Best of 2015: Albums

There have been so many fantastic albums this year, it's genuinely been a good year for music. Here are my top 15 albums of 2015, along with a notable song from the album.

Best Of 2015: Songs

So many brilliant songs have been released this year, here's my top 25 tracks, along with a Spotify playlist at the end so you can listen to them all!

MY DREAM MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS

We've experienced many collaborations in musical past and present, from the likes of Charli XCX/Marina and the Diamonds' Just Desserts to Florence + the Machine/Dizzee Rascal's You've Got The Dirtee Love, as well as Elton John/Kiki Dee's Don't Go Breaking My Heart and Diana Ross/Lionel Richie's Endless Love. 

Yet, there are some collaborations we still don't have, and well, these next 5 hypothetical collaborations are what I'd like to see, no matter how likely or unlikely they are. 

1. Marina and the Diamonds/Florence + the Machine 

Florence and Marina are two hard-hitting musicians, and despite their slight difference in genre despite mostly maintaining an 'indie' vibe, I feel their collaboration would lead to great things. Heck, I'd even want a full album from the two together. If you have a quick browse on YouTube, there are many great fan-made 'mashups' of their songs. This is one I've been obsessed with for a while, however it's since been moved onto soundcloud, it works really well and their voices truly compliment each other. 

2. James Bay/Ed Sheeran

Just imagine all the soul and sheer emotion coming from a James Bay and Ed Sheeran collab. Oh THE FEELS I CAN'T EVEN. Sorry for going all tumblr fangirl on you, I truly am sorry. Anyway, James' album is probably one of my favourite albums of 2015, Ed Sheeran manages to release a hit after hit. This collaboration would do wonders. 

3. Taylor Swift/HAIM

Apparently they're friends? I don't know, they're never seen together at all (sarcasm intended). Imagine a song combining the likes of Taylor Swift's Bad Blood and HAIM's My Song 5, some hardcore rant-pop right there. Heck, I wouldn't mind if they collaborated, with either an intense track like Bad Blood/My Song 5 or perhaps an explosion of pop and disco with Shake It Off/If I Could Change Your Mind, ooh I can see myself dancing already. 

4. CHVRCHES/Years & Years

Imagine all that electro pop gold sparkling down onto your ears and BAMN instant fun and instant dancing (what did I just say). Here I imagine a track combining CHVRCHES' The Mother We Share with Years & Years' Shine. Oh how satisfying to imagine. Please, please, please let this happen. Now. I demand it. Give it to me. NOW. But seriously, I could see perhaps a 'VS' collaboration, similar to Bastille VS HAIM's Bite Down. The best of CHVRCHES VS the best of Years & Years. I'm already dancing thinking about it. 

5. Foxes/Bastille

Two of my favourites, Foxes, a singer, and Bastille, a band (Dan Smith, the lead singer pictured above), create these songs that are not only fun (for the most part, check out Count The Saints by Foxes and Oblivion by Bastille for some serious stuff) but also genuinely GOOD. It's not often we get music that is both nice to listen to and fun to dance to. Here, I would perhaps imagine a line between Foxes' Glorious and Bastille's Laura Palmer, to make a song that has a huge impact on young people and kind of have those 'hipster' vibes. Foxes also supported Bastille on tour, so you know, it could almost definitely happen. 

Anyway. That's all for now. Perhaps another time I will post another set of dream collaborations. Be sure to follow me on BlogLovin', Twitter, like my Facebook page or even subscribe to get email notifications every time I post a new blog post. A new blog post will be going up later in the week, be sure to check it out when it arrives!

TotallyCulture

GIG WISH LIST

HELLO

How are you all? Good? Fab, that's great news. Bad? Oh, that's unfortunate, I'm sure everything will get better soon :)

Anyway, I'm here to talk about my 'Gig Wish List'. 10 artists/bands that I'm relatively desperate to see live, plus some honourable mentions afterwards (who I'm also kind of desperate to see live). Let's get straight into it:

1. Years & Years 

One of my new favourite bands, Years & Years have become huge this past year. Mainly hitting with their number 1 single King, they're set to release their debut album Communion in the next two weeks. I love the 'vibe' of Years & Years' music, as I would perhaps explain, they're very 'tumblr'. I love their new single Shine, and I think seeing them live would be a fantastic experience, with everyone singing and dancing along, as well as Olly's notable sassy dance moves. The stripped down version of Eyes Shut is fantastic, I simply cannot get enough of this group.

