QUIRKY POP RATE: The Debuts | Debut Days Are Over | ♥ Sophomore Rate now open!

The Rate​

The late 00s and early 10s saw the debut of a range of artists who toed the line between singer-songwriter and pop-star, combining the unique perspective and idiosyncrasies of the former and the big, full pop songs and strong visual element of the latter, in a type of music that was, at least at the time, often labeled as "quirky pop". Many of these artists continue to be forum favourites to this day, and this rate will serve both as a celebration of the starting points of their careers and also as an introduction for those less familiar with them.

The Artists​

Despite the rate's theme, there's actually quite a wide variety of sounds in the rate. You have all the artists most commonly associated with "quirky pop", such as MARINA Marina & the Diamonds, Little Boots and Florence + the Machine, but also the indie rock leanings of Santigold, Natalia Kills's more straightforward edgy bops, Janelle Monáe's genre experimentation, Lorde's atmospheric and moody songs which heralded a whole different of pop music, and much more. Basically, there's something for everyone. Some of these artists went on to become icons and Great American Songwriters, others found their niche, honed their sound and grew deranged dedicated fanbases, others sadly didn't even release a second album, but here we'll be looking at a point in each of their careers when they were all more or less in the same boat, sixteen unique artists just starting to find their way in the music industry and make their mark on the world.

The Songs​

Six songs were picked to represent each of the sixteen albums in the rate. These songs were selected in collaboration with forum users who will also be preparing write-ups for each of the albums, and the aim was for them to provide a good representation of their parent album. Of course nearly all of the "big" singles are present, but certain ones that just wouldn't fit the rate were omitted, and we made sure to always include at least one deep cut in each selection, as there's more to these albums than just the singles.

The Rules​

Rate the songs from 0 to 10, including one 11, and PM me your ballot. Feel free to use as many decimals and write as much commentary as you want. And please be sensible with your scores. Even if you're not a fan of one or more of these artists/albums, I don't want to see ballots completely tanking some of the sections.

Also: for each of the albums, make sure to list your favourite song not in the rate in your ballot! If there are any albums you haven't previously listened to in full, Why not take the time and do it? There are tons of great songs that didn't make the cut, and there's still plenty of time until the deadline. And on that note...

The Deadline
May 23 23:59 BST​

 

Santigold
Santogold
(29 April 2008)
Creator
L.E.S. Artistes
Lights Out
Say Aha
You’ll Find A Way
Shove It

Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke
(20 September 2008)
Back of the Van
Paris Is Burning
Dusk Till Dawn
My Delirium
Magic
Better Than Sunday

Little Boots
Hands
(5 June 2009)
Stuck On Repeat
Meddle
New In Town
Remedy
Earthquake
Mathematics

La Roux
La Roux
(26 June 2009)
Quicksand
In For The Kill
Bulletproof
I’m Not Your Toy
Tigerlily
Cover My Eyes

Florence + the Machine
Lungs
(3 July 2009)
Dog Days Are Over
Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
Drumming Song
Cosmic Love
Howl
Between Two Lungs

Marina & the Diamonds
The Family Jewels
(15 February 2010)
Obsessions
Mowgli’s Road
Hollywood
I Am Not a Robot
Oh No!
Numb

Ellie Goulding
Lights
(26 February 2010)
Under The Sheets
Starry Eyed
Guns and Horses
The Writer
Lights
This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)

Diana Vickers
Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree
(30 April 2010)
Once
The Boy Who Murdered Love
Four Leaf Clover
You’ll Never Get to Heaven
My Hip
Chasing You

Janelle Monáe
The ArchAndroid
(18 May 2010)
Come Alive (The War of the Roses)
Tightrope
Cold War
Dance or Die
Wondaland
57821

Natalia Kills
Perfectionist
(1 April 2011)
Mirrors
Wonderland
Kill My Boyfriend
Break You Hard
Love Is a Suicide
Acid Annie

Nicola Roberts
Cinderella’s Eyes
(23 September 2011)
Beat of My Drum
Lucky Day
Yo-Yo
Cinderella’s Eyes
Porcelain Heart
Take A Bite

Lana Del Rey
Born to Die
(27 January 2012)
Video Games
Born To Die
Blue Jeans
Summertime Sadness
Ride
Radio

