Inspired by latest Writer's Block qu
I couldn't answer the question on the best song of 2010 because I would find it impossible to answer as there were a few songs this year which have stuck into my head. Sometimes I might find a song I like only to find it was from a few years back. Oops!!
This is mostly down to the fact I don't keep up with 'mainstream' as much as I used to. These past few months I just start listening to something regardless of whether it is ongoing or very ancient, not focusing on whether it is mainstream. TBH 99% of the time I get into music or the odd series not many local people have heard of. I don't expect a next door neighbour to know what True Blood is if they're only watching British soaps to name an example.
So instead of noting down songs that 2010 has kindly offered us I thought why not list albums instead and from different genres too since I listen to albums more.
2010 albums I have enjoyed
* Tarja Turunen - What Lies Beneath ~ Tarja's 2nd solo album after My Winter Storm. It's so much better than her debut the more I listen to it. My Winter Storm was very good and there were songs I enjoyed but What Lies Beneath somehow had a stronger appeal. Tarja nonetheless has consistently sounded good on both albums. I do miss Tarja when she was in Nightwish though time has moved on and I have much respect for Ms Anette Olzon.
* Apocalyptica - 7th Symphony ~ cello metal returns with more oomph. I think the fans are divided on this latest instalment in Apo's discography. I like it because there the variation from fast, thrash cello metal to slow 'ballads' seems to have expanded more than usual. Not sure what the downfall was for this album. Was it the guest vocals from different musicians? I didn't mind Broken Pieces. I'd totally sing that for Karaoke if I had the chance xP
* Tristania - Rubicon ~ first album with the new singer Mariangela Demurtas. She's not Vibeke Stene but that's ok because she can still sing pretty well in her own way. The transition in style and singer reminds me of what happened with Nightwish. Mariangela is the Anette I guess. Rubicon is a good Gothic metal album and Year Of The Rat has a catchy riff. My favourite song from the album however has to be Exile. I love the lyrics and the opening to the song.
* Lady Antebellum - Need You Now ~ hearing Need You Now played a lot on the radio and noticing how country pop it was I thought I'd take a listen to this band. I've heard their first album and thought that was very country. Nothing wrong with that. I thought Need You Now was a stab at sounding more radio-friendly and 'mainstream.' I liked I Run To You. Why did I not go see them in London in August? :'(
* Wakeshima Kanon - Shoujo jikake no Libretto ~ Lolitawork Libretto - After hearing her first album, I found out Kanon had released another album recently and quickly went on the hunt for it. Managed to listen to it quickly and really liked it. I didn't even know Mana was her producer too. Most of her music is cello-based but there are some Mana-like style tunes lurking :)
* Boyzone - Brother ~ the album kinda follows Take That's soft rock approach but the message in some of the songs does make me sad as it pays huge tribute to the late Stephen Gately. It's hard to listen to this album constantly without feeling sorrowful. I liked the album mind you but just... Steo :'(
* Altiyan Childs' debut album ~ ok I'm bad I dl'd something X Factor-related but since he won and Ronan Keating was his mentor who always believed in him I had to check this guy out. I actually think the X Factor Aussie lineup is twice as good as the current British one. Sally the runner up was fantastic. I didn't watch every single show but did DL the semis and finals. That was crazy.
* Adam Lambert Acoustic Live EP - not exactly an album but hopefully this can still be included. Still fresh from seeing him live in London for the first time, the acoustic live EP brings back memories on how very strong Adam's vocals are. Soaked's acoustic version - oh my goodness need I say more? Adam breaks the Idol stereotype by many levels.
* Keane - Night Train EP ~ ooh another EP I almost forgot was released this year. My Shadow was a bonus track on Perfect Symmetry and I think is the redeemable track for Keane's new style of music. A lot of fans weren't keen (pun oh crap!!) on the band's cover of Yellow Magic Orchestra's song 'Ishin Denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself)'. Puzzled by this. Are they not into Jpop or not familiar with it? I mean it has Tom saying one line over and over again and Tigarah was guest vocals singing the Japanese lyrics.
