2012 in review (aka the only list that Frank Ocean will not top)

First up, the singles of 2012. Singles by the same artist are doubled because I'm lazy. It's not listed in any order either because I'm lazy. Let's get to it, shall we?

1.     Angels- the xx: the best track off their latest album. Just listen to it if you haven't already.

2.     We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together/ I Knew You Were Trouble-Taylor Swift: the '1-2' punch of the Swift this year was strong. I have the bruises to prove it.

3.     Losing You- Solange: a Knowles I can stan for. Beyonce, step aside please, your talented and sartorially inclined baby sis is here! (I think I just described the dynamic of my relationship with my younger sister in that as well #awkward)

4.     Baby Come Home- Scissor Sisters; if this doesn't make you want to tap your feet and sing along, then I give up.

5.     I Awake- Sarah Blasko: sometimes, I like to listen to Sarah Blasko and pretend I'm edgy and cool.

6.     My Gun- The Rubens: sounds like The Black Keys, but better.

7.     Different- Robbie Williams: one of his best songs ever, especially in recent years (I say this as a major fan). Heartfelt and beautiful, the video also proves how badly he should delve back into acting.

8.     Madness- Muse: I love Muse, but the last few albums have been a struggle to get through on their first listen. 'Madness' served as a refreshing break from their OTT-ness (we are not going to talk about 'Survival'. At all).

9.     Primadonna- Marina and the Diamonds: all I ever wanted was the world too, Marina. Bonus points for her genius tweets.

10. Girl Gone Wild- Madonna: I did not get the hate for this song when it was released and it continues to baffle me now. 

11. Thrift Shop- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: you know you're onto a good thing when a 60 something year old ethnic man requests this song to be played all the time. Also, one of the best videos this year.

12. Bad Girls- MIA: bad girls do it well. But what is 'it'? #questionsformia

13. Every Night I Say A Prayer- Little Boots: she finally finished her second album and EVERY NIGHT I SAY A PRAYER that this song is on there (see what I did?)

14. Born To Die- Lana Del Rey: Need I say more? This song grabbed me by my non-existent gonads at the beginning of the year and refused to let go.

15. I Love It- Icona Pop: So fierce. So sassy.

16. Battle Scars- Guy Sebastian and Lupe Fiasco: first single I've liked from him in awhile. Plus he acknowledged my mother accosting him in Westfields on Twitter, so we're practically BFFs at this point.

17. Something New- Girls Aloud: GO GIRLS, G-G-G-GO-GO-GO! My body was ready for some new music from GA, though I would argue 'On The Metro' and 'Every Now And Then' are better than SN. (They didn't make the cut due to arbitrary rules that exist in my mind)

18. Pyramids- Frank Ocean: I like this one, don't sue me please.

19. Sweet Nothing/Spectrum (Say My Name)- Calvin Harris and Florence and the Machine: a pair of UK number 1 singles for this duo. I approve wholeheartedly of this pairing; the flawless ginger queen and the smexy Scottish DJ.

20. Lego House- Ed Sheeran: Rupert Grint makes an appearance here for this incredibly catchy and sweet tune.

21. Call My Name/Under The Sun- Cheryl Cole: double whammy from the Geordie princess. Where CMN is another Calvin Harris produced hit (like the shy sister of 'We foudn Love'), Under The Sun relies on the singalong bridge and chorus. Plus the double entendre of 'watch the sun go down on me/go down on me' *insert wink*. Isn't that what pop music's about peeps? (answer: yes)

22. Locked Out Of Heaven- Bruno Mars: I went from 'meh' to 'THIS IS MA JAM!' with this track in a matter of weeks. Why? BECAUSE YOUR SEX TAKES ME TO PARADISE, THAT'S WHY.

23. Laura- Bat For Lashes: beautiful and rousing. I thought about using this for my sister Laura's 21st in two years time, but it's about a sad party girl, so not really appropriate at all.

24. R U Mine- Arctic Monkeys: I don't use this word often for I am a prude and an immature young woman, but this song is incredibly sexy.

25. Skyfall- Adele: imagine Shirley Bassey doing a cover of this Adele stylee. I know I am.

26. 212- Azealia Banks: Great song, but I feel like she's already peaked.

