Best of 2014: Pop Albums

It's that time of year!! Well, actually, no it isn't - i'm kinda late. But I still want to review the best of 2014 so please excuse my tardiness. And enjoy this list of my 5 top pop albums of 2014.


And videos. Enjoy the videos. :)




FIVE

Title: X
Artist: Ed Sheeran
Pop Out: This album stands out because of how unique Ed Sheeran is as an artist. Not only is he lyrically talented, but the guy can switch from crooning talk-rapping to smoothing singing like it's nobody's business. I do have a weakness for British music though, so maybe i'm biased, but this is by far the best export to come out of England since Ellie Goulding. Replay!
Best Songs: "Bloodstream" and "Don't"

FOUR

Title: Ultraviolence
Artist: Lana Del Rey
Pop Out: This album should be number one solely because Lana Del Rey is my musical goddess. I literally pray to her music. But her follow-up album to the amazing Born To Die is just short of being an epic masterpiece. The strings are there, the riffs are there, the nods to different eras are there; but something is missing. And that is Del Rey's witty writing skill. The production is flawless (and borderline alternative) but the writing is below average and repetitive. I expect more from her upcoming fourth album "Honeymoon."
Best Songs: "Black Beauty", "Cruel World", and "Florida Kilos"

THREE

Title: V
Artist: Maroon 5
Pop Out: Most people I know can't stand Maroon 5, but I have always been a fan and am even more after hearing this album for the first time today (in preparation for this list.) It is by far the most pop they've ever been with each song sounding like the previous one. There isn't much flexibility in the arrangements, but then again, isn't that what makes pop music? It's suppose to sound good to the ears and this album (with the help of Darkchild) is like chocolate in your ear drums.
Best Song: "Maps." I put that shit on repeat!

TWO

Title: Shakira
Artist: Shakira
Pop Out: It's no surprise that Shakira's 10th album is a sure-fire hit. The chick has pipes and she laid that shit down like no other singer can. Her vocal abilities sometimes frighten me; here she sounds like an angel, there she sounds like a crooner. She's part singer, part poet. But one thing is for sure, she is 100% in control of her artform. A true pop album for the ages.
Best Songs: "Empire" and "Medicine"

ONE

Title: 1,000 Forms of Fear
Artist: Sia
Pop Out: If you know me, this comes to no surprise. I have been listening to this album on repeat for the past months. I'm a little late on the bandwagon because I don't listen to the radio so I find all my music online or through blogs. The first song I heard from this album was Elastic Heart (from the Hunger Games soundtrack) and in the following hours, I had already downloaded the album and listened to it till my ears bleed. Aaaaand I want them to bleed again.
Best Songs: "Hostage", "Burn the Page", and "Fire Meet Gasoline."

What was your favourite pop album of 2014?

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Musical Wishlist

So I've been very lucky this past year and got to saw musical acts I never thought I would get the chance to see; thanks in part to great friends. And this summer of music festivals and guitar solos only fed that desire to see more of my favourite artists on stage.


I mean, I got to see Joan Jett, Three Days Grace, Grimskunk (twice!), Apocalyptica, The Offspring, Jason Derulo, Obey the Brave (singer is the hottest person alive), METALLICA (!!), Motley Crue, Weezer, Billy Talent, Lana Del Rey (♥♥), Cypress Hill (that almost made me die). I also discovered new acts such as Messhugah, August Burns Red, and Veil of Maya.

And I also got to see Ice T perform with his group at Heavy Montreal, when I didn't even know he would be there. Or that he was in a metal band!? I feel like no summer can top this one though. But then again, next year is the tenth anniversary of  Montebello's Rockfest and let's just say it's hyped. Can you feel my excitement??!!

So in preparation for next year, this is a list of artists I want and WILL (feel that determination?) see perform. I won't take no for an answer. :)

• System of a Down
• There is no way in hell that I am going through another year without seeing these beasts perform live. I will walk through hell if I have to.

• MØ
• She's Danish, she's trippy, she's unique, she's bold. Yeah, her music pretty much rocks.

