E*MO*TION – Carly Rae Jepsen (2015)
The best pure pop album of the decade came from Carly Rae Jepsen, who two years earlier seemed like the ultimate one-hit wonder following the runaway success of her track ‘Call Me Maybe.’
E*MO*TION proved that Jepsen definitely had the chops as a songwriter and performer to transcend that early spike, even as the album tragically failed to find much of an audience.
Instead, it became an unlikely critical darling, showing up very high on countless year-end lists. It’s funny to see an album this light and fun scoring with critics while being ignored by average listeners — it’s akin to a Marvel movie scoring 100% on Rotten Tomatoes but tanking at the box office.
Jepsen is indeed something of a pop music superhero. The 12 tracks on this album are bright, infectious and charming — the sort of songs Madonna rode to the top of the charts in the 80s.
And if she never achieves the level of stardown in the U.S. that her music warrants, so be it. Apparently she is very big in Japan.
Be tormented by me, babe
Wonder, wonder how I do
How’s the weather? Am I better?
Better now that there’s no you?
Drink tequila for me, babe
Let it hit you cold and hot
Let your feelings be revealing that you can’t forget me
[Pre-Chorus]
Not a flower on the wall
I am growing ten feet, ten feet tall
In your head and I won’t stop
Until you forget me, get me not
[Chorus]
In your fantasy, dream about me
And all that we could do with this emotion
Fantasy, dream about me
And all that we could do with this emotion
This emotion, I feel it
This emotion, you feel it
All that we could do with this emotion
[Verse 2]
Paint a picture for me, boy
Where the sky’s forever blue
Tell me there is nothing I can’t have and nothing you won’t do
Toss and turn without me, boy
Let it hit you cold and hot
All my kisses, say you’ll miss it and you can’t forget me
[Pre-Chorus]
Not a flower on the wall
I am growing ten feet, ten feet tall
In your head and I won’t stop
Until you forget me, get me not
[Chorus]
In your fantasy, dream about me
And all that we could do with this emotion
Fantasy, dream about me
And all that we could do with this emotion
This emotion, I feel it
This emotion, you feel it
All that we could do with this emotion
[Bridge]
What if I turn the lights right down?
I feel it
What if I turn the lights right down?
You feel it
You and me in the dark right now
I feel it
[Chorus]
In your fantasy, dream about me
And all that we could do with this emotion
Fantasy, dream about me
And all that we could do with this emotion
This emotion, I feel it
This emotion, you feel it
All that we could do with this emotion
Meet Me In Montauk 
Well, I know Maddie will be pleased with this pick!
I really am curious why this album did poorly. Perhaps when a new artist has a SUCH a big incredibly catchy infectious hit, any follow up singles are relegated to the shadows, no matter how critically acclaimed or accessible those songs are. I think this probably holds true for many other commercial one hit wonders.
I mean, heck yeah.
This is the best album of all time so of course it would make this list. I return to this record so often for literally any mood. It’s just pure joy in 12 songs. I don’t think she needs to return to the level of success she did with “Call Me Maybe”, but she deserves it as her output since then has been just increasingly stronger. Glad that she is getting some recognition at least from our family!