So it's a new year 2014. I'm a month already in it but I just have to mention my favourite things of 2013.
I could talk about my favourite beauty, skin and hair products of 2013, but I've been using the same brands since time began. But I could do a post on my all-time-fav products? Maybe.
There's one thing that does change every year. Music. New artists, new albums, new sounds.
Here are two albums that I believe are slightly under-rated and are probably my favourite sounds of 2013.
The first is:
Haim - Days are Gone
After hearing Nick Grimshaw rambling on Radio 1 for his undying love for sister act Haim, I was intrigued to find out what the obsession was all about.
The only songs I knew at first were 'Don't Save Me' and 'Falling'. The songs reminded me of something that I'd play blasting through my headphones and washes the dishes as do a lil girly 80s popping.
Looking at the Haim girls I thought their sound would be something more grunge or rock n roll. Their long hair and leather jackets made them look like the feminine version of Kings of Leon (fun fact: they are supporting KoL in concert some time this year in Milton Keynes - wish I had tickets).
The album consists of solemn, smooth bass and drums songs; like 'Let Me Go', 'Running If You Call My Name' and my favourite song that has a splash of r'n'b 'My Song 5'. There are also pop-rock girl power songs that you'd sing over and over and over again on a train journey; like 'The Wire', 'If I Could Change Your Mind' and 'Days are Gone'. Their harmonies are such a breath of sweet new fresh air, you would hear no contrived or over-the-top vocal belting.
Definitely worth listening to. Especially fans of: Gwen Stefani, Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys.
Major Lazer - Free the Universe
You may not understand what I'm talking about but this album is a fusion of Jamaican dancehall mixed with a lil bit of trap and electronic.
The collaborations on here are incredible: Shaggy, Bruno Mars, Elephant Man, Santigold, Flux Pavilion, Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig and even Haim's Danielle Haim. Weird mix ain't it?
Songs like 'Jessica' and 'Jah No Partial' have that chilled neo-Rasta vibe going on. The type of songs where you wished you had floor lengthen dreads that you sway when Ezra Koenig says 'you're the girl - I love you lots, and your locks'.
Whereas there are other songs that make you twerk like a you had a Nicki Minaj derriere, such as 'Bubble Butt', 'Sweat' and 'Wind Up'.
Generally all the songs on this album makes you want to dance, especially 'Mashup The Dance' and 'Watch Out For This'. I think I've overplayed this album over this winter - please bring on the summertime !
Fans of: Vybz Kartel, Ms Dynamite, Diplo (obvs cos this is his band), Skrillex and Chase & Status