COMPLETE - The Indie/Alt Pop/Not-quite-'Mainstream'-but-still-accessible Girls 2017 Rate!!1
- Thread starter constantino
- Start date
I think it’s totally fair? As had been stated, there’s a big difference between the quality of albums in the Big Pop Girls rate and this one. If everything is a standard score regardless of the rate then scaling anything for the sake of a countdown (which is why we’re all here) becomes a bit conflated. For example, I think more people would be okay with a Melodrama exclusive top 10 in that rate than this one, because there are comparable albums and songs to go against it. Most 10’s would stay the same but those middle scores could fluctuate, as could the lower end of the scores.
It’s all how the voter approaches it at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t say there’s anything inherently suspect about it.
Man, Happy Birthday Johnny is an emotional cut. I actually gave it a 5, but that's because of a personal defect wherein I dislike things that make me sad unless there are very specific circumstances surrounding them.
I'm very good at feeling sad on my own and so I need something in the music to temper the emotion -- anger, usually (like in a good break-up song) or sometimes really interesting and contradictory production (sad bops are the best bops but good ones are rare).
But this was a straight up beautifully written sad song and so I honestly can't stand it. I would have rated it lower but couldn't justify it to myself.
(I worked in a bookstore for years and girls who want 'a good book to cry to' are the most confusing but common breed to me. I understand wanting to feel literally anything else.)
I'm very good at feeling sad on my own and so I need something in the music to temper the emotion -- anger, usually (like in a good break-up song) or sometimes really interesting and contradictory production (sad bops are the best bops but good ones are rare).
But this was a straight up beautifully written sad song and so I honestly can't stand it. I would have rated it lower but couldn't justify it to myself.
(I worked in a bookstore for years and girls who want 'a good book to cry to' are the most confusing but common breed to me. I understand wanting to feel literally anything else.)
Phew, I finally caught up. Change, If U Love Me Now, Machinist and Happy Birthday Johnny being gone already is a disaster, you tasteless hacks.
@constantino you're doing amazing sweetie, but don't think I didn't catch the shade about slow rates binch
@constantino you're doing amazing sweetie, but don't think I didn't catch the shade about slow rates binch
Why are we taking out my tens at this point?
I still cackle at her saying they’re all odes to John Mayer.
MollieSwift21
Staff member
Happy Birthday Johnny was my favorite on the album. Change is gone way too soon as well.
Any/All
I've pretty much got used to the disdain for slower tracks in the rates (which is probably one of the reasons why Lana is getting this undeserved cull), but when I saw the likes of Sugarboy and Pills there as well I almost threw my laptop.
As y'all continue to be Extra, why not cut one more before the top 40?
I'm only human, baby
Sometimes act a little crazy
(No, i'm not the only one)
I'm only human, baby
Need someone to come and save me
(Someone)
(Someone)
(To come and save me)
(Someone)
42. Anna Of The North - Someone
Je téléphone à la police
Average: 7.73
High: 10 x 8 (@2014 @happiestgirl @JapaneseJesus @Petty Mayonnaise @Jwentz @NecessaryVoodoo @Fantasy)
Low: 3 x 1 (@Trouble in Paradise)
My score: 10
10 voters in: 45
20 voters in: 41
30 voters in: 39
40 voters in: 38
50 voters in: 38
60 voters in: 43
The last cut from the Extras before heading into the top 40; it’s time for the most *atmospheric pop music* song in the rate to leave us. This proved to be one of the most consistently performing songs in the rate, with the vast majority of its scores being 7 or 8, hence the average. This was very nearly enough to sneak it into the top 40, where it spent half of the voting period, but ultimately the lack of 10s cost it. I really should’ve given this a 10 but for some reason I changed it shortly before inputting my scores into the spreadsheet.
This is one of my favourite songs of the year and was one of my top 5 most-played tracks of 2017 according to Spotify - it’s replay-value is insane. The joy of this song is that it doesn’t expose all of its best features upon first listen; rather, it has a quite explosivity that makes it addictive without burning itself out. I'm a sucker for 80s revivalism in synth pop (hey La Roux, hey girl!) and this just nails that ~vibe~ for me, like it's Borderline Baywatch-esque it its slo-mo proddiness. Like, how FABULOUS and camp is the key change? Top marks, Anna. At first, I was disappointed by the parent album, but like the song it grows with repeated listens and turned out to be a really refined and polished pop debut. The fact that it has only 10 tracks makes it highly replayable and doesn’t require too much effort to get into. 'Fire' (linked below) has proven to be...well...just that, whew!
Once you get past the melody, the lyrics reveal it to be quite the Relationships thread anthem; it delves into Anna’s struggle in finding ‘someone’, perhaps not even ‘The One’, but ‘someone’. She expresses her desire to be able to have chemistry with / rely on someone; “I need someone who understands me”, “want someone to take me home”, “need someone to come and save me”.
