SAINT PEPSI - Worst To Best

 

This is a topic I've had in mind for a long time - how would I rank the eleven albums released by SAINT PEPSI? From joyous and danceable works like "Hit Vibes", to albums that are more nocturnal and laid-back like "WORLD TOUR", there's a lot of work to cover so let's just get started. 

I will talk about every album released under the SAINT PEPSI name in order of QUALITY - starting with the worst. I won't be including works released under other names, such as Cash Wednesday or Skylar Spence. I will also only be including full-length ALBUMS released under the name - which means things like the "Gin City" EP or "Five Grammies" will not be included. But without further adu, let's have a look at the incredible SAINT PEPSI discography.

HONOURABLE MENTION: Prom King

Before we begin, I want to give a quick honourable mention to what's currently his only release under the Skylar Spence name; Prom King. I don't want this list to come off like I'm shunning or dismissing his newer work, I mainly chose not to include his newer work to keep the list cleaner - and this is a vaporwave blog so it just fits the theme.

With that being said though, I think Prom King is a fantastic album, even if it isn't like what he released in the past. The production is incredible, and the songwriting is interesting and engaging. It's a very good album - and while it definitely ISN'T a vaporwave album, I recommend taking some time to listen to it nonetheless. If you enjoyed albums like Hit Vibes you'll definitely find something to love on this thing. And now, on with the list...

11. Choice Cuts (with CROWNS, DINOSAURUS REX, and HARRISON)

I actually had no clue this release existed until I had a look at SAINT PEPSI'S Rate Your Music page, and it's listed as an album there. This is a great future funk album - a collaborative effort with future funk artists HARRISON, CROWNS, and DINOSAURUS REX. With that being said though, I'm not sure if I would class this as a SAINT PEPSI album; he only contributed to about three of the tracks here. His name is on the cover and in the album credits though, so it's kind of only here as a technicality.

I do think that most of what's presented here is very good though, especially towards the second half. It's a good release, I'm just not sure if I'd class it as a SAINT PEPSI album. But there's definitely some great tracks on this thing, with my personal favourite being "Can't Even".

10. new generation

new generation, my personal least favourite SAINT PEPSI record. I don't think this album is bad, but there needs to be much more variety. Nearly every song has the exact same feeling. I do like a lot of the sample choices though. "triumph international" (which appears a lot later on this list) has a similar style of sampling but it's also much more diverse, with songs ranging from feeling dreamy, to forlorn, and everything in between.

But like I said earlier, I don't think I would call this album bad - but it could definitely be much better in terms of variety. My favourite songs here are "ビッグバンの祭壇BANGALTER", "alton brown", and "key fits i". I could definitely see a lot of people really enjoying this release though.

9. LASER TAG ZERO

LASER TAG ZERO is SAINT PEPSI's first album, and it's not perfect - but at the same time it contains some of his most unique ideas. This one is definitely kind of an outsider in his discography in terms of its sound, and it's easily the closest thing he's made to the classic vaporwave style by artists like MACINTOSH PLUS and Chuck Person.

The second track here, "ラグラッツ" is definitely one of his most haunting tracks, with slowed down vocals drenched in reverb. And then it's followed up with the groovy and fun "あまりにも新鮮CARLTON", which is one of the catchiest songs here - I think putting these two songs back to back is a great way to show just how diverse, maybe even how experimental this album is.

Lots of great songs here - definitely not my favourite SAINT PEPSI release, but it's one of his most striking albums yet in terms of its style. My favourite tracks here are "ラグラッツ", "あまりにも新鮮CARLTON", "約束を守らない人のジュース", and "散髪100".

8. WORLD TOUR

"WORLD TOUR" is the last of the original four SAINT PEPSI albums (which were all released a day apart, in December 2012). It's a fan favourite, and it's easy to see why. Definitely one of the more nocturnal SAINT PEPSI releases. Some of the songs here feel gloomy and distant, like you're trying to fall asleep in a city apartment, far from home. But on the other hand it's also home to some of SAINT PEPSI's most feel-good tracks, like "dawson's creek" and "vanilla pepsi". But no matter what style the album goes for, it always feels like it takes place at the dead of night.

It's home to some of SAINT PEPSI's greatest tracks yet, such as the beautiful and unique "dawson's creek", to the dark, cold and anthemic "one look". And the outro to "fazz" is one of the most dazzling things I've ever heard in vaporwave. There's so much to love here. It's a great release, don't miss out.

