ONLY STUFF RELEASED THIS YEAR. IDC ABOUT YOUR OLD ASS DUSTY 2000/2010S MAIN POP GIRL ALBUMS.
i will tell you if i have listened, and what i think of it. if i haven't listened i will sample a couple tracks and tell you what i think, and if i'm interested in looking at more of the album.
purplebb4 - fetch the bolt cutters - STAN LIST. usually this style isn't really my thing, but fiona apple is just such a good song-writer that she keeps me hooked. i don't usually go back into an artist's catalog just because i find something i like, but if i had more time i would definitely do a discography ranking for her. mom edit. fave tracks include shameika, fetch the bolt cutters, under the table, newspaper, cosmonauts, drumset.
turkeylover - ungodly hour - ALSO ON THE STAN LIST. this is actually my most or second-most listened album (amine's limbo caught up very quick because i have roots on repeat, but that's a story for another time) for this year, and for good reason. it's so damn catchy. i was actually not a huge cxh fan going into this album, but i gave it a fair shot and i was really blown away with how much cleaner and brighter the production on this album sounded. pretty much every song on this record has a strong concept, even if the song itself isn't perfect. fave tracks include forgive me, baby girl, do it, tipsy, ungodly hour, lonely, and wonder what she thinks of me. they did the damn thing.
77sparks77 - sawayama - AGAIN, STAN LIST. rina was someone i was already pretty familiar with because of RINA, as well as AMAZING singles like flicker/cherry, so i had high expectations for this album and she FLEW past them. the concept of this record of being split between two different cultures, learning to fit in, and her discovering her personal identity is just a really natural one- making a record really about you is always a risk but when you're as iconic as she is, it's made easy. production on this thing is almost always spotless and doesn't ever feel too same-y or derivative. fave tracks include xs, stfu!, akasaka sad, paradisin, bad friend, fuck this world, who's gonna save u now?, and tokyo love hotel.
nicolef - future nostalgia - STAN LIST, y’all really do know what’s up. i actually made a much LONGER blog about this album (i’d link but i’m writing this on phone), so i won’t go too deep into this one, but it’s just such a good, poppy, and fun album. there’s such a nice balance of futuristic sound and nostalgic sound, which is exactly what the album was going for, so good for her. faves include future nostalgia, cool, physical, levitating, love again, and break my heart.
eoin - kid krow - so this is the first album i have not listened to!! exciting. my extent of conan grey knowledge is like, some twitter thread shitting on him for like doing an indie cover of super bass. the songs i'm checking out include:
comfort crowd - actually not bad! bassline is ok, vocals are ok, that bridge is really nice. the lyrics don't stick with me but it all sounds v nice
wish you were sober - this is also kind of cute. the instrumentals on this album are definitely really strong. i think they kind of overshadow his voice on everything so far except the pre-chorus of this song? the little breakdown at the end of the chorus is nice.
heather - so this is a guitar ballad and those don't instantly click with me, but this is kind of a better FIT for him, even if it's not my fave? he has a very soft voice and it fits really well with the chill guitars. the lyrics stand out a bit more, and the bridge was lovely. the bridges are like 3/3 so far.
overall not something i wouldn't revisit. the poppier songs have really quirky production and i could see conan being a really good artist if he finds more of a balance between the poppy instrumentals and his performances on top of them.
kinggeek - bare with me - i have some bad news... this record did NOT stick with me unfortunately, but i will need to revisit it to have any strong opinions. i remember liking MAYBE and no options. i promise to look into this album again because i LOVED LOVED LOVED ultraviolet but this really did just not stick with me unfortunately. i'm already listening to no options again and wow it's so good... i hope the rest of the album is this good and i just wasn't really in the headspace for it on first listen.
