dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 24, 2021 2:46:19 GMT -5
#33. Limelight by TouchΓ© AmorΓ©
The best why I can describe this song is "teeth bitingly" good. Everything from Jeremy Bolm's strained, tired, and confused delivery feels like being forced to confront the sadness around. Not only in dealing with the aftermath of the death of his mother to cancer, but also the death of his two family dogs, as well as the government's incompetence in dealing with healthcare. It's angry for sure, but there's a sense he can't get too angry either. For as tired as he is of all the shit that has happened in his life, he's gotta push through...even if there's a part of him that doesn't want to. As I said, it's a song that feels sung through grit teeth, a stew of unpleasant emotions. And yet, between the gorgeous instrumentation backed by the Manchester Orchestra, it also never goes too far in being too uncomfortable or unpleasant to re-visit. And in a year full of unpleasant emotions we just had to go through, a song like this spoke levels.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 24, 2021 2:54:48 GMT -5
#32. Terminal η (Chaku)γε³ (Soku) Dance by chelmico
I mentioned anxiety earlier when talking about Haru Nemuri but if you want a more fun, more digestible Japanese music that's still full of energy and anxiety, look no further than chelmico. This is a song all about the stress that comes from touring and travelling - and how it's starting to become it's own song and dance routine. And yet despite how tired they are, they're still having so much fun being weird and artistic. The instrumentation is vibrant - with little cute details of transportation sound effects, Rachel Watashiga and Mamiko Suzuki flows sound great and are bouncy, and once the lockdown is over, I really can't wait to see more fans be audience members to wherever the terminal takes them next.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 24, 2021 2:59:40 GMT -5
#31. On the Floor by Perfume Genius
For all the insecurity and doubt peppered through Perfume Genius' latest album, my favorite moment is one that gives the album a proper moment of respite and genuine intimate joy in being in love, pure euphoria not reliant on sex, and a relationship of complete understand. Mike Hadreas is such an expressive singer that while there's still hesitation on his part, he's still reveling in this bewildering moment. And despite the 5 minute run-time - which is why it's not higher as I don't tend to revisit it often, it doesn't drag or feels long, mostly thanks to Hadreas' delivery and the thick rubbery bass, and especially that beautiful bridge. With this being his most critically acclaimed album yet, I don't know where Perfume Genius will go next...but whatever, it is I can't wait.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 24, 2021 2:59:50 GMT -5
Honorable Mentions Round 2:
Level of Concern by twenty one pilots
Probably the best song to tackle the pandemic in a way that wasn't cringey or awkward, and still holds up after things have started to get better.
feel away by slowthai feat. James Blake and Mount Kimbie
Weird music video aside, this actually a very sweet love song.
Overtime by U.S. Girls
Their latest album was definitely messy and didn't add up to the sum of it's parts but this and Four American Dollars were a highlights.
Only Children by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
*glares at every music publication that mentioned Sam Hunt when talking about "the best of country music"*
RΓ©mora by KlΓ΄ Pelgag
Shock of all shocks, French artist makes something pretty.
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Post by Sambalada on Jan 24, 2021 3:45:41 GMT -5
Wow ok wig snatched.
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Post by kacpi on Jan 24, 2021 17:03:47 GMT -5
This list just keeps getting better and better!