7. Mannequin Challenge

Easily one of my most-played vaporwave albums ever. Mannequin Challenge is SAINT PEPSI's final album, and it's fantastically enjoyable. I actually wasn't a big fan of this album when I first heard it, mainly because of the mixing on tracks like "Pinchers" and "Greg". Those two tracks sound like they're an iPhone 2 recording of a dusty 80s funk record being played. I've definitely come around to this album since that first listen, but it's still definitely an issue for me. This release would be a lot higher if it weren't for some of the mixing leaving a lot to be desired.

Despite this though, "Mannequin Challenge" is home to some of SAINT PEPSI's most ambitious and well-made tracks. "I Need Your Love In Me" is a gorgeous future funk banger. "Visions" is a bizarre and fun track, with phasers overtaking the mix in the second half to a crazy extent. And how do we even start to talk about "Mr. Wonderful, pt. 2"? It's one of the strangest marriages between funk, DnB, and trap I've ever heard. Actually I think it's the ONLY marriage between funk, DnB, and trap I've ever heard.

"Mannequin Challenge" is a great album. It serves as a great farewell to the SAINT PEPSI sound, and you should listen to it right now. After... reading this that is.

6. triumph international

triumph international is one of the more overlooked releases in the SAINT PEPSI discography, which is a shame because it's easily one of my favourites. This collection of classic vaporwave tracks will transport you to the grandest cruise ship you can imagine. This album feels so representative of the 90s, and it feels super classy - but there's something quite woozy about it too.

Lots of variety here, from groovy and upbeat tracks like "top gun 2000" and "dream supreme", to beautiful and nostalgic tracks like "key fits ii" and "tequila sunrise melting". The final few songs here are some of the most emotionally resonant with songs like "like i do (but i do but you still do me like you do)" (amazing track title right there) cranking up the delay, creating a song that feels distant and almost crushing.

Phenomenal album, give it a listen because it's very underrated.

5. EMPIRE BUILDING

EMPIRE BUILDING is one of SAINT PEPSI's most well-known albums yet, and it was the first album of his I found myself really getting into. The songs on this thing sound so warm and vibrant, it pretty much always lifts my spirits whenever I listen to it.

So many of his most essential tracks come from this album - "Pineapple Juniors", "TEENLOVE", "field day", "Alpine Ice", "SHAOLIN", "Revue", the list goes on. It's consistently enjoyable from front to back, and it also happens to be the first ever album in the label fortune 500's catalogue - and this label went on to be a massive influence on the scene.

My personal favourite song here is "field day", which is one of my favourite vaporwave songs of all time. This track feels so nostalgic and warm, it just sounds like a cold water on a hot summer's day.

"EMPIRE BUILDING" is a vaporwave essential. It's an extremely consistent and well-made album, and it's a near-perfect realisation of the "late night city" aesthetic so many vaporwave artists have fallen in love with.

4. Late Night Delight (with luxury elite)

Coming in at #4 is an album that needs no introduction - the legendary Late Night Delight. A definite fan favourite, and it's also one of the most popular vaporwave albums of all time, with "ENJOY YOURSELF" in particular receiving over 10 million views.

This was the first SAINT PEPSI record I ever heard so I'll always have a soft spot for it - I think it's a great album, and both luxury elite and SAINT PEPSI did extremely well on their individual sides. luxury elite's side is late night lo-fi at its finest - impeccable sample choices slowed to perfection, making for what sounds like a late night drive on a deserted highway. Her side is INSANELY consistent, and every song she released on this album is extremely good, so listing my favourite tracks would be... pointless, I'd probably just list her entire side.

SAINT PEPSI's side isn't as consistent, but at the same time it contains some of my all-time favourite vaporwave songs - such as "MAC TONIGHT", "NEED U TONIGHT", "NUMBER ONE", "ANGELS", and of course the closing track "ENJOY YOURSELF". As soon as you hear the opening melody and drums on "MAC TONIGHT", it's like you're driving into a massive city, lit up in the night. "ANGELS" is my definite favourite song here, it's anthemic with one of the best melodies I've heard in my life.

Late Night Delight is a classic - this album feels so uplifting at times, but there's something quite hazy about the album too, making it a near-perfect listen. Love this album, not much else to say about it.

