Guest List Week: Jessie's Best of 2017

GUEST LIST WEEK

#1: Ilana Bergstrom

#2: Saskia Warwick

#3: Dionicio Solano

#4: Jamie Pfeifer

#5: Megan Swidler

#6: Erik Kristjanson

#7: Curt Trnka

#8: Gina Uriarte

#9: Marisa Plaice

#10: Mike Brand

#11: Desa Warner

#12: Alex Kain

#13: Carl Anderson

#14: Gene Novikov

#15: Jessie Witkin

My favorite album of the year hands down was DAMN. (The period is important) by Kendrick Lamar. The arc of the album had such an operatic depth of feeling – like trying to ring the bells of all humanity – it was difficult to pick my favorite tracks out from the whole bouquet.  Then just when I thought I couldn't play the album over again, he releases the DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION. That revises the order of all those hard-felt, mixed-up feelings. P.S. My favorite workout of the year was 1 hour yoga private session in the gallery set to this perfectly arced album, start to finish.

Runner up best album was Jay-Z 4:44. I actually do use Tidal – it's shocking to many – and for a long while everybody had to get their hit of Jay from me. My *complete* list would also include two tracks from 4:44 which are not available on Spotify.... So everybody seek out the controversial tracks "The Story of O.J." which is a lesson to his kids about how to save money and buy some homes and some art, and "Smile" which is a super feel good song with Jay's mom on interlude.

A few exciting new women for me this year, including Cardi B., Kelela (who I saw in concert with Solange and WOW), and the lesser known Justine Skye (She's big on Tidal).

Speaking of talented women – I saw Lorde at the Sydney Opera House, outdoors, yes in Sydney, and it was an incredible show, a powerhouse performance with the warm breeze from the water, the backdrop of the city at sundown, all topped off with fireworks. It made me fall in love with every song on the new album – another hard one to choose favorite tracks for. The show marked Lorde's four year anniversary since she released her debut album when she was 17! She teared up talking about it and so did everyone in the crowd... an emotional, gorgeous show packed with so much muscle, vibrancy, energy, and three glorious costume changes, each one a study in color and drama, linked to her shifting neon sets. Her performance, sandwiched between the starry skyscape and the dramatic architecture of the Sydney opera house... maybe was my favorite concert, dare I say, ever.

Guest List Week: Jessie's Best of 2016

[It's Guest List Week! The best week! You've heard my thoughts on the year in music, now let's hear from some other people who have equally great taste in music (but somehow have the ability to express their opinions in under 10,000 words)! Guest List Week II concludes with Jessie and an essential TOP FIFTY-THREE!]

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[And, as an added bonus, a link to today's Guest List on Tidal. Do any of you use Tidal? Really?]

Here's a list of 53 songs* I listened to more or less on repeat this year. 53 Because I can't edit, and 2 more than 51, because at the last minute I threw in two tracks from Stranger Things, which honestly are just really great driving music. (Also they remind me of the Drive soundtrack I wore out.)

My playlist starts with Kanye -- THANK YOU PABLO -- heavenly light beams, faith and prayers. Pray for Paris, Pray for the Parents. Let's all pray. My list ends with the most beautiful song of farewell from Leonard Cohen. He collaborates with Congregation Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue Choir -- his deep gravelly, talk-y voice paired with their hymnals...  when Leonard, synagogue and choir are married this elegantly... I'm ready My Lord.

In the middle of this schizophrenic musical sandwich is a little taste of everything I'm super into this year from the glorious, spiritual latest by CHILDISH GAMBINO (What a year Donald!), to the battleground beats of new TRIBE (Anything with Elton John hell yes -- and also, until I googled it 5 minutes ago I thought that shout out part of Solid Wall of Sound said "Keep it Phife-y town" .... Actual lyrics: "Tip & Phife in Town" which is fine, but not quite as good as my version.) And now that I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, a lot of LIT driving jams here, like new A$AP, D.R.A.M. & Vince Staples. 

2016 you sucked, but I'm still getting my dance on!

* Beyonce's Lemonade is not on Spotify, so the following FOUR BEST SONGS OF THE YEAR are not included in this version... Down to 49 songs without these:

SORRY

HOLD UP

FORMATION

ALL NIGHT

Guest List Week: Jessie's Best of 2015

[It's our first Guest List Week debut of 2015, from the always-fascinating Jessie Witkin! Give it a listen and feel bad about the fact that your personal Best of 2015 list does not include nearly enough Drake. Like, not even close to enough.]

(1) "Hotline Bling" by Drake 

The Drake mixtape that stole my heart.
Classic cha-cha, Casio beats, big booty hoes.
"My cell phone" like there are other kinds of phones and all the resulting jokes.
The W Magazine dramatic read video.
His dancing like Ian Curtis, in full track sweatsuit.
His video a James Turrell installation.
He is a modernist at heart.