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Post by fearlessarrow on Jan 25, 2021 8:24:21 GMT -5
YUKIKA on this list as well! My promotion on Pulse is working lol
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 8:08:55 GMT -5
#30. Violent Sun by Everything Everything
I think it says how miserable this year was that straight-up apocalyptic songs felt rather tired and tedious. Now themes of the world ending have been played up for awhile, but songs like 'If the World was Ending' of 'It's Not the End of the World', at best were boring and trite and at worse, only further deepened the anxiety I was having. And so unironically - but fitting with how mad this year was - the best song to talk about the world ending was one that embraced the end of it all. It fits in a similar mold as Kero Kero Bonito's 'When the Fires Come': dancing with your partner as you accept the unavoidable effects of climate change but still doing your best to whatever life is left. Although I'd say this is better song: with a stronger groove and Jonathan Higgs sounding genuinely jubilant dancing with his partner as the sun consumes them all. And while you could look at this as rather having a rather defeatist and doomer mentality - and it is, to an extent - it's still using that fresh perspective to call action. The labeling of "lunatics" those who've perpetuated lunatics or CEOs who've exacerbated the effects of climate change for personal change: it's a motif that runs throughout the album. And while not new or groundbreaking, it still felt comforting to hear someone call out the bullsht of governments regarding climate action yet still have a lifted spirit in doing so. Sometimes, the easiest thing to do can feel so satisfying.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 8:29:29 GMT -5
#29. My Own Soul's Warning by The Killers
I mean even people like I me, who didn't really like that recent Killers album can contest this is one of the best songs on that album - a great opener to add - and probably one of their best singles ever. An amazing heartland rock power anthem looking towards the west and searching for that greater meaning in life. It's campy and over the time but not only is anchored by an amazing hook, Brandon Flowers continues to be one of the most charismatic frontmen in rock. Being able to sell earnest yearning and his sudden Eureka moment with his impassioned howls. It's an amazing surge of energy that I wish more of the album had tapped into but like in the song, for a fleeting moment everything seemed so clear and perfect.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 8:49:16 GMT -5
28. KaratΓ© by YELLE
I think if there's any song that disproves a song can still be insanely catch in spite of a language barrier, it's this song. I had this song on repeat for days, singing the repeated mantra of "Comment t'es sur le tatami quand t'es pas cachΓ©, quand t'as pas d'amis/Ton kimono est un pyjama, ton kimono est un pyjama". It's hypnotic in a good way, taking the whole 'love is a battlefield' theme rather literally as YELLE describes her relationship as a karate match: a fight of equals or a fight to see dominance, it's not made clear and yet than tension is what gives this song it's edge. And especially a groovy dance beat that add another layer of the dancefloor: is this a battle between two people who are just looking for a quick one night stand...or is there more to their conquest. Either way, it's an underrated gem that's gone far too ignored and I hope that changes in the future.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 8:54:01 GMT -5
#27. Lifetime by Romy
If there was ever a song that felt muscled into greatness it was this one. Now don't get me wrong, this is a good song: a decent grooves, vibe, and lyrics but I feel what really helps this song is Romy Croft. She's been one of my favorite singers for a while now with standout performances in The xx as well as stealing the show on Jamie xx's album with 'Loud Places' and here she really showcases why. Even for a simple dance track, she just has such effortless charisma. Similar to Carly Rae Jepsen's Run Away With Me or if we're looking to another dance classic Whitney Houston's How Will I Know, it's a song that simply makes falling in love sound like the best thing in the world, so joyful and so much fun. It's not the most challenging song in the world, especially in comparison to the best work of The xx, but if this is what Romy's work is like on autopilot and playing it safe, gotta say: looking forward to hearing that album, if it ever comes out.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 9:14:08 GMT -5
26. After Hours by The Weeknd
