"1. OH MY GOODNESS: SELF-TITLED
I've selected this EP as Album of the Year, given where music is, where it's going and where Oh My Goodness are likely to take it going forward. They blend organic and synthetic sounds seamlessly and maintain a pop sensibility across this entire EP. There's subtle musical nods to some of my favorite artists (like LCD Soundsystem, Metronomy, Burial and Disclosure) but co-mingled with arrangement and production techniques that are in some of the biggest pop and R&B singles of the year. There's a soulful simplicity evident in "Money" and "Not Lying" that showcases the pop songwriting at the core of their music (and some brilliant vocal harmonies.) "Rogue," on the other hand, has more complexity. It bounces from a carefully architected, almost tribal vocal and a simple percussive back, into a massive, layered chorus. There's a fearlessness in the way Oh My Goodness tackles pop music that made this EP an easy choice for Album of the Year. Can't wait for more."
- Alex Luke, Global Head of Programming and Content Strategy, Amazon Music | Former EVP of A&R for EMI North America