tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86793732024-03-07T02:23:08.952-06:00Hectic But EclecticGot a nasty habit called rock 'n roll.Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.comBlogger201125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-77314614357594745842020-01-09T21:20:00.000-06:002020-02-15T10:53:24.110-06:00Best 50 Albums of 2019<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-ligatures: none;">A little bit later than usual, but <a href="https://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2019/03/my-favorite-albums-and-singles-of-2018.html" target="_blank">earlier than last time</a> at least. I'm still compiling my singles list and you can expect 2010s albums and singles lists as well. Stay tuned! Music is still a very exciting place despite my lack of posts.</span></span><br />
<ol style="font-size: 14.6667px;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Weyes</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Blood – Titanic Rising</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Angel Olsen – All Mirrors</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Brittany Howard </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">–</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Jaime</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Big Thief – Two Hands</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jamila Woods – LEGACY! LEGACY!</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Freddie Gibbs & </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Madlib</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> - Bandana</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Tyler, The Creator – IGOR</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Clairo</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> - Immunity</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Spellling</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Mazy Fly</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Shay Lia – Dangerous</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Little </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Simz</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Grey Area</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Mereba</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">- The Jungle Is </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Only Way Out</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Snoh</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Aalegra</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Ugh, those feels again</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jessica Pratt – Quiet Signs</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Danny Brown </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">–</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">uknowehatinsayin</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">¿</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Crumb </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">–</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Jinx</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Faye Webster – Atlanta Millionaires Club</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Julia Jacklin – Crushing</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Dave </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">–</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> PSYCHODRAMA</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">YBN Cordae – The Lost Boy</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Hatchie</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> –</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Keepsake</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jenny Lewis – On </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Line</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Regrettes</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – How Do You Love?</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Bon Iver – i</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, i</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Cate Le Bon – Reward</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Ari Lennox – Shea Butter Baby</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Chai – Punk </span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Ariana Grande – thank u, next</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Beck – Hyperspace </span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Solange – When I Get Home</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">James Blake – Assume Form</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Nilüfer</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yanya</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Miss Universe</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Marika Hackman – Any Human Friend</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Rapsody</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Eve</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">21 Savage – I am > I was </span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The Chemical Brothers – No Geography</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Leven Kali – Low Tide</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Kot</span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">a The Friend – FOTO</span></span></li>
<li><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Sir </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Babygirl</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Crush </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">On</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Me</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Maxo</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Lil Big Man</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Raphael </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Saadiq</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Jimmy Lee</span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">FKA twigs – Magdalene</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Girlpool</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – What Chaos Is Imaginary</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">TEEN – Good Fruit</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Denitia</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> – Touch of the Sky</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Birdman & Juvenile – Just Another </span><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW6643893 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Gangsta</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Eryn Allen Kane – A Tree Planted By Water </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Honorable Mention: </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">2 Chainz – Rap Or Go To The League </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Anderson .Paak – Ventura </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Angel Bat Dawid – The Oracle </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Benny Sings – City Pop </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Beyoncé – The Lion King: The Gift </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Bibio – Ribbons </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Big Thief – U.F.O.F. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Bleached – Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Boogie – Everything's For Sale </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Chance The Rapper – The Big Day </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Charli XCX – Charli </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Charly Bliss – Young Enough </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Chris Crack – Crackheads Live Longer Than Vegans </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Coldplay – Everyday Life </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Common – Let Love </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Deerhunter – Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Default Genders – main pop girl 2019 </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Denzel Curry – ZUU </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Devin Morrison – Bussin' </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Diamond D – The Diam Piece 2 </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Diät – Positive Disintegration </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Doja Cat – Hot Pink </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Domo Genesis – Façade Records </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Dreamville- Revenge of the Dreamers III </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Earl Sweatshirt – Feet of Clay </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">EARTHGANG – Mirrorland </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Emily King – Scenery </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Ex Hex – It's Real </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">FIDLAR – Almost Free </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Flying Lotus – Flamagra </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Gang Starr – One Of The Best Yet </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">GoldLink – Diaspora </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Helado Negro – This Is How You Smile </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Honeyblood – In Plain Sight </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jade Bird – Jade Bird </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jasmine Thompson – Colour </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jay Som – Anak Ko </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Jim Jones – El Capo </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">JPEGMAFIA – All My Heroes Are Cornballs </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Kari Faux – Cry 4 Help </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Kehlani – While We Wait </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Kelsey Lu – Blood </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Kevin Abstract – ARIZONA BABY </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Koffee – Rapture </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Little Brother – May The Lord Watch </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Maggie Rogers – Heard It In A Past Life </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Mariah The Scientist – Master </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Marlon Craft – Funhouse Mirror </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Megan Thee Stallion – Fever </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Ghosteen </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Ol’ Burger Beats – Daybreak </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Pink Sweat$ – Vol. 2 </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Pivot Gang – You Can’t Sit With Us </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Priests – The Seduction of Kansas </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Raveena – Lucid </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats – Anger Management</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;"><span class="TextRun SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">(Sandy) Alex G – House of Sugar</span><span class="EOP SCXW6643893 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233279":true,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":240}" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">ScHoolboy Q – CrasH Talk </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Sheer Mag – A Distant Call </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">SiR – Chasing Summer </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Steve Lacy – Apollo XXI </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Summer Walker – Over It </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Tacocat – This Mess Is A Place </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Taylor Swift – Lover </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">The Game – Born 2 Rap </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">The Highwomen – The Highwomen </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">The National – I Am Easy To Find </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">The New Pornographers – In The Morse Code of Brake Lights </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Tool – Fear Inoculum </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Toro y Moi – Outer Space </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Tove Lo – Sunshine Kitty </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">TOY – Happy In The Hollow </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Twist – Dancing </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">YG – 4REAL4REAL </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Yola – Walk Through Fire </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Young Nudy & Pi’erre Bourne – Sli’merre </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Young Thug – So Much Fun </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "calibri_embeddedfont" , "calibri_msfontservice" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px;">Zaska – It Takes A Village </span></span></div>