This was a bit of a shock for me as for the longest time, this was in my Top 10. But after one more listen to the album, I found that it does drag a bit with the beat change and the excitement of a return to the Trilogy sound wore off after awhile. But with that said, this is still top tier for the album alongside 'Heartless' and 'Escape from LA'. The proper climax of the album and just like with Starboy before this, it's a moment of slow, sober realization that he needs real love and he wants her...before he bleeds out and the cycle of hedonism presumably repeats again. And for as muted as it's impact is now compared to when it first drop, that callback to 'Twenty Eight' is still brilliant and one of his smartest moments yet. And Illangelo back on production was also a welcome return, with the clattering percussion loop creating a great ominous atmosphere and the outro with the twinkling keys being beautiful. Although admittedly, Abel sounds better on this beat with this lower register than going into his higher for the beat switch. It's a sign that even with almost a decade under his belt and for as formulaic as his material can get, The Weeknd isn't out of tricks just yet.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 9:57:04 GMT -5
#25. LEAVING HELL by R.A.P. Ferreira
This is by far the most relaxed and most chill song on the list, almost deceptively lowkey at points. The smooth but organic and most importantly textured jazz sound courtesy of the Jefferson Park Boys, especially the way the horns and string samples are chopped up and that drum break down. All the while R.A.P. Ferreira's smooth and literally poetic flow, rapping about finding purpose in life through art, all the while recognizing the limitations of his success as an underground, cult artist. There's a nice gentle humility in being content but still pushing yourself artistically, and that could easily be a bit sleepy or a bit self-centered but the great jazz and poetry help keep it all focused. This is definitely an acquired taste, like all jazz and poetry, but it R.A.P. Ferreira did help the year feel less like hell, and I'm grateful for that.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 12:20:26 GMT -5
#24: Spotlight by Jessie Ware
Y'know for all the pop crossovers of disco this year, Jessie Ware proved that you don't have to be flashy or over the top to make great disco. And while the groove is good here, I think really sets this above the rest is the atmosphere of the track. It's simmering, it's seductive, but more importantly it's full of tension. There's a good slight hesitation in Jessie's voice and in the lyrics yearning for the moment on the dancefloor to last more than the one night...and yet that nervousness doesn't takeover too much. There's still a control of the situation, she isn't strung along too much. It's that balance that makes this song so sexy, and with some great synths and drum work, shows that Jessie's take on disco might be more forward thinking than folks give her credit.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 12:30:53 GMT -5
#23. PIG FEET by Denzel Curry and Terrace Martin feat. feat. Daylyt, Kamasi Washington, and G Perico
And here we have the best protest song of the year bar none. While it'd be easy to just say given all the protests that happened not just in the U.S. but in other countries as well, an anthem this powerful was needed but as I said earlier when talking about 'Look the Other Way', the best protest songs transcend the moments in time they were released. Denzel Curry and Daylyt's furiously angry bars, Britney Thomas' all too real spoken word skits, the great jazz production from Terrace Martin and Kamasi Washington especially the horns: it's all fast and furious but not malformed anger. It's the sort of vengeful decry of racism I haven't seen in rap (outside of Run the Jewels) since Kendrick Lamar's The Blacker The Berry, and it's the sort of song that unfortunately might be relevant even five or ten years from now. And while we can hope things get better, change starts with a little anger and a fire.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 12:45:53 GMT -5
#22. Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America by The 1975
Y'know for as much praise as I've seen for 'If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)' - which is also a really good song - I think the undisputed diamond in the malformed rough that was the recent 1975 was the stunningly beautiful and heartbreaking duet with Phoebe Bridgers. It's a mostly quiet and solemn acoustic song all about being gay, all while contemplating your own Christian beliefs in relation to your sexuality and whileliving in a heavily religious conservative household. And for as depressing as the song is, there's still a moment of light: finding value in one's identity in religion and sexuality and believing they will grow, something beautiful can sprout from them. It's genuinely touching and powerful song, easily one of their best ever songs, and shows than when Matty Healy can just get out of his own way, he can make truly stunning pieces like this.
