While most of pop's biggest divas failed to make major impressions this year, 2013 saw a surge of new and previously unrecognized (and perhaps largely under-appreciated) female talent.
Here are my Top 10 picks for the best female pop albums of 2013, including 6 honorable mentions.
10. Little Mix - Salute
"The X-Factor" series 8-winning girl group has fully embraced their lovably cheesy, girl-power brand on "Salute," which is much "like a dip in a pool of Skittles: tacky, sugary and brilliantly indulgent" (The Guardian). Opening with the stomping, high-powered "Salute," the girls nail their harmonies on their sophomore effort, a more mature and refined version of their debut "DNA" that has plenty of empowering, positive sentiments mixed in for their teen and adult fans alike.
My Picks: "Salute," "Move," "Little Me," "Nothing Feels Like You," "Towers," "Mr Loverboy"
9. Lorde - Pure Heroine
At the ripe old age of 16, newcomer Lorde became the first New Zealander to smash the Billboard Hot 100 with her daydreamy, eerie electro-pop song "Royals," and it turns out she wasn't just a one-trick pony with just one hit in her. The teen's debut album, "Pure Heroine," has been praised as "vocally striking and lyrically thought-provoking" (Billboard), not only sung by but written by a kid, and a gifted one at that. The album, featuring unique, woozy synth-pop production, has been nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
My Picks: "400 Lux," "Ribs," "Team," "Glory and Gore," "Still Sane"
8. Lady Gaga - ARTPOP
Despite its shortcomings, including frenzied over-production, Lady Gaga's third studio album, which focuses on her favorite topics of fame, sex, religion, drugs and love is a consistent and enjoyable effort featuring slick R&B, electro-pop, EDM and trap influences with plenty of unabashed sexuality, impressive vocals and artful references. While it isn't necessarily as ground-breaking as it may have aimed to be, "ARTPOP" is a creative and catchy collection of Gaga-isms that make it hard to sit still.
My Picks: "G.U.Y.," "Sexxx Dreams," "Do What U Want (feat. R. Kelly)," "ARTPOP," "Gypsy," "Applause"
7. Miley Cyrus - Bangerz
While you've probably been sick of her name for months now, it wasn't until her third studio album (or fourth, if you count her "Hanna Montana" effort, "Meet Miley Cyrus," which Disney has stripped her name from on iTunes) in which she freed herself from Hollywood Record's clutches that Miley Cyrus officially became a pop force to be reckoned with. On "Bangerz," she's proven to be more than a shock factor gimmick, the hip-hop-influenced project deliriously strange from its '80s-themed cover to its discombulated yet original tracklisting. Having debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, from the creative production to the highly enjoyable features (especially from Nelly, French Montana and Britney Spears), "Bangerz" is a carnival of a coming-out party.
My Picks: "Adore You," "SMS (Bangerz) [feat. Britney Spears]," "4x4 (feat. Nelly)," "#GETITRIGHT," "Drive," "FU (feat. French Montana)"
6. Ellie Goulding - Halcyon Days
Ellie Goulding's re-release of her 2012 sophomore album "Halcyon" features the singer's signature soaring melodies against a backdrop of new electro-dream pop. Goulding expertly "marries thoughtful ruminations on young love to whooshing synth riffs and hard-edged machine beats" (Los Angeles Times), contributing to most of the album's well-crafted writing. Featuring a whopping eight bonus tracks, including the smash single "Burn," "Halcyon Days" is an impressive piece of catchy ambient pop with stellar vocals from one of Britain's biggest musical stars.
My Picks: "My Blood," "Anything Could Happen," "Figure 8," "I Need Your Love (feat. Calvin Harris)," "You My Everything," "Burn"
5. Natalia Kills - Trouble
With poetic lyrics, captivating pop hooks and a sexily fearless streak even as it touches on the grostesque, Natalia Kills' sophomore album "Trouble" is full of personality and the very personal, including childhood and adolescent struggles and dark family issues as the singer touches on her father's drug use, physical abuse and legal run-ins, all in highly-stylized way that never feels forced or fake. While it doesn't always hit the mark, when it does, it's pure magic, and the underrated pop princess wrote on every single song.
My Picks: "Problem," "Stop Me," "Daddy's Girl," "Saturday Night," "Controversy," "Trouble"
4. Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob
Canadian sister pop-rock duo Tegan and Sara's seventh studio album, "Heartthrob," debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and its placement was well-deserved. Taking off with the giddy synthpop smash "Closer," the Quin sisters' latest album is packed with ear candy and "slick mainstream hooks" in favor of their usual indie-rock sound, and "fortunately, they're quite good at it" (SPIN).
My Picks: "Closer," "Goodbye, Goodbye," "I Was a Fool," "How Come You Don't Want Me," "Now I'm All Messed Up"
3. Charli XCX - True Romance
While it's arguably more electronic than pop (or perhaps, as it's been dubbed, "neon goth"), Charli XCX's sophomore album is still a major contender for one 2013's strongest female releases. Though it failed to chart high or appear on any international main albums charts, "True Romance" managed to impress major music reviewers and fans alike with its ethereal '80s-inspired synthpop (No Ripcord), stunning vocal style and sparkling, creative melodies, even including a pleasantly jolting feature from rapper Brooke Candy.
My Picks: "Take My Hand," "Stay Away," "Grins," What I Like," "Black Roses"
2. Sky Ferreira - Night Time, My Time
After years of EPs, leaked demos and delayed release dates, Sky Ferreira finally released her highly anticipated full-length album, "Night Time, My Time," her frustration and vulnerability laced throughout the hard-hitting grunge-pop debut. Quite the departure from her previous efforts yet still maintaining plenty of emotional and artistic honesty, the disturbing plunge into Sky Ferreira's mind (the creepy cover was shot by controversial directer Gaspar Noé) is hard to resist, especially as the songs are just so damn good, anchored by the 21-year-old's consistently strong vocals.
My Picks: "Boys," "Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)," "I Blame Myself," "You're Not the One," "Heavy Metal Heart"
1. Beyoncé - Beyoncé
Her most ambitious, cohesive and personal album to date, "Beyoncé" stormed iTunes and social media on Friday, Dec. 13th with no promo and no announcement, selling a whopping X copies in just X days. Featuring an ensemble of hit-makers including Sia, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean, Timbaland and Drake, the lush, luxurious and irresistably sexy album is truly a celebration of Beyoncé and her womanhood, weaving seamlessly through anthems of unapologetic sexuality, anxiety, joy and heartbreak, culminating in the deceptively simple "Blue," an ode to motherhood and her daughter, Blue Ivy. Not to mention, all of the accompanying music videos are gorgeous and incredibly fun to watch.
My Picks: "Haunted," "Partition," "Rocket," "Mine (feat. Drake)," "***Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche)," "XO," "Heaven"
Honorable Mentions
HAIM- Days Are Gone, Ariana Grande - Yours Truly, Demi Lovato - Demi, Katy Perry - Prism, Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest, Colette Carr - Skitszo