</div>
Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-12191903765405882622019-03-21T08:03:00.001-05:002019-10-12T19:54:38.767-05:00My Favorite Albums and Singles of 2018It's been a while since my last post, but I've never stopped following or listening to music. If anything, I probably listen to more new artists than before, who are especially easier to find due to the advances of the 21st century.<br />
<br />
So why no posts? The typical answer that any blogger who started last decade will tell you: life. <br />
<br />
Life has blessed me in many ways since I last posted, but it has changed in such a way that it's forced me to adapt in a way that I have yet to accomplish.<br />
<br />
I don't see myself posting regularly in the future, although the thought is nice. It's too hard to predict when I'll bring an idea to fruition. The good news is that I still have ideas and I hope to share them more often than I have in the past few years.<br />
<br />
I still host my radio show, Noteworthy at <a href="http://radio.uic.edu/" target="_blank">UIC Radio</a> on Mondays from 6PM-8PM CT, so if you would like a reliable, steady source for what I'm listening to or some of my ideas, that's your best bet. The radio show also has its own <a href="http://facebook.com/NoteworthyRadioShow" target="_blank">Facebook </a>and <a href="http://twitter.com/noteworthyradio" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<br />
<br />
I never stopped coming up with ideas about music and I still started on year-end lists for 2016 and 2017. I would like to finish them at some point because it's going to bug me until I do, but I can't guarantee anything. I have no idea when the next time I'll pop up on here will be. I'll definitely do my 2019 lists, and if I've learned any lessons, it should be released in a more timely manner.<br />
<br />
All I know is that I was frustrated that I hadn't posted a list in two years and it nagged me. I was simply determined to rectify that for 2018.<br />
<br />
The actual list itself was done around late December/early January, but I'm just now getting around to posting it. Yes, it's going on April and I'm not going to let that be an excuse.<br />
<br />
Perhaps fewer excuses and more ideas would do me some good.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Top 50 Albums of 2018</u></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Saba – Care For Me</li>
<li>Beach House - 7</li>
<li>Noname – Room 25</li>
<li>Tirzah – Devotion</li>
<li>The Beths – Future Me Hates Me</li>
<li>Tune-yards – I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life</li>
<li>Robyn – Honey</li>
<li>Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar</li>
<li>Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How You Really Feel</li>
<li>Meshell Ndegeocello – Ventriloquism</li>
<li>Reason – There You Have It</li>
<li>Nao - Saturn</li>
<li>Tom Misch - Geography</li>
<li>Mac Miller – Swimming</li>
<li>Kali Uchis – Isolation</li>
<li>Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer</li>
<li>Cornelia Murr - Man On My Mind</li>
<li>Pusha T – Daytona</li>
<li>Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap</li>
<li>DJ Koze – Knock Knock</li>
<li>Royce da 5’9” - The Book of Ryan</li>
<li>Anna Calvi - Hunter</li>
<li>Black Panther: The Album</li>
<li>Arin Ray – Platinum Fire</li>
<li>Snail Mail - Lush</li>
<li>J.I.D. -DiCaprio 2</li>
<li>Mitski – Be The Cowboy</li>
<li>The Internet – Hive Mind</li>
<li>Jon Hopkins - Singularity</li>
<li>Ariana Grande – Sweetener</li>
<li>Lucy Dacus - Historian</li>
<li>Tash Sultana – Flow State</li>
<li>Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – Everything's Fine</li>
<li>J. Cole – KOD</li>
<li>St. Beauty – Running To The Sun</li>
<li>Travis Scott – Astroworld</li>
<li>Jeff Rosenstock - Post-</li>
<li>Kadhja Bonet - Childqueen</li>
<li>Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound</li>
<li>Vince Staples – FM!</li>
<li>Fatima - And Yet It's All Love</li>
<li>NoMBe – They Might’ve Even Loved Me</li>
<li>Tracey Thorn – Record</li>
<li>Hop Along – Bark Your Head Off, Dog</li>
<li>Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs</li>
<li>Soccer Mommy - Clean</li>
<li>Esperanza Spalding – 12 Little Spells</li>
<li>Smerz – Have Fun</li>
<li>Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy</li>
<li>U.S. Girls – In A Poem Unlimited</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>Top 250 Singles of 2018</u></b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi, PARTYNEXTDOOR and 070 Shake – Ghost Town</li>
<li>Janelle Monae feat. Grimes – Pynk</li>
<li>Jessie Reyez - Sola</li>
<li>Radiant Children – Go Left</li>
<li>Pusha T - If You Know You Know</li>
<li>Ariana Grande – get well soon</li>
<li>Cassie – Don't Play It Safe</li>
<li>A$AP Rocky feat. Moby – A$AP Forever</li>
<li>Jonny Greenwood – House of Woodcock</li>
<li>J. Cole – ATM</li>
<li>Xander feat. Malik Elijah - askmeificare</li>
<li>Janelle Monae – Make Me Feel</li>
<li>Pusha T – The Story of Adidon</li>
<li>Madison McFerrin - Insane</li>
<li>Kacey Musgraves – High Horse</li>
<li>Drake – Nice For What</li>
<li>Janelle Monae – Django Jane</li>
<li>Jessie Reyez – Apple Juice</li>
<li>Ari Lennox – Whipped Cream</li>
<li>Coco O. Bled For You</li>
<li>Mac Miller – Small Worlds</li>
<li>Anderson .Paak - ‘Til It’s Over</li>
<li>Halsey feat. Big Sean & Stefflon Don – Alone</li>
<li>Low - Disarray</li>
<li>Anderson .Paak - Bubblin’</li>
<li>Hatchie – Sure</li>
<li>D.R.A.M. - Best Hugs</li>
<li>Khalid feat. Swae Lee – The Ways</li>
<li>Cornelia Murr – Man On My Mind</li>
<li>Anderson .Paak feat. Kendrick Lamar – Tints</li>
<li>The 1975 – Sincerity Is Scary</li>
<li>Snail Mail – Heat Wave</li>
<li>Gucci Mane feat. Kodak Black & Bruno Mars – Wake Up In The Sky</li>
<li>Vanessa Zamora – Al Fondo de Mi</li>
<li>Drake – God's Plan</li>
<li>DJ Esco & Future feat. Nas – Walk Thru</li>
<li>Brandi Carlile – The Joke</li>
<li>N*E*R*D feat. Kendrick Lamar – Don't Don't Do It</li>
<li>Doja Cat – Mooo!</li>
<li>Courtney Barnett – City Looks Pretty</li>
<li>Dean – instagram</li>
<li>Jessie Reyez feat. JRM – Imported</li>
<li>Rosehardt & Space People – Electric Slide (In Ya DMs)</li>
<li>Nipsey Hussle feat. YG – Last Time I Checc’d</li>
<li>Hatchie - Sleep</li>
<li>Moonchild - The List</li>
<li>serpentwithfeet – bless ur heart</li>
<li>Hoodboi feat. Tkay Maizda – Glide</li>
<li>Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B – Finesse (Remix)</li>
<li>St. Beauty – Caught</li>
<li>Charlie Puth feat. Boyz II Men – If You Leave Me Now</li>
<li>Sunflower Bean – Twentytwo</li>
<li>The Internet – Roll (Burbank Funk)</li>
<li>Rich The Kid – Plug Walk</li>
<li>Ella Mai – Boo'd Up</li>
<li>Childish Gambino – This Is America</li>
<li>Swizz Beatz feat. Lil Wayne – Pistol On My Side (P.O.M.S.)</li>
<li>Laura Jean – Girls on the TV</li>
<li>Japanese Breakfast – Boyish</li>
<li>Phony Ppl – Way Too Far</li>
<li>The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar – Pray For Me</li>
<li>John Mayer – New Light</li>
<li>Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry</li>
<li>Vic Mensa & Valee – Dim Sum</li>
<li>Years & Years - Sanctify</li>
<li>Kanye West feat. Lil Pump – I Love It</li>
<li>Car Seat Headrest – Beach Life-in-Death</li>
<li>Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – My Contribution To This Scam</li>
<li>audiobooks – Dance Your Life Away</li>
<li>Noname feat. Saba & Smino - Ace</li>
<li>MorMor – Whatever Comes To Mind</li>
<li>Gender Roles – Plastic</li>
<li>Drake – Duppy Freestyle</li>
<li>Radiant Children – Life's A Bitch</li>
<li>Leikeli47 – Roll Call</li>
<li>Westside Gunn feat. Anderson .Paak - Wrestlemania 20</li>
<li>Jay Rock feat. Kendrick Lamar - Win</li>
<li>Riton feat. Kah-Lo & Mr. Eazi – Catching Feelings</li>
<li>Me’shell Ndegeocello – Sometimes It Snows In April</li>
<li>Blocboy JB feat. Drake – Look Alive</li>
<li>Rina Sawayama – Valentine (What's It Gonna Be?)</li>
<li>Channel Tres – Topdown</li>
<li>Mitski – Nobody</li>
<li>Courtney Barnett – Need A Little Time</li>
<li>Valee feat. Pusha T – Miami</li>
<li>Samana – Beneath The Ice</li>
<li>Post Malone feat. Ty Dolla $ign – Psycho</li>
<li>Black Eyed Peas – Street Livin'</li>
<li>D.R.A.M. - WWYD?</li>
<li>Arin Ray – Skeemin'</li>
<li>The Carters – APESHIT</li>
<li>Tracey Thorn - Queen</li>
<li>Hop Along – Prior Things</li>
<li>Leon Bridges – Bad Bad News</li>
<li>Saweetie feat. Kehlani – ICY GRL (Bae Mix)</li>
<li>Jade Bird – Lottery</li>
<li>The Beths - Future Me Hates Me</li>
<li>JGrrey – Don't Fade</li>
<li>Saba – Life</li>
<li>Young Fathers – Border Girl</li>
<li>Jessie Reyez – Body Count</li>
<li>Cam O’bi feat. Smino – Tenderheaded</li>
<li>Lady Gaga – I'll Never Love Again</li>
<li>Sun June – Discotheque</li>
<li>Ashley Monroe – Hands On You</li>
<li>Kadhja Bonet – Delphine</li>
<li>Denzel Curry feat. Twelve’len and Goldlink – Black Balloons</li>
<li>Cardi B feat. 21 Savage – Bartier Cardi</li>
<li>Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Hunnybee</li>
<li>Ash – Confessions In The Pool</li>
<li>Tom Misch feat. Loyle Carner – Water Baby</li>
<li>MorMor –Heaven's Only Wishful</li>
<li>1010 Benja SL – Wind Up Space</li>
<li>Troye Sivan – My My My!</li>
<li>Riton feat. Kah-Lo – Fake ID</li>
<li>Let's Eat Grandma – Hot Pink</li>
<li>Lucy Dacus – Night Shift</li>
<li>Twist - Venus</li>
<li>Wafia – I’m Good</li>
<li>Gender Roles – About Her</li>
<li>Free Nationals feat. Daniel Caesar & Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Beauty & Essex</li>
<li>HONNE feat. Tom Misch – Me & You</li>
<li>Soccer Mommy - Cool</li>
<li>Nicki Minaj – Barbie Dreams</li>
<li>Saba – Busy</li>
<li>Zilo – Keep Up Wimmi</li>
<li>Boosie – Webbie I Remember</li>
<li>Young M.A. - Praktice</li>
<li>Valee feat. Jeremih – Womp Womp</li>
<li>Phoebe Ryan feat. Tove Lo – Heart Attack</li>
<li>SG Lewis feat. AlunaGeorge - Hurting</li>
<li>Cardi B feat. Bad Bunny & J. Balvin – I Like It</li>
<li>Jade Novah – Next To You</li>
<li>Beulahbelle – You Only Live Twice (Living Room Version)</li>
<li>Ebony Bones – No Black In The Union Jack</li>
<li>Gabrielle Aplin – My Mistake</li>
<li>Tomberlin – I'm Not Scared</li>
<li>J. Cole – Album of the Year - Freestyle</li>
<li>PREP feat. DEAN – Cold Fire</li>
<li>88Rising feat. Blocboy JB – Peach Jam</li>
<li>Confidence Man – Out The Window</li>
<li>The 1975 – TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME</li>
<li>Okay Kaya – IUD</li>
<li>The 1975 – Love It If We Made It</li>
<li>Radiant Children – Tryin'</li>
<li>The Regrettes – Back In Your Head</li>
<li>Richard Reed Parry – Song of Wood</li>
<li>Cardi B – Money</li>
<li>Moaning Lisa – Comfortable</li>
<li>Daphne & Celeste – Alarms</li>
<li>Gorillaz feat. George Benson – Humility</li>
<li>L8LOOMER - < 3</li>
<li>Bas feat. J. Cole – Tribe</li>
<li>H.E.R. - Focus</li>
<li>Janelle Monae – I Like That</li>
<li>CHVRCHES – Never Say Die</li>
