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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 0:20:18 GMT -5
#42. SUPER CHAMPON by Otoboke Beaver
Genre: hardcore garage punk
Top 3 Songs:
George & Janice
PARDON?
Leave me alone! No, stay with me!
The shortest album on this list only clocks in at 21 minutes and even having several βsongsβ last less than a minute. Despite the short length, itβs not lacking in energy, fun, or power. This is by no means the βsmartestβ punk album and at points it can get rather too annoying, but itβs got a snappy and obnoxious sense of humor thatβs infectious, the playing especially on the drums is still great, and even the social satire has some bite to it, particularly in commenting on female domestication. It's not going to be for everyone, even for punkheads, but if you're willing to give it a chance, it's a fun album with a jolt of energy that I found enjoyable
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 0:25:10 GMT -5
#41. Mirrorcell by Greg Puciato
Genre: alternative metal
Top 3 Songs:
Lowered
Never Wanted
No More Lives to Go
I struggled for a while getting into Greg Puciatoβs music, as most of it I ignorantly wrote off as lesser Nine Inch Nails impressions. Iβm glad to have been proven wrong by this album though as it really blew any expectations I had with Greg Puciato out of the water. Grimey and nihilistic while still being sticky melodies and fun in a morbid sadomasochistic way, itβs a fantastic slice of 90s alt crossed with industrial metal that might be familiar and even overly serious, but is more than capable of expressing real unsettling darkness. Really glad to be on board with Greg's music and I hope others will be as well.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:10:52 GMT -5
#40. Endure by Special Interest
Genre: dance punk
Top 3 Songs:
Impulse Control
LA Blues
Foul
I really enjoyed RENAISSANCE but it didnβt make the list. While itβs very well produced, between the lyrics and the overall presentation, it feels a bit plastic and hollow. Flashy but lacking the substance Beyonce has shown over her past few releases If we want an album that not only does the 90s house dance scene justice but can talk to the masses in a more honest, down-to-earth, and empowering way, look to Special Interest. A dance punk album that lives up to both the dance part with great grooves and a punk energy in speaking towards the oppressed working class, sexually liberated women, and queer, itβs one of the best rock albums of the year and a great coming out party for Special Interest.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:15:47 GMT -5
#39. And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow by Weyes Blood
Genre: baroque pop
Top 3 Songs:
Children of the Empire
The Worst is Done
Grapevine
This might be lower than some might have expected but hear me out. Perhaps itβs due to me listening to more baroque pop over the past few years - including some classics from QUEEN Kate Bush - but this didnβt hit me like Titanic Rising did. That said much like Alvvays, this is more a case of high expectations for an act not precisely being met. Itβs still rather beautiful baroque pop with a grand orchestral sound that also knows when to be quiet and let Natalie's voice breathe and even inject nature sounds for more serenity. And I'd say this album also has a heavier lean towards social commentary with more dark musings on a rapidly changing world and a younger generation quickly seeing problems like climate change and corrupt politicians as things that need urgent solving for. It's acclaimed for a reason and while I might not join in the high praise, I'm still praising it regardless.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:20:38 GMT -5
#38. Heroes & Villains by Metro Boomin
Genre: trap
Top 3 Songs:
Walk Em Down (Donβt Kill Civilians)
Raindrops (Insane)
Around Me
Yup, itβs one of the best rap albums of last year. Metro Boominβs always been one of the best producers in hip-hop period and this ralbum not only solidified but delivered with some of his darkest and grimiest trap bangers to date. Some of Metroβs best production, solid features throughout, and a great villainous vibe, sure you can nitpick and callout dumb lyrics and guests that aren't as strong but I still had a lot of fun listening to this album than other hip-hop releases of last year. Itβs the best trap album of the year and without a doubt Metroβs finest hour as a lead producer.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:25:59 GMT -5
#37. BLUSH by PVA
Genre: futurepop dance punk
Top 3 Songs:
Transit
Soap
Bad Dad
I mentioned Special Interest delivering great dance punk. Well if they delivered the fun euphoric side of the club, PVA captures the dark moody nocturnal vibe. It manages to create great intriguing post-punk atmosphere - part hedonistic hypnosis and part sober dread over bad decisions but always eerily with Ella Harris' great monotone vocals, detailed lyrics, and great grooves, itβs a creative dance punk project and one of the best debuts of the year, an immediate statement to watch this band.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:31:03 GMT -5
#36. Palomino by First Aid Kit
Genre: indie pop country
Top 3 Songs:
Angel
Out of My Head
Palomino
