josh's top 2012 albums (finished!)

[nick64]

Agree that this isn't too strong, but the songs you mentioned are great!!

[Deleted]

I hope you don't mean "Timebomb". It's flawless.

[josh]

Jan 14, 2013 1:01:40 GMT -5 @xiivi said:

I hope you don't mean "Timebomb". It's flawless.

No, pretty sure I'm thinking of The King is dead but the queen is alive. Timebomb is pretty good, Kylie's is better though.

[josh]

#25: MDNA
Madonna



Listen to the full album here.

General thoughts:
This album... It's very disappointing for a Madonna album, imo. It's decent, but sub-par for her standards. There are plenty of amazing songs (just look at my list!) and some other decent ones. But there are also several terrible songs. The production overall just doesn't give you that *wow* factor that you expect from Madonna, which takes away from the album. Even for someone who's not Madonna,the production is pretty stale/generic/bad in certain songs. And Madonna uses way too much autotune throughout the whole album. Her voice just sounds so odd most of the time, it's not very good. For example, the "Love Spent" acoustic version is clearly not her normal voice. That's kind of what acoustic is supposed to mean there, Madonna.


It's a mostly enjoyable album overall, though, if you skip a few songs. It's just not the epicness you expect from Madonna. Far from her best work, but also far from her worst. This gets a B-.

Best Song(s) (imo):
Gang Bang
I'm Addicted
I Don't Give A
Love Spent
Masterpiece
Falling Free
Beautiful Killer

Worst Song(s) (imo):
Superstar
I'm a Sinner
I Fucked Up
B-Day Song
Best Friend

Songs that I charted:
I'm Addicted (peak: #13, charted 8 weeks)
I Don't Give A (peak: #18, charted 7 weeks)
*this was released too early before my chart; more songs would have charted, and these would have charted higher*



3 people thought this could be my #1. :O

[josh]

#24: Deconstructed
Ke$ha



Listen to the full album here.

General thoughts:
This is such a change from the Ke$ha we know. No autotune, toned down productions, and an amazing voice. Love it. It's so not Ke$ha, but so her at the same time. It's so different from her norm, but that's really what makes it so good. Every song is good, but I don't know that I really have a favorite. It's all good but not great. It's also too damn short. :(

A nice (short) EP, deserving of a B.

Songs that I charted:
None (specifically the acoustic versions)



0 people thought this could be my #1. Smart!

[nick64]

I was disappointed with MDNA as well. It was just alright

Haven't listened to Deconstructed yet. I'll have to soon!

[josh]

#23: Looking 4 Myself
Usher



Listen to the full album here.

General thoughts:
One of the latest offerings of an urban artist trying to half and half their album pop/urban. One of the latest offerings that under-performed like hell, and backfired like crazy.
This is a decent album. Not great, just decent. I definitely prefer the urban part. The pop part is pretty generic for the most part, while the urban part is where Usher truly shines. "Lemme See" and "I.F.U." were my jams. I'm not surprised that he flopped on pop after "Scream," but urban dropping "Dive" was a tragedy. :( At least "Climax" smashed and was one of the biggest hits of the year there. And "Lemme See" did great too. That one is even better, imo.
"Euphoria" should have been released, though. :'(

This is decent and gets a solid B.

Best Song(s) (imo):
Climax
Lemme See
Dive
Lessons for the Lover
Euphoria
I.F.U.

Worst Song(s) (imo):
Twisted
What Happened to U
Sins of My Father

Songs that I charted:
Dive (peak: #39, charted 3 weeks)
I.F.U. (peak: #9, charted 11 weeks)
Numb (peak: #35, charted 10 weeks)
Scream (peak: #29, charted 2 weeks)
Lemme See (peak: #8, charted 17 weeks)



1 people thought this could be my #1. #flop

[josh]

#22: Global Warming
Pitbull



Listen to the full album here.

General thoughts:
This is surprisingly solid. Sure, there are some flops, but there are several amazing jams as well. I'm not huge on Pitbull, but his features and productions are great. And unlike Flo Rida, at least I can understand him (when he's speaking in English, that is). (Seriously, though, I rarely understand anything Flo Rida says...) I love how this has crazy productions, including using Afrojack, and he seems to go beyond what's big on pop. At least some of the time. Just have to see if he releases those songs or not...
His features are basically the same old, same old; JLo, Usher, and Enrique, but he also has some interesting new choices like Havana Brown (makes sense since he featured on her single) and The Wanted.
My least favorite tracks seem to be the bonus tracks, so I regret getting the deluxe edition, but oh well.

