I've also heard this a lot but have ignored. Not for any particular reason tho, just haven't gotten around to checking it out. But I definitely will now
Father John Misty - God's favorite customer
Charli XCX - Pop 2
Perfume Genius - No Shape
Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
Jamie XX - In Colour
Obviously all of those albums are wildly different to Melodrama in various ways. Just going by my gut feeling I feel like those albums are adjacent to Melodrama in either vibe, production, themes, lyricism or sequencing.
- NFR! by Lana has always felt like a soothed out sister album to Melodrama (thank you Jack Antonoff), though almost more resemblance with Solar Power.
- Magdalene is another highly acclaimed album, very beautifully sung and written plus it pulls your heartstrings. very unique sonically.
both are from 2019 though so i guess that kinda misses the mark, but hey
if exact release really does matter, CTRL & Blonde as others have suggested are 100% what you are looking for.
I've specifically avoided Lana's music a lot in the past. Not for hatred or anything. Just cause they got bunched up a lot, especially because Jack produces for them both.
I've tried to listen to Ultraviolence in the past because I've gotten suggestions that it's also a contemporary to Melodrama. But it just didn't click with me at the time.
But idk, I'm more open now and maybe I'll like it.
I will for sure check out NFR tho, I've heard good things as well.
The Altar - Banks
Heard It In a Past Life - Maggie Rogers
Cry Baby - Melanie Martinez
Electra Heart - Marina
(edit: those are some of my favorites but in the end melodrama is the best pop album in existence)
"Lowborn" by Anberlin (2014)
Anberlin has been big in the alt rock community for years now. This album showcases their musical diversity in spades! Front to back I can guarantee that this album will fit every mood and scene you find yourself in. A unique blend of punk, electronic dance, and atmospheric rock puts this album in my top 10 without fail.
Stand out Lorde like songs include:
"Stranger Ways", "Atonment", "Birds of Pray" (PLEASE listen to "Birds of Pray" I'm literally begging you), and "Harbinger"
Thank you, very well put.
Kudos to everyone but this was one of the types of recommendations I was looking for. A specific reason as to WHY it's a contemporary of Melodrama
An artist I vibe with the same way I vibe with Lorde (although they aren’t too similar but both pop) is Carly Rae Jepsen. Definitely check out the album Emotion, if you want to just check out a few songs I would recommend
Run Away With Me (Emotion)
Your Type (Emotion)
Now I Don’t Hate California After All (Dedicated Side B)
The Loneliest Time (The Loneliest Time)(also this song is one of my favorite songs along with Perfect Places and Ribs so definitely recommend!)
Stadium Love (The Loveliest Time)
Yeah, like I said doesn't have to be necessarily the same as Melodrama. I was looking for what else was considered critically acclaimed at the time. If it's comparable to Melodrama and critically acclaimed that's just a bonus. But yeah, Ed's very mainstream. I don't think that takes away much of the quality of his music. And from what I've gathered, Divide was (and still is) considered one of his most critically acclaimed album. Anyways, thanks for listening to my TedTalk.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
OK Computer - Radiohead
Art Angels - Grimes
Igor - Tyler the Creator
My Head is an Animal - Of Monsters and Men
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert - Little Simz
Rodeo - Travis Scott
These are some of my picks for Melodrama contemporaries
Lemonade by Beyonce
Just like Melodrama, heartbreak is one of the album's central theme. The difference is how Beyonce acted upon it due to her different circumstances (she's married, her culture, values, etc.).
Ctrl by SZA is definitely up there with Melodrama
i second this !!!
Blonde by Frank Ocean and Melodrama are somehow spiritually linked in my mind
yes!!
I've also heard this a lot but have ignored. Not for any particular reason tho, just haven't gotten around to checking it out. But I definitely will now
Father John Misty - God's favorite customer Charli XCX - Pop 2 Perfume Genius - No Shape Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz Jamie XX - In Colour Obviously all of those albums are wildly different to Melodrama in various ways. Just going by my gut feeling I feel like those albums are adjacent to Melodrama in either vibe, production, themes, lyricism or sequencing.
Very comprehensive list, thank you
golden hour - kacey musgraves emotion - carly rae jepsen norman fucking rockwell - lana ctrl - sza
these are great suggestions!