Probably the simplest and most straightforward album on the list so far, I'd heard of how good First Aid Kit was but as I'd mentioned before this was the first time I really got my chance to sink my teeth in their music. And they more than lived up to their acclaimed with warm, soulful harmonies and simple but tight songwriting, one of the best country albums of the year and a great comeback for First Aid Kit. If you're a country fan, no excuse for you to skip on this album.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:36:37 GMT -5
#35. Where Myth Becomes Memory by Rolo Tomassi
Genre: post metal
Top 3 Songs:
The End of Eternity
Closer
Almost Always
There were several post metal albums that blew me away last year but out of all of them, this album stuck with me the most. A great fusion of stunningly beautiful at its post-metal brightest, and harsh and abrasive metalcore side, it also manages to tackling existential nihilism, memory, and eternity in a poignant way, with a real heartwarming look at time as both something to fear and something to be in awe of. It's easily an album I'd recommend to people who aren't metalheads if just to see how beautiful it could be and I hope metalheads don't skip on this album. It's truly something to remember.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:42:11 GMT -5
#34. Hellfire by black midi
Genre: avant-prog
Top 3 Songs:
The Defence
The Race Is About To Begin
Dangerous Liasons
Yβknow after black midi really broke throught and delivered what I thought was their best album to date, I didnβt expect theyβd have another one ready within a year. And while this isnβt as good as Cavalcade, itβs still damn good. A concept album revolving hell, debauchery, and sin with multiple detailed stories thatβs easy to follow, itβs frantic and darkly comedic but enjoyably macabre and extends black midiβs hot streak with immense creativity. From a war hungry general cursing his menβs βcowardiceβ to not continue bloodshed to a sea captain resorting to cannibalism, a washed up celebrity pleasuring his own ego literally on his death bed to a farmer realizing murder isnβt as easy as it looks, itβs a bleak, intentionally uncomfortable album with no respite but I would be lying if there isnβt some comedy, dark as it may be derived from the debauchery. And it helps the band are still great compositionists and are able to keep the chaos as orderly as possible.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:45:38 GMT -5
#33. I Love You Jennifer B by Jockstrap
Genre: experimental art pop
Top 3 Songs:
Glasgow
Concrete Over Water
Greatest Hits
If thereβs one act whoβs had a great year critically, itβs Georgia Ellery. From providing strings and vocals to another album weβll get to on this list, to working with Taylor Skye to put out this album, she's been on fire showing both her talents as a composer and a performer. And what's great is that either of her acts provide different sounds and expeirence. With Jockstrap you great creative production with wonky synth passage, more of a dreamy atmosphere, and simple but effective romantic poetry. Itβs a great expansion of Jockstrap from their first EP and shows the great potential Georgia has.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:50:16 GMT -5
#32. Formentera by Metric
Genre: indie rock
Top 3 Songs:
False Dichotomy
Oh Please
Paths in the Sky
I was a little bit skeptical when coming into this album. I didnβt feel the lead singles at first and was worried it wouldnβt be as good as their 2018 album which I think is criminally underrated. But Iβm so glad to have been proven wrong and got one of the best pop albums of last year. The pop hooks and indie pop rock guitar grooves are as sharp as ever as Metric dive darker with a more political bent analyzing doom and hope in activism in the 21st century digital age. And what I love so much is the sense of mature optimism and courage, as well as giving praise to the younger generation. It's a kickass indie rock project that also manages to be smart about its social commentary and I hope with the success 'All Comes Crashing' got, I hope Metric get more crossover success delivering quality rock music.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 28, 2023 22:57:19 GMT -5
#31. Hostile Architecture by Ashenspire
Genre: avant-garde progressive metal
Top 3 Songs:
BΓ©ton Brut
The Law of Asbestos
How the Mighty Have Vision
I talked about the bleak politics and crushing metal atmosphere of Chat Pile earlier. Well, if thereβs a metal band that not only put out harder metal instrumentation but also more terrifying poetry, it was Ashenspire. With subtly great progressive metal production and sharp and precise political commentary, with some of the most haunting and cutting nihilistic poetry Iβve read all year, with a stewing toxic combination of righteous venom towards power-hungry corrupt architecture, compassion for the victims of said system, and just a tired defeatism succumbing to these systems as well as your own holes of depression and addiction. Itβs an avant-garde metal project to check out, albeit one you might want to get out of before you get trapped.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:00:16 GMT -5
#30. Stalled Flutes, means by Asian Glow
Genre: shoegaze
Top 3 Songs:
Sneezing : Seasonal
Creators Ashpit Nowhere
Lit Lips the Bracken
Out of the three big names in modern shoegaze (Parannoul, sonhos tomam conta, Asian Glow), Iβve usually considered the latter my βleast favoriteβ. Not even that heβs bad but Iβve just thought they didnβt have the intense, punishing detail in their lyrics that STC had or that crisp beautiful production of Parannoul.