lexeyjane - heaven and hell - WHERE MY AVATARS AT??? right here apparently. hugs lexeyjane so much. i think this album is slowly creeping on to the STAN LIST, but i'm not sure i can outright say it is on the STAN LIST quite yet. there are a lot of high points on this record (mostly on the hell side, in my opinion) but there's some songs that i'm not completely sold on. i think ava's biggest strengths are when she can really get a good hook onto the paper and have an instrumental backing it that fits really well. my fave tracks off this thing really accomplish having a catchy hook that sticks with me. i constantly have something stuck in my head from this album after i listen, and i feel like every time i revisit it i find a new favorite. that being said, those favorites include: naked, omg what's happening, who's laughing now, belladonna, rumors (the britney worship is PALPABLE. yeah yeah yeah yeah) , so am i, salt, & sweet but psycho. see why i said i prefer the hell side?
slice - soul lady - ashamed to admit i never really checked this record out. soul lady (the single) was amazing when i listened, but soul lady (the album) was just something i never got around to. that being said i haven't heard a yukika song i don't like (i have also heard yesterday & cherries jubiles & maybe some other ones but i don't remember)
that being said, here's my opinions on the other 2 songs you requested -
pit-a-pet: not 30 seconds in and i'm already bopping. i love very upbeat, bouncy, quick synth lines. also THIS BASSLINE??? HELLO? everything is clicking and it goes very well together, and yukika floats along the instrumental so well. she has a very chameleon-esque vibe to her where she has a lot of styles that she can do. i am already sold on listening to the rest of the album just checking out this song.
neon 1989: this bassline... whoever is doing the production for this album i would like to personally send them money. and now that i'm listening further... this song sounds really familiar! does that sound familiar to you? because that sounds really familiar to me! can't take my eyes off you etc etc. there's a lot going on, with the synths, the violins, the trumpets, the bassline, the guitar line, but there's not too much going on at once. it very naturally flows from one sound to the next, but yukika does get a bit washed out when it comes to her vocals. i'm more interested in the instrumental than her performance, even if i do like it.
so even after only hearing 5 songs off the album, i get STAN LIST vibes. that's really all i need to say.
also slice - heavy light - so i've listened to this record, and honestly two of the songs you listed (4 american dollars and denise, don't wait) are the only two that really stuck with me. the rest of it kind of blended together, but i will attempt to give it another try if i can find the time for it. blogs like this always make me want to listen to a bunch of music, though, so if my opinion changes you will hear about it. that being said i DID like the previous u.s. girls album quite a bit when i listened, so maybe this suffers from the "bare with me" effect where i just wasn't in the right space for it to hit me fully and i wasn't devoting the attention it deserved. i hope so because i don't want to hate any of these recommendations :3.
zachbbs - chromatica - this is a light stan list for sure. i think lady gaga has had a really successful career as a pop star, so it's very hard NOT to compare chromatica to some of the like GENERATION-DEFINING material that has come before, but chromatica is a bit more of a personal vibe to me. she does a lot of different things on this album, with many hits and some misses, not to mention the meme-worthiness of moments off this album like sour candy and chromatica ii's transition into 911. lots of little bits and pieces to love here, and even the moments that i don't like as much sonically have a lot to unpack about lady gaga as an INDIVIDUAL, not an artist. free woman comes to mind as an example of that. so yeah, lots of good stuff here and even songs i don't like i find stuff i like about them. fave tracks include MY NAME ISN'T ALICE!!!!! (best song off the record don't @ me, rain on me, 911, plastic doll, sour candy, and babylon.
redfabfoxy - manic - i have... a few thoughts on this album? i listened a few times back when it came out so i'm revisiting the tracks i remember liking to refresh my memory, but i think my biggest issue with this album isn't that it's bad, but that it's not memorable. there's very few moments i LOVE here, but there's nothing i HATE except for maybe I HATE EVERYBODY, ironically. it is just a little too, um... maybe stale is the word? i don't mean to like DRAG this album but it just doesn't do a lot for me. even so, i have a couple moments i love, like clementine (the performance is actually REALLY good) and 3am, which is honestly very catchy. ITS 3 AM!!! IM CALLING EVERYBODY THAT I KNOW... and the "i need it digital cuz baby when it's physical i end up alone"... gives me chills. unironically. unfortunately that is about it for HUGE standouts.
