So obviously, once you look at this weeks lists, I have been on a serious Gwen Stefani/No Doubt kick this week. I have always loved Gwen, and I have to say that watching her on “The Voice” has made me love her even more. Additionally, I’m tapering off from my HOV kick last week and trying to get into more new music… like Jhene Aiko’s “Souled Out” album which is GREAT. I also have a REAL ‘Blast from the Past’ here, a song I haven’t even thought about for probably over a decade.
This weeks Top 10 list was almost a photo finish, because I couldn’t decide which of two songs should get the coveted #1 spot. At the beginning of the week, I synced new albums to listen to (because I had been seriously stuck on Sia, Beyonce and Rihanna for the past few months). Karen O, Jhene Aiko, Interpol, and a few others including Chris Brown’s “X”. I got stuck on a few songs on “X” and I was certain one of the songs would be my #1 pick this week, until Wednesday when I was working and found myself craving the Neo-Soul sounds of the likes of Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Anthony Hamilton and Chrisette Michele. That altered things a lot, and makes for a pretty interesting Top 10 this week. Enjoy, and have a great weekend.
10. Jhene Aiko “W.A.Y.S.”
W.A.Y.S. = Why Aren’t You Smiling. I love Jhene and her acronyms (“W.T.H.” still cracks me up). I didn’t get too far into her solo debut, but this song stuck to me for a few reasons. It’s really inspiring, and I really related to the struggle she talks about in the song. Also, it’s just a nice song overall, I’m really digging this girl and her style.
9. Chrisette Michele “Epiphany (I’m Leaving)”
I LOVE CHRISETTE MICHELE. I don’t know how many of you watch “R&B Divas LA”, but she’s a part of it this season, and though I liked her before, I was really surprised that the reality show made me like her even more. So much so I finally decided to give her back catalogue a listen. This of course was a big hit, so I was most familiar with it and I played it out a bit this week. Great song.
8. Chris Brown featuring Brandy “Do Better”
That Brandy sure can sang! This is an awesome song.
7. Jill Scott “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)”
This has always been a favorite of mine, it’s so pretty and poetic. No shade, but I don’t think Jill ever topped her debut album, simply because her style was so unique. This song, among others, is a testament that she brought something really new and completely HERS to the industry. Classic shizz!
6. Maxwell “Pretty Wings”
I do. I love me some Maxwell, and even though I didn’t fully get into this song as much as his others it’s definitely an excellent song. Melodies, Instrumentation, Lyrics and Vocals are ALL on point.
5. Anthony Hamilton “I’m A Mess”
“CALL ME. WRITE ME. LOVE ME. COME HOME.” I LOVE a good majority of Hamilton’s soulful debut album, but this one takes the cake. The lyrics are so intense, the instrumentation is dripping with that old school soul-stank, and that ending choir and the pitch effects… AMAZING!
4. Jill Scott “A Long Walk”
Again, Jill and her debut album are so frikkin unique. I was into this massive hit this week and marvelled at her flawless ability to mix soul, poetry and hip hop into such a lovely song. I was actually surprised I remembered most of the lyrics, and how much the song made me smile.
I like “X” a lot, but DAMN… 22 songs! It took me pretty much ALL of Monday to finally get through the album and before this song I was getting bored of the album. This hit, with such a lovely beat and sweet harmonies and lyrics, I fell in love.
(I see Breezy is on his PRINCE-game, because I can’t find the audio to this song anywhere on YouTube. I’m not sure how to Embed shit from Tumblr so I’ll just link it… click on the song title above to hear the track)
2. Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga “Loyal”
“Just got rich. Took a broke nigga’s bitch. I can make a broke bitch rich. But I don’t fuck with broke bitches.” I swear I never got into this song until this week (I had heard of it, but never heard it until the BET Awards), because it’s MAD Nigger-ish and Ignorant and Misogynistic and all’a’dat! But that beat is sick, I hella wanna go out to a club and get my dance on to it. Thus all the plays this week, I was working on my moves!!
1. Chrisette Michele “Charades”
THIS SONG IS SO GOOD “dot com period” !!! Yeah, I don’t even have anything else to say, it’s just a perfect flow and perfect mood. I was WAY into it this week. LOVE YA CHRISETTE.
I had this crazy Timberlake kick the last few days, this morning I was hella into this one. It’s a cute song, but I love the slowed down second part where he’s like “I almost forgot, who-oo-ooo you are!”
9. Jhene Aiko featuring Ab-Soul “WTH”
This Jhene girl and her “Sail Out” EP are steadily growing on me. This song is cute and mellow like most of the EP, but mainly what I love is the acronym… “Way Too High”.
8. The Black Keys “Lonely Boy”
The other day at work, I had this odd craving to hear this song. I was humming it, than just started singing it out loud and I just ended up having to go to YouTube and play it out! Great song, and hilarious video.
7. Janelle Monae featuring Miguel “Prime Time”
There is no end to how Awesome this song is. So mellow and sexy, with great lyrics and harmonies and all that. There is also no end to how underrated and under-appreciated Miss Monae is, which is a shame, but it doesn’t really matter that the masses sleep on her… us non-idiots know she rocks!
6. James Blake “Overgrown”
I had a variety of Music fixes this week. It started with Jhene Aiko, later in the week it was Timberlake, and for MOST of the week I was in a real James Blake zone. He’s just awesome, and this particular song reminds me of the weeks leading up to me seeing him perform Live in New York City.