<li>Speedy Ortiz – Lean In When I Suffer</li>
<li>Reason – The Soul</li>
<li>Gallant – Gentleman</li>
<li>Eleanor Friedberger – Make Me A Song</li>
<li>Royce da 5’9” feat. Eminem & King Green - Caterpillar</li>
<li>Beach House - Alien</li>
<li>Raveena – Honey</li>
<li>Amber Mark – High On Your Love</li>
<li>Carrie Underwood – Cry Pretty</li>
<li>Kyle Craft – The Rager</li>
<li>H.E.R. feat. Bryson Tiller – Could've Been</li>
<li>Jenny Hval - Spells</li>
<li>Mariah Carey – With You</li>
<li>Simmy - Umahalela</li>
<li>Ebhoni – Opps</li>
<li>Kylie Minogue - Dancing</li>
<li>Kadhja Bonet – Mother Maybe</li>
<li>Joyner Lucas & Chris Brown – Stranger Things</li>
<li>Chance The Rapper – I Might Need Security</li>
<li>Machine Gun Kelly – Rap Devil</li>
<li>Benin City – Double or Nothing</li>
<li>Deerhunter – Death in Midsummer</li>
<li>6ix9ine feat. Nicki Minaj – FEFE (Remix)</li>
<li>Barrie – Tal Uno</li>
<li>Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – Gold Purple Orange</li>
<li>Tash Sultana – Free Mind</li>
<li>Lil Baby feat. Drake – Yes, Indeed</li>
<li>NAO – Another Lifetime</li>
<li>Bazzi feat. Camilla Cabello – Beautiful</li>
<li>Leon Thomas feat. Buddy – Favorite</li>
<li>Lil Wayne – Dedicate</li>
<li>Mahalia – Surprise Me</li>
<li>Carly Jepsen – Party For One</li>
<li>Lykke Li – Hard Rain</li>
<li>Lizzo – Boys</li>
<li>YG feat. 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Nicki Minaj – Big Bank</li>
<li>Wiley feat. Scratchy and D Double E – Bar</li>
<li>Trouble & Mike WiLL Made-It feat. Drake – Bring It Back</li>
<li>Charly Bliss – Heaven</li>
<li>Leon Bridges – Beyond</li>
<li>Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA – All The Stars</li>
<li>Rhye – Count To Five</li>
<li>Sylvan Esso – There Are Many Ways To Say I Love You</li>
<li>Jay Rock feat. Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake – King’s Dead</li>
<li>Azealia Banks – Movin' On Up (Coco’s Song, Love Beats Rhymes)</li>
<li>Nilufer Yanya – Baby Luv</li>
<li>Travis Scott feat. Drake – Sicko Mode</li>
<li>Your Smith – The Spot</li>
<li>Tyler the Creator feat. A$AP Rocky – Potato Salad</li>
<li>Chloe x Halle feat. Joey Bada$$ - Happy Without Me</li>
<li>Shawn Mendes feat. Zedd – Lost In Japan (Remix)</li>
<li>Ilham feat. Arin Ray - Cycle of Games</li>
<li>Mothers – Pink and Blue</li>
<li>Julia Holter – I Shall Love 2</li>
<li>Eminem feat. Joyner Lucas – Lucky You</li>
<li>Kandace Springs – 6 8</li>
<li>Brian Fallon – If Your Prayers Don’t Get To Heaven</li>
<li>Janet Jackson feat. Daddy Yankee – Made For Now</li>
<li>Jay Som –Pirouette</li>
<li>Dilly Dally - Doom</li>
<li>CASISDEAD – Pat Earrings</li>
<li>Gavin Turek – WHITNEY</li>
<li>Dilly Dally - Marijuana</li>
<li>Sheck Wes – Mo Bamba</li>
<li>Lou Phelps feat. Jazz Cartier – Come Inside (Kaytranada Edit)</li>
<li>Joseph Chilliams feat. Saba – Unfriendly Black Hotties</li>
<li>Trippie Redd feat. Travis Scott – Dark Knight Dummo</li>
<li>Riton feat. Kah-Lo – Ginger</li>
<li>Cazzu - Chapiadora</li>
<li>Royce da 5’9” feat. J. Cole – Boblo Boat</li>
<li>DJ Koze – Pick Up</li>
<li>Aloe Blacc – Brooklyn In The Summer</li>
<li>Tres Oui - Séance</li>
<li>Cardi B – Be Careful</li>
<li>SOB X RBE – Anti Social</li>
<li>Robyn – Honey</li>
<li>Chloe x Halle – Grown</li>
<li>JID feat. BJ The Chicago Kid - Skrawberries</li>
<li>Tangents – Swells Under Tito</li>
<li>Diana Gordon – Wolverine</li>
<li>Hatchie – Bad Guy</li>
<li>Miya Folick – Stock Image</li>
<li>Kimbra – Version Of Me</li>
<li>Natalie Prass – Short Court Style</li>
<li>Towkio feat. Teddy Jackson – Symphony</li>
<li>NEIKED feat. Miriam Bryant – How Did I Find You</li>
<li>The Go! Team – The Only Thing New Is U Finding Out About It</li>
<li>Craig David feat. Goldlink – Live In The Moment</li>
<li>JD. Reid feat. Katy B – Call Your Bluff</li>
<li>Buddy – Trouble On Central</li>
<li>T.I. feat. Meek Mill – Jefe</li>
<li>Victoria Monet – The Glow</li>
<li>Field Music – Time In Joy</li>
<li>Soleima – Low Life</li>
<br />
<br />
<br />
</ol>
</div>
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Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-82573546342362857492016-12-05T20:26:00.000-06:002016-12-06T01:28:04.397-06:002017 Grammy Nomination PredictionsThe nominations for the Grammys will be announced on Dec. 6, but as is tradition, I'm taking a crack at some predictions.<br>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Record of the Year</span></b><br>
<br>
Adele - "Hello"<br>
Beyonce - "Formation"<br>
Justin Bieber - "Love Yourself "<br>
The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey - "Closer"<br>
Rihanna feat. Drake - "Work"<br>
<br>
<b>Analysis: </b>The narrative of Beyonce vs. Adele will drive ratings, but the NARAS likes Adele and would probably prefer her to win, which is I'm including Rihanna and Drake to split votes with Bey over songs like Lukas Graham's "7 Years" and Sia's "Cheap Thrills."<br>
<b>Possible spoilers: </b>Drake - "One Dance," Lukas Graham - "7 Years," Radiohead - "Burn The Witch," Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane - "Black Beatles," Sia feat. Sean Paul - "Cheap Thrills," Justin Timberlake feat. Anna Kendrick & James Corden - "Can't Stop The Feeling," Twenty One Pilots - "Stressed Out," The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - "Starboy"<br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Song of the Year</span></b><br>
<br>
Adele - "Hello"<br>
Justin Bieber - "Love Yourself"<br>
Lukas Graham - "7 Years"<br>
Maxwell - "Lake By The Ocean"<br>
Justin Timberlake - "Can't Stop The Feeling"<br>
<b><br></b>
<b>Analysis: </b>Timberlake's team submitted the version with his Trolls co-stars for Record of the Year, so it stands a better shot here, especially with an songwriting help from Max Martin. The traditional R&B voting contingent come through for their own and Maxwell is as respected as they come.<br>
<b>Possible spoilers:</b> Beyonce - "Formation," David Bowie - "Blackstar," Kelly Clarkson - "Piece By Piece," Maren Morris - "My Church"<br>
<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/12/2017-grammy-nomination-predictions.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-4309220123262692752016-07-20T11:00:00.000-05:002016-08-18T09:02:14.975-05:00Recent interviews on Noteworthy: Jessy Lanza, Cate Le Bon, B Boys & moreWe're past the midway point of the year, so I thought I'd take a look back at all the interviews I've done so far in 2016 for my radio show Noteworthy. You can always listen live every Monday at <a href="http://uicradio.org/">uicradio.org</a> from 6PM-8PM CT and check out my past interviews on <a href="http://soundcloud.com/noteworthyradioshow" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a>.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Cate Le Bon</b><br>
Apologies for any swinging door background noises you come across. It's the easiest way to tell that I'm doing an interview in the basement of Schuba's. I also revealed during this interview that I had never listened to any Faust before. Please don't take away my cool kid card.<br>
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<b>Jessy Lanza</b><br>
I was actually supposed to interview Jessy a few years back, but a train delay prevented me from meeting up with her. As luck would have it, when I finally got her on the phone in April, we had to do the interview a second time as our first go-around didn't record. The universe was determined to see this one through despite the obstacles. Cherish this.<br>
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<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/07/recent-interviews-on-noteworthy-jessy.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-57721155320478430242016-06-17T11:20:00.000-05:002016-06-30T14:27:41.859-05:00An early preview of the 2017 GrammysWith a few new rule changes in place, I can now give you my early predictions as to who will be nominated in the big four categories at the 59th Grammy Awards which will take place on Feb. 12, 2017. Nominees won't be announced until December, so make sure to come back for my final guesses. <br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Album of the Year</span></b><br>
<b><br></b>
<b>1. Adele - </b><i><b>25</b></i><br>
<b>What's in it's favor:</b> She's one of the most loved and respected pop stars in the world and is likely the last artist in our lifetime to sell two million pure copies in their first week.<br>
<b>What might work against it:</b> Adele is all but assured of a nomination, but if she doesn't, it'll be because everyone has forgotten about the album since it has largely faded from public conscience since its release.<br>
<b><br></b>
<b>2. Beyoncé - </b><i><b>Lemonade</b></i><br>
<b>What's in it's favor:</b> Another widely respected artist once again changed the concept of how we view an album release in an age where singles dominate the conversation. <i>Lemonade</i> is also her most personal and daring work to date and she can longer be dismissed as someone who plays it safe.<br>
<b>What might work against it:</b> There may still be some backlash from those who viewed "Formation" and her Super Bowl performance as anti-police. Or basically the <a href="http://youtu.be/ociMBfkDG1w" target="_blank">people in this SNL skit</a>.<br>
<b><br></b>
<b>3. Radiohead - </b><b><i>A Moon Shaped Pool</i></b><br>
<b>What's in it's favor:</b> If recent Album of the Year wins for Beck and Daft Punk are any indication, the Grammys have no qualms about giving artists who were embraced by alternative rock stations in the 1990s their just due. It's basically the equivalent of rewarding Bob Dylan, Santana and Ray Charles, but only fast-forwarded a few generations for what I now call the cool dad slot. Their non-campaign campaign also helped garner them some news and the album has been received warmly so far by critics. And you really can't go wrong if Bob Ludwig is your engineer (past AOTY winners Mumford & Sons' <i>Babel</i>, Daft Punk <i>Random Access Memories</i> and Beck's <i>Morning Phase</i>).<br>
<b>What might work against it:</b> As worthy as an artist Beck is, his win still came with some backlash since it was viewed as a reward for an artist who had released superior work in the past. Letting Radiohead in and possibly winning would make the Grammys more predictable, especially in a year where Beyoncé is once again a heavy favorite.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/06/an-early-preview-of-2017-grammys.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-70441657160071101702016-05-04T15:21:00.000-05:002016-05-04T15:21:57.382-05:00The Side Eyes - "I Don't Want To Go To School"Some of us have the misfortune of painfully waiting out the clock during the day in one form or another. We've been doing it for most our lives dating back around the time when school became less fun and no longer about finger painting. There's no legitimate reason in this song that would pass muster as to why not going to school is a smart choice. It's all about that unbridled burst of exasperation, however brief, of not wanting to be somewhere you're told you have to be. It's a pretty glorious burst on record here actually, with verses that frantically build up at a SoCal pop punk pace to the borderline tantrum of the chorus, slowed down to a near-sludge so that the bemoaning "I don't wanna go to school/I don't wanna use my brain" becomes a call-to-arms to for the disenfranchised to stay in bed all morning and roam the streets during the night. <br />
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You can pre-order The Side Eyes' debut cassette EP <a href="https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fburgerrecords.11spot.com%2Fthe-side-eyes-the-side-eyes-cassette-pre-order.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-85382795675614432362016-03-22T14:21:00.000-05:002016-03-22T14:21:28.156-05:00Kendrick Lamar's Control Challenge: Updated 2016 RankingsIn August of 2013, the hip hop world was shaken to its core by a track that didn't even have an official release. Big Sean's "Control" was originally supposed to be on his 2nd album, <i>Hall Of Fame</i>, but sample clearance issues prevented it from landing on the final track list. By the grace of all that is great, Sean decided to share the track regardless, which set off a frenzy for the following weeks.<br>
