The Forteloud Family's
Albums of 2016
Jamie // 100 by the Hunna
Tracklist: Bonfire / We Could Be / She's Casual / You & Me / Alive / Piece by Piece / Never Enough / Waiting / Brother / World Is Ours / Sycamore Tree / Still Got Blood / Bad For you / Coming Home / Be Young / Rock My Way
My hipster side likes to brag how I discovered the magnificent Hunna wayyy before the release of 100 (much to my boyfriends distaste on this matter that is..) but it is plain fact that I was blown away by singles You & Me and Bonfire nearing the beginning of 2016. To me both songs are examples of youthful indie rock at its best, absolute bangers. 100 was then released back in August and I realised the rest of album tracks followed the same standard I set for the band back in May.
The Hunna are home to simple but memorable lyrics, making them super easy to sing along to. They also have an energetic electric guitar back bone throughout and an extremely simplistic song structure. Some may say this means they lack originality as sections do tend to be predictable but I completely disagree. I think in fact the band have done their research, identified exactly what a young age group want in the perfect indie rock album and they delivered just that in response.
I think what makes 100 such a lovable album is Ryan Potter’s laid back effortless vocals, a slightly higher version of Chris Caines from Coasts in fact? I think Ryan’s skill is in particular shown in Sycamore Tree where the guitar is striped back and we get to hear the smooth vocal undertones in all their glory. I also adore his vocal transition
in She’s Casual from the first calm verse to the more punchy bridge.
My favourite track on the album is We Could Be. I feel like it’s a huge f**k you to those in the industry who didn’t believe in them. So much sass and an unreal amount of courage to effectively indirect those who knocked them on their way up. I feel like this is the Hunna’s way of saying hell yeah we’re here to stay so watch out!
Every year I feel I need a typical unserious indie rock album to see me through. Previous years have included the Vaccines, the Wombats and Catfish and the Bottlemen. So yes, you’re right, they won’t be winning awards for songwriters of the year but for me they bring back my youth; having an awesome time being young, no responsibilities, no worries just being free, singing along to aimless lyrics on a muddy festival field somewhere. So, shoot me for wanting to hold onto my youth for as long as I can… I wonder what 2017’s indie rock album has to offer wherever that may be because I’m in no rush to grow up that’s for sure!
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Charlotte // Lemonade by Beyonce
Tracklist: Pray You Catch Me / Hold Up / Dont Hurt Yourself / Sorry / 6 Inch / Daddy Lessons / Love Drought / Sandcastles / Forward / Freedom / All Night / Formation / Lemonade
This album has been a big part of my year and will continue to be a big part of my life up until the end of my degree. From hearing it when it was first released, from hearing Formation when her first single debuted, I have been listening to the album non-stop. Since I have been introduced to the visual album I have decided to write about it for my dissertation. The amount of work that is in Lemonade is unbelievable; it’s ineffable at the amount that you can take from it. It’s a first in our day and age for an album to successfully empower the black female community. Beyoncé successfully flies through different genres and works with different artists to create this story.
Full album here
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Daisy // Hero by Maren Morris
Tracklist: Sugar / Rich / My Church / I Could Use a Love Song / 80s Mercedes / Drunk Girls Don't Cry / How It's Done / Just Another Thing / I Wish I Was / Second Wind / Once
Discovering Maren has restored my belief in fate. It was a complete accident I was stood watching her live at the start of last year. I was new to her and her music but by the end of the set, I had downloaded her entire discography from Spotify and to this day, listen to her pretty much everyday.
Her debut album 'HERO' came with high expectations. Her music, although to the naive listener may sound like a country pop crossover that we hear so often these days, only gets better the longer you listen to it. The depth in the lyrics and melodies are sweet but with an aged undertone that teach you a lesson. I still listen to it regularly and every time it remains just as fresh as when I first listened to it. It never gets old!
Discovering Maren has restored my belief in fate. It was a complete accident I was stood watching her live at the start of last year. I was new to her and her music but by the end of the set, I had downloaded her entire discography from Spotify and to this day, listen to her pretty much everyday.
Her debut album 'HERO' came with high expectations. Her music, although to the naive listener may sound like a country pop crossover that we hear so often these days, only gets better the longer you listen to it. The depth in the lyrics and melodies are sweet but with an aged undertone that teach you a lesson. I still listen to it regularly and every time it remains just as fresh as when I first listened to it. It never gets old!
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