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2015 Musically - How have you found it? |
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#1 |
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2015 Musically - How have you found it?
Personally, I think in the mainstream 2015 has been a forgettable and poor year. Once again the faceless dance acts have called the shots, too many hypes likes Years and Years who will be forgotten about in a few years time, and of course probably the worst thing is the resurgance of Justin Beiber.
It's showing now, that only a few song-writers and labels are dominanting the airwaves, and we're seeing more artists selling out to appeal this global-wide image. I think the character of "British only" or "European only" image of an act is fading fast. Adding to that, it seems performers now see themselves as celebs ahead of performers and musicians. The singles chart has died a death with streaming. Beiber #1 for five weeks is a joke. We need some sort of quality control involved to allow other genres and non-mainstream acts get a place in the Top 40. I've said before and said it again, bring in a form of jury voting to prevent low-quality acts making it into the charts and to the top of the summit "punish" them that way. On a positive note, Adele's comeback has been huge. What a way to return with her soaring ballad "Hello". I have high hopes for the album. Brandon Flowers' second solo album was a welcome return, liking his new sound and should have deserved a lot more attention. Leona Lewis' return was underrated but has released her best album, Lot's of potential but underrated. I have come across a couple of talented non-mainstream artists such as Shura with her 80s/early 90s electro themed pop and folk duo Hudson Taylor. I think another good thing is the demise of X-Factor, I just hope the lemmings in this country do not make it #1 at Christmas. |
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#2 |
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It's been one of the weakest years for me personally.
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#3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2013
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One thing that has been diabolical in 2015 for me is the massive decline in quality dance music.
When the most well remembered dance hits of the year are likely to include Cheerleader, House Every Weekend and Wish You Were Mine, you know it's time to leave the nightclub. Even then, I just can't get my head around why there has been such a sharp decline in the quality of dance music from just 18 months ago. At least tropical dance never took off. After Kygo scored his breakthrough hit with Firestone at the start of the year (which remains one of the best songs I've heard this year), I thought the rest of the year was going to be rehashes of that song taking over the charts. Strangely enough, I've probably enjoyed more of the years "pop" hits compared to last year. Black Magic, Shine, Love Me Like You Do and Hello are up there as some of my favourite pop songs of the year. That said, there has been a lot of crap too like I Really Like You, Pretty Girls and Bitch Better Have My Money. Somewhat ironic that the crap pop songs have come from overseas this year, whilst Britain has had by far the better pop music imo. Usually it's the British pop music I can't stand and the pop music from other countries I prefer more. I agree with Neil_N about Adele. If one thing can be taken from 2015, it'll be that it ended on a high note with Hello dominating (and rightly so). With the release of 25 getting ever closer Adele could well break a few more UK chart records in the coming weeks. |
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#4 |
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2015 was a little weak in terms of singles, but is probably the year where I've listened to the most albums (and enjoyed them). Some very good efforts from the likes of James Bay, CHVRCHES, Ellie Goulding, Little Mix, Breaking Benjamin, Mumford and Sons, Galantis, Saint Raymond, Zedd, Imagine Dragons, Years and Years, Jess Glynne and even Carly Rae Jepsen.
The only albums I really listened to that underwhelmed me was Fall Out Boy, Rae Morris and Muse. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Apr 2014
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Quote:
Strangely enough, I've probably enjoyed more of the years "pop" hits compared to last year. Black Magic, Shine, Love Me Like You Do and Hello are up there as some of my favourite pop songs of the year. That said, there has been a lot of crap too like I Really Like You, Pretty Girls and Bitch Better Have My Money. Somewhat ironic that the crap pop songs have come from overseas this year, whilst Britain has had by far the better pop music imo. Usually it's the British pop music I can't stand and the pop music from other countries I prefer more. I agree with Neil_N about Adele. If one thing can be taken from 2015, it'll be that it ended on a high note with Hello dominating (and rightly so). With the release of 25 getting ever closer Adele could well break a few more UK chart records in the coming weeks. |
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#6 |
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It's interesting that in the "pop world" the accent is always on new and mostly throw away tunes.
In the jazz world there's always new tunes, but like the pop world a lot of it is immediately forgettable. But jazz musicians are quite happy to perform and record tunes up to more than fifty years old and those that like this genre are willing to pay for it. So I guess that's all down to the quality of music composed in any year. Therefore for them, one year is as good as any other as it makes no difference to what they are willing to listen. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Aug 2008
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I always judge music on the quality of the albums, the great songs that I adored .... and then the year defining songs those songs that have that worm ear effect but resonate to a particular theme, time, comment, emotion or thought and/or those song that push boundaries musically, culturally, fashionably, artistically. Live performances also stand here to be a moment of an artists stellar work.
And 2015 has had a few great moments ... |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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It's been very poor. Not one song has caught my imagination and excitement this year like Kiesza's "Hideaway" did last year.
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
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It's been quite a poor year. I will remember it as the year of awful covers, remixes and samples. Show Me Love and Ain't Nobody getting the X Factor treatment by making them horrible ballads rather than the classics they are.
On the flip side of that is Kiss Radio in particular finding the worst remixes to every ballad they like but doesn't quite qualify for their playlist so Thinking Out Loud, Writings On The Wall and Hello are taken from ballads to horrible dance tracks. There has been some good stuff (Jess Glynne, Years and Years mainly for me) but on the whole it's been really annoying. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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Don't listen to the charts but this has been the best year I've seen.
