Ranking the Collaborations From Calvin Harris' "18 Months" Album

The Grammys are this Sunday, and while it didn't make it into the running due to it's October release, Calvin Harris' 18 Months album could have easil

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Complex Original

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The Grammys are this Sunday, and while it didn't make it into the running due to it's October release, Calvin Harris' platinum-certified 18 Months could have easily been in the Dance Album of the Year category (maybe next year?); while he was working on the album, Calvin spoke on making it more of like a "compilation," where he's collaborating with a number of different artists. You had to have heard the huge singles with Rihanna, Ne-Yo, and Example, and we thought it'd be fun to dig into the album see which one of these collaborations worked out the best.

During our thorough scouring, we found it interesting to see the different ways an artist works when he has a certain individual along for the ride. Sometimes, they take their sound into a different route, while others feel more like a cash grab. Calvin's album runs the gamut, and you might be surprised as which collaborations we consider heads above the rest.

10. "Drinking From the Bottle" (ft. Tinie Tempah)

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This feels like a reach. It's almost like Calvin said "hey, this sound worked on these other tracks, why not make an identical banger for Tinie?!" As if Calvin tried to get Pitbull, but he'd filled his EDM quota for that month and passed on this one. We don't doubt that this track would actually work in the club, assuming the DJ is Pauly D and he dropped it while downing some Grey Goose, but it just feels way too formulaic.

9. "We'll Be Coming Back" (ft. Example)

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Some feel this is a warm-weather anthem, and it ultimately helped Calvin and Example with strong chart presence in the UK (#2 for four weeks) and Ireland (debuted at #1), but the guitar in the intro feels a bit hokey. We're all for the blending of genres and sounds, but it feels like a corny country track before it drops into that a meatier, synth-happy electro tune.

8. "We Found Love" (ft. Rihanna)

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Immediate hit; this one sat for ten weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as topping charts in 25 countries. It's one of the biggest-selling singles worldwide, with 6.9 million downloads ringing in. The video even won a VMA in 2012. The actual track? It definitely speaks to people, especially anyone who's fallen in love with someone who wasn't necessarily the best for them, but outside of the "found love in a hopeless place" lyric, Rihanna really isn't saying anything. It doesn't really matter, though, considering that Rihanna could've sang the contents off of a cereal box; this beat is too huge to deny.

7. "Here 2 China" (ft. Dillon Francis & Dizzee Rascal)

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As the story goes, this started out as a random beat that Calvin made and sent to Dillon for fattening up. It turned into a hardcore, trap-inspired riddim that, while would probably stand well on it's own, becomes an entirely different tune with Dizzee Rascal on the mic. He drops some aural acrobatics over that 808-heavy instrumental, and while the hook sounds like it was an afterthought, it doesn't do much in to degrade the overall song.

6. "Bounce" (ft. Kelis)

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Kelis is actually an artist that's gotten UK love over the years; Tasty went platinum first in the UK, and the David Guetta-produced "Acapella" shot up the UK singles charts when it dropped. While she doesn't dominate this fun number from Calvin, her vocal adds an element of fun to the melody. She sings of "flipping a switch and feeling good," and that's the reaction when this track drops - instant smiles.

5. "Let's Go" (ft. Ne-Yo)

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While a lot of R&B singers have been jumping on the EDM wave over the last year, Ne-Yo's one that made the transition feel a bit more fluid. He'd already toyed with dance music sounds previously, and his work on "Let's Go" just feels natural. There's something about his vocal that calls back to the '90s, where the vocal house tunes seemed to thrive. And it worked; it debuted at #2 on the UK singles chart, and is currently nominated for a Grammy. It is ultimately a generic call-to-arms for the dance music denizens, but it doesn't feel forced at all.

4. "Iron" (with Nicky Romero)

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While this one had dropped via Protocol as a single, it's an interesting track on an album full of huge collaborations. This track features Calvin providing his own vocals, dealing with the aftermath of relationship woes, although instead of pondering the love lost, "Iron" forms a barrier, chock full of "I don't give a fuck," almost like a celebratory basher. One of the true standouts from the album.

3. "I Need Your Love" (ft. Ellie Goulding)

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We are definitely in love with Ellie's voice, and it feels like she was the perfect choice for this track. Calvin churned out a monster of a tune that works on a few levels; the actual drop is a mash of gnarled bass and a blippy melody, and when Ellie sings her vocals, the additions of piano and chimes atop that beat help push her lyrics to the front, with everything meeting up at the hook. Great track to play for the one you love.

2. "Sweet Nothing" (ft. Florence Welch)

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Calvin had previously remixed Florence + the Machine's "Spectrum" in 2012 (which topped the UK charts), and expressed interest in getting Florence Welch on 18 Months soon after. The result, "Sweet Nothing," feels tailor made for her tale of woe within a pointless relationship. Her frustrated lyrics build during the verses, growing into a monster by the time the hook comes. Beautiful work, and one of the best collabs on this project.

1. "Thinking About You" (ft. Ayah Marar)

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Ayah Marar has been a vocalist who has been catching fire as of late, and for one of Calvin's more understated tracks, he dips a bit into the more soulful house movement that's been brewing in the UK, creating a captivating bed for Ayah to lay her lyrics upon. "Thinking About You" is one of the most complete songs on the album, and the best collaboration on the project. It also gives us a glimpse at what Calvin might have in store for years to come.

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