The Colour in Anything ranked
Definite AOTY contender with a handful of throwaway tracks. |
17 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Meet You in the Maze. 5 minutes of a cappella auto-tune with no discernible melody. The album sputters out because of this track. |
16 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Waves Know Shores. In my humble opinion, his ballads are the weak points of this album, and this is the least interesting one. |
15 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Two Men Down. Let's be honest, this was an experiment. A failed experiment. |
14 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
The Colour in Anything. Another ballad, slightly more interesting than Waves Know Shores, still nothing to write home about. |
13 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Always. An interesting track, nothing particularly wrong with it, just not too memorable. |
12 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Points. Anthony Fantano's assessment that this is James Blake's worst ever track is obviously way off base. Great, trippy production with an immersive atmosphere. |
11 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
f.o.r.e.v.e.r. Unquestionably the best ballad on the album and the only one I think is genuinely good. |
10 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Love Me in Whatever Way. Heartbreaking lyrics, one of the most emotional songs here. |
9 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Noise Above Our Heads. Great beat, catchy chorus. |
8 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
I Hope My Life. An experiment just like Two Men Down, only this one actually succeeds. The synths are a bit of a shock at first, but the track develops nicely and the repetitive ending works well. |
7 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
I Need a Forest Fire. Not much to say here. Fantastic track, great singing, amazing production. Just a great head-nodder. |
6 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Radio Silence. Amazing opener. Incredibly immersive production and the transition at 2:39 is absolutely sublime. That synth that repeats over the top is very reminiscent of James Holden's incredible remix of The Sky Was Pink. |
5 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Choose Me. The track is very repetitive but it's pure ear candy. Love the constant key changes in the melody. |
4 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Put That Away and Talk to Me. Yet another experiment by James, and what an incredible track this is. The music-box melody is heavenly, the beat is crisp, the samples are excellent and the vocals are just the icing on the cake. Phenomenal. |
3 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
My Willing Heart. I considered all three of these next tracks for the Number 1 spot. Just a very emotionally stirring track. 2:40 is pure heaven. Props to Frank Ocean for the production guest spot. |
2 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Timeless. I didn't initially think this one would be this high, but it's pretty much perfect. The opening beat is just unreal and the wobbly synth melody he introduces at 1:49 is beautiful. The vocals are the only brief source of light amidst the otherwise dark and moody melody. Probably the closest thing to a hip hop track here and it's a banger. Really happy Kanye's verse didn't materialize. |
1 | | James Blake The Colour in Anything
Modern Soul. A fucking masterpiece. It took a few listens for this one to sink in, but this is obviously a career highlight for James. Absolutely perfect production, lyrics and singing. The track develops steadily but sublimely, and if 2:37 doesn't give you goosebumps, then damn. This should have been the closing track. |
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