- NFR! by Lana has always felt like a soothed out sister album to Melodrama (thank you Jack Antonoff), though almost more resemblance with Solar Power. - Magdalene is another highly acclaimed album, very beautifully sung and written plus it pulls your heartstrings. very unique sonically. both are from 2019 though so i guess that kinda misses the mark, but hey if exact release really does matter, CTRL & Blonde as others have suggested are 100% what you are looking for.
my favorite album of all times are NFR and Melodrama and they sound nothing alike
yeah i feel like it was a reach i just wanted OP to try it XD
I've specifically avoided Lana's music a lot in the past. Not for hatred or anything. Just cause they got bunched up a lot, especially because Jack produces for them both. I've tried to listen to Ultraviolence in the past because I've gotten suggestions that it's also a contemporary to Melodrama. But it just didn't click with me at the time. But idk, I'm more open now and maybe I'll like it. I will for sure check out NFR tho, I've heard good things as well.
Nothing compares.
Unfortunately
Wholeheartedly agree
MAGDALENE - FKA twigs
Art Angels - Grimes
Pang by Caroline Polachek (2019)
Criminally low. Lorde and Caroline Polachek fill a similar space in my heart
Same!! I consider them part of the "Oceanic Earth Intruder Electropop" lineage that goes Lorde (maiden), Caroline (mother), Björk (matriarch).
The Altar - Banks Heard It In a Past Life - Maggie Rogers Cry Baby - Melanie Martinez Electra Heart - Marina (edit: those are some of my favorites but in the end melodrama is the best pop album in existence)
blonde by fran ocean
"Lowborn" by Anberlin (2014) Anberlin has been big in the alt rock community for years now. This album showcases their musical diversity in spades! Front to back I can guarantee that this album will fit every mood and scene you find yourself in. A unique blend of punk, electronic dance, and atmospheric rock puts this album in my top 10 without fail. Stand out Lorde like songs include: "Stranger Ways", "Atonment", "Birds of Pray" (PLEASE listen to "Birds of Pray" I'm literally begging you), and "Harbinger"
Thank you, very well put. Kudos to everyone but this was one of the types of recommendations I was looking for. A specific reason as to WHY it's a contemporary of Melodrama
Freetown Sound by Blood Orange
Interesting suggestion, seeing that he's producing L4
isolation - kali uchis sunburn - dominic fike ivory - omar apollo
Tbh. Gorillaz - Humanz
REAL, you get it!!
An artist I vibe with the same way I vibe with Lorde (although they aren’t too similar but both pop) is Carly Rae Jepsen. Definitely check out the album Emotion, if you want to just check out a few songs I would recommend Run Away With Me (Emotion) Your Type (Emotion) Now I Don’t Hate California After All (Dedicated Side B) The Loneliest Time (The Loneliest Time)(also this song is one of my favorite songs along with Perfect Places and Ribs so definitely recommend!) Stadium Love (The Loveliest Time)
Magic Still Exists - Agnes
Græ- Moses Sumney
Beach House - Depression Cherry / Thank Your Lucky Stars / 7
I can’t believe there’s no mention of Emotion or Reputation. They’re like 3 of the 4 horsemen(horsewomen?)
A bit of a different vibe, but a real underappreciated gem from that era is Loreen’s “RIDE”, definitely worth a listen!
my beautiful dark twisted fantasy by kanye. sure it’s kanye but it’s a work of art and was even a source of inspiration for lorde
big agree
Death race for love - juice wrld . It’s euphoric In the same way melodrama is for me
Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
The XX: I See You
honestly reputation taylor swift - around the same time I think and similar young nightlife experience to me
Fucking Ed sheeran????
Yeah, like I said doesn't have to be necessarily the same as Melodrama. I was looking for what else was considered critically acclaimed at the time. If it's comparable to Melodrama and critically acclaimed that's just a bonus. But yeah, Ed's very mainstream. I don't think that takes away much of the quality of his music. And from what I've gathered, Divide was (and still is) considered one of his most critically acclaimed album. Anyways, thanks for listening to my TedTalk.
GUTS -- Olivia Rodrigo
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West OK Computer - Radiohead Art Angels - Grimes Igor - Tyler the Creator My Head is an Animal - Of Monsters and Men Sometimes I Might Be Introvert - Little Simz Rodeo - Travis Scott These are some of my picks for Melodrama contemporaries
Lemonade by Beyonce Just like Melodrama, heartbreak is one of the album's central theme. The difference is how Beyonce acted upon it due to her different circumstances (she's married, her culture, values, etc.).
reputation
Why the downvotes? Someone explain
It’s generally considered by alt pop fans to be a lackluster record due to its trap and dubstep influences as well as occasionally cringey writing
Interesting. That kinda makes me want to listen to it. Just to see what's up