2. Florence + The Machine

Florence's new album is out and it's better than ever, a more 'rock' feel to it than Lungs and Ceremonials, I'd love to see songs from How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful performed live, especially Delilah and Ship To Wreck. I'm a huge fan of Florence, and her headlining Glastonbury set replacing The Foo Fighters was one of the best I've seen, the same can't be said for Kanye's headline set (greatest living rock star I think not, although I'd love to have that confidence in myself). Florence really gets into the music, and creates a fantastic show where she really becomes one with the 'sound' and interacts with the audience in such a way that makes them feel as if they themselves are part of the show.

3. Galantis

Desperate to see Galantis live, so desperate. They create songs that are simply entertaining and make you want to get up and dance, now imagine that with a few other peoplle (hundreds/thousands) and you have a Galantis concert. Imagine the atmosphere when the drop hits, everyone jumping around and just having a good time. Besides, judging from that clip, they look like they're having the time of their lives as well.

4. Tove Styrke

 

I'm relatively new to Tove Styrke's music, but I've instantly fallen in love. I discovered Borderline first, and just went further into her music and started to watch some live footage. Tove comes from Sweden, a country with some really fantastic artists emerging into the mainstream, and I predict big things for Tove Styrke, with her debut album reaching no. 10 in the charts, and her second, and most recent, hitting no. 14. Live footage show an intimate concert experience, one that I'd very much love to be a part of.

5. Jessie Ware

Jessie Ware's voice is soulful and personal, and her performance style is unique. I imagine her concerts are a really fulfilling experience, because you really get what you ask for. I'm astonished by Jessie's fantastic songs, and her success is so well-deserved, at the time of writing this, I'm watching Jessie Ware's Glastonbury 2015 set, and it's simply brilliant. A real credit to the music industry right now, in what seems to be a rather generic time of artistry.

6. Clean Bandit

Clean Bandit are one of my favourite groups, I love Extraordinary, and I also have a love for Stronger. Watching their set at Coachella was brilliant, and then bamn. Marina came on and performed their collaboration Disconnect, which I'm SUPER pumped for. Clean Bandit bring something unique to the pop scene, combining classical and mainstream to create a really fresh sound. I find myself watching clips of their live shows in awe of their stage presence and supreme talent.

7. James Bay

James Bay is a fantastic artist, ridiculously talented and it's admirable just how well he's taken all this sudden success. His live performances are perfectly intimate and entertaining, and his songs are so wonderfully flowing that you feel like you've known them all of your life, and you feel like you can just sing along because of this. His album is one of, perhaps is, one of my favourite albums of 2015 so far. I feel like James Bay is going to be one of my favourite artists of all time, and in the future I will most definitely remember him and his music, because it's had such a positive, and reflective, impact on my life so far. James is the type of artist that sounds amazing in studio versions of songs, but just as good, perhaps even better, live. James creates emotional music, which is something we really need in our society where music can be seen as just an emotionless sound.

8. The Wombats

I love The Wombats, ever since their first album I've been a huge fan. I have a few friends that have seen The Wombats live, and they've absolutely loved it. Myself, watching clips of The Wombats live, like the one above, the whole 'gig' experience really comes to life with The Wombats. The lighting, set, and general feel-good music across all of The Wombat's music with songs such as Techno Fan, Give Me A Try and more, all lend to a fun and energetic experience, one that I would love to experience. The Wombats have long been part of my music taste, and I predict they will be for many years to come, especially with the release of their brilliant new album Glitterbug.

9. Lorde

If you've come across my blog before, you may have read an appreciation post I did for Lorde. Lorde's debut album is fantastic, and I could really connect with it. Myself and Lorde are about the same age, and probably would have been in the same class together at school if, you know, my life were that exciting. Lorde's stage presence is one that I truly admire, and her live performances really emulate her passion for music, and the 'show' itself appears to be highly entertaining and perhaps intense, in a good way. Thus, Lorde simply HAS to appear on my gig wish list.

10. HAIM

HAIM are my faves. They are cool. Just cool. Not swag cool, ultimate cool. V. cool. Their live sets are filled with energy and atmosphere, and I'm particularly fond of their performances of Let Me Go, because of that ending (see above). Such drums, much intense, many fun. Anyway, as you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of HAIM, Danielle, Este, and Alana are my heroes. Their music is fun and energetic, but they can also tell a story in a soulful and delicate way. HAIM's debut album is my favourite from 2013, and I really am looking forward to what Danielle, Este, Alana and Dash create in the future. 