OK if I had to pick a 2010 song I liked it would probably be Alejandro by Lady Gaga. There I said it. Oh and Kylie's Get Outta My Way xD
This is mostly down to the fact I don't keep up with 'mainstream' as much as I used to. These past few months I just start listening to something regardless of whether it is ongoing or very ancient, not focusing on whether it is mainstream. TBH 99% of the time I get into music or the odd series not many local people have heard of. I don't expect a next door neighbour to know what True Blood is if they're only watching British soaps to name an example.
So instead of noting down songs that 2010 has kindly offered us I thought why not list albums instead and from different genres too since I listen to albums more.
2010 albums I have enjoyed
* Tarja Turunen - What Lies Beneath ~ Tarja's 2nd solo album after My Winter Storm. It's so much better than her debut the more I listen to it. My Winter Storm was very good and there were songs I enjoyed but What Lies Beneath somehow had a stronger appeal. Tarja nonetheless has consistently sounded good on both albums. I do miss Tarja when she was in Nightwish though time has moved on and I have much respect for Ms Anette Olzon.
* Apocalyptica - 7th Symphony ~ cello metal returns with more oomph. I think the fans are divided on this latest instalment in Apo's discography. I like it because there the variation from fast, thrash cello metal to slow 'ballads' seems to have expanded more than usual. Not sure what the downfall was for this album. Was it the guest vocals from different musicians? I didn't mind Broken Pieces. I'd totally sing that for Karaoke if I had the chance xP
* Tristania - Rubicon ~ first album with the new singer Mariangela Demurtas. She's not Vibeke Stene but that's ok because she can still sing pretty well in her own way. The transition in style and singer reminds me of what happened with Nightwish. Mariangela is the Anette I guess. Rubicon is a good Gothic metal album and Year Of The Rat has a catchy riff. My favourite song from the album however has to be Exile. I love the lyrics and the opening to the song.
* Lady Antebellum - Need You Now ~ hearing Need You Now played a lot on the radio and noticing how country pop it was I thought I'd take a listen to this band. I've heard their first album and thought that was very country. Nothing wrong with that. I thought Need You Now was a stab at sounding more radio-friendly and 'mainstream.' I liked I Run To You. Why did I not go see them in London in August? :'(
* Wakeshima Kanon - Shoujo jikake no Libretto ~ Lolitawork Libretto - After hearing her first album, I found out Kanon had released another album recently and quickly went on the hunt for it. Managed to listen to it quickly and really liked it. I didn't even know Mana was her producer too. Most of her music is cello-based but there are some Mana-like style tunes lurking :)
* Boyzone - Brother ~ the album kinda follows Take That's soft rock approach but the message in some of the songs does make me sad as it pays huge tribute to the late Stephen Gately. It's hard to listen to this album constantly without feeling sorrowful. I liked the album mind you but just... Steo :'(
* Altiyan Childs' debut album ~ ok I'm bad I dl'd something X Factor-related but since he won and Ronan Keating was his mentor who always believed in him I had to check this guy out. I actually think the X Factor Aussie lineup is twice as good as the current British one. Sally the runner up was fantastic. I didn't watch every single show but did DL the semis and finals. That was crazy.
* Adam Lambert Acoustic Live EP - not exactly an album but hopefully this can still be included. Still fresh from seeing him live in London for the first time, the acoustic live EP brings back memories on how very strong Adam's vocals are. Soaked's acoustic version - oh my goodness need I say more? Adam breaks the Idol stereotype by many levels.
* Keane - Night Train EP ~ ooh another EP I almost forgot was released this year. My Shadow was a bonus track on Perfect Symmetry and I think is the redeemable track for Keane's new style of music. A lot of fans weren't keen (pun oh crap!!) on the band's cover of Yellow Magic Orchestra's song 'Ishin Denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself)'. Puzzled by this. Are they not into Jpop or not familiar with it? I mean it has Tom saying one line over and over again and Tigarah was guest vocals singing the Japanese lyrics.
OK if I had to pick a 2010 song I liked it would probably be Alejandro by Lady Gaga. There I said it. Oh and Kylie's Get Outta My Way xD