The artists/bands I already knew before 2015 creating their best albums so far, including: Father John Misty, Lower Dens, Spector, Here We Go Magic, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Princess Chelsea, Tame Impala among a few others. The new bands I've found this year have also released some amazing songs, and what I've discovered from previous years has been amazing. There's even been a couple of amazing debut records. I just worry that there won't be another year like it for a while, if ever. |
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#11 |
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Very good a new double album from Iron Maiden,A tour from Public Image Ltd has made it very worthwhile IMO.
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#12 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
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Much better than last year for me. Kendrick., Tame Impala, Beach House, Jamie XX, FFS, ........loads of great albums
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#13 |
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Thank god Adele popped in to say Hello because they rest of the yeah has been a snooze, although I have liked Jess Glynne.
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#14 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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There have been two outstanding albums for me this year by Mew and The Dear Hunter - the former is possibly my fav album of the millennium so far. The Maiden album was a lot of fun too.
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#15 |
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Quote:
Thank god Adele popped in to say Hello because they rest of the yeah has been a snooze, although I have liked Jess Glynne.
Bad news Beiber #1 in the midweeks - we NEED a jury voting system to prevent acts like him making at the top, or a ban on under 16s buying music. |
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#16 |
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There's been some great stuff knocking on the mainstream door, though, this year. Courtney Barnett's incredible debut album, Father John Misty maturing into this fascinating character, FFS was a fun project, Kendrick Lamar possibly releasing the best album in years in terms of critical and commercial success combined.
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#17 |
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Join Date: Jun 2014
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OP I agree aside from Years & Years; I think they do have the potential to last around a long time, and I find it amusing that people are accusing them of being overrated and overexposed; Communion is a great album and they've clearly worked hard for their success. I'm not keen on their new one but "King" and "Shine" are two of the best tracks this year imo; the latter being beaten by that "House Every Weekend" s*** really was a joke. In terms of #1's the worst for me would be that awful "Easy Love" by Sigala, and Bieber's awful "What Do You Mean?", which I personally cannot see the appeal to.
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#18 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
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New albums from Kendrick Lamar, Vince Staples, Holly Herndon, Dawn Richard, Aphex Twin, Ibeyi, Tame Impala, Kelela, Aisha Devi, Braids, Bjork, Sexwitch, Oneohtrix Point Never, Beach House, Grimes, Miguel, Chvrches, Cio D'Or, Torres, Dr Dre, Young Thug, Empress Of, Sufjan Stevens, Neon Indian, Fka Twigs, Floating Points, Julia Holter, Future, Peaches, Fetty Wap, Lana Del Rey, Ghostpoet, Natasha Kmeto, Kamasi Washington, Roisin Murphy, Kode9, etc.
So yeah, for me its been a great year for music. |
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#19 |
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Quote:
The new bands I've found this year have also released some amazing songs, and what I've discovered from previous years has been amazing.
Ggotjam Project's entire album is amazing and beautiful... (and she has such a beautiful voice, absolutely the best musical discovery I've made this year) Ggotjam Project - Where are you I absolutely love Gesu no kiwami otome's new single. Gesu no kiwami otome - romance is unneeded Kurt Vile's new single is catchy and unique. Kurt Vile - Pretty Pimpin |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Sep 2014
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there was a thread in Jan about what was going to happen this year in pop-too bad it is gone.
Like most however said-the end of 1D is nearby. i remember that myself I predicted Madonna would have a big return hit (mehhh) and Rihanna would have an essential across the world hit (meehhhhh 2)![]() Chart dance is awful, the low bpm stuff with the "apologetic singers" that whisper or sing so pathetic an instrumental would be better (Show me love/Ain't nobody etc) |
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#21 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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I've bought a LOT of albums this year. Not all of them released this year, though. From the top of my head:
The Blade - Ashley Monroe Greatest Hits - Stone Roses Delirium - Ellie Goulding Venus - Joy Williams Pageant Material - Kacey Musgraves International Velvet - Catatonia Storyteller - Carrie Underwood No 1's - Beatles Tornado - Little Big Town Brave - The Shires Short Movie - Laura Marling Fixed At Zero - VersaEmerge In The Lonely Hour - Sam Smith (Twice. I'm not a fan but I bought it for Mum. My brother lost her copy so I bought it for her again recently) Heartstrings - Leighton Meester Greatest Hits - Foo Fighters Beyoncé - Beyoncé Rated R - Rihanna |
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#22 |
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The emergence of Jess Glynne has been my personal highlight of the year, her album is pretty outstanding along with all of the singles she's released so far. Hold My Hand is a cracking song to have everyone up singing and dancing!
Other than that, One Direction's new album came out...it isn't great. Adele I'm not bothered about. I love love love Firestones, and his follow up effort Stole The Show. Ella Henderson had a great dance song with Glitterball and Galantis was great. As everyone else said, Justin Bieber being back on the scene is the worst thing that's happened along with Sigala - Easy Love, House Every Weekend and I wasn't a great fan of Shut Up and Dance! |
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#23 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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I have to agree with most of the comments so far. I think it has been do minted by bland 'club beats' as my sister put it. I have found that there has been no distinctive sound or anything that comes out at you. That dance track that featured Sam Smith was awful.
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#24 |
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 258
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Quote:
The singles chart has died a death with streaming. Beiber #1 for five weeks is a joke. We need some sort of quality control involved to allow other genres and non-mainstream acts get a place in the Top 40. I've said before and said it again, bring in a form of jury voting to prevent low-quality acts making it into the charts and to the top of the summit "punish" them that way.
Quote:
I think another good thing is the demise of X-Factor, I just hope the lemmings in this country do not make it #1 at Christmas.
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#25 |
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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Quite ordinary overrall - bits and pieces of quality from James Morrison, Ed Sheeran, James Bay, Years & Years...
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and Rihanna would have an essential across the world hit (meehhhhh 2)