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Post by π‘πππππ€ on Jan 26, 2021 12:49:18 GMT -5
Who knew a song with the word βmasturbateβ in it could make me emotional
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 13:03:43 GMT -5
#21. The Box by Roddy Ricch
I mean, it was the song I listened to the most from last year, of course it was going to be on this list. And while it's cooled on me a bit thanks to overplay, my God does this still hit hard. The 'eeh-err' backed production was a meme sure, but there's real swell behind the orchestra looped as the base of the instrumentation. And Roddy's flow - especially on the second verse where he has the best bars - is impeccable. It's just unbelievably catchy the way it transitions from bar to bar: calling himself a presidential candidate and putting a target on Zimmerman, and saying fck 12, fck SWAT is just awesome. And yeah, this blocking Bieber from the top spot was also legendary. But at the end of the day, a song with this much swagger doesn't need further analysis. It bangs, and that's all that matters.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 26, 2021 13:05:10 GMT -5
Honorable Mentions Round 3:
I CAN'T STOP ME by TWICE
Blindly hating K-Pop is lame.
Jump Rope Gazers by The Beths
I can't wait to here The Beths' music soundtrack a ton of teen dramas.
forget me too by Machine Gun Kelly feat. Halsey
I've said it before, I'll say it again: Machine Gun Kelly made better music this year than Eminem.
Wartortle by Dogleg
This band named their album after Super Smash Bros. Melee and have a song named after Wartortle. How more awesome can you get?
No Pude by Lido Pimienta
Who knew that combining traditional Spanish music with industrial sounds would turn so cool.
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Post by π‘πππππ€ on Jan 26, 2021 13:05:29 GMT -5
^ the orchestra is what did it for me (βthe boxβ). it added so much drama and made the hook twice as hard than it would have
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 31, 2021 6:43:24 GMT -5
20. THE BADDEST by K/DA feat. (G)I-DLE, Bea Miller, and Wolftyla
I've talked about a lot of straightforward bangers in this list and I don't want to keep sounding like a broken record when I talk about "doing the basics" right. But for songs so simple in their appeal and so straightforward in their compositions, that when you listen to a songs like them, even when they're wildly beloved - and I've already shared many examples on this list, you come to a point as to what can you do to really stand out? So when I come here and say that THE BADDEST - a song from a virtual girl group created mostly as a marketing tool by League of Legends - that this is one of the best electronic bangers I've heard not only this year, but of the 2010s, I'm not mincing words. There's just so much synergy between the parts creating so much force: Soyeon's wild verse that shows she's one of the best Korean female rappers right now, Bea Miller sounding better than ever and with one of the best hooks of her career, Miyeon's welcome pre-chorus, and most of all the wild dubstep-esque production courtesy of Sebastien Najand. Just the way the whoopingsynths, trap snares, and thick rubbery bass collides with each others, it's just so crazy I love it. And yeah, part of this might just be my love for Skrillex and that classic dubstep sound but if there's a way to bring back that sound without neutering it, and especially in comparison to vanilla bland EDM that's saturated pop for the last 5 years, this feels like such a breath of fresh air. And unlike other songs on this list, even when I get tired of playing this song, coming back to just feels me up with so much energy. It's packs such a punch that even if K/DA never makes a song as good as this ever again, for one moment, the wild collaborative energy that is K/DA's motto came together spectacularly.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 31, 2021 7:01:08 GMT -5
#19. Pac-Man by Gorillaz feat. ScHoolboy Q
Y'know as someone who's been a bit a defender of Gorillaz' recent output as going a new direction and who will even hold Humanz as their best release since their return (yes, even more so than Song Machine), I think it does feels good to have a taste of that classic Gorillaz sound again. And there were a lot of Gorillaz songs to choose from this year: 'Desole' and 'Pink Phantom' were actually really close to making this list, but I went with this instead as it brings to mind the best rap collabs of Gorillaz' career and while it doesn't have the manic energy of 'Dirty Harry' or the cool attitude of 'Clint Eastwood' or 'November Has Come', what it does have are psychedelic vibes with the bass and synths that do bring to mind arcade Pac-Man machine, and the classic Gorillaz paranoia. The atmosphere of feeling off as you start to feel trapped and perhaps being a bit too high for you're own good...and then ScHoolboy comes in and steals the show with his best work since Blank Face. He just sounds so re-energized with tight flows but also still honest in his reflections in his come-up, as he's actually grounds the song in human struggle and the real fear he could wind back in the streets and crime. It's a great moment of reality in the strange demented world of Gorillaz and while that craziness can be a bit intimidating, it's also makes for amazing music.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 31, 2021 7:03:17 GMT -5
