LogFAQs > #961601624

Here is Seanchan's message about this week's choices:

My theme is 2020 Pop Albums by female artists. I will never have anything this specific ever again but sometimes things just work out that way!

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
You hear those little music stingers before commercial breaks on sports telecasts, and every once in a while you're compelled to do some research. Which lead me to Dua Lipa, then to listening to a bunch of her popular songs, and finally to Future Nostalgia.

I'd say it's kind of ridiculous how catchy this album is, except you've definitely heard snippets of practically half the songs on this album from radio play, commercials, and movie trailers. Nearly every song here is upbeat, high energy, and guaranteed to stick in your head. One of the topic regulars might have called this something like "the best pure pop album of the last decade". I've not the background to argue but there's every possibility that might be true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hldMjKHGpag

Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?
It's not often I hear a song that just absolutely grabs me. But that's what happened when CasanovaZelos put the first song from this album, Spotlight, in their top 250 songs topic. The beat starts 30 seconds in and I was just enraptured. So much so that I had immediately had to listen to the rest of the album and found it just as engrossing.

There's a definite different vibe to this album than my other two choices, still clubby but more downbeat, more groovy. While those feel thoroughly modern, this one in many ways feels like an album out of time. I can tell you this came out in 2020, but you listen and can't help but think of the 70s and 80s. Jessie's sultry, breathy singing, the slower disco beats, the beats that sound like something from the Hotline Miami soundtrack... It all creates a vibe that I just really, really dug and I know for certain this will never get the widespread public renown and success that it deserves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgy-eAzARNE

Ava Max - Heaven & Hell
Listen, I'm going to level with you all, I picked this one to match my very specific theme, once I found out the first 2 came out the same year. I can't say "don't vote for this one" but I'll say that this is the least interesting of the three.

I'd heard a few of Ava's songs before and thought they were good, decent pop songs. I got around to listening to the full album and found that actually the whole thing is better than I expected...and also an excellent stylistic fit for my nomination trio. Ava's been compared to Lady Gaga and, sure, okay, maybe but she lacks some of the attitude and aura.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6LhCim5y_Y