Kamis, 31 Januari 2013

Playlist #5: Best Of 2012

Better late than never, right?

A very happy
2013
I can truly say that 2012 was my best year yet. A lot happened.
I hope that 2013 will be even better 
(also for you of course)!

As you might know I do this monthly category and thought it would be nice to do a 
musically retrospective on 2012

Azealia Banks - Liquorice
Azealia Banks made a huge entrance in music business with the massive track 212This young rapunzel makes so called witch-hop. Vintage house with winks to the 90's. She's mischievous and quick-witted. This year we can expect her first LP Broke with Expensive Taste.

Grimes - Oblivion
Meet Grimes: the Queen of Dream Pop. 'I wanted to make something that reads as a symphony' and it did. I could play her album Visions the whole day. Her music is beautiful and assaulting at the same time. 'It's fit to burst with bone-bending synths, insistent beats and a sometimes shrill vocal that manages to both charm and unsettle.' The Guardian said. I couldn't describe it better.

Lianne La Havas - Forget
Lianne La Havas is just 23, but that doesn't stop her from writing sensitive soul songs. Her debut album is magnificant and was even nominated for the Mercury Prize for best album. (By the way: this is one of the most important music awards in the UK and Ireland.) This charming and talented girl is undoubtely someone to watch in 2013. 

Alt-J - Breezeblocks
Smart rock? Alt-J is named after the keyboard shortcut to make a triangle () symbol on the Mac. They marked themselves as oddball geeks. Frontman Joe Newman declares his love for triangles, his favourite shape. The sound of Alt-J are the languid melodies, clattering beats and unsettling electronic skits. 

Jake Bugg - Two Fingers
Jake Bugg is only 18 years old and is taking the music industry by storm. He's called 'the next Bob Dylan' several times. He didn't disappoint with his self-titled debut album with country-rock blended with blues,. It is almost too good to be true. He sings about trouble, violence, drug abuse, booze and smoking. Piece by piece songs that stuck in your head all day (and that's a good thing!).     

Ren Harvieu - Open Up Your Arms
Ren Harvieu reminds us of old times. Close your eyes and let yourself be transported to a dark nightclub in the sixties. Inspired by old Disney movies and kitchen-sink dramas. 
Orchestral pop with a dark edge. Timeless. 

Jessie Ware - Night Light
I was first introduced to Jessie Ware when listening to 110%. I think it's genius how she combines dreamy soul with R&B. Opposites attract right? Jessie Ware proves that on her album Devotion effortlessly.

Lana Del Rey - Ride
When I first heard Video Games, I was hooked. All of her songs are about the downside of the American Dream. Lana's songs can be best described as Hollywood-cinematic-glamour-meets-urban-hiphop. Halfway suburban perfection and trailer park trash. She sings about love and vulnerability. Slumming romance and being ignored by the person you love. 

Marina and the Diamonds - Primadonna
After her quirky debut album The Family Jewels in 2010, Marina made a huuuge comeback last year. She's obsessed with Hollywood, The American Dream and materialism. Electra Heart was inspired by a few archetypes: Suburban youth, the homewrecker, pin-ups, stars and beauty queens. She proves once again that America is full of inspiration. Marina sings about her totally disappointingly love life, dependency and seduction. Nevertheless the album is catchy synth pop with a dark twist. 'If Britney Spears was gothic, it would sound like this.' 

The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling
The Black Keys are not as new as you might think. In fact this garage rock band started already in 2001 and have released 7 studio albums. But that doesn't stop me from mentioning them in my list, as they were HUGE in 2012. El Camino was a big success and they went on a world tour. 2013 will be just as promising as they're going to release a new album.

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