ILM's Top 77 Tracks of 2014

"things that people do for money" midway through "tchelete" is THE moment. reminds me of the divine sounds track - initially half-thought it was a direct interpolation

Since I'm an old geezer who doesn't follow what's hip with the kids these days, I hadn't actually heard any of these tunes before, except for "Anaconda" and "Somos Sur". But here are my first impressions:

77 NICKI MINAJ "Lookin Ass"
Most Nicki Minaj tunes that I've heard have felt too gimmicky and hyperactive for my taste, but this one is actually nicely subdued and moody, and I like the ballsy lyrics too. Does she any other tunes like this?

76 OWEN PALLETT "Song for Five & Six”
This is the same Owen Pallett who used to post to ILX? I didn't know he made music like this! Love the synth arpeggios, but the singing is too New Wave for me, this should have had some disco diva vocals instead. Still, I could imagine dancing to this after having gotten drunk with my corny indie friends

75 TUNE-YARDS "Water Fountain"
I liked the polyrhythms and the general afropop vibes, but the vocals and the farty synth bass got tiring after a while. I guess if I was 10 to 15 years younger I'd have more tolerance for freaky styles like this, but now I just can't be arsed.

74 NINOS DU BRASIL "Sombra da Lua"
Oppressive samba techno, sure, why not? This reminds of the early 90s "tribal" techno and trance like Exqusite Corpse or The Ambush, and that's a good thing! The "full" groove at the end could've lasted a bit longer though, cutting it so short doesn't feel very dancefloor friendly...

73 KING "Mister Chameleon"
This is really sweet, like modern-day Minnie Riperton! You say they haven't released an album yet? This was the first tune in the results that made me feel like I could listen to full LP of the same, so it's sad if there is none.

72 KATIE GATELY "Pivot"
I'm all for experimental stuff and sound art, but the beginning of this track was too flimsy to get me interested, so I didn't make it to the end. Maybe another day.

71 ANA TIJOUX Ft. Shadia Mansour "Somos Sur"
A friend of mine kept playing Ana Tijoux to me and explaining how good it is, and it does sound good, but she speaks fluent Spanish and I don't, so I think she just got more out of it. IMO political rap like this requires a sort of immediacy, a gut-level "HELL YEAH!" reaction when you hear the lyrics, and it just isn't as strong if there's a distance caused by the language barrier, even if you can read a translation online. I think Mansour actually has a better delivery here than Tijoux, does anyone know what she's rapping about?

70 USHER "Good Kisser" [220 points, 7 votes]
This was a surprise, I didn't expect an Usher tune to have such a cool, innovative arrangement, love how the drum rolls become the hook! And I also like how the main love interest in the video looks like a fairly normal (if still quite attractive) woman, and not a porn star. The lyrics are still kinda juvenile, but I can't remember ever enjoying an Usher tune this much, so that's something.

69 NICKI MINAJ "Anaconda"
This is exactly the sort of gimmicky Minaj tune I don't like. It just makes me feel old, makes me want to reach for my Yo-Yo albums.

68 DAVIDO "Tchelete" Ft. Mafikizolo
This is really cool, didn't expect ILM to vote stuff like this so high, well done!

Davido song is dope, gonna check out more of him

I think of Tchelete as being a Mafikizolo track really, it's got that same slightly druggy feel as Khona, like you can imagine either tune being dropped into a deep house or techno set at like 4am and really working.

apart from "oliver twist" i don't recall any of the big afropop songs of recent years placing?

Love the synth arpeggios, but the singing is too New Wave for me, this should have had some disco diva vocals instead.

This sounds like the most ruinous idea imaginable.

Like it sounds like with glossier production it could be on Innervisions or something.

dont like Anaconda but its bearable, and better than the first one that plae

Tchelete is the best one so far, would prefer without the vocals

apart from "oliver twist" i don't recall any of the big afropop songs of recent years placing?

does Omar Souleyman count?

does Omar Souleyman count?

syria is not africa!!!

lol

I think I heard lapaz toyota thru ilx eoy

really quite surprised saer prefers "anaconda" to "lookin' ass"

lex otm

http://i.imgur.com/MzmPhJo.jpg

67 RÖYKSOPP & ROBYN "Do It Again" [229 points, 10 votes]
http://youtu.be/btBSxtKzF6Q

"lapaz toyota" placed a couple of years back as well!

Fantastic song. Easily the highlight of the EP which was good but should have been way better.

Suspect this probably took a majority of the R+R support away from Monument, but good to see it here.

syria is not africa!!!

think I'm going to stick my head in a pail full of water.

not the R&R i voted for but it's good

Monument is gorgeous but just way too long.

Good job on getting Tchelete in there, ilxers! I regret that I didn't vote in this thing now.

davido's album is scheduled for this year. v excited about it.

I wish there was a version of the EP mix of Monument that's the length of the LP mix of Monument.

Monument (The Inevitable End Version) is perfect as it is shortened!

The synths are just a touch too harsh on the lp version imo.

really quite surprised saer prefers "anaconda" to "lookin' ass"

― lex pretend, Monday, January 19

The backing vocal(sample?) in 'lookin ass' is what really dragged it down for me, that sound is a nails/blackboard experience for me!

I rly thought "Sayit" was the standout track from the R+R ep but I couldn't find anyone else who agreed w/ me

Hey well done on the artwork guys, looking fab!

"Do it Again" sounded uninspired to me and "Monument" was just long and plodding

Did hot chip make an album this year?

no hope for "aye" placing even though it's my favorite davido track. so emotional

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, January 19, 2015 12:47 PM (21 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

^otm

also didn't "Khona" place? (xp, re afropop in eoy)

RÖYKSOPP & ROBYN "Do It Again" [229 points, 10 votes]

Worst one yet apart from tuneyards

Royksopp and Robyn teaming up makes me feel old

The main problem with that EP is there isn't enough Robyn on it.

Lapaz Toyota definitely placed in 2012.

"Do It Again" is great but "Monument" is just ridiculously beautiful. Didn't really think it stood a chance against DIA though.

I voted for Monument but not this.

lol guess I cut "Aye" from my ballot along with most other afropop apart from "Pooley" which I think still could place and "Girlie O" which won't

I think the track Wizkid did with Femi Kuti placed too, no?

just reminds me that the first ilm poll i ever paid attention to was... 2009 i think, where "the girl and the robot" placed, which is >>>>>>>>>> this

I don't know if I dislike R&R for its own self and not b/c generally I've lost interest in Robyn.

I might burn in ILM hell for saying this but there's something about Robyn's singing and persona that doesn't register with me. I think it's one of the most boring ILM's darlings.

xpost The 2009 poll was the first one I voted in and I had The Girl & the Robot as my number one.

"khona" placed at #188 last year

"jaiye jaiye" at precisely 400 places below that.

I think the anti-Robyn contingent on ILM is as strong and as vocal as the pro-Robyn one.

Temi Dollface was top 100 last year

i haven't heard this song yet, but i'm also in the anti-robyn camp

just find her so boring

Robyn <3

First time I've bothered listening to this collaboration. Would have been interesting pairing like 10 years ago, no? The fact that it's called 'Do It Again' as well.

That Robyn & Röyksopp tune was kinda-generic-though-eminently-uplifting, but the video was quite something! It's rare to see such well-made, conceptually inspired music videos in this era!