In an interview with The Line of Best Fit, the good sis elaborates...A LOT:
The thing with “Someone” is that obviously the lyrics are “just need someone to save me” and “I’m only human baby”. The main thing is it’s about drinking a bit, promising yourself you’re not going to do something and then because you’ve drank a bit, well you know the rest. Everyone has a couple of drinks too many and have done a couple of things they regret in the morning. For me, how I connect to this song is about needing someone to snap you out of the situation you’re in.
I went through this breakup recently, just when we did the album, and for me I felt like I was stuck between four walls, there was nothing more, nothing was interesting, everything was boring, I was sad and thought this world sucks. I was lying in bed, super upset, I just wanted to cry and didn’t want to ever get up from bed, until I was like fuck this, there’s an entire world out there. I could still be sad, but try to do something good for myself. I went out that night for a friend’s birthday, then I met a guy who just took me to meet new people and we went to art exhibitions, gigs and he put this entire new world in front of me. He’s not a new boyfriend or anything, just a friend and I met him randomly at a bar and we talked about my life. He was the one that I need to come and save me, it doesn’t always have to be love.
Even though the breakup was tough and sad, it’s probably the best couple of months I’ve had. It brought something back to me, I feel like I’m back, my personality is back and that’s what I put into the song. For Brady it doesn’t have the exact same meaning, but we’re pretty similar and he’s probably gone through similar things too, but not in the same way.
Trouble in Paradise (3) hates key changes, for some reason...Someone I was hyped to listen to this after all the good things I’ve heard about Anna of the North, but it felt like a solid 6 until that unwanted key change. The song lacks any energy and is the epitome of unoffensive indie girl background music until the aforementioned key change. Okay but the key change knocks.
Confirmed: mokitsu (6) is DEAF: ‘Same problem I had with MUNA: pretty generic synthpop that lacks a catchy hook.’ I cannot.
Michael17 (6.5) exposes his internalised homophobia: Since I’m not a huge fan of 80s-style synths or Scandipop (!!!), I just am predisposed to not loving this. A bit bland to me. Not awful.
Bangers&Bops (7): Just another basic Swedish indie pop song. That key change leaves little to be desired. That's a good thing, tho.
Bleedingheart80 (8) actually likes someone, which is a big deal: Love Anna. This song has such a cool vibe.
haps (8), like me, ‘can’t resist flirtation with the 80’s’. Flirt away, sis!
Turns out, GimmeWork (8) is also a floozie! 'I’m a sucker for almost anything reminiscent of 80’s dance.'
Our very own Oslhoe (this doesn't work, does it?), ufint (8), has this to add: I have really wanted to get into Anna Of The North, because I feel obligated to stan a fellow Oslo resident who has done well for herself out in the big world. Good thing that this was the song you chose to include, as she has a lot of songs that aren’t all that good. That modulation is pure heaven!
Joe. (9) kicks off the Anna catalogue promo before me: I slightly prefer 'Always', but this is a great track nonetheless.
sfmartin (9) proves that the good sis Shura continues to be hot on the tongue: She is such a great artist, I'm very grateful for this forum for helping to discover her. Very much in the Shura mold but perhaps a little more fuller production.
Happiestgirl (10) spots a missed opportunity for Anna...by about 30 years: This song is just beautiful. Should’ve been in the credits of an 80s movie. I adore her vocals.
I'm only human, baby
Sometimes act a little crazy
(No, i'm not the only one)
I'm only human, baby
Need someone to come and save me
(Someone)
(Someone)
(To come and save me)
(Someone)
42. Anna Of The North - Someone
Je téléphone à la police
Average: 7.73
High: 10 x 8 (@2014 @happiestgirl @JapaneseJesus @Petty Mayonnaise @Jwentz @NecessaryVoodoo @Fantasy)
Low: 3 x 1 (@Trouble in Paradise)
My score: 10
10 voters in: 45
20 voters in: 41
30 voters in: 39
40 voters in: 38
50 voters in: 38
60 voters in: 43
The last cut from the Extras before heading into the top 40; it’s time for the most *atmospheric pop music* song in the rate to leave us. This proved to be one of the most consistently performing songs in the rate, with the vast majority of its scores being 7 or 8, hence the average. This was very nearly enough to sneak it into the top 40, where it spent half of the voting period, but ultimately the lack of 10s cost it. I really should’ve given this a 10 but for some reason I changed it shortly before inputting my scores into the spreadsheet.
This is one of my favourite songs of the year and was one of my top 5 most-played tracks of 2017 according to Spotify - it’s replay-value is insane. The joy of this song is that it doesn’t expose all of its best features upon first listen; rather, it has a quite explosivity that makes it addictive without burning itself out. I'm a sucker for 80s revivalism in synth pop (hey La Roux, hey girl!) and this just nails that ~vibe~ for me, like it's Borderline Baywatch-esque it its slo-mo proddiness. Like, how FABULOUS and camp is the key change? Top marks, Anna. At first, I was disappointed by the parent album, but like the song it grows with repeated listens and turned out to be a really refined and polished pop debut. The fact that it has only 10 tracks makes it highly replayable and doesn’t require too much effort to get into. 'Fire' (linked below) has proven to be...well...just that, whew!