Well I am so glad to finally get on board because they ended up making my favorite shoegaze album of last year. An improvement across the board production wise and in being an incredibly ambitious album lyrically, it follows a βscience experimentβ created in a lab stuck in a tower, really an overarching metaphor for depression and anxiety, as well as other mental illnesses/disorders. It follows them from their deep pits of self doubt to them finally reaching out for connection to rejection and acceptance, all with a balance of optimism, despair, and maturity. And while it might lose some steam both sonically and in its overarching story towards the middle of the project, itβs still a rather beautiful shoegaze project that really deals with trauma and the lingering effects they have in rejecting love.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:05:21 GMT -5
#29. Dance Fever by Florence + the Machine
Genre: art dance pop
Top 3 Songs:
Girls Against God
Morning Elvis
Choreomania
Prior to this album, Florence felt like kind of a sleeper critical darling. Every album having one fantastic single (a reminder that Hunger is one of their best ever songs) but the albums donβt seem to carry the same talk as their singles. Well I hope that changes because not only are the singles of this album great, this might actually be the best F+TM album ever.
Theyβve always had more forward thinking feminist framing than most would give them credit and here is no exception. Some really great poetry on display with a lot of talk on the influence religion has had on stereotypical images of femininity and the domestication of women, as well as the power and freedom of taking charge of oneβs life in art or any other mediums. And yet amidst the powerful hooks and Florence Welchβs beautiful as ever voice, the instrumentation is always rather restrained with softer rock percussion and gentle patter of synths, never feeling overblown, thus making the big crescendos feel like itβs earned. Honestly incredible that more than a decade into their act and Florence + the Machine are still able to not only make consistently great pop, theyβre still hitting new creative strides.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:10:24 GMT -5
#28. Bewitched! by DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ
Genre: house
Top 3 Songs:
Call You
Beautiful, All Alone
A Part of Me
I made the bold statement to some of my friends that DJ Sabrina is this genβs Daft Punk. Not so much stylistically but more on their seemingly endless creativity to their approach to sampling and making dance music. Now their style isnβt for everyone and I was intimidated at first by the long song lengths and rather dreamlike structure of her songs. But once it clicked, she provided an experience no other producer provided this year.
If youβre having trouble getting in, I would suggest the sampler EP she released before this before trying this out, just as a way to get your toes wet. Once you do however, youβre in for a creative, romantic, and overall joyful album experience. that doesnβt overstay its welcome even with the 87 minute length. Without a doubt, itβs one of the best dance projects of the decade, an album that gets better with every additional listen, and a statement that DJ Sabrina will be one of the defining dance acts of the decade
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:15:11 GMT -5
#27. can openerβs notebook: fish whisperer by Vylet Pony
Genre: indietronica
Top 3 Songs:
kayak / for the love of music
good grief!
iβve still got something to teach you
A My Little Pony fan made better pop music than 90% of mainstream pop releases from last year.
