2014 Favorites: Music Part 1

Presented without any particular order in mind, the first part of a five part series featuring my favorite songs of 2014.




Love Never Felt So Good - Michael Jackson ft. Justin Timberlake

I turned my nose at a 2014 MJ album, but it turned out a lot better than I thought.  And so did this 80's throwback that's almost impossible for you not to sing along with.
All We Do - Trey Songz

Y'know what RnB's been missing?  Fucking music.  During the era a friend of mine dubbed as "the neverending party", where all the genres are blending together and rappers wanna be singers and singers wanna be rappers, everyone's so busy trying to get you "turnt" that no one's making music for what happens once you leave the club.   Enter "All We Do", a song that would put you in the mood if you were in traction. 

Good Kisser - Usher

Say what you will about the rest of Usher's singles leading up to his new album, but "Good Kisser" was a slam dunk.  From the minimalistic video to the instantly recognizable, impossibly catchy song itself.  I couldn't tell you whether U R will be the next Confessions (I'm lying, I can: it won't be), but I do know this was a monster of a way to start off his promos.

Gust of Wind - Pharrell

Pharrell used 2013 to create one of the catchiest earworms ever, then followed that up in 2014 by showing people how to do pop music right with his G I R L EP.   Not bad for a guy who's been in the music biz for over twenty years already.  

Often - Weeknd

I had a friend say "Weeknd's music makes me feel like I should be high on cocaine having a foursome with three chicks.  In slow motion."   Not an inaccurate assessment.   Either way, for my money he's one of the most interesting people in RnB right now, getting away from all the ballads and the party music and doing something different with the genre.  

Maryann - Landing

The self-styled "Bae God" had a great first effort with the "This Is What The Moon Sounds Like" EP, and this is one of the best tracks from it, featuring a delightfully atmospheric melody matched with hauntingly beautiful vocals.  To say I'm looking forward to what she does next is an understatement.

Pop Thieves - Childish Gambino
The KAUAI EP isn't the first time Donald Glover has tried crooning, but never has he done so to as great effect.  If the rapping thing doesn't work out (it's not like he's, y'know, winning grammy nominations or anything), I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him do a turn as a pop music artist later in his career.

She Knows - Ne-Yo feat. Juicy J

I'm not usually a Ne-Yo fan, so you could say it was this ridiculous, hilarious video that helped me become a fan of this...but I'd be lying if I said this wasn't catchy as all hell. 

$NITCHES - Lupe Fiasco ft. Ty Dolla $ign

Lupe went on a string of high-quality "loosie" releases in the run-up to Tetsuo & Youth, out later this January, but this track featuring XXL freshman Ty Dolla $ign just might be my favorite.  Lupe didn't let the message get in the way on this one, so its just two artists at their best creating quality music.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sage Spoils The Plot: Kamen Rider Decade

Image
Starting a new section today, entitled Sage Spoils The Plot. I pondered over this name for quite a while, but as I thought about it, I realized calling it commentary or blogging or whatever is just bullshit. What you're REALLY doing is spoiling the plot and adding your own brand of shitty humor. So, why not be honest? Plus, Sage Spoils The Plot has kind of a ring to it. For the first section we're doing the new Kamen Rider series of 2009, Kamen Rider Decade. Kamen Rider checks a lot of "totally fucking awesome" boxes for me. A lot of people might call it, "Japanese Power Rangers" (which is untrue from the start since that already exists) due to the suits and the fight scenes. I accept this. That said, its proof that anything done right can be cool--so when you get rid of the over-acting, toss in a good plot (exceptionally good plots actually), add in some well done characterization, and tone down the stupid-level of the fight scenes and make them look less l
Read more

The New 52, Corrected: Justice Legion A

Image
What Happened: It’s another replacement book.  This time we’re getting rid of Legion Lost.  What I’d Change: Enjoy the adventures of the Justice League of the 853rd century.  Why: Put simply?  Legion Lost didn’t have enough legs to function as an ongoing series.  A group of the Legion’s best members go to the past to combat an alien virus...and then what.  They get stuck?  Meh.  The appeal of the Legion is they’re from the future.  This could have been a great MINI-series; something with a beginning, a middle, and an end.  As an ongoing I got bored, really fast.  So instead let’s replace them with a book about the Justice League of the far future. DC's got a terrible habit of making up awesome concepts and then leaving them by the wayside, this is one of DC’s greatest and its only been revisited like, twice.  (Once by Geoff Johns with Booster Gold 1,000,000 and once with Chris Roberson with some Superman/Batman comic.)   It helps lighten the hit that came with Flashpoint
Read more