Album Recomendations

An album so good that it has no skips, every song is good. Real or myth? Personally I have never found an album with no skips, even ones that I love have skips on them and it doesn't detract from my love for them at all. I normally don't listen to a full album ever after my first listen, they just get added to my big massive 168+ hour long album and the one for songs i currently enjoy entitled new gen. I have previously shown off my music taste before as when I recommended Imaginal Disk to Preston and played No Doubt songs at Maxxie's place. But today, right here, right now, I compile the supreme echelon of music, albums that transcend the bounds of greatness into sublime excellence.

Honourable mentions: Empathogen by WILLOW, Brat by Charli XCX, The Fame by Lady Gaga, Broke With Expensive Taste by Azealia Banks, and The Provocateur by Adéla.

Return of Saturn - No Doubt

You may have heard Gwen Stefani due to bangers like Luxurious, Cool, and What You Waiting For? And really I don't like much of her discography outside of that. But did you know she was a member of the supa cool band No Doubt and she used to be super cunt and alternative? And not only did she look super cool, the music is fire too. The band's fourth album, labelled by some a new wave alternative rock album, incorporates ska and reggae influence into its sound which offers a totally groovy backbone. Consisting of 15 tracks, 13 are in my playlist. Highlights include New, Simple Kind Of Life, Ex-Girlfriend and Staring Problem. The album has a very late teenage to young adult vibe to it, even though Miss Stefani was in her late 20's when it was made. Staring Problem is perhaps my fav song battling for the spot with Simple Kind Of Life, featuring one of my favourite things ever in music; when an artist adds character and a kind-of animated nature to their voice. Something I loved about Nicki Minaj's early music before the copious amounts of cocaine she snorts burned holes into her brain. Stefani incorporates this into other songs such as Just A Girl and it really gets me into character alongside her. Fantastic album.

Addison - Addison Rae

Addison Rae's self-titled debut synth-pop album is an addictive earworm. Not every song tickles my fancy as only 8 of 12 tracks are in my playlist. But the ones that are, are EVERYTHING. Money is Everything, Fame is a Gun, Headphones On... perfection. The album cover really does embody the sound of the album as all good album covers should. Dreamy production and wistful, ephemeral vocals. Fame is a Gun is such a white-girl confidence bop. The lyricism feels a bit simple in the best way, like "Guess I gotta accept the pain, I need a cigarette to make me feel better" and "Do I provoke you with my tone of innocence?"... 10/10. The aforementioned songs have been a staple in my listening ever since release and they haven't gotten old, I hope they never do. Addison's vocals aren't amazing, but they don't need to be, she has a vibe and a sound that makes up for that and I look forward to future releases.

Imaginal Disk - Magdalena Bay

Another dreamy synth-pop album, but whereas Addison feels like a working-class girl living life and busting her ass for success, Imaginal Disk feels like a girl who never stops daydreaming and speaks in metaphors at all times. Imaginal Disk feels like pure love and affection to me. 13 out of 15 of it's tracks are in my playlist and the two not in it are like interludes... so lowkey... a no-skip album (gasping shocked emoji). Standouts include Death & Romance, Image, That's My Floor, Killing Time, Angel on a Satellite, and The Ballad of Matt & Mica. You may have noticed that's a lot of standouts compared to our previous albums, and that's because they are SO SO GOOD. And It would be remiss of me not to mention the Image - Grimes Special, a remix of Image featuring Grimes of course that transforms the wiggly wavy nature of the song into that of a dark mysterious club banger. Both of which are loved and adored. And now I can't help myself because I NEED to recommend This Is The World (I Made It For You) which is not on the album but it is INCREDIBLE. You may recognise the song from Daniels' Instagram story of my amazing idea to treat a bottle of fireball as if it were my baby, highlighting my habit of projecting sentience and emotion onto inanimate objects. A habit which I feel is suitable for this album. Listen to it and love.

Fancy That - Pinkpantheress

Would it be a list of my favourite music without Pinkpantheress? Of course not. Described as a UK garage dance-pop album, Fancy That is a masterpiece clocking in at 7 out of 9 songs in my playlist. My favs include Stars, Girl Like Me, and Stateside. When I be in the club, this album is what I wanna hear. I probably won't be hearing it aside from maybe Stateside + Zara Larsson but like even the time for that may have unfortunately passed me by. Pinkpantheress being one of the album's producers, is THE first woman and best producer ever, first woman to receive some producer award or whatever and it's no surprise with her excellent usage of sampling in Stars, Nice to Know You and the unreleased song Just a Waste, fuck the Michael Jackson estate for not clearing the sample. The amount of times I have fantasised about a cute American boy while listening to Stateside... This album's pure style goes beyond the music into Pinkpantheress' own branding. She IS the UK. She is doing wonders for the United Kingdom's PR and reputation with this album. Fancy Some More? Cause I sure did when I heard Pinkpantheress' remix album. Standouts include Tonight + JADE, Romeo + Rachel Chinouriri and two versions of Stateside, one with Kylie Minogue and the other being the acclaimed Zara Larsson feature. The rest of the remixes lowkey a chop... but whatever. Fancy That should be put in a museum.

When the pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king

What he knows throws the blows when he goes into the fight

And he'll win the whole thing 'fore he enters the ring

There's no body to batter when your mind is your might

So when you go solo, you hold your own hand

And remember that depth is the greatest of heights

And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land

And if you fall it won't matter, cuz you'll know that you're right - Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple... artist of a generation. Her second alternative pop album has 8 out of 10 songs on my playlist. And those eight songs... her soulful voice sings straight into my voice and resonates with the deepest depths of my soul. On The Bound, To Your Love, Limp, Love Ridden, Paper Bag, Fast As You Can, The Way Things Are, and Get Gone. Did I just list all eight songs? Yes. Because they're THAT FUCKING GOOD. This album feels like witchcraft in the same way the movie, The Craft, does. The vibes are just dark, vengeful, wronged woman whose emotion is her power. Words can not describe the sublime nature of this album, not my words at least. Instead I give you a few lyrics from the song Love Ridden:

"Love ridden, I've looked at you

With the focus I gave to my birthday candles

I've wished on the lidded blue flames under your brow

And baby, I wished for you

Nobody sees when you are lying in your bed

And I wanna crawl in with you, but I cry instead

I want your warmth, but it will only make me colder when it's over

So I can't tonight, baby

No, not baby anymore

If I need you, I'll just use your simple name"