Okay but jokes aside. Itβs been interesting seeing the growth and journey of Vylet Pony from niche artist making music solely for her fanbase to making electropop that can be enjoyable even if youβre not a Brony and are outside the fandom. And thatβs a testament to not only her talents as a writer - balancing her own created lore with genuine pathos regarding queer anxious identity as an artist - but also as a composer of pop. The Porter Robinson influence might be a bit obvious but Vylet has her own identity as a producer, especially in the mix of chiptune, twee indie bedroom pop, and EDM she crafts. The various compositions sheβs put out with key changes and solid hooks show sheβs more than a quirky pop act associated with My Little Pony. Sheβs shown herself to be one of the more endearing and creative pop acts to keep an eye on.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:20:34 GMT -5
#26. American Heartbreak by Zach Bryan
Genre: country
Top 6 Songs:
Something in the Orange (Z&E Version)
Happy Instead
From Austin
β68 Fastback
No Cure
The Good Iβll Do
If youβre intimidated by the 30-song, 2 hour length, I completely understand. Truth be told, listening to this album in full and not divided into listening sessions for each of the hours was a bit overwhelming. I fully sympathize with those that say this couldβve been cut down to less than half that time.
That said: all the acclaim is right in calling this one of the best country albums of the year and if nothing else, at least check out the best songs I've listed. Or maybe even listen to one hour of it, treat it like a double album. The first hour is more consistent while the second hour has higher highs but also the weakest songs of the album. Either way, your in for crispy warm organic, country instrumentation, Zach Bryanβs great range from angry gritty howls to weak, soft spoken vulnerability, and his great talent as a writer: not only in being a fair and balanced in the relationship drama and never painting himself as a pure good guy, but also in crafting some strong hooks, some of the best in country. And even if the length is daunting, at the very least if youβre a country fan, keep an eye on Zach Bryan. His organic rise is only good news for country.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:25:30 GMT -5
#25. There Will Be No Super-Slave by Ghais Guevara
Genre: conscious experimental hip-hop
Top 3 Songs:
Mimicry of the Settlers
Luminescence Peers Thru Their Confinement
Sir Douglas Mawson
This is the type of rap album that immediately makes you pay attention and follow whatever the artist has next, even if itβs leaked songs. Insanely detailed and precise in its politics, the furiously anarchist and punk hip-hop music, thatβs rarely been seen outside of JPEGMAFIA, clipping., or even Run the Jewels, itβs that lazer sharp in its targeted takedown of racist systems, especially with an eye in detail for the history of racism and the civil rights movement. And yet feels wholly unique thanks to Ghais Guevaraβs smart instincts as a producer regarding samples, and his own tight and fast flow. Like I implied, if you haven'tβ heard of Ghais Guevara, seek this out immediately. You can thank me later
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:30:05 GMT -5
#24. Rough and Beautiful Place by Mydreamfever
Genre: new age ambient
Top 3 Songs:
Spirit of Love
Sprout
Ether
Up until recently, this was my favorite project by the artist known as Parannoul. For those who donβt know, this is a project made by the same artist but rather than shoegaze, this is new age ambient music. Most ambient music is rather hard to get into as it is mostly abstract and atmospheric and can often also be anonymous and boring. Thankfully though, this is anything but. The luscious nature sounds and some absolutely stunning piano compositions, itβs some of the most beautiful and wonderfully composed ambient Iβve heard in awhile and not once did I find it boring or even long. Itβs rare that I can compare something to Spirited Awayβs beautiful soundtrack and matching it but honestly, I have no qualms about comparing the two and I think both are more than capable.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:35:10 GMT -5
#23. White Trash Revelry by Adeem the Artist
Genre: country
Top 3 Songs:
Heritage of Arrogance
For Judas
Books & Records
Adeem the Artist was a singer I appreciated more than what they brought to the table than I actually enjoyed or came back to. I liked the idea of an openly pansexual country singer writing about their sexuality and politics but I liked the writing more than their composition work. I mentioned earlier that great sharp socialist commentary Ghais Guevara brought. Well take that, apply it to a country sound but rather than machine gun anger, that furious punk energy is balanced careful sympathy towards others, particularly those in the rural south who most would ignore or demonize. And what's great is that there's also stronger melodic grooves and powerful hooks this time around, anchoring the revolution in a more populist sound. Itβs one of the best country albums of the year and one of the progressive with its politics
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:42:45 GMT -5
#22. Bring Me Back When the World Is Cured by Sadistik and Kno
Genre: emo abstract hip-hop
Top 3 Songs:
27 Club
Carnelian
GODMODE
Iβm typically averse to most emo rap if Iβm being honest. I can acknowledge itβs not really catered to my tastes in terms of beats and songwriting but I can also be honest and say I can find most of it juvenile and shallow, lacking any real grit or true darkness that I like when truly talking about depression and suicide.
