A Musical Recap of 2012: My Favorite Albums

It’s strange to think I stepped on campus all the way back in mid-August. It’s strange to think I’m already into my second semester of college. It’s strange to finally experience how freaking cold it is here (Geez!). It’s strange to think I’m back in chemistry again (ew). And it’s strange to think I was just home and now I’m back already.

Hmm.

A lot of things seem strange to me, I guess.

One thing that doesn’t seem strange to me? I can’t seem to choose a favorite album from 2012. But, then again, what’s really new? A lot of great albums were released this year – some were expected and some were pleasant surprises, if I do say so myself.

Anyway it’s a new year and I thought it would be a great idea to do a little recap of  my favorite albums from 2012 (Dale, I swear I had this post saved before the break, haha).

Hope everyone’s break went well and that they slept tons and had lots of good homemade meals, because I know I did!

Til next time,

Ayolah

Ed Sheeran – Give Me Love [from + (Deluxe Edition)]

Kendrick Lamar – Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst (from good kid, m.A.A.d city)

Frank Ocean – Pink Matter (from Channel Orange)

Taylor Swift – Red (from Red)

The Fray – Heartbeat (from Scars & Stories)

Killer Mike – Big Beast (from R.A.P. Music)

Mumford & Sons – Broken Crown (from Babel)

The Script – Six Degrees of Separation (from #3)

Nas – Bye Baby (from Life Is Good)

Frank Ocean is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

I don’t know why I didn’t jump on the Frank Ocean train a long time ago like the rest of my Tumblr followers, but now I’m a band-wagoner and I have absolutely no shame in admitting it. channel ORANGE is one of the best albums of the year (Don’t believe me? Even Pitchfork agrees!) and Frank is the much needed savior of a dying R&B/Pop scene. It’s been a while since an artist with true talent hit the airwaves without having to wear a meat dress or squirt whip cream out of a cupcake bra, and his sincerity is much appreciated.

Check out his latest video for Pyramids.

 

Artists Writing For Each Other Makes For Great Music

British pop star Jessie J co-wrote Miley Cyrus’s infectious classic “Party in the USA.” One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder is also a prominent songwriter and producer, crafting tracks for the likes of Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, and Adele. Even Ke$amp;ha has gotten into the writing-music-for-others game, taking a co-writer credit on Britney Spears’s “Till the World Ends.”

Sometimes just knowing that an already-famous artist wrote a song for someone else is enough to deepen your appreciation for that song. That applies specifically to my renewed love for Beyonce’s “I Miss You,” a track off the recently-released 4 and written by up-and-coming R&B star, Frank Ocean.

A pretty simple track, for sure, but BEAUTIFUL. I randomly read that Frank Ocean wrote it a week or so ago and it made me become randomly obsessed with it. He even performed his own version of it at a show he did in New Orleans last week.

So…yeah. One awesome track performed by two incredibly talented musicians.

Y’all have a great week, yeah?

Josh