<div>
<br>
On a song that featured Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica, one would expect Big Sean to drop one of the best verses of his career or for the hermit-like Jay to chime in with a contribution of superb quality, but it was Kendrick that got the whole world talking:<br>
<br>
<i><b>I'm usually homeboys with the same n----s I'm rhymin' with</b></i><br>
<i><b>But this is hip-hop and them n----s should know what time it is</b></i><br>
<i><b>And that goes for <span style="background-color: yellow;">Jermaine Cole, Big KRIT, Wale, Pusha T, Meek Millz, </span></b></i><br>
<i><b style="background-color: yellow;">A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electron', Tyler, Mac Miller</b></i><br>
<i><b>I got love for you all but I'm tryna murder you n----s</b></i><br>
<i><b>Trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you n----s</b></i><br>
<i><b>They don't wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you n----s</b></i><br>
<i><b>What is competition? I'm trying to raise the bar high</b></i><br>
<i><b>Who tryna jump and get it? You're better off trying to skydive</b></i><br>
<br></div>
<div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_(Big_Sean_song)#Response" target="_blank">Plenty of people answered the challenge</a>, which was great since the culture always thrives when there is healthy competition involved, but the highest potential laid with those who were called out. Would we see any noticeable change in quality after they were given a warning shot in front of the entire world?<br>
<br>
It's been more than two years since "Control," which I think is an appropriate amount of time to examine the impact Lamar's verse made on those that were mentioned. In order to be fair, I only took a look at an artist's career after they had enough time to respond properly, so I didn't factor in albums like <i>Nothing Was The Same</i> and <i>My Name Is My Name</i> since they were only released a few months after the fallout and it was likely too late for Drake and Pusha T to change course. While Kendrick didn't count sales as part of the criteria, I did take into account an artist's visibility throughout this period since it is a reflection of hard work. For the most part, I graded on how much an artist improved from their previous material and if their output was worthy of them being mentioned as the best since the track was made public.<br>
<br>
Here are the current standings, as I see it, for Kendrick's Control Challenge in 2016.<br>
<br>
<b>1. Kendrick Lamar </b><br>
<br>
We've been through two calendars and no one has come close to knocking Lamar off the perch. He made another great album with <i>To Pimp A Butterfly,</i> which was as culturally relevant as anything released last year and earned Lamar a second straight Album of the Year nomination at the Grammys (not to mention having one of the best performances at the ceremony). Ideally, twelve of the best hip hop albums from the past five years should come from this group. Only one artist can undisputedly claim to having two spots on that list. The recent success of <i>untitled unmastered</i> with no promotion only further cemented the hold Lamar has on listeners hungry for quality. Outside of the recording booth, Lamar could be found <a href="http://hypetrak.com/2015/09/quincy-jones-kendrick-lamar-hypetrak-magazine-cover-story/" target="_blank">conversing with Quincy Jones</a> or performing with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-7n6gCyyF8" target="_blank">National Symphony Orchestra</a>, which is miles ahead of what anyone who has released a debut album in the past five years has done to expand the scope of hip hop. Whether it be on wax, on stage or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM550Jks57g" target="_blank">freestyling on the spot in front of a bunch of kids</a>, Lamar not only accepted his own challenge, but showed the rest of the field how it's done.<br>
<br>
<b>2. Drake </b><br>
<br>
He's certainly had stronger albums, with works like <i>If You're Reading This It's Too Late</i> and the Future collaboration, <i>What A Time To Be Alive</i>, falling short of the quality of <i>Nothing Was The Same</i>. The idea of the Control Challenge was to show improvement and take risks, but Drake pretty much stood pat for the most part and didn't do anything to alienate his core fan base. While Drake has been consistent, he rarely excites with a song the same way that other greats have been able to do. So why is he ranked at #2 for such a so-so outing so far? Look no further than "Back To Back." At a time where most beefs are handled on social media, Drake took it back to the core essence of hip hop and aired his grievances with Meek Mill using a pen and pad. The purpose of the Control Challenge was to flesh out who was going to grab that brass ring and at what cost. He hasn't measured up creatively, but when the opportunity came, he didn't back down.<br>
</div><a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/03/kendrick-lamars-control-challenge.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-55867109633487999122016-02-13T17:40:00.000-06:002016-02-14T15:26:54.463-06:00Grammy Winner Predictions for 2016It's time once again for the Grammys to be handed out (the 58th occasion of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences doing so). The hardware will be given on Monday, Feb. 15 this year on CBS, instead of the usual Sunday. The Grammys have slowly made some progress with their nominations in the general field, but could stand to see some changes in other genres and how they vote for winners overall. I think we'll always find something to complain about until we get people in the industry without hidden agendas who are actually aware of new trends to select nominations and for those who have been recent contributors to their genres to have their votes count more than other members when it comes to determining winners within that specified field. Still, it's the most important game in town for musicians and we'll be watching anyway. These are my predictions for who will take home some gold.<br>
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<b>Record of the Year</b><br>
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D'Angelo and the Vanguard - "Really Love" <br>
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - "Uptown Funk" <br>
Ed Sheeran - "Thinking Out Loud" <br>
Taylor Swift - "Blank Space" <br>
The Weeknd - "Can't Feel My Face" <br>
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<b>Should win:</b> As much as I'm a fan of "Really Love," it's rare that we get songs that unite an entire nation like "Uptown Funk." It will be kicking weddings into high gear for the next decade.<br>
<b>Will win:</b> "Uptown Funk," because it did unite a nation after all.<br>
<b>Overlooked:</b> Jason Derulo's "Want To Want Me" was the premier MJ-inspired song of 2015.<br>
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<b>Album of the Year</b><br>
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Alabama Shakes - <i>Sound & Color</i><br>
Kendrick Lamar - <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i><br>
Chris Stapleton - <i>Traveller</i><br>
Taylor Swift - <i>1989</i> <br>
The Weeknd - <i>Beauty Behind The Madness</i><br>
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<b>Should win:</b><i> </i>Kendrick's album was miles ahead of everyone.<br>
<b>Will</b><b> win:</b> Alabama Shakes. It's only been two years since the Grammys awarded Best New Artist and Best Rap Album to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis over Kendrick Lamar. I doubt their taste in straightforward hip hop has improved that much during that time span. <i>Sound & Color</i> comes from a hip band, allowing the Grammys to maintain credibility with a safer choice. It's also telling that the album's producer, Blake Mills, whose sole credit was <i>Sound & Color</i> got a Producer of the Year nomination. Throw in a nomination for Best Engineered Album, which has previously been won by recent AOTY winners Beck and Daft Punk, and it's looking likelier that the older, rock-leaning members, which make up a good deal of the NARAS, will tip the scales in favor of Alabama Shakes.<br>
<b>Overlooked:</b> Who wasn't rooting for D'Angelo's <i>Black Messiah</i>? Even better, only a minuscule amount found it lackluster.<!--more><br>
<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/02/grammy-winner-predictions-for-2016.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-8820947963136965312016-02-02T16:37:00.002-06:002016-07-05T21:51:53.349-05:00Top 250 Singles of 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was the first year I seriously flirted with going past the usual 250 slots for my favorite singles of the year, simply because there is seemingly something worth sharing that comes out everyday. Going up to 300 or 400 could very well be a possibility in the future, but for now, I really like the sound and legitimacy of 250. As always, there's a Spotify playlist included at the bottom of the list and all entries marked with a (*) have direct links to the song since they're not on Spotify. Make sure to check out my <a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/01/best-50-albums-of-2015.html" target="_blank">best albums list</a> as well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVndVVPsoZ2CduL0-kWZ66x_7UpbG_JKtlhPCisaNgbI3socMRkDoKGW8EJoDkCTz7bpclH6eGRA6ZR9Kx01_UYEerS65DAgtHg2eAmKKb1KbN2K9vB3lZ8Y6hZb5XeInzWbrUg/s1600/Internet-Girl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVndVVPsoZ2CduL0-kWZ66x_7UpbG_JKtlhPCisaNgbI3socMRkDoKGW8EJoDkCTz7bpclH6eGRA6ZR9Kx01_UYEerS65DAgtHg2eAmKKb1KbN2K9vB3lZ8Y6hZb5XeInzWbrUg/s400/Internet-Girl.png" width="400"></a></div>
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<b>1. The Internet feat. Kaytranada - Girl</b> <br>
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The overwhelming desire to touch and be touched becomes a reflex over the course of this song. There are multiple tracks in the catalog of The Internet that cover this sort of ground, but none quite as potent as "Girl." Syd tha Kid's delivery barely goes above the hushed volume that's expected from speaking in the dark, which is complementary for a song that has more than a few textures of the interstellar in it. Her voice is a calming presence in the void, like it would be if one were to float in space. As airy as "Girl" is, the entire thing drips more than anything. The deep bass tone, which could've come from none other than Kaytranada, is as patient as it gets and moves with the speed of honey, making sure that every drop of sensuality lands perfectly. Light a candle, let your hands flow and send a thank you card to The Internet for breaking your cold streak.<br>
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<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/02/top-250-singles-of-2015.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-23577580321423717952016-01-07T15:40:00.000-06:002016-02-02T16:38:13.122-06:00Best 50 Albums of 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Enjoy the list. Enjoy and share anything new you discover. Enjoy the time that we're living in that we have an unending amount of quality music out there Enjoy the <a href="https://play.spotify.com/user/122633638/playlist/3ExLwnfKkYgQ0ye45UuK2v" target="_blank">Spotify playlist</a> and enjoy <a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/02/top-250-singles-of-2015.html" target="_blank">my singles list</a> which will be up pretty soon. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW7OZwqRco8SPX96rhuJsymyTMsOVdF227ykJ10ltw0q1v_FQpzPSP1FjKhWo8teHFqEZehKur8hY-HmgWRrHaFMuOdCh8MaAs5tVnGsKVNV1sSOUG60aVMMvt9_lXWcAqnoLjg/s1600/TPAB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW7OZwqRco8SPX96rhuJsymyTMsOVdF227ykJ10ltw0q1v_FQpzPSP1FjKhWo8teHFqEZehKur8hY-HmgWRrHaFMuOdCh8MaAs5tVnGsKVNV1sSOUG60aVMMvt9_lXWcAqnoLjg/s320/TPAB.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<b>1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly </b><br>