michelleobama - the rarities - don't force a compilation album on me it's too much for my brain to unpack. funnily enough i checked out this album last night and then was turned off when i realized there's not much new material and didn't wanna sift through it to get to the good stuff. i will give it an honest shot, though, because i DO love a good mariah song. okay even now i'm like... confused? i don't know enough old mariah to know what is unreleased and what is just a random b-side and such. i'm reading through the wiki page but it's like decoding hieroglyphics i am too stupid for this. ANYWAYS i'm listening to some songs i think are new-ish.
all i live for is already leaving a good impression. the instrumental bumps, tbh. i like her performance but i mean we KNOW mariah can sing so that's kind of a given. i like the chorus too, when all the backup vocalists come in it's very cute she did that. all around a pretty solid 90s r&b cut.
i pray is catching my eye because of its wikipedia description. *clicks play* i like the lyrics here, the instrumental better back this bitch up! once the chorus hits i'm really feeling it. i'm not exactly a piano ballad person but mariah can obviously sell this type of song very well. loving the lyrics too. not religious but this is the type of shit i'd be shaking my ass too in church.
save the day is one of the only tracks i HAVE heard because you know i had to check out a lauryn hill feature i did that christina aguilera type of click. i won't even say much about it it's just an 11/10 like that's two legends on a really lovely song together. it's a statement, but it's not understated or overstated. it feels very NATURAL unlike lots of political songs i hear. they snapped.
so... maybe i will check it out. no promises but it DOES seem like there's a lot of cool stuff and the more i think about it the more a career-spanning album from THE ELUSIVE CHANTEUSE seems like something i could get into. mom edit, hopefully STAN LIST.
iigalaxyii - after hours - STAN LIST? i think this album might be STAN LIST level, not sure. what i DO know about this album is that it's highlights are s+++ tier. there's such a great blend of pop and r&b on this album, and at its height you get REALLY amazing songs. i was not like a HUGE weeknd fan before this album but after hours brought me into his circle. blinding lights is obviously the biggest standout, but i love a lot of songs off of this album. i think if it was trimmed down a little it would be maybe one of the best albums to come out this year, but even with it being a little thick it's still great. so... yeah! good album good artist yup yup yup. fave tracks include hardest to love, scared to live, snowchild, heartless, blinding lights, and in your eyes. also the doja cat remix of in your eyes is also good but that doesn't count really. but it is good.
ribbons - my agenda - all the singles so far are good except gentleman that one is kinda meh. i am excited because flamboyant was easily my fave album of 2019 and i have edgelord on repeat already. also every single feature is funny as fuck. obviously faves include sorry bro (i love you), m'lady, and edgelord. that village people song is gonna be HEAT. i promise you. trust. also f the world i am excited for because quay dash eats. also clarence clarity on the outro is a good sign, not to mention umru/dylan brady on some of the already released songs... yup.
franzella - folklore - honestly if you asked me like 3 months ago this would be on the STAN LIST, but a few of the songs i really liked fell off for me. i kind of like taylor doing an indie concept album, but it only works sometimes where she goes for something that isn't derivative and overdone. like doing a ballad is cool, but you kind of have to hit it with a concept and a really strong performance for it to work, at least for my standards. like, exile is a slower song, but bon iver and taylor really work together well on the song, and the concept is strong, so it works. something like cardigan doesn't have that effect because taylor's metaphors are... kind of corny. sometimes. i can't talk THAT much shit on her metaphors because sometimes they work, but when they don't they fall pretty flat. ANYWAYS, on a more positive note, i do LIKE a lot of the songs that go for something different or interesting, or at least have something i can get into. as long as there's good songwriting, i can get behind most of the songs, and taylor as an artist has really learned to deliver that type of thing. i have a lot of tracks i can at least get into, but my favorites are the last great american dynasty, exile, my tears ricochet, seven, august, this is me trying, and epiphany (i could talk FOREVER about how much i love epiphany but i will save that essay for another time).
konohavillage1 - what's your pleasure? - this is another album i MEANT to get into but just failed to cuz i was focused on not-music-related things. that being said, i am a bit of a jessie ware fan she is pretty good methinks from what i know her from (which is admittedly not much). here's my opinions on a few of the singles:
adore you is really pretty, i don't know how to DESCRIBE the synth lines but the one that comes in after the second chorus with the 3d audio effect is my fave. the performance fits really well. she's not doing anything CRAZY but she has a very s*xy voice and i like her. i adore you too, jessica.
