I wanted to highlight some of my favorite projects from last year. There’s A LOTTTT here haha but I’ll list the top 15!
Hello! To contrast my previous party playlist, I wanted to make something more on the chill, dreamy side. Enjoy!
The debut album by Rina Sawayama, SAWAYAMA, is triumphant covering topics about family and heritage. In the opening track “Dynasty,” she states “The pain my vein is hereditary.” She also criticizes and tackles capitalism in “XS”, a song sang in a sarcastic tone singing about wanting more and more. “STFU!” is a song about racism and the microagressions she has witnessed in her life. Sawayama perfectly blends early 00s pop with R&B and elements of nu-metal to create a debut album that surely has at least one song for everyone.
☆ Rating: 8.5/10 ☆
I’m convinced Carly Rae Jepsen cannot make a bad song. Dedicated proves she is a pop force with catchy melodies, sweet vocals, fun production, and a sense of freedom and growth. My favorite tracks are “Happy Not Knowing,” “Want You in My Room,” and “No Drug Like Me.”
☆ Rating: 9.5/10 ☆
In anticipation for Lady Gag’s upcoming record, I will be writing about one of my favorite albums by her, ARTPOP. I still vividly remember the months leading up to its release and being completely captivated with the project once it was out. Released in 2013, this album blends EDM, classic art, the goddess of love Venus, and pop music all into one. I love it all but some of my favorite tracks include “Sexxx Dreams,” “MANiCURE,” and “Swine.”
☆ Rating: 9/10 ☆
Music has always been a form of escapism for me. In times when no one can socialize, some may miss dancing with friends the most. Here I composed a little party-themed playlists. From trance classics by Alice Deejay and Cascada to newer cult classics by Azealia Banks and Charli XCX, I hope this playlist helps you escape onto a dancefloor in your very own bedroom!
In an era where climate change and the state of the world are terrifying and often talked about, humanity may seem hopeless. Miss Anthropocene was created with this looming idea in mind. In fact, each track symbolizes gods created by Grimes, with the titular god being the god of climate change and destruction. This album sounds like the soundtrack of the end of the world to me, it reminds us of what is to come if people don’t work together for the betterment of the planet. This general idea about creating these new gods is clearly stated in “New Gods” where Grimes talks about how the gods of the past were pre-technology and explores the idea of what gods of today would be like. “Before the Fever,” the god about ego death is a slow and depressing track with the lyrics “This is the sound of the end of the world” before a cathartic vocal take. This bleeds into the closing track, “IDORU,” which offers a sort of rebirth and a glimpse of hope and love. I am completely in love with the final song, it’s the purest form of love and lust: “I wanna play a beautiful game / Even though we’re gonna lose / But I adore you.” For a conceptual album, Miss Anthropocene achieved its intent by foreshadowing the end, exploring the ancient gods and modern technology, and still offering themes of love, addiction, and politics.
☆ Rating: 8/10 ☆
Ecco2k released his long-awaited debut late last year and it was very much worth the wait. E provides 12 lovely tracks that sound like fairies playing in the forest. His soft voice accompanied by sad lyrics and escapist production bring an emotional feeling throughout the record. Songs like “Peroxide” and “Blue Eyes” has Ecco2k opening up about his experience as a black man in Sweden; in the former, he sings “Everywhere I go, they look at me wrong.” There are also moments where Ecco2k opens up about his insecurities and the struggles of hating how you look. “Fragile” finds Ecco2k describing his delicate state and his need to be protected and “wrapped in bubble plastic.” He also alludes to the side effects of the drugs he sings about. In “Security!” wonders how someone can be so perfect when he feels anything but perfect: “Every time I look in the mirror I feel nauseous / Every time I look in the mirror I see monsters.” E is as beautiful as it is vulnerable, Ecco2k opens up about personal topics while guiding the listener through a magical journey.
☆ Rating: 8.5/10 ☆
Doja Cat has taken the world by storm. From viral meme-songs (Mooo!) to hit songs with social media dances (Say So), Doja proves she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her sophomore album, Hot Pink, is 40 minutes of pure fun. Each track contains genius and creative lines showing Doja’s talent with a pen. The opening track, “Cyber Sex,” openly explores the approach for modern and virtual love. I’ve always been a fan of disco-inspired songs, so it only took my first listen of the album for “Say So” to be my favorite. It’s no wonder why this track blew up; it contains the formula for a great pop song: a catchy chorus, carefree lyrics, good production, and a badass rap verse. One of the interesting bits in this record is the blink-182 sample in “Bottom Bitch,” the pop-punk, trap song about her relationship with another woman where Doja is the dominant one. In “Like That,” Doja gets assistance from the iconic Gucci Mane who provides a killer verse. This song is so fun that one cannot help but bounce along to the beat. In conclusion, Hot Pink oozes confidence, wittiness, swagger, and pure talent belonging to none other than Doja Cat.
☆ Rating: 7.5/10 ☆
We are about to get halfway to what is one of the most upside-down years ever and while the country waits for when it’s safe to reopen everything and go back to normal, artists have provided music that can help some of us escape these tough times and lose ourselves in the music. Here are some great projects released earlier this year and some albums I’m most excited for that are scheduled for the latter part of the year!
Albums scheduled for 2020:
Leo's Music Library