Ike Turner's Black Man's Blues album kicks the ass off the pop stuff he and Tina Turner were doing at the same time.

I don't mean that in a "the other stuff sucks" way. No way! But, an instrumental funk and blues album let them dig in without giving a shit about being useful for radio play. Vanity projects can be awesome and this one is.

A combination of the opening and ending themes from Kill La Kill, InuYasha, Rose of Versailles, Mawaru Penguindrum, Yuri Kuma Arashi, and Shoujo Kakumei Utena. I call it "Shower Music."

Listening to "Nostalgia of Delusion" makes me cry. A lot.

Giovanna been someone's muse recently?

I'm listening to a beautifully put together AMV of Anthy and Utena.
The song is called 'Last Dance' by Chapeau Claque.

 
My favorite from Random Access Memories.
This one really hits you hard with that sense of nostalgia. Except I've never even kissed a girl, so... this song expresses my desire to be in a reciprocated and loving relationship.

Last edited by No_Time (10-08-2015 02:05:37 AM)

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I thought it was a masterpiece back when it came out and still think it is.

I'm pretty hung up on the album Enter the Mindsweep by Enter Shikari. I've fallen in love with them.

The original Broadway cast recording of Hamilton.

If I'm not actually listening to it, it's on a loop in my head.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Pentatonix Version

Oh Avi, my love!

The year-end Hot 100 came out again -- funny how it keeps doing that, at about the same time every year -- so I did a silly and purely personal Top 10 again.  And I dunno, guys.  To go by my wall-to-wall playthrough of the Hot 100, pop music this year was mostly dreary and boring.  I like energy and enthusiasm in my pop music!  Fortunately, I found enough songs to make a list I'm reasonably happy with.   Songs that got big prior to 2015 -- such as "Uptown Funk" and "Thinking Out Loud," the two biggest pop songs of 2015 -- are excluded.

10 "Ex's & Oh's," Elle King.  Kicking off the list with a song that is better the less attention I pay to it.  I love its energy and conviction.  Its lyrics, not so much, but that's me.
9 "Can't Feel My Face," The Weeknd.  This band had tons of songs in the Hot 100, most of which I really disliked.  This one's totally different.  I dig the cool funky chorus.
8 "Fight Song," Rachel Platten.  When Taylor Swift started making pop music, this is the kind of song I hoped she would make: earnest, vivid, just indie enough to be interesting.
7 "Take Your Time," Sam Smith.  Jaw-droppingly, this is a pop song that celebrates respecting women's boundaries.  Sort of country, with cool freestyle bits that sell the song for me.
6 "Love Me Like You Do," Ellie Goulding.  This is not Burn or even Figure 8, but as usual, the force of Ellie Goulding's presentation carries me along.  The lady knows how to use her wall of sound.
5 "Lean On," Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. M0.  Cool lyrics, super-cool hook, and the best use of a minor key in pop music this year.  Blow a kiss, fire a gun...
4 "Heartbeat Song," Kelly Clarkson.  Wow, I love this song way out of proportion to how artistically respectable it is.  Nothing deep here, just a crazy good hook and beat, with four familiar and comforting chords.
3 "Blessings," Big Sean ft. Drake & Kanye West.  Creative rhymes, good flow, thoughtful topics -- in short, everything that every other rap song on the 2015 chart wasn't.  Nicki tries, God bless her, but she picks the worst collaborators.  (Example.)
2 "Bad Blood," Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar.  I'm aware of the irony of putting Taylor up here and Rachel Platten at #8.  What can I say?  The Taylor Swift we got is less real than the Taylor Swift I wanted, but it's hard to hate when she makes songs that sound like this.
1 "Ghost," Ella Henderson.  I have never disliked a song called Ghost or Ghosts.  (See also: the Indigo Girls, Michael Jackson, Laura Marling.)  This one alternates between funky verses and a chorus that builds power as the song goes on.  I love, love, love a slow burn.

Honorable mentions, in alphabetical order by artist, and also, coincidentally, by title:
"Honey I'm Good," Andy Grammer.
"Marvin Gaye," Charlie Puth ft. Meghan Trainor.  (This is a really cute song.  Honorary #11.)
"Night Changes," One Direction.
"Time of Our Lives," Pitbull & Ne-Yo.
"Shut Up and Dance," Walk the Moon.

Special Award for Best Title: "Bitch Better Have My Money," Rihanna.

And that's what I've been listening to for the last couple days.

Last edited by satyreyes (12-22-2015 08:23:56 PM)

Yasha wrote:

Teen Idle

I adore Marina, and especially this song. Her Electra Heart album can be hit or miss, but it's really beautifully sung, if a bit overproduced for some tastes (I think the production adds to the theme, though). If you're interested, her voice really shines on her newest album, FROOT.

I'm listening to the fabulous artist Christine and the Queens, who was the opening act when I saw Marina and the Diamonds' Neon Nature Tour this past November. Christine (real name: Héloïse) is pretty popular in France already, but some recognition stateside would be deserved. She's also a beautiful woman in a suit who channels Michael Jackson while dancing...so...

Last edited by Crystalline_Dream (12-30-2015 10:08:29 AM)

Currently listening to Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon. I need to wash out the bad after-taste of Speeding Bullet to Heaven.

Let's just say all the acclaim Hamilton's received is well-deserved. The Youtube playlist of the original cast album has been on repeat for days.