Top Albums and Mini-Albums of 2015: Number 5

ALBUMS

5. Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion



It would have been so easy for Carly to rest on her one-hit-wonderdom, but instead she came back with this perfect collection of candy-coated pop brilliance. For such a lengthy album, the quality level is remarkably high. Gem after gem floats by, sounding like lost number one hits from the 80's, all delivered with Carly's undeniable pop voice. It's a special feat that not enough people heard this year. This is the stuff that should be ruling American radio.

MINI ALBUMS

5. GOT7 - Mad



GOT7 released two mini albums this year, and although Just Right had the better title track, I think I prefer the more melodic Mad. This group is proving themselves as a go-to for solid albums, in a market where that's not always a necessity. What I like most (and what some have begrudged) is that they're willing to experiment with their sound with each album. I think the switch between upbeat, hip-hop inspired pop and melodic, moody material keeps them interesting.

Carly Rae Jepsen - Making The Most Of The Night

Though it won't be out in the States until early fall, Carly Rae Jepsen's newest album was released in Japan earlier this week. To be honest, I didn't pay much attention when the first single, I Really Like You, was released. But then I started hearing awesome things about the album as a whole, and I got really excited to check it out. I'm so glad I did. Song for song, the album feels like nothing short of a sugary 80's pop masterpiece. Despite being seventeen tracks long, the consistency of the track's massive hooks is very, very impressive. Chief among them is the transcendent Making the Most of the Night. Even on the first listen, this is the song that stood out most. The ridiculously catchy and uplifting hook is so perfectly produced and performed that it turns into something quite epic. And it gets better the more you listen to it. Best of all, the song itself is just pure positivity. No twerking or "dranking," just unadulterated joy. Whether or not Carly will find widespread success with this album or remain a one-hit-wonder in most people's minds, I'm just glad she was able to release songs like this with the big budget needed to make them really shine.

Carly Rae Jepsen - Making The Most Of The Night (Emotion Japanese Edition Album) (2015)

Top 20 Albums Of 2012: 8-7

8. Carly Rae Jepsen - Kiss



Undoubtedly the poppiest on my pop countdown, I'm almost surprised an album this bubblegum was released by a bestselling artist. That's not at all a complaint, because the indelible melodies and expensive, expansive production make this a definite "guilty pleasure." Call Me Maybe was only the tip of the iceberg.

7. EXO-K - Mama



Worthy of its place if just for the opening three tracks, which span multiple genres but are uniformly awesome. The most exciting new K-Pop act of the year, mostly in the way the group's been packaged. I've professed my love for sci-fi influences in music before. Exo's image certainly fits the bill. Luckily, they've got more to offer than just style.

Top 50 Singles Of The Year: 20-16

20. One Direction - One Thing



A pop song manufactured by factory, in the best way possible. Each note is precision-calibrated for massive effect.

19. Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me



His coolest, most interesting track. It was the moment I started thinking he could outlast his teen idol status.

18. G-Dragon - Crayon



The most demented, funhouse-crazy single of the year. Took me awhile to warm up to it, but once I did, I couldn't stop returning.

17. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe



Ubiquitous song #1. Think back to before it was everywhere and how amazing that sugar-coated hook was.

16. PSY - Gangnam Style 



Ubiquitous song #2. Surpasses its novelty status with that massive instrumental dance hook. Infinitely remixable.

Top 50 Singles Of 2012: 40-36

40. Girls Aloud - Something New



A poptastic comeback from a poptastic band. They showed us yet again that there is no other group out there like Girls Aloud.

39. Carly Rae Jepsen - This Kiss



This was never going to be as big as her breakthrough, but kudos to her for going with such a kitschy 80's retro sound.

38. Muse - Survival



The most deliriously over the top single in a discography filled with them. Sure, it's silly and a bit stupid, but that's what makes it fun.

37. Reece Mastin - Shut Up And Kiss Me



A blitzkrieg of teen pop/punk with a surprisingly sticky hook. A great way to break the X-Factor mold.

36. Samantha Jade - What You've Done To me 



The best winner's single ever to be released from a singing competition (okay, I guess that doesn't mean all that much), expect this to smash even further in 2013.

Top 50 Singles Of 2012: 50-46

50. Donkeyboy - Pull Of The Eye



An enticing blend of Europop, old-school techno and delicious melody. The Summer song that was released a few months too early.

49. Carly Rae Jepsen & Owl City - Good Time



It achieved the impossible. It made Owl City tolerable! You can thank Carly for that.