5. The Drums “Money”
Speaking of New York City, there are a lot of songs that remind me of my short stay there (blog post will be coming probably next month) and this awesome-ly peppy song is one of them. I really really love this and was seriously addicted to it for a while, and I think I’m about to relapse.
4. James Blake “Our Love Comes Back”
Might have been my favorite James song this week.
3. Miguel “Use Me”
Today, a new Music fix began and his name is Miguel. This dude is also amazing, such a great writer, and this song is just so good that I almost always replay it at least 3 times before moving on to the next track.
This song starts, and it sounds like it’s gonna be this cornball ass pop track. The lyrics make me laugh though because I relate so hard. “If I had it my way, I’d roll out of bed say, 2:30 mid day, Hit the blunt then hit you up to come over to my place. You show up right away, We make love and then we fuck, and then you give me my space.” < YES! All of that!
1. Justin Timberlake “Spaceship Coupe”
I have never liked this song, the scratchy falsetto used to always get on my nerves where I couldn’t listen. But for whatever reason (maybe I’m feeling some kinda way if you know what I mean) I was addicted to it. It’s a little retarded still, but it’s a relaxing kinda of groove that’s actually fun to sing along with.
#TopTenThursday didn’t really happen, but that IS a weekly thing I want to keep going on this here blog. But, in the effort of trying to keep this blog active, I’m going to add another weekly list – TopTwentyFiveTuesday, or maybe this will monthly, we’ll see. (Mind you, BOTH the TopTenThursday and TopTwentyFiveTuesday won’t be exclusive to Music)
This post is to make up for two things actually, the #TopTenThursday thing AND the post I planned on making about my favorite music of 2014 so far. I could have easily posted something quick and easy at the end of June, the official halfway mark of the year, but I have downloaded so much music that I haven’t gotten a chance to listen to yet. I wanted to give those albums (Agust Alsina, The 1975, Beck, Jack White, et. al.) a fair listen and have a broader, more researched list of my favorite albums of 2014. Unfortunately I still have a bunch of albums in my iTunes that have zero plays… and it’s damn near August already. SO – instead of doing that (it’ll just have to wait until the end of the year) I’m just going to post the songs that I’ve been obsessed with this year. Some new, some old, all great.
And here we go…
25. Toni Braxton & Babyface “Roller Coaster”
Their “Love, Marriage & Divorce” album is really good, and this opening track is one of the stand outs.
24. Shakira featuring Rihanna “Can’t Remember to Forget You”
Sexy video. Fun song. And… well, RIHANNA!!!
23. Robin Thicke featuring Tamar Braxton “For the Rest of My Life Part 2”
22. M.I.A. “Bad Girls”
I was obsessed with this song my last month in New York City. Nice flow.
21. Pharrell Williams featuring Alicia Keys “Know Who You Are”
My absolute favorite from Pharrell’s “GIRL” album.
20. Jessie J “Thunder”
19. Justin Timberlake “Not a Bad Thing”
This is such a cute little Pop song, don’t “fuck around” and sleep on it.
18. The Black Keys “Waiting on Words”
Black Keys’ “Turn Blue” is an excellent album, and this has become my favorite.
17. Calvin Harris “Summer”
16. Christian Falk featuring Robyn and Ola Salo “Dream On”
I OWNED Robyn’s self titled 2008 album, but somehow never paid attention to this. I really got into it this Spring as I was easing back into the Bay Area life.
15. Drake “Connect”
14. K. Michelle “Can’t Raise a Man”
Great great song with a strong message that ladies NEED to pay attention to.
13. St. Vincent “Digital Witness”
Randomly saw St. Vincent on “Saturday Night Live” this Spring, and I fell in love with this quirky (and seemingly Prince-inspired) track. YAAAH!
12. Andre 3000 & Beyonce “Back to Black”
I was late to the party on this one, but this Amy Winehouse remake is so weird and strange – right up my alley.
11. Kanye West “Hold My Liquor”
10. Jhene Aiko “The Worst”
Thank the BET Awards for this, I seriously had never heard the song before the show. Really addictive song.
9. Coldplay “Midnight”
Just one word : AMAZING! (it reminds me of How To Dress Well though)
8. Jessie J “Sexy Lady”
Probably the most FUN song I’ve discovered this year, this girl is so terribly underrated and under-promoted. This song could be HUGE, but oh well.
7. Robyn & Royksopp “Monument”
Robyn and Royksopp’s collaboration album has highs and few lows, but this opening track is just EPIC!! Amazingly textured and one of the best aural experiences of the year. (It’s just a tad long, but worth it when you get to that Saxophone effect)
6. Beyonce featuring Drake “Mine”
I always find myself coming back to this beautifully complex track.
5. Duke Dumont featuring Jax Jones “I Got U”
I heard this on some random commercial and just had to have it. The steel drums, the low-key House bump and the Whitney Houston sample just make this one of the best FEELING songs I’ve gotten into this year.
4. Mariah Carey “Make It Look Good”
3. A Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera “Say Something”
Can’t even explain why I love this song, it’s so simple but makes such an emotional impact. Great stuff.
2. Mariah Carey “Faded”
This song is so sad, but the groove of it and Mariah’s vocals make it very addicting for me.
1. Coldplay “Magic”
Everything about this song is on point, the lyricism, the production and even Chris’ vocals are … well, they fit the song and mood.
