The Best Music of January

Hello again, friends. It's been a while, I know, but uni is back in full swing, and when I'm not writing news stories, I'm writing about news stories, and when I'm not doing that, chances are I'm watching Twilight and eating lots of Dairy Milk with next year's house mates. When I am doing my work, I'm one of those people who loves to do it with some music in the background. If I'm having a day when I'm finding it particularly hard to concentrate, a good instrumental movie soundtrack does the job - highly recommend the Harry Potter sleep playlist on Spotify, or The Great Gatbsy soundtrack, it's stunning - just so I don't get distracted by lyrics. But January bought us so. many. bangers. I've been listening to the same kind of stuff over and over again, but that's because the stuff is just so darn brilliant, and I wanted to spread the love with you lot. All these sweet tunes have been compiled in one fabulous playlist for you to check out, and makes a nice change from the all the depressing Lana del Rey-filled playlists I usually have in the background.

the greatest showman soundtrack. Have you seen The Greatest Showman yet? If not, you okay hun? What are you doing? The plot may be slightly weak, but the acting is incredible, the sets are gorgeous, and my oh my the songs are i.n.s.a.n.e. I don't think I've loved a soundtrack as much since Beauty and the Beast, and ya'll know how much I love Beauty and the Beast. The lyrics are so clever - especially in Never Enough and This is Me - and the instrumentalism just explodes, even in the quieter tracks. Each song is a statement, all different but all amazingly beautiful. I think my favourite is the opening number, The Greatest Show. From the off, it is completely electrifying, intensely passionate and hugely empowering. The movie has definitely jumped into my top 10 movies of all time, and this soundtrack plays such a big part in that. 

fall out boy - mania. I've loved Fall out Boy ever since I heard Dance, Dance back in the day. I remember so clearly sitting in the back of my family's car and listening to Now That's What I Call Music volume 8195329503298 or whatever, hearing that song for the first time and discovering there was more to life than the Sugababes and Girls Aloud (still absolute queens, though). Years later, and I'm off to see them in March as they promote another fantastic album. MANIA is grounded in pop more than a lot of their other offerings, but Fall out Boy really make the genre their own. Young and Menace explores a maze of synth wonderfulness, Sunshine Riptide has a touch of rap and bounces with bass, and then Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea is in a whole league of its own, with loud-and-proud vocal and brazen lyricism. I think my favourite song is Church - the lyrics really stand out in this one, and I think the use of backing vocal is pretty experimental and interesting, while the rest of of the instrumentalism recalls some of the earlier Fall out Boy I already knew and loved. 

george ezra - paradise. Moving onto singles now, and we come to one of the most energetic, summery songs probably ever. I've been obsessed with George Ezra ever since Budapest was released, but I think Paradise might be my new favourite song from him. It's just such an upbeat bop; the chorus is infectious, it's impossible not to tap your foot along to the beat, and the lyrics are so lovely you can't help but smile. I listen to this song most mornings to wake up, and by the end I'm usually skipping around my room and using my hairbrush as a mic as I lip sync in the mirror. There's a nice image for you. Blame George. 

somebody special - nina nesbitt. When I saw Nina back in August, which you can read my review of here, she closed with the then-unreleased Somebody Special, and I remember going crazy for it. It combines the pretty guitar, singer-songwriter element of her older tracks, with her new and addictive bass-y pop direction, with reflective and familiar lyrics that I think everyone who listens to it can relate to in some way. At the same time this song is a warm comfort blanket, but also high heels and red lipstick - Nina has a way of being the best parts of an older sister, giving big hugs and advice, but also the one you wanna borrow clubbing clothes from - you get me?

filthy - justin timberlake. Last but not least, we have another artist who I've listened to for as long as I can remember. Also on another back seat car journey, I remember listening to Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake and crying when it finished because I loved it so much and didn't want it to be over. I mean, I don't feel quite that strongly for one of his new singles, Filthy, but it's still pretty great. If you're not a fan at first, give it a few more goes - it's definitely a grower. It has such an infectious bass hook, and there's something about that squelchy synth that I just adore. The music video is also super interesting, would highly recommend checking it out. To me, this is just the perfect getting-ready-to-go-out-out tune, nice one JT. 

So yeah, quite a range in there - a little idea of my weird and wonderful music taste. If you haven't checked out any of these songs or albums before, I strongly suggest you do, my friend. 

From

Eleanor