Again, I’m working on the list of my favorite albums of the year. As usual, I will publish it during the month of December, for your consideration if you’re interested.
This year also, in anticipation, I want to mention some of the songs that left a mark in me, which I enjoyed and learned most from. Those that I cannot get out of my head when I sit down to compose.
Inspired by…
Kendrick Lamar “Alright”
Inside one of those albums full of great moments. Compact and seamless. Like a book, like a painting: Everything has its place and its reason. Of those who became a benchmark, marking styles and creating new paths. I sure will continue listening to and talking about it for a long time.
I could pick several songs that I love, but I’ll take this one. Why? Well, basically because this is, in my opinion, the best video of the year (plus).
D’Angelo “Really Love”
My “hidden” album. Despite all the good reviews and popular reaction, I didn’t get into “Black Messiah” until recently. I do not know the reason why, yet. A great artist (dude, he’s D’angelo, remember Voodoo!!) playing with soul and funk, which happen to be roughly my favorite genres. At the end I got into it, and quite deep, of course.
This song was the key…
Sufjan Stevens “Should Have Known Better”
Definitely my “album of the year”. It’s, next to Bon Iver or James Blake albums, one of this (recent) recordings with which I connect right away and I never get tired of. Easy to see if you take a look to my music. A key reference for my music from now on. Just one song…
Tame Impala “Let It Happen”
It is true that the first time I listened to it, the last work of Tame Impala did not say too much to me; something that even I was disappointed with at first, because their previous works were great, I believe.
Yes, I take back what I thought and said (on Twitter). I just needed to open my ears and pay attention to fall down.
This song made it possible. I liked it since the beginning, and made me “keep the faith” and go back to listen it again an again. Until I got hooked.
Jamie xx “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
With “In Colour”, referring D’angelo or Tame Impala, I went across a similar path… but in opposite direction. At first I loved it, but time and a lot of listening to it unhooking me. I burned it too fast, maybe. However, it remains one of my 2015 favs. Another referent. And this is, surely, the most played song in my phone. It’s my summer song… it might be my song of the year.