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The consensus on how great this album is so overwhelming that I'm not even sure how to approach it in a way that no one has yet, so I'll just name my top ten favorite moments instead:<br>
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10) The first time you hear Thundercat's harmonies in the background during "Complexion (2 Zulu Love)."</div>
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9) The placement of "You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)" so late in the album sequencing as a brief palate cleanser between some of the heavier material.</div>
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8) "This dick ain't freeeee..."</div>
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7) The conversation between Kendrick and 2Pac on album closer "Mortal Man," which puts the whole experience into context. It's as if <i>To Pimp A Butterfly</i> was an essay about what it's like to be African-American in 2015 submitted to be graded by Professor Shakur.</div>
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6) The first time the chords move up a half-step in "King Kunta" as Lamar lambastes rappers employing ghostwriters.</div>
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5) Every single vocal inflection Anna Wise does on "These Walls" and when Bilal bursts through during the chorus. </div>
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4) The moment the beat drops on "Alright" and you feel like you can take on anything the world has to throw at you.</div>
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3) The last verse of "The Blacker The Berry."</div>
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2) The audacity of rapping over the jazzy time signature of"For Sale (Interlude)". </div>
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1) The gravity when you finally reach the end of "How Much A Dollar Cost?"</div>
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<i>The jig is up, I seen you from a mile away losin' focus</i></div>
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<i>And I'm insensitive, and I lack empathy</i></div>
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<i>He looked at me and said, "Your potential is bittersweet"</i></div>
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<i>I looked at him and said, "Every nickel is mines to keep"</i></div>
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<i>He looked at me and said, "Know the truth, it'll set you free</i></div>
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<i>You're lookin' at the Messiah, the son of Jehovah, the higher power</i></div>
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<i>The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit</i></div>
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<i>The nerve of Nazareth, and I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost</i></div>
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<i>The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss, I am God"</i></div>
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</div><a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2016/01/best-50-albums-of-2015.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-42437506586479827322015-12-04T11:02:00.002-06:002015-12-07T15:34:58.342-06:002016 Grammy Nomination Predictions: Album of the Year & Song of the YearCall me whatever, but the first week of December has always been an exciting time for me. There's so much that the Grammys could do to improve the integrity of their award, yet I still come back every year to take a crack at guessing who will get nominated where. It's the most important game in town when it comes to music awards. My infinite optimism, for better or worse, allows me to keep thinking that they'll eventually get it right one day. Regardless, it's always fun to take a look back at the year in music.<br>
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The nominations for the 58th Annual Grammy will be announced on Dec. 7 during CBS' This Morning and the actual hardware will be handed out Feb. 15, 2016. Back in June, I <a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/06/2016-grammys-early-preview.html" target="_blank">took a look at the Big Four categories</a> and now I'm ready to walk the tightrope without a net and declare my final predictions for all the world to see. For this post, I'll be examining the fields for Album of the Year and Song of the Year. I also took a look at <a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/12/2016-grammy-nomination-predictions.html" target="_blank">Record of the Year and Best New Artist</a>, which you need to check out as well.<br>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Album of the Year</span></b><br>
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I alluded to it a bit in my post for Best New Artist, but it's becoming harder and harder to create new stars. All this means is that the field becomes easier to predict and there is a shallower pool of contenders to choose from. This category has always tried to reward albums that have sold well and are also critically acclaimed. With sales being in a downward trend, it makes it harder to come up with a consensus choice on what could be a potential Album of the Year nominee.<br>
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Right now, we're at the precipice of the digital sales cliff before streaming becomes the dominant format. The definition of what we consider success will eventually transition from how many consumers are willing to buy a record to how often consumers are willing to listen to your music. When the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) will catch up to this trend and accurately reflect it in the nominations is unknown, but it may be coming sooner than we think.<br>
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This year I think will still play by the old rules, which means you can reserve a spot for Taylor Swift's <i><b>1989</b></i>. Three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and solid reviews are some of the key ingredients to landing an Album of the Year spot. The fact that Swift is the closest thing we have to a musical juggernaut, aside from Adele, assures her of plenty of Grammy nominations every year as long as she can deliver the quality. <br>
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The inclusion of Kendrick Lamar's <i><b>To Pimp A Butterfly</b></i> will be significant for a number of reasons, but the one that's most intriguing from a business aspect is that it will be the first AOTY nominee to make as much noise for <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kendrick-lamar-pimp-a-butterfly-782802" target="_blank">first week sales as well it did for streaming numbers</a>. Glossy stats aside, the album stands as one of the most critically acclaimed of the year and was as culturally relevant as any mainstream album released in the past decade. I'd consider him a lock.<br>
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Going further along with the sales + acclaim equation, The Weeknd's <i><b>Beauty Behind The Madness</b></i> seems like another obvious fit. This category is often seen as a reward for being dominant over the course of a calendar and The Weeknd has had a hit that stayed on everyone's radar nearly every step of the way. "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)", "Can't Feel My Face" and now "The Hills" have all shown great legs, which should bode well for his chances. Reviews have also been positive and his sound is contemporary, which will help the NARAS sleep well at night with their decision. Plus, the kids aren't going to tune in to your awards show unless they see some names they recognize.<br>
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If there aren't enough popular acts, the blue ribbon panel—which is the secret committee that decides upon the Big Four nominees based on the top 15 vote-getters among submissions—will try to come up with a few albums that bring some integrity to the category.<br>
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Rock always appears to be the equivalent of quality at the Grammys and seen to be a driving force in making great music, even as it's now being outsold by other key genres. Although great rock albums still exist, they don't exactly drive the culture like they used to, yet the NARAS feels its mandatory to always include something from the genre. Nine out of the past ten years have seen a rock album get nominated here, with hip hop following up with six and only three country albums in that same span.<br>
<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/12/2016-grammy-nomination-predictions-aoty.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-51405280374972895882015-12-03T11:40:00.003-06:002015-12-07T01:28:05.660-06:002016 Grammy Nomination Predictions: Record of the Year & Best New ArtistYou have no idea how happy I get during this time of year. Poring over a list of songs and artists in order to determine who will get nominated for an award that's perpetually behind the curve, but still the most important in its industry, truly gets my neurons percolating. It's like trying to solve a puzzle that not many have the passion to attempt and why I do it every year.<br>
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The nominations for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards will be announced on Dec. 7 during CBS' <i>This Morning</i>, with the actual ceremony on Feb. 15, 2016. I'm here once again to give my final predictions as to who will be nominated in the general field. Over the summer, <a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/06/2016-grammys-early-preview.html" target="_blank">I examined the contenders and where they stood at the moment</a>, if you want further insight into my thought process. For this post, I'll only be taking a look at Record of the Year and Best New Artist, with <a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/12/2016-grammy-nomination-predictions-aoty.html" target="_blank">Album of the Year and Song of the Year to follow in a separate post</a>.<br>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Record of the Year </span></b><br>
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The first thing to do when analyzing this category is revisit some of the biggest hits of the year. Over the past five years, sixteen of the thirty-one nominees reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, with last year's group dominating the summit for a combined total of 19 weeks.<br>
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I think you know where I'm going this.<br>
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There was no bigger song than Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' <b>"Uptown Funk," </b>truly the only track this year to unite a nation. Its place in Record of the Year is a foregone conclusion, so let's just get that out of the way.<br>
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Taylor Swift manages to dominate the general field conversation whenever she's eligible. This year should be no different, but I'll admit to being slightly worried since timing and momentum played a huge part in the nominations for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "Shake It Off." But it's Taylor Swift. Time doesn't exist to her. She's on a different plane than the rest of us mere mortals. Save a spot for <b>"Blank Space"</b> as well, despite it being a full year old.<br>
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One doesn't always need to reach #1 in order to make a huge impact. Sometimes, just hovering around in the top ten for months will do the job, which is why I like Ed Sheeran's <b>"Thinking Out Loud"</b> to grab a spot here as well. It's no secret that the Grammys love acknowledging male vocalists who also happen to be musicians. Strap an acoustic guitar onto a man and everything he coos is automatically going to be "deep." At least that's the perception that's been ingrained into our collective conscience for the past half-century. Sheeran has been nominated in each of the general field categories except for ROTY. Now that he has an actual money song that mostly all of America has heard of, the path to him landing a nod here should be laid out nice and smoothly.<br>