Honorable mentions

Marina & the Diamonds

Foxes

Fall Out Boy

Panic at the Disco

Hozier

Amber Run

Bastille

KYKO

Circa Waves

Anyway...

That's all for now.

See you soon!

TotallyCulture

Curtis  

 

LEAD UP TO SUMMER PLAYLIST

It's that time of year, April, when everybody starts to prepare for summer. It's getting warmer outside, and everybody's making the awkward transition from jeans and jumpers to shorts and t-shirts. The lead up to summer is great, and summer itself is even better. One thing I love about the lead up to summer is the transition from relatively mellow (yet still brilliant) music to upbeat and lively music. Here are 10 songs to get you in the mood for summer, which are also great songs to listen to in summer. If you liked this blog post feel free to follow me on Twitter, like my Facebook page, follow me on Google+, or follow me on bloglovin', it'd be really helpful. 

 I'll post a Summer Playlist after I finish my exams and leave sixth form in June, be sure to come back and check it out!

1. Radioactive - Marina and the Diamonds

2. Not Alone - Kid Arkade feat. Josh Franceschi

3. We Got The World - Icona Pop

4. The Days - Avicii

5. Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne

6. The Best Of Us - Kid Astray

7. I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like) - Michael Franti & Spearhead

8. Desire - Years & Years

9. Runaway - Galantis

10. Lifted Up (1985) - Passion Pit

(Warning: This video may cause viewers with photo sensitive epilepsy to potentially experience seizures)

That's all

Bye for now

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"but we're just living life and we never stop, we got the world"

My March Soundtrack

Hello! It's that time again, yes, it's time to list 10 songs I've been listening to in March. Not all songs were necessarily released in March, but more or less they've become relatively prominent in my playlists over the past month. 

(I found myself obsessing over this photo, I don't even know why, it was just the photo for me in March)

So much has happened in March, goodness. I mean, Maisie Williams in Doctor Who?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! WJATTTTTTTGLMFDVFBBDGBb yes I'm excited. Marina and the Diamonds released her third album, while James Bay released his insanely beautiful debut album which I've listened to every day since purchasing it. Once Upon A Time came to Netflix UK and I screamed, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was brilliant and I need more. Way too much Marvel/DC stuff to even hint at, oh my gosh. A live action Mulan movie, Zane Lowe left Radio 1, I watched FRIENDS on Comedy Central (as always), Deadpool, Jennifer Lawrence announced she's to quit X-Men, so did Hugh Jackman, Angel was announced for X-Men, Spectre trailer was released, and of course, Spider-man. But, what I'm here to talk about is the 10 songs I loved last month. 

1. Higher Love - Prides 

2. Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne

3. Running - James Bay

4. T-Shirt Weather - Circa Waves

5. Emily - San Fermin

6. Worship - Years & Years

7. Believe - Mumford & Sons

8. The Days - Avicii

9. Heartbeat - Satellite Stories

10. Never Ends - Joel Ansett

Honorary Mentions

Set A Fire - Will Reagan 

Wanted - Dara Maclean

Weeds - Marina and The Diamonds

St. Jude - Florence and The Machine

C O O L - Le Youth

That's all

Bye for now

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"When our picture fades in the sun, and all the colours blur into one, I'll keep running to the place where I belong"

My February Soundtrack

It's February, and it's time to do another monthly post on 10 songs I've been listening to this month (and a few other mentions). Some of these songs weren't released in February, but I found myself listening to them a lot. Let's get started!

1. Passion Pit - Lifted Up (1985)

2. MisterWives - Hurricane

3. Avicii - The Nights

4. DJ Fresh feat. Ella Eyre - Gravity

5. Cash+David - Bones

6. Years & Years - King

7. Marina and the Diamonds - I'm A Ruin

8. Ella Henderson - Empire

9. Flor - Get Behind This

10. Circa Waves - Fossils

Honorary Mentions

Florence + the Machine - What Kind Of Man

Icona Pop - Get Lost

Ruth B - Lost Boy

The Magician feat. Years & Years - Sunlight

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home

RY X - Berlin

That's all.

Bye for now.

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"1985 was a good year, the sky broke apart then you appeared out from the heavens, they called me a dreamer"