So, I have really been neglecting this blog, but really, I don’t have any excuses. Life is pretty crazy, and times aren’t like they were, BUT! Work is good, albeit sometimes stressful, and takes up a lot of my time. Life is good, but can also be stressful, and takes up the rest of my time.
That being said, I wanted to share some of my favorite albums from this year, as there were quite a few stellar albums released (I also included the songs from the cancelled Eurovision this year; there were some AMAZING entries, and it is sadly, another thing that covid-19 ruined). Here’s a playlist for you; play them in order or mix is up, it’s up to you! I know 2020 has been a crazy year for everyone, so here’s hoping next year is a little less traumatic!
(Note: The playlist is a lot longer than it appears… make sure you check out the full one on Spotify!)
I might make a playlist of my favorite songs, and if so, I will plan on another, rare post! Til then (hopefully)!!
Happy holidays, and happy new year everybody!
Last month I was catching up on one of the best shows of the 2008 fall season, Fringe, when I heard this song playing in the background during a specifically sweet scene. I was instantly thinking that I had heard it somewhere before, and I realized that it was the amazing Ray LaMontagne, and that I had in fact heard it, and that it was on my ipod! Well, cut to this week, when I realized that I hadn’t featured this song yet, even though I was just sure that I had, because it is so amazingly brilliant; what was I thinking? To rectify this gross error on my part, I made it a priority to get the word out about this song right away. This song is so sweet, tender, and powerful that Ray really tugs at your heartstrings as he gently begs to be the one that you choose. I love how simple, yet powerful the lyrics are in this song, and Ray’s smoky vocals really bring the emotion to the forefront. This is definitely a song I would already consider amongst my all time favorites; it’s truly that amazing.
I have been listening off and on to this one for a little over a month now, and for whatever reason, it never made it to 5SF because other stuff kept bumping it. However, that doesn’t mean that it is anything less than a quality track, and a total 80’s theme song at that! Seriously, this song is so retro eighties emo-before- it-was-emo that it isn’t even funny. I could really see this on an eighties soundtrack to some movie like Pretty in Pink or something like it. I love the subtle tones of the song, and the lead singer’s vocals are just sweet to my ears. I do think it is interesting that he looks like a brother, or at least a very close relative, of Tim Curry, however. Does it make you shiver with antici….pation?
After one listen to her most recent release, Human, I kind of wrote it off as an ‘alright’ album, but it didn’t really resonate with me at first because of the attention my massive year end reviews required from me. Well, one of you asked me to give it another listen, and I did; there are some solid tracks on this record, and in typical Brandy fashion, she has picked some stuff that really sounds great with her voice. This is probably my favorite song on the album, as it is a solid and beautiful love ballad. I could completely do without the interlude that precedes it, though, so I deleted that from my ipod. I’m glad that it was suggested that I give this one another go, because I definitely liked it a lot better on the second spin. 
I recently saw that Christina had a new remix out for this very song, and while I like the remix, I always feel like I should listen to the regular version, and in this case, I liked it even better. I have been a fan of Christina’s since her BRILLIANTLY amazing single, AM to PM captivated me a few years ago. Well, for whatever reason, she doesn’t seem to be able to make a big splash in the US music scene (well, Dip it Low had moderate success, didn’t it?), even though this is her home turf; but that hasn’t stopped her from making some solid pop music and disseminating it elsewhere. This song is from her upcoming album, and if it is as good as this lead single, I really hope it gets a proper US release, because I want to hear more from Ms. Milian.
BIG SHOES. That is what Kelly Clarkson has to fill with her next album; especially after the debacle that was her not-so-hot previous album, My December. Well, earlier this week, she released her new single (Since U Been Gone II!!!), and I have to say, that I quite like it, and I think that she might be able to fill those shoes after all. At least, she is definitely going in the right direction; this is a slick pop track that harnesses her voice beautifully, and really reminds me of the Kelly that I fell in love with back in 2003, and even more so in 2004. I has been a while since she’s had a proper hit, and I think that if the rest of the album is anything like this track, then she might have another go at the top of the charts later this year. Here’s hoping we’ve got our old Kelly back… because by the sound of this song, I think that we just might. My ONLY gripe about this song, is that the chorus feels like it’s missing something… I feel like she should say “tonight!” or “today!” after “my life would suck without you…” (tonight). See what I mean?