48. Reece Mastin - Shout It Out



The song that proved Reece was more than one X-Factor-assisted hit. A fantastic blend of pop and rock.

47. Rihanna - Where Have You Been



Not quite We Found Love, but an excellent follow-up that extends the sound, while dirtying it up a little.

46. Straight Up! - Family 



Indie release from Swedish popstars in the making. This has one of the most addictively propulsive choruses of the year.

Track-By-Track: Carly Rae Jepsen - Kiss

Five years ago, I was watching the fifth season of Canadian Idol. That was Carly Rae Jepsen's year. I remember her as a quirky singer-songwriter type--not my personal preference when it comes to genre or style, but charismatic nonetheless. Who would have thought, half a decade later, that she would have reinvented herself as a pop princess and taken over the world with what has to be the most well-known pop song of the year? Now, she's released her first big pop album. No, not just "pop." It's bubblegum pop, through and through. So how does it rate?

1. Tiny Little Bows - Opens with a sample of Sam Cooke's Cupid, which is an oddly old-school choice, before bounding into a string-laden, intensely propulsive pop song. It's like Call Me Maybe part two. The verses are the standouts here. 9/10

2. This Kiss - The third single, and probably the most 80's inspired moment on the album. It's one of those top-down, drive-around-in-the-summer pop songs with a huge chorus and even better verses. Still, it doesn't quite have the same sticking power as her very best material. 9/10

3. Call Me Maybe - There's a reason this has been so huge around the world. Sure, it sounds a bit tired now, having been played to death (and then some) on the radio, tv and youtube, but think back to the months when it first came out and how refreshingly upbeat it was. Give it time, it'll sound great again. 10/10

4. Curiosity - This was one of my favorite tracks on her previous EP and, as a pop song, it's still amazing. But, it's getting downgraded in score for the hollow production revamp its been given on the album version. It sounded so much better with its warmer, slightly more organic sound. The production drains something, here. 9/10

5. Good Time (with Owl City) - I'm not a fan of Owl City. At all. So, it surprised me how much this single won me over in the end. I love the fuzzy synths in the background and the anthemic, wordless chorus. 9/10

6. More Than A Memory - This approaches Taylor Swift territory. It's still unbelievably glossy and poppy, and the chorus is instantly catchy, but it's a slight step down from the very strong opening segment of the album. 8/10

7. Turn Me Up - Now this is what I'm talking about! This is total, pop/dance bliss. The propulsive production and aggressive melody really makes this a standout, despite its boring title. 10/10

8. Hurt So Good - This is a little all over the place. It's got some great power keyboard riffs that are straight from the 80's, but it's a little frantic--particularly the chorus. 8/10

9. Beautiful (ft. Justin Bieber) - The only slower (and even then, its midtempo) track on the album. It's nothing special, but it serves as a much-needed breather from all the high energy bubblegum that preceded it. Of anything on the album, it sounds the most like her older stuff. 8/10

10. Tonight I'm Getting Over You - A big, contemporary club banger. I believe this is the next single in Canada, and I can see why. It's not the strongest track on the album, but it's one of the most current. 9/10

11. Guitar String / Wedding Ring - Despite the cringeworthy title, this is a definite standout. Impossibly catchy, it's got a lot of character for what's essentially a straightforward pop track. I love the dizzying synths in the chorus and the unexpected routes she leads the melody. 10/10

12. Your Heart Is A Muscle - This is pure 90's, lighters-in-the-air cheese. It's more organic sounding than most of the album, and a fitting closer as it's got that rallying, singalong quality to it. Very, very catchy. 9/10

Album Grade: 9.0/10
On the whole, a strong, strong pop album. There are also some wonderful bonus tracks on the deluxe editions. Won't review them here, but they're worth searching out.

Carly Rae Jepsen - This Kiss

"I don't wanna miss this kiss"

I'm really pumped for this upcoming Carly Rae Jepsen album. Sure, Call Me Maybe has become completely overplayed, but it'll sound good again once people start forgetting about it. Even though the song became a massive smash because it was so poppy/catchy, I didn't allow myself to believe that she'd release an actual pop album to follow it up. It seems like most artists, even given the success she has had, retreat into safer, more singer-songwriter territory for a full-length. It's rare, in North America, to find a solid POP album. From the samples of Kiss, it sounds like Jepsen may just buck the trend. That all starts with the release of her next solo single, the dizzying 80's pastiche that is This Kiss. This could easily sound like a novelty track, but Jepsen's delivery, lyrics and charisma make it something special. Sure, it's not the type of world-conquering track that Call Me Maybe was, but if we get an album of this type of thing, I'll be a happy camper.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Carly Rae Jepsen & Owl City - Good Time