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If we're still on the subject of songs that never seem to die, Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen" was a prime example of such in 2015. In one of the most organic rises in recent memory, "Trap Queen" went from being a Soundcloud sensation to knocking on the door of being the #1 song in the country. In an era where there are few ubiquitous songs that everyone can agree on (Can your mother sing the words to OMI's "Cheerleader"? Didn't think so.), it can't be taken for granted when a song had the kind of the legs this one did. Plus, you know things are major when Taylor Swift gives you a co-sign.<br>
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For all intents and purposes, "Trap Queen" should be a Record of the Year nominee. But it probably won't. The blue ribbon panel<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">—</span></span></span>the secret committee of industry folk who are chosen to determine the Big Four categories each year from the top 15 submissions—may not be ready to welcome someone as rough around the edges as Fetty Wap to their party. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences doesn't usually have the greatest understanding of the latest trends in hip hop, but they're cagey enough to recognize those that are obviously talented (Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Outkast, Kanye West, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis). Therefore, I think there's probably an elitism that might prevent certain kinds of hip hop that's lacking in lyrical dexterity or seen as "too street" from ever getting a major nomination.<br>
<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/12/2016-grammy-nomination-predictions.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-24602886129499694962015-10-04T22:54:00.001-05:002015-10-04T22:54:57.662-05:00The Definitive Track Listing of Miley Cyrus And Her Dead PetzAt the conclusion of this year's MTV Video Music Awards, hostess Miley Cyrus announced her latest album, <i>Miley Cyrus And Her Dead Petz</i>, was available to stream for free on her website. It was surprising that a pop star of Cyrus' stature would give away her music, considering that sales of <i>Bangerz</i> was solid enough to not steer away from a traditional promo strategy. Although we're currently in an era where the public either expects music for free or at least easily accessible, the rule is that if you can still sell records, you keep charging (it would be difficult to imagine Taylor Swift or Beyoncé pulling the same move, for example).<br />
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When listening to <i>Dead Petz</i>, which was released outside of Cyrus' contract with RCA and paid for out of her own pockets, it wasn't hard to tell that this was a project dear to her. With The Flaming Lips producing the majority of the album and a few oddball songs dedicated to the passing of her aforementioned pets, it was clear radio was never the goal here. It was also clear that this was an album made without the assistance of an A&R or someone who could keep everything tethered. At a running time of 92:06, it's a slog to get through at times as Cyrus goes to many lengths to not be placed in a box, much to the detriment of the listener or anyone with an attention span.<br />
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The main source of my frustration is that I can never shake the feeling there's a better album lurking within. While there are a good deal of quality songs, one can only judge an album as a whole, not just cherry picking their favorites, which is why the <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/music/miley-cyrus-her-dead-petz/miley-cyrus" target="_blank">critical response has been pretty divisive</a>. Still, the potential for a good album was so intriguing to me that I decided to revise the sequencing and come up with my own track list, one that would still hold the original freewheeling intent and hopefully cut straight to the core of some of the album's main themes of loss and lust. I came up with something that tries to be a bit more cohesive and that comes in at just over an hour. This version is at least worth 3 stars.<br />
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1. Cyrus Skies<br />
2. I Get So Scared<br />
3. The Floyd Song (Sunrise)<br />
4. Karen Don't Be Sad<br />
5. Space Boots<br />
6. Slab Of Butter<br />
7. Pablow The Blow Fish<br />
8. BB Talk<br />
9. Bang Me Box<br />
10. I Forgive Yiew<br />
11. Lighter<br />
12. Tangerine<br />
13. Something About Space Dude<br />
14. Twinkle Song<br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/playlists/151722626%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-Cyx9f&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-86962546023369107092015-08-21T06:46:00.000-05:002015-09-03T13:07:02.614-05:00Ten Real Life Heel PromosLet the record show that I'm still a wrestling fan to this day (no snarky comments before watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYvMOf3hsGA" target="_blank">this</a>). It's an old habit from childhood that has simply refused to die, even after discovering it's all predetermined. As my understanding of the business expanded, I grew more appreciative of the artistry behind what made the product so appealing and effective to me.<br>
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One of the cornerstones of moving along plot lines and interactions between wrestlers (also known as angles) is the promo. The promo is a segment on a program, usually done through a interview or monologue, which is used by a wrestler to promote themselves and/or a feud they have between another wrestler. A memorable promo is filled with charisma and substance that simultaneously captures your attention while you making heavily invested in the story. Here is an example:<br>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9py4aMK3aIU" width="560"></iframe><br>
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In that promo, Dusty Rhodes played the role of the face (a good guy) and used his energy and a sympathetic inflection to make sure that people cheered for him. On the other end of the spectrum, you have heels (the villains) whose job it is to gain heat (getting jeered and booed) by sharing unpopular opinions or verbally attacking a face. This is what a typical heel promo sounds like:<br>
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Pretty straightforward, right? You piss people off, which makes them want to spend money to see you get your comeuppance. There are varying degrees to how to get heat, but that's the basic gist. In my mind, the heel promo is something that isn't just limited to wrestling but in the reality that we live in. There's no shortage of public figures that say things the majority of the people disagree with, but we really take notice when it's done enthusiastically and sincerely. The fun of a great heel promo in wrestling is that we know this person is portraying a character, but they do such a great job of toying with our emotions and convincing us to hate them that we can't help but react outwardly. A real life heel promo carries that same weight of sincerity and the result is that we're usually appalled yet slightly entertained. With WWE's SummerSlam this weekend, (the 2nd biggest wrestling event of the year behind Wrestlemania), I decided to look at ten of the most notable heel promos in pop culture, listed chronologically.<br>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Mike Love vs. The Oldies Station</span></b><br>
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<b>The angle:</b> The Beach Boys were inducted into the 1988 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame along side The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, for whom Mike Love had choice words (<b>skip to 3:48</b>).<br>
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<b>Heat index (on a scale of 1 to 10): </b>9. Love's tirade included shots at Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Woody Guthrie and apparently Brian Wilson's speech, which Love couldn't help but interrupt. His self-serving rambling made for the most awkward moment in Hall Of Fame history and turned what should have been a night of celebration and class into a train wreck.<br>
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<b>Infamous heel quote:</b> "I know Mick Jagger won’t be here tonight, he’s gonna have to stay in England. But I’d like to see us in the Coliseum and he at Wembley Stadium because he’s always been chickenshit to get on stage with The Beach Boys.”<br>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>GG Allin vs. Decency</b></span><br>
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<b>The angle:</b> Anti-establishment punk rocker GG Allin appeared on <i>The Jane Whitney Show</i> to declare his hate for society and good taste.<br>
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<b>Heat index:</b> 10. Allin displayed all of the classic heel traits during this appearance (which would be his final interview) from having a defiant, electric delivery to challenging audience members to a fight, but he really earned disgust by boasting that he raped women and men onstage and that he liked to have sex with underage kids and animals.<br>
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<b>Infamous heel quote:</b> Way too many to count, so here are a few samples.<br>
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<i>"I'm gonna rape the girls, I might rape the guys. I might have sex wi-, I want it all! I want it all and I'm gonna have it all! Because I am everything!"</i><br>
<i><br></i><i>"I don't care about anything but myself and what I write. And what I do is law."</i><br>
<i><br></i><i>"You go to school? You go to school? Wow. What are you gonna learn in school? You ain't gonna learn nothin' in school! 'Cause I'm the only one that can teach you! I'm the only one that can teach you!"</i><br>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Suge Knight vs. The East Coast</span></b><br>
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<b>The angle:</b> The East Coast-West Coast rivalry kicked into high gear at the 1995 Source Awards when Suge Knight fanned the flames by mocking Sean "Puffy" Combs.<br>
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<b>Heat index:</b> 8. Depending on where you resided, Knight's stance on Bad Boy Records could have been inspiring. The vocal NYC crowd decried anyone who wasn't from their hometown (they even booed Outkast. OUTKAST!) and the head of Death Row Records refused to let his label's accomplishments go unrecognized. Instead of trying to appease New York, Suge took the road less traveled to much derision. The best heels are aware of the venue that they're at and use it to their advantage to gain heat and who has been a bigger one in the music industry over the past twenty years than this man?<br>
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<b>Infamous heel quote: "</b>Any artist out there wanna be an artist and stay a star and won't have to worry about the executive producer trying to be all in the video, all on the records, dancing, come to Death Row!"<br>
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<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/07/ten-real-life-heel-promos.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-29361254689005231852015-07-20T05:00:00.000-05:002015-07-20T05:00:03.586-05:00#classicalbumtweets: Superfly<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