Charli XCX
True Romance
(12 April 2013)
Stay Away
Nuclear Seasons
You’re The One
You (Ha Ha Ha)
Take My Hand
Grins

Lorde
Pure Heroine
(27 September 2013)
Royals
Tennis Court
Team
Buzzcut Season
Ribs
Glory and Gore

Sky Ferreira
Night Time, My Time
(29 October 2013)
Everything Is Embarrassing
You’re Not the One
24 Hours
I Blame Myself
Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)
I Will

Foxes
Glorious
(12 May 2014)
Youth
Let Go For Tonight
Holding Onto Heaven
Glorious
Night Owls Early Birds
Home​

 

Spotify playlist

Youtube playlist

Watch2Gether room & schedule

Quirky Pop Rate: The Debuts room

First session: Sunday, April 5, 5PM BST
Second session: Sunday, April 12, 5PM BST
Final session: Sunday, May 3, 5PM BST

PM list

Spoiler

Santigold - Santogold
Creator
L.E.S. Artistes
Lights Out
Say Aha
You’ll Find A Way
Shove It

Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
Back of the Van
Paris Is Burning
Dusk Till Dawn
My Delirium
Magic
Better Than Sunday

Little Boots - Hands
Stuck On Repeat
Meddle
New In Town
Remedy
Earthquake
Mathematics

La Roux - La Roux
Quicksand
In For The Kill
Bulletproof
I’m Not Your Toy
Tigerlily
Cover My Eyes

Florence + the Machine - Lungs
Dog Days Are Over
Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
Drumming Song
Cosmic Love
Howl
Between Two Lungs

Marina & the Diamonds - The Family Jewels
Obsessions
Mowgli’s Road
Hollywood
I Am Not a Robot
Oh No!
Numb

Ellie Goulding - Lights
Under The Sheets
Starry Eyed
Guns and Horses
The Writer
Lights
This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)

Diana Vickers - Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree
Once
The Boy Who Murdered Love
Four Leaf Clover
You’ll Never Get to Heaven
My Hip
Chasing You

Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid
Come Alive (The War of the Roses)
Tightrope
Cold War
Dance or Die
Wondaland
57821

Natalia Kills - Perfectionist
Mirrors
Wonderland
Kill My Boyfriend
Break You Hard
Love Is a Suicide
Acid Annie

Nicola Roberts - Cinderella’s Eyes
Beat of My Drum
Lucky Day
Yo-Yo
Cinderella’s Eyes
Porcelain Heart
Take A Bite

Lana Del Rey - Born to Die
Video Games
Born To Die
Blue Jeans
Summertime Sadness
Ride
Radio

Charli XCX - True Romance
Stay Away
Nuclear Seasons
You’re The One
You (Ha Ha Ha)
Take My Hand
Grins

Lorde - Pure Heroine
Royals
Tennis Court
Team
Buzzcut Season
Ribs
Glory and Gore

Sky Ferreira - Night Time, My Time
Everything Is Embarrassing
You’re Not the One
24 Hours
I Blame Myself
Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)
I Will

Foxes - Glorious
Youth
Let Go For Tonight
Holding Onto Heaven
Glorious
Night Owls Early Birds
Home

 

Album write-ups

Night Time, My Time by @aux

Cinderella’s Eyes by @Untouchable Ace

Hands by @pop3blow2

Ladyhawke by @berserkboi

Lungs by @Trouble in Paradise

Lights by @aux

Santogold by @Mirwais Ahmadzaï

Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree by @Island

Perfectionist by @Verandi

La Roux by @Trouble in Paradise

True Romance by @Crisp X

The ArchAndroid by @godspeed

The Family Jewels by @Music Is Life

Glorious by @Crisp X

Born to Die by @Music Is Life

Pure Heroine by @savilizabeths

​

 

Results

Spoiler

#96: Four Leaf Clover
#95: Cover My Eyes
#94: Quicksand
#93: Mathematics
#92: Meddle
#91: My Hip

#90: Glory And Gore
#89: Take A Bite
#88: Home
#86 (1): Acid Annie
#86 (2): Chasing You
#85: You'll Never Get To Heaven
#84: Better Than Sunday
#83: Creator
#82: Kill My Boyfriend
#81: Tigerlily