So when I say this is an emo rap project I can not only get behind, but will say it is easily one of the best rap projects of last year, I mean it. Dark and moody with a heavy stormy atmosphere throughout, the bleak and dusty pictures it paints are full of shadows and toxic self-doubt, selfishness, hedonism, and trauma from a harsh background. And yet, thereβs still a great bounce in the production and sticky flows, with the crunchy percussion and samples providing some path of relief. And it also isnβt overwhelmingly gloomy with real appreciation for the love thatβs helped you in darkest times. itβs wholly captivating across itβs nearly one hour runtime
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 5, 2023 1:45:05 GMT -5
#21. Unison Life by Brutus
Genre: post-hardcore post-metal
Top 3 Songs:
Dust
Dreamlife
Victoria
A great debut is always great to hear, especially from a promising band thatβs just starting out. A Belgian band combining post-hardcore and post-metal, I remember describing this crudely as if BjΓΆrk tried her hands at making hardcore music. And while that description might be giving this band too much credit, I canβt deny that they donβt at least give it their all. With Stefanie Mannaertsβ powerful voice both vocally in some guttural screaming but also as a writer, and some shredding and drumming that still retains great melodies, one of the best metal projects of the year and an instant band to keep your eyes on.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 13, 2023 21:05:21 GMT -5
Well much like last year, I wasn't content to simply praising the best albums of last year. There were a lot of EPs last year that no matter how long or how short, even if they were 3 songs long, managed to be great projects all on their own so before we finally end this list with the Top 20 Best Albums of last year, I thought we'd take a break with the Top 10 EPs of last year.
#10. To Thin Air by Alaska Sargent
Genre: twee indietronica
Top Song:
twee indietronica
I discovered a lot of underground, independent music last year, more than I have the previous 3 years Iβve actively been consuming new music. As I mentioned in my best songs list, this is one of the most obscure acts I found but theyβre absolutely worth following. Itβs a short but beautiful electropop EP - with a lot of Porter Robinson and bedroom pop influences - looking at LGBT relationships and love in Bangor, Maine with intimate and crushing but ultimately empowering detail and emotion, thanks to a lot of intimate smalltown references and the emotive and sincere autotune over Alaska Sargent. This is definitely an act Iβm not only looking forward to future releases from, but one I really hope grows in audience.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 13, 2023 21:10:07 GMT -5
#9. she / her / black bitch by Doechii
Genre: pop rap
Top 2 Songs:
Persuasive
This Bitch Matters
TDEβs been rather rocky the past few years. Thereβs still a ton of talent on the roster but between inconsistent release schedules of albums as well as disappointing showings from signed acts and underwhelming releases from new signees, they arenβt the hot label they once were in the mid-2010s. Thankfully, theyβre still capable of delivering the goods. Weβll get to a certain album later on that some are expecting but how bout we look at their latest new recruit and their first ever female rapper Doechii with a pretty good and short EP. It really a showcase Doechiiβs talents and why sheβs someone to look out for: buckets charisma, tight flows across various different beats from grimy trap to R&B pivots, and strong wordplay, sheβs definitely a good investment. The future looks bright for this potential star in the making and hereβs to hoping she can breakthrough even more with a great album down the line.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 13, 2023 21:15:16 GMT -5
#8. In Awe of Insignificance by talker
Genre: pop rock
Top 3 Songs:
For the Sake of It
My Meds
Growing Up
This was a tense one. Iβve been a fan of talker since 2020 when this little unknown pop rock singer who was just starting out blew me away, nearly topping my best EPs list and my best songs list so I had high expectations for whatever she put out next. Tempering my hype a bit, I can acknowledge that this is nowhere near as good as her first EP with the instrumentation and the hooks not having as many earworms. That said, itβs still a really solid pop rock EP and with great personal writing talking about relationship drama, medicated depression, anxiety, and other relatable topics. Most of all, it still shows talker as one of the best hook writers right now with a great eye for melodies.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 13, 2023 21:20:24 GMT -5