#18. Running Red Lights by The Avalanches feat. Rivers Cuomo and Pink Siifu
I'm actually surprised how much I this song grew on me and how much I ended up loving this song so much. Not that I was expecting to dislike this - although I can comfortably say this is the best thing Rivers Cuomo has done in a while - nor is it particularly weird or strange. On the surface: it seems like a rather naΓ―ve and sentimental love song, youthful in the infatuation. But that's the key phrase: on the surface. With context of the album: it becomes a moment of victory and momentary jubilation. An all about coming to terms with a break-up, this being placed after the storm clouds have cleared and the mind is starting to clear, it makes for a powerful moment. All of this lynch-pinned by Pink Siifu's short but powerful refrain "The light of my life is going out tonight In a pink champagne Corvette. The light in my life is going out tonight without a flicker of regret". Both Rivers and Pink still show melancholy and even fear of moving on without this person, but they've learned to not revolve around this person. anymore, there's sunshine after all this time. Not to mention the beautiful tribute to David Berman "Fly out into space, listen to the music. The stars are making without a flicker of regret" And yet, even without that context: it's still an subtly powerful love song, with Rivers Cuomo sounding great and with great crescendos, especially Rivers' final verse. It reminds me a lot of 'Dreams' by The Cranberries. And when I'm comparing you to one of my favorite songs of all time, that's praise that shouldn't be taken lightly.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Jan 31, 2021 7:08:25 GMT -5
#17. WAP by Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
I mean...did you really think I was going to go this list without mentioning this song?
I don't know what's left to say as somehow, WAP has gone on to be the most critically acclaimed songs of last year: not just making several publications list but being named the best song of 2020 by Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NPR of all companies. And yeah, it is a bit ridiculous that THIS was the song to garner so much acclaim and there is a part of me that thinks everyone is overrating this - and this is coming from a Cardi fan, mind you...but on the other hand, yeah I can't help how much I love this song and how this is one of the best written songs of the year. And no, I don't mean that ironically: both Megan and Cardi have amazing chemistry between each other and the lines they have are hilarious. For a while, Cardi had my favorite lines in the song, with "I want you to touch that lil' dangly thing that swing in the back of my throat" and "I want you to park that big Mack truck tight in this little garage" still putting a smile on my face, but a lot of Megan's lines have also grown on me. Not only does she have the best flows on this song, but especially her second verse with the lines "Your honor, I'm a freak bitch, handcuffs, leashes" and "If he ate my ass, he's a bottom feeder. Big D stand for big demeanor" just being so awesome. And again, I get if you find this song overrated or not funny, I completely understand. But as one of the few songs that not only was funny months later, but continued to get better, as I got into the flows and the catchy beat, and shows how underrated both Cardi and Megan are in terms of having buckets of charisma and clever wordplay, I just had a ton of fun with this.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 1, 2021 7:26:04 GMT -5
#16. Levitating by Dua Lipa
And here we have Dua Lipa's best song since Hotter Than Hell and one of the best straightforward dance hits of the year. A bit of a side-story here: for my New Year's celebration, I actually wanted it so that the crescendo of the final chorus hit at exactly midnight. I timed it perfectly so much so that we did our own countdown and the moment was amazing, and about the closest experience I got to going wild when a song came on in a year where we couldn't go outside normally. And that chorus and crescendo really is the best thing about this song: not only have I never gotten tired of it even after countless listens, it's one of the most propulsive hooks of the year that even in isolation, it was still as powerful as if it we're played at a concert; it is one of the best escapist songs of the year. It's simple pop that isn't dumbed down or stupid. It's a great throwback to disco while still doing it's own thing and allowing Dua to showcase her personality and charisma. And it's a good pop song that actually makes me want to dance. I can only hope that the quarantined ends soon because seeing this live or at a club will be a moment of joy I'd love to experience.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 1, 2021 8:03:34 GMT -5