27. Dancing With A Broken Heart- Delta Goodrem: shame this went nowhere chart wise as opposed to 'Wish You Here'. Definitely one of her best singles.

28. Your Body- Christina Aguilera: it's been a few years since I liked a Christina song, so this will do.

29. Timebomb- Kylie Minogue: good for K25 and a banging dance tune, but I'm going to need something more for the next album.

30. Diamonds- Rihanna: doing her best Sia impersonation. I don't care for her so long as she's not Instagram-ming photos of her and woman hater Chris Brown and telling us to #phuckourselves because #Naviisstrong. Yes, I don't understand that either.

Best Albums of 2012 IN ORDER

10. MDNA- Madonna

A good, not great, album from the Queen. Highlights: Masterpiece, Love Spent, Beautiful Killer

9. Devotion- Jessie Ware

Minimalist RnB, excellent late night tunes here. Highlights: Wildest Moments, Running

8. Coexist- The xx

A tighter, cohesive LP that improves on their already brilliant debut, but works better played in full. Also emphasises their love of one word titles. Highlights: Angels, Fiction, Try, Tides.

7. The Haunted Man- Bat For Lashes

Less piano driven then its predecessor and more synth-y, bar the lead single 'Laura'. Still chill inducing though. Kudos to Natasha for also posing for the NSFW cover. Highlights: Laura, Oh Yeah, A Wall, All Your Gold

6. Magic Hour- Scissor Sisters

IDGAF, judge me all you want (looking at you JB Hi Fi server 'they're still around?!?' me: 'erm, yes' :|), but I legit still love SS and this album didn't disappoint me, though I can definitely live without 'San Luis Obispo'. Highlights: Only The Horses, Inevitable, Let's Have A Kiki

5. Halcyon- Ellie Goulding

Captures the heart-ache of a relationship gone awry perfectly. Add this to your break-up album collection. Listen with kleenexes though. Again, works better played from start to finish- there's no real 'singles' on here. This seems to be a trend with albums in 2012. Highlights: Figure 8, Anything Could Happen, My Blood, JOY, Hanging On ft Tinie Tempah

4. Take The Crown- Robbie Williams

It really does sound like Coldplay meets U2 in some parts. Hook laden from start to finish. Highlights: Candy, Different, Into The Silence, Reverse

3. Abbey Road Sessions- Kylie Minogue

Subdued, acoustic and tantalising. The hints that she's given us with various arrangements in concerts lead to this collection and it's a joy to listen to. I refuse to listen to 'Wow' or 'Never Too Late' in any other incarnation now. Highlights: Hand On Your Heart, Locomotion, On A Night Like This, Wow, Never Too Late

2. Electra Heart- Marina and the Diamonds

So close to the top! A case of sophomore effort trumping debut here as she gets those hits gurl. Highlights: Homewrecker, Primadonna, Lies, Power and Control, Teen Idle, Fear and Loathing

1. Born To Die/Paradise- Lana Del Rey

This was the album of 2012 for me. It delivers on every level from start to finish, not one filler track found. The EP Paradise rounds out this era with quality tracks such as a cover of 'Blue Velvet' and the haunting 'Bel Air'. Though 'my pussy tastes like Pepsi-Cola' will never cease to make me stop in my tracks and leave me dumbfounded (life, choices)
Highlights: THE WHOLE ALBUM. Born To Die, Blue Jeans, Video Games, National Anthem, Summertime Sadness, Radio, Without You. EP: Ride, American, Cola

Special Awards:

Underrated Sleeper Album That Everyone Missed: Holiday Trip Of A Lifetime- End Of Fashion. No buzz for this at all, which is a shame because it's not a bad album in the least.

Sad Panda Award:  This award goes to an album that I had really high hopes for but it just didn't turn out to be all that and a bag of chips. Anxiety- Ladyhawke. It's not terrible but really just not as great as her debut. #sadpanda
Runner Up: Our Version Of Events: Emeli Sande. Again, not bad, but not as amazing as I had hoped. MOAR UPTEMPO PLEASE EMELI

That concludes 2012 in muzak for me. Peace out.

Album Review: Robbie Williams- Take The Crown

Robbie Williams' 9th solo album begins not with a whimper but with a bang in the form of 'Be A Boy'. This is the perfect opening, paving the way for the rest of the album both musically and thematically, with the chorus directly responding his critics who believe he's 'old and irrelevant' (see what I did there Radio 1?). For the record, he is neither and this album adequately demonstrates that.

Lead single 'Candy' (and his 14th number 1 in the UK) is a boppy, bouncy affair, similar to 'Tripping', describing nefarious girls. You know, the kind who think they're shit-hot when really they're insufferable and smug. It's incredibly catchy and I can just imagine hearing a stadium singing along to the chorus.

Another highlight of the album is 'Different', which has quickly entered my 'Robbie Top 10'. It is nothing short of brilliant what with the amazing string section and the heartbreaking lyrics, pleading that 'this time I'll be different I promise you'. By the end of my first listen to this track, I was in tears. It is just that beautiful and sad.

The 'Coldplay meets U2' influence that Robbie spoke about months before the album's release is pleasantly dispersed throughout, from the 'oh's' in the background to the guitar on 'Hunting For You' and 'Into the Silence'. It's not overt, but just enough to know he's been listening to 'Pride (In The Name Of Love)' quite a bit recently. As a finale, the duet with Lissie, 'Losers' (originally by The Belle Brigade), perhaps is the album's grandest moment as Robbie laments that he 'he doesn't care about being a winner'. Though, you get the feeling that everything preceding this track contradicts that; he does care about being the best because there are some incredibly strong tracks here.

The deluxe edition of the album features a fantastic track called 'Reverse' which contains the great lyric 'it's just a bad day, not a bad life' and could have definitely fit onto the standard edition of the album. For Take That fans, there is also Robbie's stripped down version of 'Eight Letters', a song that featured Gary Barlow doing lead vocals on the group's last album, Progress. I can't say which one I prefer right now; both versions are both just as good as each other.

'Take The Crown' feels like the natural follow up to 'Intensive Care' rather than his previous effort 'Reality Killed The Video Star'. It's certainly an improvement on the latter (which was no means a bad album), but I still feel like he still has potential to write a truly perfect album, and that can only be a good thing. Right now though, Robbie Williams is the only relevant, interesting male pop star creating truly wonderful music. The throne is ready sir; come and take it.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Check out: Be A Boy, Different, Candy, Into The Silence, Losers

An Open Letter To Taylor Swift

Dear Taylor,

Can I call you Taylor? I feel like we're on a first name basis now.

I need to let you know something. I've never liked your music. Not one bar of it. And I never thought much of you- well, apart from being shocked that you're my age (totally thought you were 18) and your dating history is, ahem, extensive.

So when this happened:

I was pleasantly surprised. It didn't sound like you (i.e country) and it's catchy.

And then you brought out the big guns and a hit us with a double whammy

KO, I am out.

Now, just because I think these tracks are pretty brilliant, doesn't mean I'm going to rush out and buy 'Red' and suddenly stan for you. But, I just wanted to let you know that they have warmed my cold, black, formerly Swfit-less heart.

Oh and on a final note, I just wanted use this gif set and point out how flawless Taylor Squared were/could have been.

Anyway, this is exhausting.

Toodles!

Annie A

Songs To Write To

I find writing to music often helps with getting myself in the right headspace. When I began writing my thesis, I first created a playlist that would soundtrack each writing session. Let me take this time now to brag about how perfect it is

*takes time*

Ok, I'm done now. Check it for yourself if you don't believe me!

Do you find having music in the background helps focus on writing as well? Any great tracks to add, or perhaps your own playlists? Let me know!

Here, have some thoughts

Songs that I am enjoying right now:

• Solange Knowles- Losing You. So hipster. So chic. I think I stan for her- finally, a Knowles I can support!

• Lissie- When I'm Alone. Will next be heard on Robbie Williams' new album Take The Crown, out in November, on the duet 'Losers'.

• Delilah- Go. Hmm. Yes. Me likey. Came across whilst trying to make up my mind about Jessie Ware

• Muse- Madness. Need I say more? Stick with it. Track kicks in towards the end and it is BRILLIANT

• Calvin Harris ft Florence Welch- Sweet Nothing. YES. A banging tune from that guy that does all those songs you like featuring the vocals of a goddess. The video is brilliant and as Florence describes it, 'destructo stripping'

• Sarah Blasko- I Awake. Pulsating, thrilling and chaotic. 

• Side notes: 'Thong Song' will never be a 90s song to me. Ever. 

That is all.

Annie A

Pattinson/Radcliffe Double Feature

Well sort of. A proper double feature would entail 2 films being watched one after the other in a single session. Sadly, due to the fact that I completely made this amazing combination up in my head, I had to spread it out on Friday and Sunday night. Still amazing though. It was really just down to good timing: 'The Woman in Black' was released here on May 17 and 'Bel Ami' on May 25. So I decided to hold out (i.e not completely inundated with uni/thesis work) and do both in one weekend (AHAHAHAHA.....I wish :| )

What a coincidence! This was my weekend .

Part 1: Friday June 1: Pattinson and Bel Ami. Place: Event Cinemas Bondi. Guest: Laura

Yes. This is how I write all my essays. Looking at you seductively in the eyes and pouting. Problem?

I've been waiting for this film for close to two years now (it was filmed in early 2010...!) and personally, it delivered. It's odd because it's the only film where I've read the script before watching it, but only later did I remember bits that had been cut out of the final version. The film is about a penniless French soldier, Georges Duroy, who returns to Paris down on his luck. By befriending an old soldier comrade of his, he manages to screw his way up in society.
Wait.
What.
Screw his way up society?
Yes. Oh yes. You read that right. Basically like a male gold digger of the late 1800s.
There's also a whole back story with a newspaper bringing down a corrupt government trying to invade an African country because of oil, but why would we be interested in that?

Church: a great place to pick up women

I thought the story was very good. Georges (Robert Pattinson) is so poor at the beginning that you can't help but feel sorry him and even when he treats all the women like castoffs, I didn't hate him. He doesn't really get his comeuppance at the end either, there's no karmic retribution, perhaps because of the all the crap he went through at the beginning. The actors were well cast in their roles especially the main ladies; Christina Ricci as Clothilde, Uma Thurman as Madeleine and Kristin Scott Thomas as Virginie. There is one scene which is off putting for some viewers; essentially it is Georges getting 'raped' by Madeleine but the camera focuses solely on Georges. I understood it but Laura was looking at me during that scene with 'What is this I am watching ohgodwhy?!?!' face. I think she liked the film but I'm not entirely sure. It may not have been what she had thought it was going to be (that sentence sounds like a five year old wrote it. Apols.) Really loved the scene when Georges founds out what's been happening at the newspaper from Virginie and goes all Hulk on her. Robert does angry quite well. Moving on, I also liked how Holliday Grainger was paired with Robert again (see 'The Bad Mother's Handbook if not for them but Robert in total geek mode). The editing may have flawed the film though- some parts just felt a bit rushed. But overall, it didn't disappoint at all. I do have to say I am guilty of thinking during an early scene 'TONKS WHY ARE YOU HAVING SEXY TIMES WITH CEDRIC?!?!?!?!?'
4 chocs out of 5 tops

Part 2: Sunday June 3: Radcliffe and The Woman in Black. Place: Hoyts Eastgardens (aka the ghetto). Guest: Katerina

There's a fob watch in this outfit. Fun fact.

This film had actually been released overseas many months ago and so I was incredibly happy when I saw that it had finally gotten an Australian release now. Perhaps they were waiting for a seasonal change because the timing for such a ghost story couldn't be better. Yes, it was a darkish, rainy afternoon as I huddled my way into the dimly lit cinema. Cliche much? This film is based on the novel by Susan Hill where Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) is a widowed lawyer in the 1800s on a sort of 'last chance' assignment from his firm to travel to Eel Marsh and organise the papers of the newly deceased Alice (didn't catch the surname. can't be bothered looking it up). Little does he know that the house on the marsh is haunted! (dun dun) And the villagers don't go there! (dun dun) Because bad stuff happens! (dun dun dun)
It's a quintessential horror story. Actually, Katerina and I had a bit of discussion about this post-viewing as she felt it was more suspense, where as I was more adamant that it was horror/thriller. It has all the good features of a scary movie: a protagonist who ventures into the forbidden, suspenseful music, creepy characters and dolls and clowns. So by and large it sounds cliched- perhaps it is to more clued in horror fans- but I still found myself on the edge of my seat, heart beating fast, jumping out of my seat and trying not to scream. I guess it's a sign of a good film when a couple of teenage girls shriek ever time something scary happens on screen. Every. Single. Time.
Actually, going back to cliches, Kat was scarily accurate on her guesses as to what was going to happen. Either she's seen too many horror films, I've seen too little or this film is cliched. Regardless, I still liked it.

Kat 'He needs an axe to open the door'. Daniel 2 secs later picks up an axe . Kat 'HAHA! '

As this was Radcliffe's first post-Potter outing, I thought he acted quite well (Kat says he was too stiff....*badumcha*) but I've never noticed his 'bad acting' during the Potter films or December Boys. There was a great deal of non-dialogue scenes and I thought his  'HOLY CRAP WHAT WAS THAT ARGGH!'  face had greatly improved. With regards to pacing, as opposed to Bel Ami, there were some parts that felt slow but to be honest, I was too scared to care. Extra points to Misha Handley, Radcliffe's godson who plays his son in the film, just for being adorable.
3.5 chocs out of 5 tops

Final thoughts: Although both films were period pieces featuring two Potter alumni, they were both strikingly different. These are both smaller, independent films and the advertising for them hasn't been that great but I think that the turnout in both the sessions I went to were pretty good. The reviews from here have slated Bel Ami and found TWIB to be good but average. I disagree, I think both are bit more than average. All I need now is to see Robert and Daniel in a period film together. That is all. 

Only If For A Night: Florence and the Machine Sydney Entertainment Centre May 24 2012

'Please rise for the hymn'

And rise we did, for tonight we worshiped at the altar of Holy Mother Florence and the Reverend Machine. The lights dimmed, the stage was set and the opening notes of Only if For A Night twinkled out of the amps, infiltrating the (sold out) audience. And as Florence appeared, every jaw dropped in the room as she strode over to the microphone, swathed in a cape that seemed to have a life of it's own, adorned in a crystals and crushed velvet.

Florence Welch and her amazing cape.

Waiting for Florence and company to take the stage. Confronted  by a  rogue camera.

My sister has no patience. She too is waiting for the show to start. Also, those  are not her glasses

That voice. Oh my word. That perfect, rich voice rang throughout the arena, bewitching everyone that heard it. Not once did she falter. She might have lowered a note or two, running and jumping like some maniac posessed, but not once did it falter. It may have been the cold, but I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up at many times during the show.

From the dark (What the Water Gave Me) to the sublime (Cosmic Love), Florence breezed through the show, pausing only to give shout outs to fans who had sent presents and letters. Spectrum was played amongst a backdrop of disco balls and strobe lights- it reminded me of a comment I read somewhere online when Ceremonials had first come out, that Spectrum is the new age gay anthem. It fits to a tee, the anthemic mantra of 'say my name!/every colour illuminates' thrashed out to a sea of crazed fans dancing for their life.

And then there were life changers like 'the hymn' (You've Got The Love), Shake It Out and Dog Days are Over, where the audience felt like one, big happy family. Dancing, jumping up and down- it was admittedly hard not to.

Some random moments from the show include a 9 year old girl following Florence on stage and being overwhelming cute and full of chutzpah, a fight happening between drunk bogans in the row behind us during Heartlines and, happily, the distinct lack of cameras and phones in the audience.

The encore was a beautiful duality; the haunting Never Let Me Go and the thrilling No Light, No Light, bringing the show to a crashing crescendo, the drum beats pulsating through our bodies.

The changes between this new tour and Cosmic Love tour are evident; it's bigger, brighter and shinier but it's still Florence and the Machine. She was on fine form tonight, running all over the stage, incredibly chatty and livelier. I had my doubts about the move to a larger venue, I didn't think they could pull it off. So glad to say I'm wrong.

Art deco set.

Note the industrial sized fan, Mariah Carey could never.

HBIC

Florence as a deity.

Strike a pose.

'God, grant me the ability to be a flawless ginger bitch'

9 year old Emily and her stage invasion post- Spectrum dance party. I take my hat off to her.

Lots of glowsticks in the crowd. Surprisingly

Fin.