"We don't even have to try"

Carly Rae Jepsen is taking over music around the world right now. Call Me Maybe shows no signs of abating, and has really secured its place as the song of Summer 2012. Hot on its heels, though, is this new duet with Owl City. I've never been a fan of Owl City's music (I find his voice very whiny and overly affected), but I'm happy for new Carly. Honestly, I'd prefer a little more meat on the bones of this pop song. The hook is a little phoned it. But, the prediction is lush and Carly's parts are really enjoyable. Regardless of how I feel about it, I predict this is going to rule the airwaves... at least in North America. It's the comeback Owl City needs. Who would have ever predicted it would have come in this way?



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy Carly's EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Carly Rae Jepsen - Curiosity

"Look at me, left here in the cold"

Okay, I've written about Carly Rae Jepsen already, and pretty recently too. But, it's really been quite amazing how she's risen for moderately successful Canadian singer-songwriter to global pop superstar in just months. And it's even more amazing (barring the whole Justin Beiber influence) that it's down to the quality of the music and not the level of hype. Call Me Maybe gets more infectious by the day, but the rest of the new EP is also wonderful bubblegum pop. I'm just dying for this melody-driven genre to come back into vogue, and I really feel like it's going to happen. Looking at the US itunes top ten single chart has been quite heartening of late. If Jepsen's going to pluck another single from this release, it should definitely be Curiosity. It's not as hit-you-over-the-head catchy as Call Me Maybe, but it's definitely along the same lines. I love that she's moved to a glossier production style from her earlier coffeehouse-oriented solo work. It really suits her voice, and definitely compliments this track, with its irresistible oh, oh, oh hook.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Carly Rae Jepsen - Both Sides Now

"I've looked at life from both sides now"

There's a reason I love watching singing competitions. Sure, there's a ton of crap to wade through, but every once and awhile you unearth a gem. Sometimes it takes these gems awhile to find success (Swedish Idol's Loreen, who will now represent her country in Eurovision with a massive European hit), and sometimes it's pretty instant (UK X-Factor's One Direction, who will debut at number one this week in the US). Carly Rae Jepsen is in the former camp. Sure, she's had some nice success in her home country after participating in Canadian Idol a few years back. But now she's got a worldwide hit on her hands. Being allied with fellow Canadian Justin Bieber certainly helps, but I prefer to think the quality of the song has something to do with it too. Jepsen's new EP is out now and among the original tracks is a wonderfully poppy cover of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. I'm sure some purists will scoff at the radio-friendliness of it all, but a good song is a good song. I love the original, but I like the driving pop production of this too.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Pop Blitz 3/8/12

Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
I remember Carly from all the way back during Canadian Idol. It's great to see her rack up a worldwide hit. The song's good, too. It's the kind of straight-up pop track that doesn't come along very often anymore. I'd argue that that's why it's been so successful. People want this kind of music back. A-

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
Speaking of massive worldwide hits, this is pretty much conquering the planet. And like with the last track, I think much of its success is down to the fact that it's a complete 180 from what's popular right now. That hook doesn't hurt either. B+

Madonna - Girl Gone Wild
Though her last single was a little embarrassing, it had its moments. This is straight up dance, which is really where she should be at this stage in her career. The verses are pretty forgettable, but the hook sticks. B+

Nicki Minaj - Starships
This is really a pastiche of popular 2011-12 tracks. There are the guitars borrowed from Pink's Raise Your Glass and the dance elements borrowed from almost every song of the last year. Yeah, it's catchy, but it's almost ridiculously unoriginal. B-

Katy Perry - Part Of Me
This track's been floating around for ages, but I'm happy that it's now a single. It's up their with Perry's best--uncomplicated, glossy power pop. Her strong singles reign continues. A-

Carrie Underwood - Good Girl
It's Carrie in uptempo, rocking "he done me wrong" mode. I really like the sound of this, but I feel like it's missing something extra that would have pushed it over the edge. B

Train - Drive By
I dread a new Train single. But, with expectations as low as they can be, this isn't too bad. However, it's not horribly, drill-into-your-head contagious like their worst hits, so it probably won't do that well. C

Your Choice: What's your favorite Pop Blitz song this week?

Pop Blitz 3/8/12 Your Choice!

Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me MaybeGotye - Somebody That I Used To KnowMadonna - Girl Gone WildNicki Minaj - StarshipsKaty Perry - Part Of MeCarrie Underwood - Good GirlTrain - Drive By

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