• Diplo
• Diplo is the sole reason why I enjoy any form of EDM/Trap music. He's a god and I'm a disciple. Feed me your music, Diplo!

• Green Day
• This is purely for nostalgic reasons. Green Day was a staple of my generation and I would probably die if I ever get to see them. Legit, die!

• Placebo
• You couldn't meet a more devoted Placebo fan even if you entered a Placebo forum on a Placebo website. I love all their songs and would love nothing more than blazing out to their music. *Dreams*

• Lana Del Rey (outside venue)
• Yeah, I saw the Queen of Dark this year and it was everything I was hoping for. But I was going through a rough patch with a person-who-called-me-a-friend-but-was-really-a-snake, and so her melancholic sound and depressive lyrics got me a bit down. I want to redo this but in a nature setting. I want to feel her sound through the wind

• CottonMouth Kings
• They brought an urban rock band to Montebello's Rockfest this year (Cypress Hill - I consider them urban rock, k?) so I'm hoping they continue that trend and invite CMK on the stage. That would be - wait for it - dope!

• Childish Gambino
• I had TWO opportunities to see this bad-ass lyricist beat the stage to a pulp and missed BOTH opportunities. If I am lucky enough next year, I definitely plan on being front row to rap along to Backpackers and Bonfire. And errthing else this oreo sings about.

There's so many more acts I want to see like AlunaGeorge, Kid Ink, Modest Mouse, London Grammar, Shlohmo, Marina and the Diamonds, and the list goes on! Who knows, maybe my wishes will come true!! :)

What artist has you tripping lately?

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

LDR SAT: NEW AKA

Just when I thought I couldn't get any more Lana Del Rey in my life, I stumble upon an article about May Jailer's album Sirens. You see, before Lizzy Grant ever became Lana Del Rey she was chirruping as May Jailer. This most likely places the album Sirens before Lana Del Rey AKA Lizzy Grant, widely thought as her first official album.

To the people who aren't fans, this is probably nothing to get excited about, but to überfans like myself - this is fan-fucking-tastic!

We get to see an evolution of sorts: from her whispering bird-like singing in Sirens, to her more soul-searching, raspy vocals in Lana Del Rey AKA Lizzy Grant, and finishing it off with her more angry, sadcore-hip-hop blend of Born to Die.

What sold me was the song Aviation. It speaks for itself.

More songs from May Jailer's Sirens:

westbound

birds of a feather

out with a bang

my momma

Check out May Jailer on Youtube to listen to all of Lana's unreleased songs!

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink

LDR SAT: CAFÉ INC

Have y'all seen the new Nespresso Café commercial? It features "Blue Jeans" by the one and only Lana Del Rey. They apparently chose her song because of the "Olden time, Americana" feel of her voice and style. Finally, someone major recognizes the talent and spectacular AWE of LDR.

Here is the commercial!!

Hopefully people will stop hating on her because of SNL. One performance cannot sum up the talent of the Coney Island Queen!

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink



LDR SAT: POL RMX

*I know it's Sunday, but I was uber busy yesterday and couldn't wait another day to post this vid!!

I found a really good cover of Blue Jeans by Lana Del Rey on Youtube the other day. It's from Anna Paryło, a polish interior designer with a genuine talent in singing! She radiates off the screen, that's how hot she is. Her accent and the way she pronounces "hip-hup" is so cute. It's one of my favourite covers this year and I really hope this woman gets a break!

And seriously, the wallpaper in the back is kick-ass!

Covers are awesome. It makes you rediscover the song or catch it in a different angle.

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink

LDR SAT: USA IDL

So Lana Del Rey was on American Idol the other night and because of the same BBQ that prevented me from posting Thursday, I missed her performance.

Luckily we have Youtube! For eveyone else who missed it, here it is:

So simple yet so visually stricking. The sound doesn't hurt the ears either and frankly, I prefer an artist that falses from time to time then an "artist" that lip sync's. It feels more genuine, like there's a connection between the listener and the artist.