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Gearing for another edition of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a>. This month is the soundtrack to this movie. <a href="http://t.co/ghQICz41y1">pic.twitter.com/ghQICz41y1</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/554005261510127616">January 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Pushing play on Curtis Mayfield's Superfly now. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a> <a href="http://t.co/jo12LEjekm">pic.twitter.com/jo12LEjekm</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/554009471354023937">January 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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"Little Child, Runnin' Wild" was so striking in how it set the tone for the movie. Really elevated things. That drama remains w/o visuals.</div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/554010025127981056">January 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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"Where is the mayor who makes all things fair?/He lives outside our polluted air." Mayfield didn't need a time machine. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/554010643037052928">January 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Just the way the strings play out are so somber. No solution is offered. It's as if Mayfield understood the cruel cycle. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/554010996625260544">January 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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"Pusherman" scene is one of my all-time favorites. I'm a sucker for still photo montages <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a> <a href="http://t.co/x2fc1c74cg">pic.twitter.com/x2fc1c74cg</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/554011752350769153">January 10, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/07/classicalbumtweets-superfly.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-14795842586719094002015-07-14T15:08:00.001-05:002015-07-14T17:28:12.838-05:00The Internet feat. KAYTRANADA - "Girl"Syd Tha Kyd's voice is one of the most underrated instruments on the music scene today. Its fragility is so relatable because it sounds like it's coming from a timid person that will likely retreat back into their cocoon after they've said what they've had to say. For a lot of people, the general appeal in vocalists can sometimes be that the confidence they display also provide a window of escape from the monotony of life. They share feelings that we only fantasize about sharing and for that, they take up space in our hearts and our playlists. Syd's voice isn't overpowering, but her vulnerability has an incredible amount of sex appeal. It's especially true on "Girl," a slab of cosmic soul coated in molasses with a bubbling bass practically fit for slow, gyrating limbs. The tenderness on display here serves as a reality check that as deeply as some of us might desire something, the most that we can usually muster up is a whisper. Thankfully, few can whisper like The Internet. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zmY8mG4_3j4" width="560"></iframe> Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-58357804968927642402015-06-06T09:33:00.000-05:002015-11-18T02:41:48.056-06:00An early preview of the 2016 GrammysIn what's become an annual pre-summer tradition here at Hectic But Eclectic, I've decided to try my hand at guessing who will be nominated in the general field at the Grammys. The 58th Grammy Awards won't be handed out until next year and nominations will be announced later on in 2015, but we've already been through most of the eligibility period, which means we've already heard a lot of the likely nominees. I will of course share my final predictions in December, so check back in for that.<br>
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<b>Album of the Year</b><br>
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<b>1. Taylor Swift - <i>1989</i></b><br>
<b>What's in its favor: </b>She's practically guaranteed an AOTY nod at this point in her career as long as she can deliver a few hits and change her sound with each release. Swift is also the only artist who can be counted on to sell a million in a week, which makes her appealing to have in the biggest category of the night.<br>
<b>What might work against it: </b>Absolutely nothing.<br>
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</b> <b>2. Alabama Shakes - <i>Sound and Color </i></b><br>
<b>What's in its favor: </b>They're former Best New Artist nominees and it wouldn't hurt the NARAS' credibility to nominate them. A lot of strides have been made to include rock acts that break away from previous mainstream sounds here and they fit the bill best so far this year. Include a #1 album and a great reputation as a live act among their credentials and the blue ribbon panel that picks nominees for the general field will have a hard time saying no.<br>
<b>What might work against it: </b>Despite all the good reviews, they're lacking a song the casual listener can identify them with.<br>
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<b>3. Kendrick Lamar - <i>To Pimp A Butterfly </i></b><br>
<b>What's in its favor: </b>It's a topically relevant album with the year's best reviews and has sold very well. He's also another former Best New Artist nominee that has lived up to their potential.<br>
<b>What might work against it: </b>All the critical acclaim may not matter if it fails to land a single within the top 40 this year.<br>
<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/06/2016-grammys-early-preview.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-35146795964669262412015-04-23T10:40:00.000-05:002015-07-16T15:55:33.214-05:00Jhené Aiko - "Eternal Sunshine" music video<br />
The first image we see is of Aiko on her back facing the camera with her eyes closed and her body slowly ascending from the pavement. Even when she starts singing and her eyes begin to open, they don't do so fully, suggesting that she's only half-awake while reciting the lyrics, "Is it strange for me to say/That if I were to die today/There's not a thing that I would change/I've lived well." Meanwhile, the camera continues to follow her as she rises and we see more and more of the scene that's happening below her. No cuts. No jumps. Just Jhené. It's a terrific way to draw in the audience within the first thirty seconds.<br />
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"Eternal Sunshine" is a song about reflecting on the good in one's life and in this Jay Ahn-helmed video, we picture Aiko doing so in a fashion that's meant to detail her soul leaving this world. Things become clearer as the video goes on and our patience is rewarded with a graceful depiction of life and death that's earned it a spot as one of the best music videos of the year. By incorporating personal events like a 2013 car accident with her family and the death of her brother, the emotional gravity of it all is on Aiko's face to carry and it's done successfully with a calm, contemplative melancholy. In this interpretation of death, all of the good things come to us right before our time. It's undoubtedly somber, but there's some comfort to be found in there.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SnnJhEy9IzY" width="560"></iframe>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-60537501533679237812015-04-15T10:00:00.000-05:002015-06-09T14:13:44.656-05:00#classicalbumtweets: Weezer (The Blue Album)<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a> will be coming up shortly. Got my copy of Weezer's Blue Album ready to go. <a href="http://t.co/oKS2GIDYyI">pic.twitter.com/oKS2GIDYyI</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/543870003498332161">December 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Pushing play on The Blue Album...now. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a> <a href="http://t.co/73sntjyui5">pic.twitter.com/73sntjyui5</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/543872531178852352">December 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
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"My Name Is Jonas" kicks it off. Didn't have enough money as a kid to buy it in '94. Had to wait several years... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/543872946104586241">December 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
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...so after hearing all the singles for years, imagine my surprise to hear an acoustic guitar as the first sound. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/543873176057298944">December 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
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It felt delightful to not only bask in the Blue Album, but the first track was undeniably them: quirky, heavy & catchy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/543873496388866048">December 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I hear the Ric Ocasek touch most on "No One Else." Similar chord progression & crunch to Cars' "My Best Friend's Girl." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/543874058157187072">December 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
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"I want a girl who laughs for no one else." Rivers Cuomo understood younger me so well. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a></div>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/543874462060253185">December 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/04/classicalbumtweets-weezer-blue-album.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-27771190567264584442015-03-31T11:29:00.001-05:002015-03-31T11:29:47.969-05:00Charlie Belle - "Shake You Off"With all the members of Charlie Belle still being in their teens, it's only fitting that their music reminds me of a time when I was a younger listener more in tune with the purity of a message and more open-minded in my embrace. I can still do it as an adult, but it was certainly much easier as a kid that wasn't as preoccupied with the cynicism of trends. Indie pop is a term that has been slowly disappearing from the landscape for sometime now as the focus of online music criticism has practically shifted its attention towards R&B influenced sounds and the DIY alternative phase of the mid-90s when it comes to rock. What's so endearing about "Shake You Off" is that it exists in its own bubble outside of the trends of the world and these three kids from Austin are simply making the music that sounds best to them, which existed during the late 90s and early 2000s. It covers some of the same ground that a lot of great twee rock from that era did, which often placed itself sonically and thematically in the mindset of adolescence and childhood with a heavy dose of wonderment. That makes a lot of sense as to why this song is so charming since Charlie Belle didn't have to journey back in time too far to go that place.<br />
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To purchase Charlie Belle's <i>Get To Know</i> EP, visit their <a href="https://charliebelle.bandcamp.com/album/get-to-know" target="_blank">Bandcamp page</a>.Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-77714701520619057742015-03-06T05:00:00.000-06:002015-03-06T05:00:00.841-06:00Gunakadeit - "After School Special"This guy in the video gets it. Sometimes you hear a marimba and you just have to lip-synch yourself into a frenzy on the beach. "After School Special" lends itself pretty easily to such hysterics. That slight tropical feel during the chorus ups the giddy factor considerably even as the song details a teacher-student infatuation that flirts with the inappropriate. Much like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyWhYY5aHLw" target="_blank">"South" before it</a>, Natasha Kozily's harmonies brightly burst through with a sweetness that belies its dark material. It's pure pop music with some muscle and a freewheeling nature.<br />
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For more info on Gunakadeit, you can go to the official website <a href="http://www.gunakadeit.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-66088284286370502112015-02-24T07:00:00.000-06:002015-09-02T19:25:52.579-05:00The Major & Minor of the 87th Academy AwardsWelcome to the first edition of the Major & Minor. I'm trying this out as way to provide analysis to the many awards shows that are out there, while hopefully bringing something new to the table. I'll be looking at the highs and lows, best and worst, positives and negatives, or whatever you want to call it, of the 2015 Oscars, which is the biggest of all awards shows and not a bad place to start.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFSZesv8FhjatLc83nSdkWH6289nCmKjAN6afb6g6f9wyqZO1nbNjXG7GNh_aB-f30qQpirjggnp42hvegTzjuD9_IJffcEi3nJzpotkMAgEFocoFMpLsdF8mfK9JFlUGNpUx0Q/s1600/nphsong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFSZesv8FhjatLc83nSdkWH6289nCmKjAN6afb6g6f9wyqZO1nbNjXG7GNh_aB-f30qQpirjggnp42hvegTzjuD9_IJffcEi3nJzpotkMAgEFocoFMpLsdF8mfK9JFlUGNpUx0Q/s1600/nphsong.JPG" width="640"></a><br>