(2) "Legend" by Drake 

Good beat. If you're not careful, the "chorus" of this rap will stick in your head forever.
Watch out for fame, people.

(3) "Preach" by Drake featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR 

Yeah there's a spiritual theme to my list this year.
2015 was about strange new kinds of FAITH.
And anyway, Drake can preach and preach and preach -- God knows I'm listening.

(4) "Where Ya At" by Future featuring Drake 

This song makes me want to dance with my ass.
Don't understand shit but beat is sick.
As one YouTube commenter observed, "Can't wait for the English version".

(5) "Live From The Gutter" by Future & Drake 

Drake quotes Beyonce. I mean, King & Queen.
Drake's breakup songs get less sad.
This is more like "came out clean" - The relief of being left.
That puppy yelp that offers both an angry, sinister cackle and ecstatic release. Because both exist.

(6) "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar 

We ARE gon' be alright. This song felt like an anthem for the year, for our generation.
There's crazy jazz in this song... It reminds me of Homeland whenever I listen for some reason. Carrie driving in her car in the burbs listening to jazz, "Lookin' at the world like where do we go" and "We gon' be alright fo sure."

(7) "$" by D.R.A.M. 

So. Damn. Smooth.
I wake up every morning feeling like making a million, and making some music. 

(8) "The Hills" by The Weeknd 

Languid California waves crashing sound and some sexy artiste Basquiat street tip.
"When I'm fucked up / that's the real me" is pretty real.
This song is actually about a drunk addict stalker but no one seems to care about this high creep factor. Good beats will do that to bad lyrics.

(9) "High By the Beach" by Lana Del Rey 

Soft ice cream dripping in sand this song is soft porn and one long breathy orgasm.
She wrote this high. I appreciate the pink-tinted realism. She is ridiculous and her sublime melts.

(10) "Lean On" by Major Lazer, featuring MO & DJ Snake

This was the absolute summer jam.
We DO need someone to lean on. The truth is powerful, and catchy. Good treadmill tune too.

(11) "BBHMM" by Rihanna

The acronym caught on.
On some Tarantino tip.
Fake blood has never looked so sexy.
It's cool to be murderous, musically.
Rihanna should be angry. Happy to finally see her fucking mad.

(12) "Antidote" by Travi$ Scott

"Threapeat" is my new favorite word.
I honestly love a slow rap I can just understand and get down too, even if it don't no sense make.

(13) "Church" by BJ The Chicago Kid

I like a nice boy rapper who picks church over sex and drugs. (It's not Drake!)

(14) "Only One" by Kanye West

Raw sweet love.
This song reminds me of one of my favorite heartbreak Kanye songs.
I like that breathy part in the music video where his singing doesn't match up with the recording, so you kind of just hear his out of breath breathing on a cold day.
Because I can be spiritual, and so Kanye.
North steals the show!!!

(15) "Take Me To Church" by Hozier

Weird band name but it's been a spiritual year for me I guess.
"My church offers no absolutes / Worship is in the bedroom"
The closest thing we have to a new power ballad.
This is the best final song on a soul cycle ride ever.

(16) "Lord Knows" by Meek Mill featuring Torey Lanez

Be careful what you wish for.
Meek's lyrics! The man has deep integrity, and intellect. (Of course Nicki chooses the smart boy.)
The choir and the violin!!!
"They love me and they make me go harder"
"Look at these rappers, they silly n shit"
That crescendo at the end.
This song gives me vivid images from Romeo & Juliet Baz Luhrmann's version.

(17) "Classic" by Meek Mill & Swizz Beats

Swizz is a cool rap dad who buys art, so props.
Piano, drums, apropo jazz homage.
 We all have a fever, bitch.
That "God Dammit" reference at the end!
This song is actually about 2015 - our fucking murderous year - Black Lives Matter.

(18) "Big Rings" by Drake & Future

I originally left this one out.
But it's so good! Positive message of treating your staff as special, worthy, equals. It's all our lives. Everyone on the team should have really nice things.
Also - who doesn't love a title song - And I agree -- What A Time To Be Alive

(19) "Love Myself" by Hailee Seinfeld

This song is deeply uncool. The music vid, somehow even more uncool. This song has incredible pure pop beat. This song makes me want to dance with myself like no one's watching. Except for me.
Because faith is only good if it's in ourselves.
This is the REAL church.

Honorable Mention:

(20) "Watch Me" by Silento

They're five.
They invented the stanky leg. The word and the dance.
Their mom filmed their music video. Coolest kids on the block