You know how Rihanna has released like a gazillion albums in seven years and is everywhere on the charts every single one of those years? I hope Lana Del Rey does that. :)

If you are living on the east coast like I am, it's worth noting that Lana Del Rey will be in New-York City on June 8-9-10th. I SO WANT TO GO!

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

LDRA?

I have not had a musical obsession in yeeeears. Come to think of it, the last artist to make my heart flutter and my ears melt with ecstacy was Alanis Morissette. Yeah like 15 years ago.

It's quite hard to put into words how I feel about Lana Del Rey (real name: Elizabeth Grant). Trust me, I've tried being coherent. Doesn't work.

**Please note you will not find any illegally-downloaded music of hers here. Part of becoming a fan of someone is hunting down their work. However hard it is to find. (I'm lookin' at you Jimmy Necco!!)**


Like a great deal of people, I didn't know about Lana Del Rey until earlier this year, when my cousin texted me to let me know (I) JUST HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS NEW CHICK. Now, when it comes to music, I don't tend to listen to other peoples suggestions - nothing pretentious, I just know alot of music since I listen to pretty much everything.

So open a new tab, click on youtube link, enter VIDEO GAMES LANA DEL REY.

My world has changed since that search on youtube. Yup, so not the same person. I've become a net junkie, something I never was nor ever thought I'd claim to be. But here I am, searching the net for everything and anything Del Rey; Interviews, Music Vids, Promos, Songs, Stories. I even followed through with my oooold twitter account just to get newer news from the Del Rey herself.

What caught my attention at first was her odd yet seductive look; edgy but not marginal, classy but not typical. I must admit, Video Games did not attract me at all at first. It was a new sound, one I had long forgotten since the times of Portishead and Morcheeba.

When the clip was done and over with, I had to see what else was out there. I haven't stopped since. lol. As I gradually became accustomed to her sultry voice and deep tones, I found myself enjoying her more melodic, personal tunes (see Jump, Queen of the Gas Station, and Trash/Trash Magic/Miss America - she apparently couldn't find a suitable title as the song appears on Youtube under three different titles) rather then her more radio-friendly fares such as Video Games and Born to Die.

This so-called obsession could have passed had I not heard Dark Paradise and Money Hunny. The perfect blend of hip-hop and folk, trip-hop and blues, modern jazz and classic pin-up. This woman has everything and it flows out so naturally.

The lyrics are obviously very personal to Del Rey as many words or phrases come back again and again such as : Chateau Marmont, Daddy, Red Dress, Lipstick, Honey. She has a passion for Old Hollywood glamour and flare, as apparent by her numerous nods to pearls, big hair do's, and stars of that era (Elvis, James Dean).

She has so much love to give and it is so very obvious in how she talks and just generally interacts with fans. We can expect only better from this fresh talent, mainly because she still has a shitload of awesome songs that have yet to be re-released. You see, Lana Del Rey bought back the rights to her previous album and is (allegedly) going to re-release them. *crossing fingers*

I even made a little rap about how anxious I am for Lana Del Rey to release her old songs so we can listen to them freely and hopefully in better quality. You Can Be The Boss, for example, could benefit from a musical facelift!!

Ohmygod! An EP release

I need my L-D-R fix!

Gimme that treat

So I can stop my tricks

and listen to the beat

beat, beat, beat,beat,beat

Lana Del Rey

Beautiful Day

Cigarette Tray

And a Glass of Chardonnay

Oh man. It'll be a while before I ever get tired of Lana Del Rey. I can't remeber how it was before I started listening to her songs at work. All day. Every day.

LDRA? Lana Del Rey Anonymous?

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink

Best of 2011: Lana Del Rey

My cousin Katie let me in on the music of Elizabeth Grant, better known by her stage name Lana Del Rey. In a minute, I was hooked on her sultry voice and just-as-sultry looks. She is undeniably the best new act of 2011. Watch out, Grammy Awards!



Anyone stuck out of the crowd for you this year?

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink