Tobias Jesso Jr. - Goon

These piano-based ballads should and could be the male version of Adele's drama ballads, though the songwriter here is primarily a bass player, not a piano player (he learned how to play the piano just a couple of years ago, what the odds?). "Goon" by Tobias Jesso Jr is not a great album, it is a heartfelt album, which makes it somewhat... great? Yes, indeed.

You could say that this debut has everything a new artist could wish for· production from Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), drums by Danielle Haim ("Without you"), plus some tweeting assistance by Adele and Haim (for "How Could You Babe", the first single). I mentioned that it is not a great album, just because it's a mellow, low-tempo, Norah Jones-esque album and that's something we have listened to a lot in the recent past. The significant thing here, that also makes it a good debut, is that Tobias sings his own life with the simplest possible way.

Even though "Goon" is a pop album, the storytelling is pretty country· everyday stories, breakups, family health issues and dreams. The sound is almost like being in a live or a rehearsal session, while his vocals are never too much or the first thing you can notice in the production. So if you are searching for a vocal triumph here, you won't find it, he just sings his songs.

Tobias Jesso Jr has every potential to be huge in 2015, because he is honest with his music and cute. Ed Sheeran is huge, Sam Smith is huge, so it's the perfect timing for him to be the next Best New Artist nominee at the Grammys of 2016.

AnArtCalled... 7,5/10

Grammy Predictions 2015: Who will/who should/who we want to win?

The Grammy Awards are actually the MTV Awards with real instruments and orchestras. During the Grammy ceremonies you always notice the same nominees and the same live appearances as the MTV ones, but the winners and the losers, they all show up. Just because they are Grammy Nominees. Well, winning a Grammy is a big thing... or is it? And if it is a big thing, why is Chris Brown even nominated for an actual, real award? Anyways, here are the 2015 nominations and my precise (not) predictions:

Album of the Year:
"Morning Phase" – Beck
"Beyoncé" – Beyoncé
"x" – Ed Sheeran
"In the Lonely Hour" – Sam Smith
"G I R L" – Pharrell Williams
Who will win? First of all, "GIRL"? Seriously? Well... This is the most important award of the show and yet the most boring one. Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran are about to win the big award. Sam Smith is more obvious, Ed Sheeran is more of a surprise.
Who should win? Beyonce, of course. She had a masterpiece album, a crazy and out of the blue release, killer collaborations, great videos, A-class production and a concept. Even Beck in this category can be jealous of Beyonce.
Who we want to win? Beyonce.

Record of the Year:
"Fancy" – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
"Chandelier" – Sia
"Stay with Me" (Darkchild Version) – Sam Smith
"Shake It Off" – Taylor Swift
"All About That Bass" – Meghan Trainor
Who will win? Taylor Swift, cause she has never won this category and the Academy voters should be ashamed of themselves (not). Also cause the track is a killer pop record.
Who should win? Meghan Trainor, cause she came out of nowhere, she made her own success story, the song is still a huge hit and she is an absolute inspiration for every female songwriter and producer out there.
Who we want to win? Oh well, Sia. Just because.

Song of the Year:
"All About That Bass", Kevin Kadish & Meghan Trainor, songwriters (Meghan Trainor)
"Chandelier", Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin, songwriters (Sia)
"Shake It Off", Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
"Stay with Me" (Darkchild Version), James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters (Sam Smith)
"Take Me to Church", Andrew Hozier-Byrne , songwriter (Hozier)
Who will win? Sia, cause not only she's the best songwriter out there, but she sings her heart out as well. Not to mention that she has penned half of the songs released in 2013-2014 for many other artists. Seriously, half of them.
Who should win? Sia, cause this is her year.
Who we want to win? Well, Hozier, cause "Take me to church" is an absolute masterpiece straight from Ireland.

Best New Artist:
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Brandy Clark
HAIM
Sam Smith
Who will win? Sam Smith, cause Adele will sue the Academy. Plus, he is nominated in every other category, apart from the rap solo performance. Or is he?
Who should win? Haim, cause they had one of the best and fun albums of 2013. Yeap, last year's breaking news. ERROR.
Who we want to win? Haim, cause Bastille and Sam Smith, the only equally good ones here, are not that fun.

Best Pop Vocal Album:
Ghost Stories – Coldplay
Bangerz – Miley Cyrus
My Everything – Ariana Grande
Prism – Katy Perry
x – Ed Sheeran
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
Who will win? Sam Smith, cause his album is not pop, but his image is. LOL
Who should win? Ed Sheeran, cause his songs are like drugs.
Who we want to win? Ed Sheeran, cause "x" is pop at its best. Second best? Miley. Seriously. Blame it on the weatherman.

Best Pop Solo Performance:
"All of Me" (Live) – John Legend
"Chandelier" – Sia
"Stay with Me" (Darkchild Version)– Sam Smith
"Shake It Off" – Taylor Swift
"Happy" (Live) – Pharrell Williams
Who will win? Sia, cause, as I already mentioned, 2014 was her year. Plus, that killer voice. God, that broken, crying voice.
Who should win? Sia (read above).
Who we want to win? Sia (read above and then above again).

Best Rock Song:
"Ain't It Fun", Hayley Williams & Taylor York, songwriters (Paramore)
"Blue Moon", Beck Hansen, songwriter (Beck)
"Fever", Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney & Brian Burton, songwriters (The Black Keys)
"Gimme Something Good", Ryan Adams, songwriter (Ryan Adams)
"Lazaretto", Jack White, songwriter (Jack White)
Who will win? Jack White, cause he is the Grammys favorite.
Who should win? Jack White, cause he had a crazy year and a dope album.
Who we want to win? Jack White, cause The Black Keys and Beck were not at their best this time.

Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Sail Out – Jhené Aiko
Beyoncé – Beyoncé
X – Chris Brown
Mali is... – Mali Music
G I R L – Pharrell Williams
Who will win? Beyonce, cause she wins a Grammy every time she opens her mouth (to sing).
Who should win? Beyonce, cause her album is a pasterpiece.
Who we want to win? Beyonce, cause she has no competition in this category.

Best Alternative Music Album:
This Is All Yours – alt-J
Reflektor – Arcade Fire
Melophobia – Cage the Elephant
St. Vincent – St. Vincent
Lazaretto – Jack White
Who will win? Arcade Fire, cause, let's be honest, "Reflektor" is the definition of a well-written and well-produced (alternative) album.
Who should win? Arcade Fire or St. Vincent. They should just both win.
Who we want to win? Arcade Fire, cause Jack White is not quite alternative. GRAMMY CATEGORY ERROR AGAIN.

Best Rap Album:
The New Classic - Iggy Azalea
Because the Internet - Childish Gambino
Nobody's Smiling - Common
The Marshall Mathers LP 2 - Eminem
Oxymoron - ScHoolboy Q
Blacc Hollywood - Wiz Khalifa
Who will win? Iggy Azalea, cause she had a great year and everybody is tired of Eminem's wins. Plus, she will be the first ever female winner in this category. Missy Elliott, that's called injustice.
Who should win? I haven't heard all of the albums.
Who we want to win? Iggy. Because she will be the first female winner in a man's rap world.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Fancy" - Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
"A Sky Full of Stars" - Coldplay
"Say Something" - A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera
"Bang Bang" - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj
"Dark Horse" - Katy Perry feat. Juicy J
Who will win? That's a tough one. Iggy and Charli had a huge hit, but voters love Christina and breakup ballads. On the other hand, Katy Perry has never won a Grammy. Hmmm... I say Katy Perry for once.
Who should win? AGBW and Christina, cause it's all about a good vocal performance.
Who we want to win? Well... Jessie, Ariana and Nicki. Cause it's a great pop record, a great vocal performance and a fun song.

Best Dance Recording:
"Never Say Never" - Basement Jaxx
"Rather Be" - Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne
"F For You" - Disclosure Featuring Mary J. Blige
"I Got U" - Duke Dumont Featuring Jax Jones
"Faded" - Zhu
Who will win? Disclosure, cause Mary J is a big American asset and the voters will support the unexpected collaboration.
Who should win? Disclosure and Mary J, a breath of fresh air in dance music.
Who we want to win? Disclosure, duh.

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
"Cheek To Cheek" - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
"Nostalgia" - Annie Lennox
"Night Songs" - Barry Manilow
"Sending You A Little Christmas" - Johnny Mathis
"Partners" - Barbra Streisand With Various Artists
Who will win? Tony/Gaga or Barbra. No comments.
Who should win? Annie Lennox, cause, to me, she has no competition in this. She owns the category with her new album, as simple as that.
Who we want to win? Annie Lennox, hands down. Second best? Barbra. Just in case.

Best RnB Album:
"Islander" - Bernhoft
"Lift Your Spirit" - Aloe Blacc
"Love, Marriage & Divorce" - Toni Braxton & Babyface
"Black Radio 2" - Robert Glasper Experiment
"Give The People What They Want" - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Who will win? Toni Braxton and Babyface, cause Grammy voters are the same age with those two and extremely old-fashioned when it comes to some baby-making r'n'b.
Who should win? Aloe Blacc or Sharon Jones.
Who we want to win? Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, cause it's a shame that this is their first ever nomination.

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media:
"Frozen", Christophe Beck
"Gone Girl" - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" - Alexandre Desplat
"Gravity" - Steven Price
"Saving Mr. Banks" - Thomas Newman
Who will win? Steven Price, cause the Oscar buzz is always something in order to vote for.
Who should win? Alexandre Desplat, cause he has done miracles in this film.
Who we want to win? Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, cause they have surpassed every expectation. Plus, they rule.

Best Song Written for Visual Media:
"Everything Is Awesome!!!" - Tegan And Sara Featuring The Lonely Island, "The Lego Movie"
"I See Fire" - Ed Sheeran, "The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug"
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You" - Glen Campbell, "Glen Campbell, I’ll Be Me"
"Let It Go" - Idina Menzel, "Frozen"
"The Moon Song" - Karen O, "Her"
Who will win? "Let it go", cause there is no hope for other songs in here.
Who should win? Karen O, cause the song is like puppies cuddling on a velvet cloud, eating candy.
Who we want to win? Karen "fucking" O.

Producer of The Year, non-classical:
Paul Epworth
John Hill
Jay Joyce
Greg Kurstin
Max Martin
Who will win? Greg Kurstin, cause it's his time, they owe him.
Who should win? Greg Kurstin, cause he made some A-class productions and collaborations in 2014.
Who we want to win? Greg Kurstin.

Various Artists - The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 (OST)

Let's start with the fact that Lorde has released a second album or a new EP or something through the "The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1 OST". But let's not stick to that, cause it's more ironic than realistic - she has only recorded three new songs plus one remix by her idol, Kanye Kardashian.

The second weird thing about this collection of songs has to do with the really out of the blue collaborations - Ariana Grande with Major Lazer, Charli XCX with Simon Le Bon, The Chemical Brothers with Miguel, Q-Tip with HAIM and Lorde (again, duh). So this is also a crossover project or at least an obvious effort to bridge many different music genres and generations. And that's a wrap, to the point now...

The soundtrack album for the third installment in "The Hunger Games" film series is quite good and consistent actually, despite the Lorde domination (yeap, I will never stop) and the unexpected collaborations. Grace Jones delivers a unique performance in the beautifully produced "Original beast" (I think that even without her vocals, this track still has her signature). "Lost souls" by Raury works as a smart bridge for the tracks in the second half of the album. Tinashe makes you wanna have sex in public. The Chemical Brothers make you feel haunted by the paganism of "This is not a game" (with vocals by Miguel), while Lorde is really like a ghost through the whole album. A ghost that contributes vocals and sounds even in other artists' tracks.

Lorde has been recruited to curate the album. So it's a bit honest that she has control over all the recordings in here. So she has done a very good job. So the whole "oh, Lorde again" joke is... well, a joke. Please, myself, stop teasing Lorde, for the love of Lord(e).

p.s. James Newton Howard's score not included.

AnArtCalled... 8/10

Albums 2013: Και οι Daft Punk;

Η λίστα με τα αγαπημένα μου albums για το 2013 δεν καταδέχτηκε τους Daft Punk. Το "Random Accesss Memories" δεν είναι για τα γούστα μου κι όσο κι αν προσπάθησα να τα προσαρμόσω για χάρη του, δεν κατάφερα να τον ακούσω πάνω από 2 φορές μέσα στη χρονιά. Όσο για το "Get lucky", θα ήθελα να λιθοβοληθεί στην πλατεία του Περάματος μαζί με το "Last Christmas" των Wham. Κι αυτό έγινε το πρώτο post στην ιστορία (?) των AnArtCalled, που μιλάει με επιμονή για κάτι που δεν πρόκειται να περιλαμβάνει στη λίστα του. Αυτό είπα και θα σιωπήσω.

Ιδού τα 30 (τουλάχιστον) albums που μου άρεσαν περισσότερο από αυτό των Daft Punk...

43. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

...

30. White Lies - Big TV

29. Palma Violets - 180

28. Queens of the Stone Age - Like Clockwork 

27. Laura Mvula - Sing To The Moon

26. Little Boots - Nocturnes/Pet Shop Boys - Electric

25. Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action

24. Foals - Holy Fire 

23. Kate Nash - Girl Talk 

22. Panic! At The Disco - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! 

21. Bonobo - The North Borders

20. The National - Trouble Will Find Me

19. Savages - Silence Yourself 

18. Kings Of Leon - Mechanical Bull

17. M.I.A. - Matangi

16. Arctic Monkeys - AM

15. Woodkid - The Golden Age

14. Haim - Days Are Gone

13. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady

12. Elton John - The Diving Board

11. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

10. Sky Ferreira - Night time, my time

9. Blood Orange - Cupid Deluxe

8. Lorde - Pure Heroine 

7. She & Him - Volume 3 

6. Inside Llewyn Davis OST

5. David Bowie - The Next Day

4. Kanye West - Yeezus

3. James Blake - Overgrown

2. Beyonce - BEYONCE

1. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

Επιλογές 2013: Ξένα – Διάφορα

Η λίστα με τα “καλύτερα”* τραγούδια του 2013 είναι μια προσπάθεια να καλύψω τις ψυχαναγκαστικές μου τάσεις, που μανιωδώς προσπαθούν να βγουν μπροστά και να με καπελώσουν. Challenge accepted, biatchmyself. Αν και αρχικά η λίστα έγινε με σκοπό να συγκεντρώσει τα singles που κυκλοφόρησαν μέσα στην προηγούμενη χρονιά, πήρα την απόφαση ότι ακυκλοφόρητα (ως singles) κομμάτια με ενθουσίασαν περισσότερο από άλλα που έγιναν huge (ή όχι). Μέχρι λοιπόν να βγάλω τα albums του 2013 με μια σχετική χωροχρονοκαθυστέρηση – δουλίτσα να γίνεται – πάρε, άκου, αγάπα, κράξε.

*αυτά που δεν είναι εδώ, δεν λένε και πολλά, αυτή η λίστα είναι το κριτήριο αξίας (#selftroll)

30. Pet Shop Boys - Thursday ft. Example

29. London Grammar - Strong

28. Katy Perry - Legendary Lovers

27. Kings Of Leon - Beautiful War

26. John Legend - The Beginning

25. Kate Nash - Fri-end

24. Panic at the disco – GirlsGirlsBoys

23. Lea Michelle – Cannonball

22. Aluna George - You know you like it

21. Sara Bareilles - Brave

20. Justin Timberlake - Tunnel Vision/Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines feat. T.I., Pharrell

19. She and him - I could've been your girl

18. Haim - The Wire

17. Franz Ferdinand - Evil Eye/Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

16. Goldfrapp - Drew

15. Lorde - Royals

14. Janelle Monae - Primetime feat. Miguel

13. Bonobo - Heaven for the sinner feat. Erykah Badu

12. The Knife - Full Of Fire

11. Beyoncé – Haunted

10. Mutya Keisha Sioban - Flatline

9. Kelly Rowland - Dirty laundry

8. Katy B - 5 AM

7. James Arthur - You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

5. Woodkid - I love you

4. Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful

3. James Blake - Overgrown

2. Vampire Weekend - Unbelievers

1. David Bowie - Stars are out tonight