Oh, hai “that time of year again,” didn’t hear you come in – well, have a seat and make yourself comfortable. I’m not spectacular at year-end reviews… I prefer life like I prefer my albums: gapless. That said, I hat-tipped five artists, songs, and albums that made me pause and take time to jot the time and place – year included – over the last 300-someodd days; and five creations that embodied and encapsulated sonic aesthetic for 2011. To the five I take, to have and to hold; forever like a TrapperKeeper, Pop safe in the fold. #enjoi
“The Edge of Glory,” “Judas” – Born This Way – Lady Gaga
But, first, a word from our sponsor…
… and now back to our regularly scheduled Popgramming
This album… this year… was cognitive dissonance on parade… but – at least it was in movement towards something… something post-colonial… something in the wake of betrayal, on the brink of Biblical, and basking in the bricolage. Born This Way isn’t a one-sound-fits-all sonic scenario collectively, but one of its many fine fragments will undoubtedly appeal to the fair share of all ears. “The Edge of Glory”… not a favorite song off of the album, not a favorite single from the year… but it was released on my birthday, and its presence was everywhere… “If anyone did anything – if a cat got across the street this year: they were on the ‘The Edge of Glory,'”ubiquitous, optimistic, mortal – but magnificently so, it was anthemic for the aspirational ones. “Judas” … Judas, on the other hand, was a banger of beasting proportions for the bad kids with the killer kiss. The Hidden Miss and the Hit-and-Miss… “In the most Biblical sense, I am beyond repentance: ‘Fame hooker,’ ‘prostitute wench,’ ‘vomits her mind’ – but in the cultural sense, I just speak in future tense; Judas kiss me if offensed, or wear ear condom next time.” #dropthemic
(The) Epochauserie 