10 Albums You May Be Surprised I Love
It's no secret that this site caters most to Hip Hop and film fans. That's not what we're all about here though. I've shown that there are other kinds of music I can enjoy and I even added entries I forgot to add initially!
Let's dig into some more of the music you may be surprised I love aka "what was up with 2013?"
Album:
Kate Nash- Made of Bricks (2007)
What's so special:
The appreciation for this album is two fold. I once scored a student movie with "Mouthwash" and "Pumpkin Soup." Then when I met Pauline she talked about her love of "Skeleton Song." It's impossible for me to look back at this album without nostalgic lenses.
Album:
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (2009)
What's so special:
I always thought "Home" was just some one off song from a band I wouldn't actually enjoy listening to. Boy was I wrong. There is something endearing about this album that I can't quite put my finger on. It has served me well on many a road trip and is packed with songs I find myself humming at least once a day.
Album:
Born Ruffians- Birthmarks (2013)
What's so special:
I get that "Oh Cecilia" doesn't appear on the tracklist, however, I'm too fond of the song to not associate it with this Born Ruffians album. I remembered "Needle" from that Honda commercial due to many movie theater visits. So this album was always going to have a special place in my heart but it turns out this album has a bunch of memorable tunes!
Album:
Cage the Elephant - Melophobia (2013)
What's so special:
While Pauline and I made our way to and from work when we first started dating, I'd hear "Come a Little Closer" non stop and it never got tired. It definitely meant I had to find out who these guys were and obsessively collect all of their music! Other than "Shake Me Down," from Thank You Happy Birthday, all the memorable songs seemed to be located on Melophobia.
Album:
CHVRCHES- The Bones of What You Believe (2013)
What's so special:
Once I realized that the band's name was a stylized version of Churches, and thus, I was able to pronounce their name, I was 100% on board with these crazy kids. It's a very specific sound and a true testament to how talented these musicians are that the songs never melt together for me.
Album:
Haim- Days Are Gone (2013)
What's so special:
I think I first noticed Haim on a KiD CuDi song. The point being I saw them at Made in America after that and decided I needed to get their album. I wrote about the experience that is Haim's Days Are Gone album HERE. My one regret is not giving the album a 5/5.
Album:
Justin Timberlake- The 20/20 Experience (2013)
What's so special:
I'm not going to lie. I wasn't a big fan of the Jay Z collaboration on this project at first. It eventually grew on me. The album comes off as one of JT's most mature work. I've low-key been a fan since N'Sync, and I'm glad he finally went solo and continued to make music I would have to defend placing on my iPod.
Album:
Vampire Weekend- Modern Vampires of the City (2013)
Stand out track:
I've heard Vampire Weekend on many a soundtrack. However, this album stood out to me, mostly because I couldn't even fully agree with myself on what the stand out track was. The album starts off with a measure of melancholy, with "Obvious Bicycle" and maintains that feel throughout without ever feeling off putting. Maybe this Vampire Weekend. album just felt more real and less showy to me.
Album:
Alabama Shakes- Sound & Color (2015)
What's so special:
In truth if you read my reaction to Alabama Shakes at the ACC or my list of the best music from 2015, then this entry won't be that surprising. However, it's an amazing album from a place I wouldn't normally look. Ask David O. Russell, he knows how undeniable the music is on this album. It just takes a couple of bars in a trailer.
Album:
Beyoncé- Lemonade (2016)
What's so special:
I know everyone likes Beyoncé. I appreciate her amazing live shows, but I don't think I've ever truly liked a song by her that wasn't called "Crazy In Love." That all changed with this album that shows that Beyoncé can actually be someone everyone can relate to while making amazing music. This body of work is so good she actually had me saying, "Freedom" doesn't need the hip hop version of Black Panther on here. I can listen to that whole album without wishing for an assist from my favourite rapper or any guest verses.
-YG