#15. everything i wanted by Billie Eilish
Looking back at the success of this song, I'm a bit shocked it was as massive as it was, even if it's from Billie Eilish. It reminds me a lot of when I saw Tove Lo's 'Habits (Stay High)' was a hit as well (remix or otherwise): mental illness and depression aren't new topics, even in mainstream music, but you just don't see this honest in painting what serial depression is like. And it isn't simply the regular suicidal thoughts she mentions - though the references to the Golden Gate bridge is always chilling. It's the disappointment at the seeming apathy of everyone around you, how slow and grueling time can feel when you're in your head, and the acknowledgement how little things can stick with those depressed more than people would notice or expect. But I think the most powerful line is this: "I don't wanna let anybody know 'cause everybody wants something from me now and I don't wanna let 'em down" And as someone who's struggled a lot with depression recently, even though the subject matter might be a bit hard to stomach, it's oddly filled me with comfort, as I'm sure it has other people struggling with depression. It's one of the few songs where I don't really think Billie is performing. When the details are this real, there's nothing to act unfortunately.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 1, 2021 8:33:03 GMT -5
#14. Kerosene! by Yves Tumor
This is the song on this list that took the longest time to grow on me, nearly seven months until I finally realized how good it was and then an extra two to really love it. Because even though I'm not not a fan of Yves Tumor and especially their voice, I have to admit their thin creaky voice and leery attitude works for how horny this song is. It's a classic 70s almost glam rock song full of over the top machismo, swagger and sexual energy, with some amazingly catchy guitar solos courtesy of Joe Kennedy. Especially the way it comes in for the first chorus, it always hits like a truck. But the real star aren't the guitar solos or even the great horndog atmosphere, it's Diana Gordon. Not only does she sell the wild, lustful, and sexy energy of their song better than Sean Bowie can, like with the guitar, she just kicks the song into a higher gear when she starts cutting loose in a star-making performance. In fact, while it might be Yves' song and album, where they believes himself to be the dominant presence, it's almost as if she kicks him and drags him along into her own wildness, she takes over and shows him what real sexual command is like. Whether that was intentional or not, I'm not sure but either way this is a fantastic song and easily Yves Tumor's best song to date. I'm not sure if I'll ever really be on board with their music...but if they continues making great songs like this, I'll be happy to finally be on board the hype train.
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wrip
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Post by wrip on Feb 1, 2021 9:00:45 GMT -5
Kerosene is legitimately one of my favorite songs of 2020, itβs such a phenomenal song
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 1, 2021 9:06:43 GMT -5
#13. Shameika by Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple.
I mean I could end it right there. Like with WAP, it just feels everything around Fetch the Bolt Cutters has been analyzed and praised to death, what more can be added? Well I could say that even without getting into the lyrics, the instrumentation is amazing. The great piano work throughout the song along with the drums, and Fiona's vocalizing. And Fiona's performance is also worth highlighting: capturing both the bitterness of a world that won't allow her to express or be all that she wants but still stern and deterministic in remembering how much potential she has to break barriers. But yeah as every critic has said the real highlight is Fiona's writing and poetry. Yes, there are sharper moments on the album but this song is still as progressive, feminist, and empowering as the hype would say. And the refrain "Hurricane Gloria in excelsis deo" - just amazingly intelligent and powerful. Given Fiona Apple's sporadic work rate, it looks like it'll be a while before we hear any new material from her again but for now, we can revel in the glory of opening the doors with these bolt cutters
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Sambalada
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Post by Sambalada on Feb 1, 2021 9:09:38 GMT -5
The greatness of this list still popping!
also Yves Tumor uses they/them pronoun btw
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