Once you get past the melody, the lyrics reveal it to be quite the Relationships thread anthem; it delves into Anna’s struggle in finding ‘someone’, perhaps not even ‘The One’, but ‘someone’. She expresses her desire to be able to have chemistry with / rely on someone; “I need someone who understands me”, “want someone to take me home”, “need someone to come and save me”.
In an interview with The Line of Best Fit, the good sis elaborates...A LOT:
The thing with “Someone” is that obviously the lyrics are “just need someone to save me” and “I’m only human baby”. The main thing is it’s about drinking a bit, promising yourself you’re not going to do something and then because you’ve drank a bit, well you know the rest. Everyone has a couple of drinks too many and have done a couple of things they regret in the morning. For me, how I connect to this song is about needing someone to snap you out of the situation you’re in.
I went through this breakup recently, just when we did the album, and for me I felt like I was stuck between four walls, there was nothing more, nothing was interesting, everything was boring, I was sad and thought this world sucks. I was lying in bed, super upset, I just wanted to cry and didn’t want to ever get up from bed, until I was like fuck this, there’s an entire world out there. I could still be sad, but try to do something good for myself. I went out that night for a friend’s birthday, then I met a guy who just took me to meet new people and we went to art exhibitions, gigs and he put this entire new world in front of me. He’s not a new boyfriend or anything, just a friend and I met him randomly at a bar and we talked about my life. He was the one that I need to come and save me, it doesn’t always have to be love.
Even though the breakup was tough and sad, it’s probably the best couple of months I’ve had. It brought something back to me, I feel like I’m back, my personality is back and that’s what I put into the song. For Brady it doesn’t have the exact same meaning, but we’re pretty similar and he’s probably gone through similar things too, but not in the same way.
Trouble in Paradise (3) hates key changes, for some reason...Someone I was hyped to listen to this after all the good things I’ve heard about Anna of the North, but it felt like a solid 6 until that unwanted key change. The song lacks any energy and is the epitome of unoffensive indie girl background music until the aforementioned key change. Okay but the key change knocks.
Confirmed: mokitsu (6) is DEAF: ‘Same problem I had with MUNA: pretty generic synthpop that lacks a catchy hook.’ I cannot.
Michael17 (6.5) exposes his internalised homophobia: Since I’m not a huge fan of 80s-style synths or Scandipop (!!!), I just am predisposed to not loving this. A bit bland to me. Not awful.
Bangers&Bops (7): Just another basic Swedish indie pop song. That key change leaves little to be desired. That's a good thing, tho.
Bleedingheart80 (8) actually likes someone, which is a big deal: Love Anna. This song has such a cool vibe.
haps (8), like me, ‘can’t resist flirtation with the 80’s’. Flirt away, sis!
Turns out, GimmeWork (8) is also a floozie! 'I’m a sucker for almost anything reminiscent of 80’s dance.'
Our very own Oslhoe (this doesn't work, does it?), ufint (8), has this to add: I have really wanted to get into Anna Of The North, because I feel obligated to stan a fellow Oslo resident who has done well for herself out in the big world. Good thing that this was the song you chose to include, as she has a lot of songs that aren’t all that good. That modulation is pure heaven!
Joe. (9) kicks off the Anna catalogue promo before me: I slightly prefer 'Always', but this is a great track nonetheless.
sfmartin (9) proves that the good sis Shura continues to be hot on the tongue: She is such a great artist, I'm very grateful for this forum for helping to discover her. Very much in the Shura mold but perhaps a little more fuller production.
Happiestgirl (10) spots a missed opportunity for Anna...by about 30 years: This song is just beautiful. Should’ve been in the credits of an 80s movie. I adore her vocals.
NOOOOO! You guys really don't know how to appreciate the Bette Davis Eyes of 2017 but I can't say I'm surprised. If that smooth, ethereal, sweet, candy-coated key change doesn't warm up your heart, you're not HUMAN, BABY, YOU NEED SOMEONE TO COME AND SAVE YOU(R TASTE).
Two drinks down
There's something in the water, baby
Lose control
Want someone to take me hooooome
I lose touch
Throw my arms around you, baby
There's something in the water, baby
Lose control
Want someone to take me hooooome
I lose touch
Throw my arms around you, baby
I actually love Someone and wish I'd given it a 10 (I'm not sure why I didn't?). I also think the album is cute and people do too much with her.
I mean, Bette Davis Eyes is already the greatest song ever recorded so anything that slightly resembles it is surely worthy of a 10?
I mean, Bette Davis Eyes is already the greatest song ever recorded so anything that slightly resembles it is surely worthy of a 10?
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That's the issue. It sounds so much like "Bette Davis Eyes."
I'm not mad about it going, it's what she deserves for putting out the album kii, but imma need
to be the highest rated extra left.
Wait, how did I not know that Summer Bummer is actually a bop?
Also, you're all whores for doing Charli like this.
Also, you're all whores for doing Charli like this.
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