-1-3 and I'm already excited about what this fresh start will bring. Initially I was going to do a post predicting who I thought was going to hit it big this year but I'll have plenty of time for that in upcoming posts. Instead I wanted to reflect back on some of my favorite releases of 2012. I know I'm a little late in posting this but I still wanted to get it out there. Scrunching my favorites down to size always makes me bite my nails because I hate leaving people out but it was kind of fun actually. I thought long and hard about this one so I'm pretty content with my list. Pretty content.
- Listen || Show Me, Natalie, and Treasure
Due to her determination to remain hip and in tune with the now my sister and I decided that instead of the ideal fuzzy slippers and matching robe that we'd feed into my mom's love of music this Christmas. My sister bought her a Sony iPod dock which also dubs as a CD player and I bought her a bunch of CDs to go with it. The week before my mother went on and on about how talented Bruno Mars and The Police are so I thought it would be cute to buy their records for her. I heard such good things about Bruno's new release so I gave that a listen and instantly fell in love. UJ is versatile in so many ways touching on genres of reggae, pop, and rock. There's something timeless about his voice and I like the fact that his music has no boundaries.
- Listen || Stay, Cherry Wine, Daughters
In my humble opinion Life Is Good is Nas's best album since Stillmatic. I remember finally being put on to him in middle school and replaying One Mic on my little portable CD player that I hijacked from my cousin. Oh the memories, good time good times. On Life Is Good Nas reflects on his personal life experiences like being a proper role model for his daughter, the trials and tribulations of marriage, and overall relationships. After a four year hiatus and really soaking in all that is life, this album serves as a pretty solid comeback.
- Listen || The Morning, House Of Balloons/Glass Table Girls, and The Party & The After Party
Abel Tesfaye has been creating quite the buzz in this underground layer of music and as of late the recognition of his talents has grown stronger. He first emerged on the scene two years ago when he discretely released a few songs via YouTube. His identity remained hidden for some odd months which had bloggers, including me, up in arms but now its kind of nice to put a face to a name; or in this case a face to a voice. After releasing three successful mixtapes and garnering nods from head honchos in the industry, Abel aka The Weeknnd, dropped his first album Trilogy which is a compilation of all three mixtapes with a few new songs of choice. He really meant it when he said High For This because this album gets me higher than a kite without taking a hit.
- Listen || Settle Down, Withdraw, and Two Way Street
Judging by my posts on this blog I'm sure you already knew that this one was going to make the list. Kimbra made sure to differentiate between her talents and others with this album. It delivers the kind of originality that a new artist could only dream of. As someone breaking out on the scene, Kimbra has accomplished so much this year like headlining her first world tour and being nominated for a Grammy with Gotye for Somebody That I Used To Know. 2012 was good but I have a strong feeling that 2013 will be her year.
- Listen || QueenS, Deeper, and Enchantruss
With their poetic rhymes and intellectual play on words satisfied is an understatement when it comes to the sounds of TheeSatisfaction. There is an underlying truth about the messages they convey through their music which is what sets them apart. Listening to this album makes me so proud to be awe naturale so whatever you do, don't funk with my groove will continue to be my motto this new year.
- Listen || Elusive, Lost & Found, and Don't Wake Me Up
The Brits clearly have it in the bag because I swear they produce some of the most talented acts with some of the most striking voices. I remember when Adele first hit the scene and everyone's immediate response was who the hell is this person and why does my voice not sound like that. At least that was my reaction but you get the big picture here. When I listen to Lianne my thoughts remain the same. I nearly gag at her effortless abilities to sing with such poise and grace.
- Listen || Real Life, Abby, and All Of Me
Whether I'm swaying from left to right or prancing around my room this album always has me in full out dance mode. There's not one track that I didn't like. I don't know, maybe it's the island girl in me but jungle beats just does something to my soul. My sister and I made every attempt to see them in concert last year but with our luck natural disasters and sold out tickets crushed our hopes and dreams not once, not twice, but three times! Maybe we'll actually make it to one this time around.
- Listen || Candles In The Sun, Kaleidoscope Dream, and Do You
If there are only two lanes you better bet your money that Miguel is making a third because he truly is in a league of his own. His music has a sort of grungy dark vibe to it while still being able to serenade you with his voice putting an entirely new spin on R&B. You can see the transformation from his previous album to this one too. It sounds as if he's come to terms with who he really is as a person and who he would like to be as an artist. The label had a lot to do with the production and image of the first album but KD shows a more raw side.
- Listen || Sierra Leone, Sweet Life, and Monks
This album has reached such immeasurable heights of perfection that I can barely contain my thoughts at this very moment. Mr. Ocean really delivered on this album and he is so deserving of his six Grammy nods. My father even alluded to his artistic ways by saying, and I quote, "quite the poet he is that Frank Ocean". Yes father yes! This is what I've been trying to tell the world all along. Horses gallop to her throne. Like really, really Frank. Only an intellectual genius could come up with such words.
- Listen || Devotion, Swan Song, and Sweet Talk
There's not enough words in the dictionary to describe my admiration for this album (yes, that includes urban dictionary too). Humility and honesty are the best traits that an artist can possess and I truly believe that Jessie embodies that 110%. You can tell that she poured her all into this album and that is why it has nestled its way into the number one spot for me. The opening track alone puts you in this sort of trance as if you are being transported into an alternate realm. The tantalizing chimes echoing in the back give off this you are now entering the world of Jessie Ware vibe.
No comments:
Post a Comment