This gets a B.

Best Song(s) (imo):
Feel This Moment
Back In Time
Party Ain't Over
Drinks for You (Ladies Anthem)
Last Night
I'm Off That

Worst Song(s) (imo):
Echa Pa'lla (Manos Pa'rriba)
Everybody Fucks
Get It Started
11:59

Songs that I charted:
Drinks for You (Ladies Anthem) (peak: #8, charted 5 weeks)
Back In Time (peak: #31, charted 3 weeks)
I'm Off that (peak: #34, charted 2 weeks)



1 people thought this could be my #1. I'm surprised! :O #flop

[Deleted]

yay #hitbull

[josh]

Was it Xiivi who voted for Pitbull? I almost guessed it was lmao.

[nick64]

Agree about Looking 4 Myself. Glad you love "Lemme See"!

I love Global Warming though!

[Deleted]

Yes, I agree Global Warming is a decent album. Planet Pit>>>> though.

Everybody Fucks on the worst songs? Smh how cam you dislike such a classy jam?

[josh]

I got Pit's 4 latest albums (aka the ones with hits on them) and have listened to them all just once, Global Warming more. So I can't really compare them yet. :)

[nick64]

Jan 15, 2013 16:11:31 GMT -5 josh said:

I got Pit's 4 latest albums (aka the ones with hits on them) and have listened to them all just once, Global Warming more. So I can't really compare them yet. :)

Rebellution, Planet Pit, Global Warming. What else had hits? ???

Listen to Planet Pit more!!

[josh]

Ok well the boatlift had the anthem which was kind of a hit.

[josh]

The next album (up in a few hours, hopefully) just missed the top 20. It's by a Pulse favorite, and my last.fm may or may not tell you what it is.

[josh]

#21: Blown Away
Carrie Underwood



Listen to the full album here. (Listen to Two Good Girl, link below, first)

General thoughts:
So I'm not a country fan. I like the pop-leaning pop. Like I love Shania, and really like Taylor. Carrie's definitely more country than those two (generally speaking; they both have straight up country songs, but are generally much more pop-leaning than Carrie is) so not so immediate for me. However, this album clicked with me right away. (I got her other albums this year and they're not as immediate, and probably not as good, either. Still all good, though) Highlights are definitely the 3 singles so far. I definitely prefer up-tempo Carrie, but her slow songs usually aren't bad. I definitely prefer the first half the album.

Overall very solid, even if it's not always my type of album. Earns itself a nice little B+.

Best Song(s) (imo):
Good Girl
Blown Away
Two Black Cadillacs

Worst Song(s) (imo):
Forever Changed
Thank God for Hometowns

Songs that I charted:
Blown Away (peak: #1 (1 week), charted 15 weeks)
Two Black Cadillacs (peak: #23, charted 2 weeks, still charting)



1 people thought this could be my #1. #flop

[Deleted]

Blown Away and Global Warming are decent. I'm eagerly awaiting the higher positions.

[josh]

Tomorrow starts top 20! Your hint is

I plan on doing 2 a day until top 10.

[Juan Carlos]

I like the reviews/commentaries you do for the albums!

So far, the albums I like are: Halcyon, Push and Shove and Deconstructed.

[josh]

Glad to see the comments picking up today! Makes me happy, guys. Not sure if me posting more during the day (not 2 am), or getting into the higher-rated albums, or random luck. But I love seeing everyone here!

[nick64]

I love Blown Away! The singles are flawless!!

[josh]

#20: Believe
Justin Bieber



*This is just the standard edition I'm reviewing.*

Listen to the full album here.