3. STUDIO 54

STUDIO 54 will always be a personal favourite of mine. It's easily one of the most danceable and feel-good SAINT PEPSI albums. It's also one of his most refined efforts - while a lot of his previous work is somewhat lo-fi, this one really pops and stands out everytime you listen to it. Tracks like "CHALLENGER", "tell me", "FRAPPE SNOWLAND", "Honey", "Tribute To Topaz Gang", and so many others are all extremely well-produced - I could listen to this album for hours without getting bored.

My favourite song here is definitely "Tribute To Topaz Gang" - it's such a beautiful and dreamy track. The bass groove and vocals are both fantastic and I don't know what else to say, I love this song to bits.

It's kind of hard to put this album into words if I'm being perfectly honest. I think the best way to describe this album is that it's an insanely well-made, vivid and danceable vaporwave release. And I think everyone should listen to it - we need more music like this in the world.

2. Winner's Circle (with SHOPPING WORLD JP)

This is gonna be a long one... Winner's Circle is one of my favourite albums of all-time, not even just in vaporwave. The insane amount of variety from both artists, and the phenomenal production styles make this album a must-have.

This is a split album, and the first side is from SHOPPING WORLD JP (a.k.a ショッピングワールドjp, or Christa Lee) and her side on this album is quite polarising - I personally really enjoy it, but I can definitely see how some could find it repetitive. Her side comes off like a mix between mallsoft and classic vaporwave and it ends up going really well. Songs like "BACKUP DRIVE", "HYPERTEXT TRANSLATE" and "MEMORY RETRIEVAL" feel nostalgic and eerie, and they really remind me of the classic vaporwave style that got me into the genre in the first place. But on the other hand, songs like "TIDAL TREAT", and "TRIUMPH SEALINE" are really relaxing and feel-good, so her side has a lot of variety. She has this unique production style of changing the song's pitch and BPM quite regularly - and this happens for pretty much every song on her side. I can definitely see some people getting bored of it, but I for the most part love it, and I think her side is fantastic.

SAINT PEPSI's side kicks off with the track "True Vices", which is a great way to transition from SHOPPING WORLD JP's side, and get you excited for what else is to come. Then it transitions into "Private Caller", which blows my mind everytime I hear it. It's danceable, dreamy, and emotionally resonant, and I think it's one of the greatest vaporwave songs ever made.

There's also "Carpark", which is my favourite vaporwave song of all time - no exaggeration. I can never get enough of this one no matter what mood I'm in, it just makes me feel on top of the world every listen.

While I do think SAINT PEPSI's side here is fantastic, there are a few songs I personally don't care for all too much - namely the tracks "Serious", "Drop", and "Dreams". They're all quite bare-bones in terms of their editing and in my opinion the vocals don't sound better slowed down - they don't really stand out like a lot of the other songs here do.

We also have the song "Kickstart My Heart" which is one of his more popular tracks. This one has one of my favourite ever sample choices and the drums are super hard-hitting. It's a great addition to the tracklist.

The album ends off strong with the song "For You" which is one of the catchiest and grooviest songs here - I adore the vocals and how the song develops, and overall it's just a strong finishing track.

The best way to describe "Winner's Circle" is to call it classy. The entire thing feels like the perfect soundtrack to a late 80's fashion show. It's one of my favourite album's of all time, and I think both artists did a fantastic job. Sorry to go on for a while but I've been meaning to talk about this one for a while. And now, onto the #1 spot...

1. Hit Vibes

Full Review Here

I think it comes as a surprise to nobody that Hit Vibes would reach the top of the list... where do you even begin with this album? My favourite vaporwave album of all time - to this day, it's still a massive influence on the future funk scene with just how well-made and joyous every track on here feels. Not one spot on the tracklist here is wasted at all - from uplifting bangers like "Have Faith" and "Better", to more laid-back cuts like "I Tried" or "Strawberry Lemonade", this album has something for pretty much every occasion.

It's an album I've found myself coming back to again and again, and I think that it's more than worthy of being at the top of the list.

I'll be brief, because I have talked about it before - but I think Hit Vibes is a perfect future funk album that everyone should listen to. And that's about it.

Well, you made it to the end! Congratulations. This was a lot of fun to write, even if it did take a while... so if you can think of any other artist that might deserve a worst to best list, just let me know! I'm fully opening to writing more of these so suggestions are very much appreciated. Thank you for reading!

-Synthi