#7. Coverglow pt. 1 by Asian Glow
Genre: noise pop
Top 3 Songs:
A Big Karismatic Excuse
Lucky
Cut Lips
Asian Glow makes both my lists this year but for very different reasons. While much of the power from Stalled Flutes came from the writing, most of my enjoyment for this EP actually came from the compositions with this being one of the brightest, upbeat shoegaze projects Iβve heard in a while despite still carrying a lot of touches from noise pop. The crisp drumming, catchy synth work and guitar melodies, plus additional help from Bomul, this actually might be my favorite Asian Glow project yet just in terms of its sonic palette. Definitely recommended if you like the new scene of noise pop.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 13, 2023 21:25:32 GMT -5
#6. λͺ¨νΈν¨ μμ λ Nebulous You by Della Zyr
Genre: dream pop shoegaze
Top Song:
λ΄: λ³μ λ
Έλνλ€ (Constellationβs Song)
One of the shoegaze acts I listened to last year and found really captivating was Della Zyr. I had her debut album λΉβνβλ―Όβκ³Ό μ°λ € Vitamins and Apprehension as one of the albums that nearly made my favorite albums list, a good slice of gentle shoegaze that also tackled grief and death in a rather beautiful way. This EP serves as a great epilogue to their debut album with more themes tackling loss and grief as well as acceptance. Iβd recommend both as theyβre good companion pieces but even if you listen to this EP on its own, youβll get great beautiful shoegaze vocals and compositions and touching lyrics. Check this out, even if youβre still dabbling your toes into this genre.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 13, 2023 21:30:16 GMT -5
#5. Icarus by Cryalot
Genre: electropop
Top 3 Songs:
Hurt Me
Labyrinth
I was actually a bit hesitant going into this project as despite being a big fan of Sarah Bonito, I wasnβt vibing with the lead singles. But sure enough, she pulled through with her first solo EP with fun electropop production, strong hooks, as well as expanding the genuine optimism of her last few songs for a project that appropriately soars. There are still moments of dark, erratic pop music but it makes the moments of pure euphoria and finally having your head above the clouds feel that much more triumphant. Itβs a sign that whether with her band or not, Sarah Bonito is such a creative, ambitious pop act and whether she continues with Cryalot or goes back to Kero Kero Bonito, Iβm excited regardless.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 13, 2023 21:35:06 GMT -5
#4. Rotoscope by Spiritbox
Genre: metalcore
Top Song:
Sew Me Up
Iβve talked briefly before about the seeming re-emergence of metalcore in the mainstream scene with acts like Bring Me the Horizon, Architects, Trivium, and Ice Nine Kills getting actual popularity. One of those acts part of the new scene is Spiritbox, a band Iβve appreciated more than I actually liked. While I do like that we have a female fronted metal band getting attention and actually being popular, and Courtney LaPlante has shown herself to be a credible vocalist and an emotional writer, as artists theyβre a tad inconsistent and I havenβt fallen in love with their music save for certain singles. And yet I donβt know how but somehow in three songs, Spiritbox showed their true potential. Everything from the writing to the grooves to the hooks to the synths paired with the playing, and even Courtneyβs screaming has somehow improved by leaps in this short EP. Itβs project that for me, really showed Spiritbox were worth all the hype and I hope that they keep this energy for whenever they release their sophomore.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Mar 13, 2023 21:40:11 GMT -5
#3. I'M NAYEON by NAYEON
Genre: K-pop
Top 3 Songs:
POP!
NO PROBLEM
Candyfloss
Iβm as surprised as anyone that this actually made the list. Well, maybe not shocked that I loved a solo EP from a TWICE member as Iβve been a big TWICE fan since 2019 but I certainly didnβt expect NAYEONβs mini to be this good! And yeah, on the surface it is just another K-pop mini album but damn if it isnβt so much fun. NAYEONβs sweet presence throughout, the sweet and bubbly production, the great hooks and the earnest energy of it all, itβs not just one of the best K-Pop projects in a while, unironically it was one of the best mainstream pop releases of 2022. TWICE can be rather wishy washy when it comes to putting out a consistently great project but when they get it right, the knock it out of the park
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