General thoughts:
So I never liked Justin before. I still don't like him as a person. He's just really cocky and that just irks me so much. But no denying that his music has grown up a lot. Sure he still has the cheesiest lyrics, but his productions have gotten amazing. That's really what sold me on this album, not Justin himself. I still find his voice annoying; really grating at times, but other times I can enjoy it. Like I said, though, the productions are what sold me on the album.
I started out "What the fuck" at "Boyfriend," but eventually started to like it and then really like it. It was before my chart, though so that's why it didn't chart. Even if it had, it would have been pretty similar to the run of "As Long as You Love Me." That one had a similar story: wtf, like, really like. It could have charted better if not for the bombardment of album tracks from all the Q4 album releases. "Beauty and a Beat" was when I finally bought this (yet another cheap album from Amazon MP3 ), and so that helped me like it almost right after becoming a single. That's why it's already way out-performed the 2nd single. Also the fact that albums have stopped coming out as much, and I've stopped charting new album tracks helps. I probably like ALAYLM the best of the 3, so it's not really a good way to show which I like best, by their chart runs.
"All Around the World" is probably my next favorite song, besides the singles. Definitely has potential as a future single if they want. He has many other good songs, just those are my favorites.

Minus a few songs, this is a pretty good album, and gave me a huge surprise. Gonna have to check out the deluxe tracks soon for sure. This gets a B+.

Best Song(s) (imo):
All Around the World
Boyfriend
As Long as You Love Me
Beauty and a Beat

Worst Song(s) (imo):
Fall
Believe

Songs that I charted:
Beauty and a Beat (peak: #18, charted 6 weeks)
As Long as You Love Me (peak: #31, charted 4 weeks)



1 people thought this could be my #1. I'm surprised given how vocal I've been about not liking Justin.

[Juan Carlos]

Jan 16, 2013 13:51:24 GMT -5 josh said:

So I never liked Justin before. I still don't like him as a person. He's just really cocky and that just irks me so much. But no denying that his music has grown up a lot. Sure he still has the cheesiest lyrics, but his productions have gotten amazing.

OMG! I completely agree with you, Josh. I think this is the reason why I still don't listen to the whole album (I guess I'll have to give it a try). When I listened to "Boyfriend" for the first time, I immediately thought: "He's trying to be Justin Timberlake", so I didn't care much about it. However, some months later, I listened to it again and I found the song (I guess the production) very catchy and great. I didn't give a try to "As Long As You Love Me", but when I heard "Beauty and a Beat", I said: "Wow!" (I guess Zedd's co-production on it influence me to really like the song ;)) As a consequence, I gave a try to "As Long As You Love Me" and I found the track really amazing.

Jan 16, 2013 13:51:24 GMT -5 josh said:

"All Around the World" is probably my next favorite song, besides the singles. Definitely has potential as a future single if they want.

"All Around the World" is going to be his next single in the UK, so it could be, as well, his next US single.

[nick64]

Love this one!! Justin annoys me as a person, but I still love his music The bonus tracks are good, except "Love Me Like You Do".

[josh]

I think I heard "Maria" and seem to have liked it? I also feel like fans enjoy that one for sure.

[nick64]

"Maria" is definitely a highlight. Based on the father scandal. It's very similar to "Billie Jean"

"Out of Town Girl" is so weird, but it's one of my favorites.

"She Don't Like the Lights" is good, but kinda forgetable.

"Love Me Like You Do" is boring as hell. Bad Drake-knockoff.

[Deleted]

at least 25 places too low

[josh]

#19: Wild Ones
Flo Rida



Listen to the full album here.

General thoughts:
With everyone saying how much of a singles artist Flo Rida is, I was surprised to find this was actually a really solid album. Every song is good. I only put "Let It Roll" part 2 as the worst because of the terrible (as usual) verse from Wayne. "Run" is by far the best song, and is screaming to be a single. But we're on the 5th single now and it's still not a single. ;_;
I like "Sweet Spot" even though people aren't thrilled about it being the new single. I think it will perform decently enough, but agree it's not the strongest to be next. Obviously that would be "Run." ;_;

Overall a very solid album, but far from my favorite for the year. This gets an A-.

Best Song(s) (imo):
Wild Ones
Good Feeling
Sweet Spot
Run

Worst Song(s) (imo):
Let It Roll, Pt. 2

Songs that I charted:
Whistle (peak: #14, charted 10 weeks)
Run (peak: #1 (1 week), charted 20 weeks)



1 people thought this could be my #1. Probably Xiivi again.

[josh]

And sorry for another low placement xiivi. :'(