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<b>Major: Good Things Happen When Neil Patrick Harris Sings (and Jack Black & Anna Kendrick Cameo)</b><br>
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</b> The opening show number written by Robert and Kristin-Anderson Lopez (<i>Frozen</i>'s "Let It Go") provided the kind of pizazz and showbiz acumen most of us had hoped for when it was announced that Harris would be the host. His past stints doing the same duties for the Emmys and Tonys showed how apt he was and for four minutes, he lived up to the hype. Comedic timing and a solid voice should be all you need to do this thing successfully, right?<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkIzTLWi8RyDQ1FZC5-KJBxKETt9TSfD2Jcgl7E4L3bLcic-dayq5TgxkFIjK8eceKRfMehs-FG7BZcLJahX00bPn8haMJHbFmPW2zS4ADRN9HmfU4y3wqSaYRBeQjnY_QNV93w/s1600/benedict.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkIzTLWi8RyDQ1FZC5-KJBxKETt9TSfD2Jcgl7E4L3bLcic-dayq5TgxkFIjK8eceKRfMehs-FG7BZcLJahX00bPn8haMJHbFmPW2zS4ADRN9HmfU4y3wqSaYRBeQjnY_QNV93w/s1600/benedict.png"></a><br>
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<b>Major: #Cumberflask</b><br>
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Best "I'm A Big Star, But Don't Take Myself Too Seriously" moment since <a href="http://youtu.be/eblda6d_lOw?t=58s" target="_blank">Meryl Streep stared down Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt</a>.<br>
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<b>Major: O to the N to the D to the Pearls Of Love</b><br>
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</b> I'll leave the fashion analysis to the experts, but the eyes don't lie: stunning is stunning. Also, someone please include Lupita Nyong'o's smile in a romantic comedy.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY04bUWfFwnLHV84t320iQGPTbZR8sA2k3tNtAvueavrHKmVeLvPAi-lEFCGwfWrRpXJExzhlh8TxY1DhHtfqFjqUZ4fWv5Cndymlm0_X410Ik4wZ6GzE1ZdjnSPR5RnStvvhgA/s1600/jksimmons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaY04bUWfFwnLHV84t320iQGPTbZR8sA2k3tNtAvueavrHKmVeLvPAi-lEFCGwfWrRpXJExzhlh8TxY1DhHtfqFjqUZ4fWv5Cndymlm0_X410Ik4wZ6GzE1ZdjnSPR5RnStvvhgA/s1600/jksimmons.jpg"></a><br>
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<b>Major/Minor: This Was More Of A Leading Role, But The Right Man Won</b><br>
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</b> I'm a huge fan of <i>Whiplash </i>and I'm happy to see J.K. Simmons get some recognition, but you can't convince me that he didn't have a leading role. There's no doubt that Miles Teller had the bigger transformational arc. He's the protagonist. I get that, but Simmons' is the force that pushes that movie. I understand studios submit actors and actresses in categories they have the best shot at winning (once upon a time, Harvey Weinsten tried to push off Kate Winslet as a supporting actress in <i>The Reader</i>), but it will always continue to rub me the wrong way. I could always just stop nitpicking and appreciate the fact he won an award for the role of the tyrannical Terence Fletcher, one of the scariest, most well-rounded, brimstone-spewing characters we've seen this decade. I'm not entirely sure that it's a given he would have lost if he had been submitted in Best Actor. Sure, the category was already loaded with major contenders like Keaton, Redmayne and Cumberbatch already, but neither one of them was as showy as Simmons' performance, which the Academy often leans towards. Let's say Best Actor ends up like this: <br>
<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-major-minor-of-87th-academy-awards.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-41063636315207086942015-02-20T07:33:00.000-06:002015-06-16T13:54:30.890-05:00Best Films Of 2014These are the movies from 2014 I loved the most. Anything from my top ten stayed with me hours, most cases days after my first viewing and even in the second month of 2015, I can recall them vividly. If you're wondering why this list is so late, I do not have the luxury of attending the festival circuit, nor do I live in New York or Los Angeles, so a lot of late 2014 prestige releases don't make their way to the rest of the country until January. To be able to put movies in the proper context of their respective years, it helps to see the films that have been lauded the most or were highly anticipated, hence the February arrival of this list. In my own world, it's still relevant as long as it's before the Oscars. So here it is. <br>
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<b>1. Life Itself</b><br>
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Roger Ebert was a huge influence on me as a cinephile. If I hadn't started reading his reviews as a high school freshman, this very list you're reading may not even exist. I fought hard not to make <i>Life Itself</i>, my #1 movie of 2014 because of how much I adored its subject and for fear that I wasn't being objective, yet in the end, honesty won out. The emphasis on Ebert's love for movies alone would have still made this a memorable film, seeing as how his writing was filled with an observation, wit and insight that made him more accessible than some of his more sophisticated contemporaries at the time. The love he had for cinema was a very genuine and touching one, but in the spirit of objectivity, director Steve James (<i>Hoop Dreams</i>, <i>The Interrupters</i>) delved into the man behind the reviews, warts and all. The documentary follows Ebert through the last months of his life as he battled cancer, an ordeal that is not skimmed over in the least and quite graphic at times, in addition to less flattering biographical nuggets mentioned throughout the film. It's the kind of portrayal Ebert himself likely would have championed.<br>
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<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/02/best-films-of-2014.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-4614278047747853592015-02-11T04:00:00.000-06:002015-02-13T09:24:38.392-06:00#classicalbumtweets: CrazysexycoolThe front page of Hectic But Eclectic was getting a little too #classicalbumtweets heavy, so I withheld posting and tried to space them out more. I still kept on with the tweets and now I do it every 2nd Saturday of the month instead. I'll be doing <i>Discovery</i> by Daft Punk this Saturday, actually.<br>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a> is about a few minutes away. <a href="http://t.co/OzEvoWflun">pic.twitter.com/OzEvoWflun</a><br>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/519986007404331009">October 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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The intro to CrazySexyCool only reminds how closely R&B and hip hop camps circled around each other back in the day. Was the norm back then.<br>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/519986795472105472">October 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Me and my friends were not ready for all the maturity and sexiness TLC had when the "Creep" video dropped. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a><br>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/519987165514563584">October 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I enjoyed the brattiness and color of the first album, but didn't feel betrayed when they decided to dress alike. "Creep" was perfect intro.<br>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/519987555408687104">October 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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"Kick Your Game" was the track to remind you that TLC were still down and had attitude, in case those horns on "Creep" made you think other.<br>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/519988638734503936">October 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Bass lines from Jermaine Dupri productions from 1992-1995 are God's gift to us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/classicalbumtweets?src=hash">#classicalbumtweets</a><br>
— Eloquent 2-Year Old (@hecticivan) <a href="https://twitter.com/hecticivan/status/519988884340342784">October 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/02/classicalbumtweets-crazysexycool.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679373.post-66979096879876314112015-02-08T19:02:00.000-06:002015-02-08T22:50:31.735-06:00Live Blogging The 2015 Grammys<b>7:00</b> Back here to live blog the Grammys again another year. I'll be providing running analysis on who might win and the overall spectacle of the show.<br>
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<b>7:02</b> AC/DC are kicking off the show. LL Cool J makes it a point to tell everyone that this is their first performance at the ceremony. I'm totally happy for them and all, especially with Malcolm Young having to leave the band, but it doesn't scream current. My only guess is that the NARAS noticed there was an alarming lack of guitars on the show, so they had to dig into the vault to balance things out.<br>
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<b>7:08 </b>LL Cool J is back onstage the show officially begins. He just announced that there were will be 23 performances tonight. 23. Oof.<br>
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<b>7:11 </b>Sam Smith takes home Best New Artist in a win that shocks absolutely no one. I'm still recovering from the shell shock that we're going to have to sit through 23 performances. It appears as if the awards have truly become secondary, which is a shame. You look at the Oscars, Tonys, Emmys and even the Golden Globes, there is buzz and importance surrounding who will win. For the Grammys, it's as if Album of the Year is the only thing anyone is waiting for. The collaborative performances have always felt desperate and forced. It's great that veterans can still get a rub from being on a nationally televised appearance because I think it's important that younger viewers know about previous generations, but it's done in a way that's very insincere and not entertaining in the least. I love music, so naturally I look forward to the Grammys, but it's frustrating when you know it could be so much more.<br>
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<b>7:24</b> Ariana Grande performs "Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart" and does a solid job, because well, she's Ariana. I would have preferred to see her do a more uptempo song, but I like that she went opposite of what her singles have been. If she still feels like she has something to prove, I think everyone is much better off for it. Jessie J and Tom Jones also perform "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" in honor of its songwriters, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Neither were bad choices to perform, seeing as how Jones' baritone is not a half-bad match for what Bill Medley did on the original, but it's incredibly stiff. I dislike it whenever they have performances on that small stage in the middle of the audience that isn't minimal. It feels too overstuffed for such an intimate and the entire sequence felt like it could have been on telethon instead of the biggest night in music. Pharrell beats out Sam Smith and Sia for Best Pop Solo Vocal Performance with a live version of "Happy." This is the first sign of vulnerability for Smith I've seen tonight and I like Beyonce's chances for AOTY better now. We'll have to see how Record and Song of the Year pan out.<br>
<a href="http://h-b-e.blogspot.com/2015/02/live-blogging-2015-grammys.html#more">Read more »</a>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04786658818562297429noreply@blogger.com0