mirage (don't stop) starts out with some funky guitar lines and a glowy little synth line... oh and that bassline. very good. the energy here is very similar, but it's also got a bit of a different style. i can see that this album sticks to its concept but is already trying different things, which is a good look. i love the dreamy vocals leading into the chorus, and the chorus hits pretty well! don't stop moving togetha! don't stop moving togetha! keep on dancing indeed. everything is arranged incredibly well it's all very delicious and i'm eating it up. i don't know who she is sampling for the chorus harmonies but i like them too. i wish the bridge was more than just a dance break, but considering that's like... my only problem with either song? pretty good impression so far.
what's your pleasure? is the title track. what IS my pleasure? i'm sure i'll find out. already liking the instrumental on this thing. the vocal passages where she "ooooooohs" are a little spooky. this is definitely a banger. it definitely has a very disco-y flair, and oh my GOD is that chorus amazing. here together, what's your pleasure? my pleasure is listening to this song rn. also i like the way that one note of synth during the chorus hits. i like that a lot of these instrumentals have an appropriate amount of layers. she's not going overboard when she totally could, it's really well-edited. the lyrical content + the vocal performance clicks perfectly here too.
so... the songs are definitely STAN LIST material, so i AM gonna have to get into this album. thank you for the recommendation kenward.
lukesaur - roisin machine - funny story i actually listened to this album at WORK yesterday so it's fresh in my mind. a friend of mine kind of got me into her so when i saw she released an album it was at the top of my list for listening this week. i like a lot of the songs already, but i've only done a full listen once so i can't really make any HUGE claims. what i will say is that a lot of the songs are very spacy, yet dancey, which is kind of a fun combination and makes for a nice listening experience. there's a lot of funk/soul elements that i love about it and it has kind of an older vibe to it, but it's not like a "dated" old, it's just like a referential type of old. my fave tracks so far are simulation, shellfish madamoiselle (which is funny enough as just a song title), murphy's law, and narcissus.
ilovelarry - punisher - i have been meaning to get into this album too, but i never got around to a full listen. i liked kyoto's video and aesthetic, so i wanted to check it out but i am just a bit lazy and wasn't focused on listening to it. here's some opinions about songs.
kyoto is obviously the track that made me INTERESTED in this album, so it was nice to listen to it again. i really like the... i actually have no idea what instrument it is but it's kind of flutey? my fave part tho is the (sort of) chorus when the trumpets come in and break up the rest of the song. the sound is really nice overall, it kind of reminds me of glass beach? kind of a dorky comparison but i don't listen to much alt-indie-pop-rock type stuff so that's where it took me. unrelated but the chemtrail bar was funny i love it when artists just throw random conspiracy bars in the mix.
punisher is actually a surprisingly cute guitar ballad-y type song at first, but the song really benefits from not having too much in the way of her vocal performance and lyrics. that part hits really well. she's got a really interesting tone to her voice, and when those violins come in UGH it's just so pretty!!! "either i'm careless or i wanna get caught" kind of hit me really hard, wow. if anything i just wish the song had a bit more structure, maybe?
ICU has a pretty interesting start with that echoed vocal and grungy guitar to start off. this is probably my favorite guitar riff on the record- i can see the use of guitar getting a bit old on a full-album length, but even then i don't mind it in any individual song. the lyrics are kind of cute i like the verse about the mom who talks all that shit but doesn't really say nothing of value because i know people like that. i think this song could use a bit MORE intensity though. i'm sure her softer voice is probably a bit better-sounding, but i feel like this song specifically could do with a more aggressive performance - even the harmony she's performing is kind of what i'm pointing to when i think of that.
so overall... not bad! not exactly my THING completely, but i do like it and will have to listen to the whole album.
Chromatica ( was going to post Sawayama, and then I was gonna post ungodly hour.. but both were posted so I guess ill post the only other 2020 album I liked )
if u havent listened 2 either album, listen 2:
soul lady: soul lady, pit a pet, neon 1989
heavy light: 4 american dollars, and yet it moves, denise dont wait