#80: I'm Not Your Toy
#79: Yo-Yo
#78: 57821
#77: Shove It
#76: Love Is A Suicide
#75: Dusk Till Dawn
#74: Night Owls Early Birds
#73: Royals
#72: Say Aha
#71: You'll Find A Way

#70: Cinderella's Eyes
#69: Between Two Lungs
#68: Grins
#67: Back Of The Van
#66: Come Alive (The War Of The Roses)
#65: In For The Kill
#64: Lucky Day
#63: Break You Hard
#62: The Writer
#61: Porcelain Heart

#60: Glorious
#58 (1): Holding Onto Heaven
#58 (2): Wondaland
#57: Beat Of My Drum
#55 (1): Numb
#55 (2): Stuck On Repeat
#54: Earthquake
#53: Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)
#52: I Will
#51: Radio

#50: Paris Is Burning
#49: Lights Out
#48: Guns And Horses
#47: Mowgli's Road
#46: New In Town
#45: You (Ha Ha Ha)
#44: Dance Or Die
#43: Starry Eyed
#42: The Boy Who Murdered Love
#41: Wonderland

#40: This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)
#39: Under The Sheets
#38: Stay Away
#37: You're The One
#36: Once
#35: Obsessions
#34: Howl
#33: Take My Hand
#32: I Am Not A Robot
#31: Buzzcut Season

#30: Blue Jeans
#29: Summertime Sadness
#28: Nuclear Seasons
#27: Tennis Court
#26: Team
#25: 24 Hours
#24: Hollywood
#23: Remedy
#22: Mirrors
#21: Magic

#20: Youth
#19: My Delirium
#18: Tightrope
#17: Bulletproof
#16: I Blame Myself
#15: Drumming Song
#14: Let Go For Tonight
#13: You're Not The One
#12: Born To Die
#11: Ride

#10: Dog Days Are Over
#9: L.E.S. Artistes
#8: Cold War
#7: Ribs
#6: Lights
#5: Oh No!
#4: Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
#3: Video Games
#2: Everything Is Embarrassing
#1: Cosmic Love

Album stats:
Cinderella's Eyes
Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree
True Romance
Hands
Perfectionist
Ladyhawke
La Roux
Glorious
Santogold
The ArchAndroid
Pure Heroine
Lights
The Family Jewels
Born To Die
Night Time, My Time
Lungs

Extra songs:
Santogold
Ladyhawke
Hands
La Roux
Lungs
The Family Jewels
Lights
Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree
The ArchAndroid
Perfectionist
Cinderella's Eyes
Born To Die
True Romance
Pure Heroine
Night Time, My Time
Glorious

Extra songs wrap-up

Rate stats:
Voters
Songs
Leaderboard Evolution

Sophomore Albums rate announcement

#96-#72 @Crisp X Commentary

​

 

Other albums we could have rated

#1: V V Brown - Travelling Like The Light

#2: Paloma Faith - Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?

#3: Halsey - Badlands

#4: Jessie Ware - Devotion

#5 & #6: Yelle - Pop Up & Uffie - Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans

#7: CocknBullKid - Adulthood

#8: Clare Maguire - Light After Dark

​

 

You can post now!

Also, I'm playing the rate playlist on Watch2Gether right now, so if anyone wants to get a head-start on the rate, come join me!

 

So excited for this!

 

This rate. Talent all around. Will I listen to all the albums instead of the selected songs? Yes.

 

Looking forward to revisit so many of these classics, and discover a few of them!

I'm still working on my write-ups, sorry for making you wait xx

 

Can someone try joining the Watch2Gether room just so I know it's working properly?

 

I just did! My profile should still be showing up in the member list.

 

Oh those listening session will come in handy for sure as I only know somewhere around half of the songs. I will score each section as we go along as use those initial scores as a guideline before sending in the ballot after them.

 

I owe you my write-ups! Pester me for them! I'll try and work on them tonight and tomorrow morning.

 

Perfect!

In addition to those planned sessions, I'm also playing the songs right now (and rating the songs myself), so feel free to join!

 

I'll do the same. It'd be better for me to listen to the unknown songs in their respective bodies of work, and as for the ones I'm already familiar with... I know I won't resist putting on the full albums instead dd.

 

I would if I could, but #essentialbusiness