TiBB Album Club: 2020 Edition! [on hiatus]

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Well, the moon is in the water
And I'm dancing with the current and my clothes
Are on the beach
You stay with the earth
'Cause you don't understand why I would wanna freeze
The irony

https://media1.tenor.com/images/6c30dd5cab1182c3e0c3709568f4e2e8/tenor.gif?itemid=8518019

[Ammi]

https://media.giphy.com/media/l0Iy2g58dBWHCeYLu/giphy.gif

[LemonJam]

...yeah, that’s exactly how I felt, Shaun...a sense of calming coming from what must have been such stormy emotions in making the album.../..a sense of understanding...it’s not an album I could listen to all of the time because of the nature but it’s a huge noteworthy musical impact, I feel...

I think it's intentional - she's said the album is split I to three parts and three "colours". First four songs are blue relating to her depression, middle section is yellow relating to physical and mental sickness and the final art is grey relating to loss, which is pretty cathartic I guess?

That being said I kinda think synesthesia in music is soooo overdone so I wasn't really too excited bout this album going in and even though her lyrics definitely reflect the colours and emotions associated I don't feel the music necessarily does.

That's pretty much my only personal criticism of the album lol I actually really like it!

Some killer songs on there though. Circle the drain is an obvious banger but bloodstream, up the walls, yellow is the colour of her eyes and stains are all noteworthy too. Love the subtle production such as the bubbly sounds in circle the drain.

I give it an 8.1 just to be awkward.

[Tom4784]

I will get around to this tomorrow.

[Shaun]

If anyone has any suggestions for this week's, feel free to submit any. I'll take any from someone that isn't Samm, Scott or I since we've suggested the last 3 albums.

Albums being released this Friday:
- Ellie Goulding - "Brightest Blue"
- Surfer Blood - "Carefree Theatre"
- The Pretenders - "Hate for Sale"

are the only 3 I've heard of so I'd imagine this (and next week) will be a revisiting early 2020 week :spin2: I don't mind if it's a big name, I'd just rather not burn through all of them at once and be stuck in October with The Flaming Lips.

[Ammi]

..did Tame Impala have a new album..?...would that be a good one..?...

[Shaun]

yeah off the top of my head there've been major 2020 releases from:

- Dua Lipa
- Grimes
- Chloe x Halle
- Tame Impala
- Charli XCX
- Kesha
- La Roux
- The Strokes
- Allie X
- Christine and the Queens' EP
- Megan thee Stallion
- Purity Ring
- Georgia
- Halsey
- Carly Rae Jepsen
- Selena Gomez
- Justin Bieber
- Eminem
- BTS
- Childish Gambino
- Hayley Williams
- Rina Sawayama
- Kehlani
- Kygo
- Perfume Genius
- Moses Sumney
- Future
- Run the Jewels
- Bob Dylan
- Blossoms

(by major here I mean "someone on TiBB might care"... I am under no illusions that the world stops turning with a new La Roux album)

And in the near future we'll have new releases from Disclosure, The Killers, Alanis Morissette, Fontaines DC, Washed Out, Katy Perry, Lana Del Rey, HURTS, Doves and Sufjan Stevens. And I'm sure that's just the tip of the iceberg, so there's definitely a variety to select from and keep the game running. If you want to endorse Tame Impala, I am more than happy to go ahead with them (especially since I've already listened and have an opinion/score ready :p)

[Ammi]

....eeeeeek, I’d rather someone else chooses or endorses because I’ve just started to follow the thread and am enjoying listening to complete albums for the first time in ages.../..no pressure when others choose..:laugh:..it sounds as though there are lots of great artists to choose from though, I didn’t realise 2020 had been such a filled year...

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

ALLIE X

[Daniel.]

Grimes please so I can contribute again plus I think as she's pretty popular here it would gather some attention

[Jake.]

La Roux imo

[Jake.]

Grimes please so I can contribute again plus I think as she's pretty popular here it would gather some attention

Why could you not contribute regardless?

[Shaun]

Why could you not contribute regardless?

tbh! :hmph:

I'll do Tame Impala since it was the first (tentative) suggestion someone came up with. Grimes can be next week, and then La Roux the week after.

Half a day left to submit scores for Soccer Mommy

[Ammi]

...:love:...I’ll start listening to the tracks later...

[Jake.]

I haven’t listened to The Slow Rush in full yet but from what I heard months ago, I.. wasn’t exactly impressed. Maybe it’ll change after a few listens (which I hope, because Currents was fantastic).

[Tom4784]

I thought Colour Theory was a good album although it kind of passed me by listening to it, I wasn't bored or wanting to skip anything but it also didn't leave much of an impression on me either. I kinda felt like the album lacked peaks and valleys, it felt a bit repetitive throughout and I think the artist herself is quite indistinct, I've heard so many albums that sound like this one. It's a competent album but one that didn't really have much impact on me.

6/10

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

I haven’t listened to The Slow Rush in full yet but from what I heard months ago, I.. wasn’t exactly impressed. Maybe it’ll change after a few listens (which I hope, because Currents was fantastic).

Same :ninja2:

I liked about 3 or 4 tracks and i did listen multiple times

Currents was AMAZING but the slow rush was lowkey garbage

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

I thought Colour Theory was a good album although it kind of passed me by listening to it, I wasn't bored or wanting to skip anything but it also didn't leave much of an impression on me either. I kinda felt like the album lacked peaks and valleys, it felt a bit repetitive throughout and I think the artist herself is quite indistinct, I've heard so many albums that sound like this one. It's a competent album but one that didn't really have much impact on me.

6/10

We’re not counting this towards the final score

https://media.tenor.com/images/d1149c3b6cbfa2886d3bcf643ebe281a/tenor.gif

[Jake.]

Colour Theory Review

For the most part, I enjoyed Colour Theory and when it shines, it really shines. I do feel that it kinda merges together at parts and the album definitely feels longer than 10 tracks (I don’t think that the length of “yellow is the colour of her eyes” helps, but it’s a glorious song so who’s complaining). I didn’t dislike any of it, but I probably wouldn’t miss “night swimming”, “up the walls” or “stain”, for example. But yes, overall very pleasant!

Highlights: lucy, yellow is the colour of her eyes, crawling in my skin, bloodstream, circle the drain

Album Rating: 7.5/10

[Samm]

I only knew bloodstream prior and it was gorgeous. and I wasn’t disappointed with the rest of it, the album has a certain lovely vibe throughout. It’s very tranquil and there’s some highlights like lucy, yellow and circle the drain. it’s downside is that there’s no growth throughout the album it kinda is just one long melody almost :/ i rate albums that are cohesive but I feel like this was samey.

7/10

[Marsh.]

Has Dezzy been cancelled?

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Has Dezzy been cancelled?

Yes

[Shaun]

Soccer Mommy ends up with a respectable score of 79! We now move on to Tame Impala.

[Ammi]

...I think I’ve only listened to around 5/6 tracks so far...I was quite undecided at the beginning if it was going to be a bit repetitive...Then I listened to Posthumous Forgiveness and I was gloriously lost in a time loop...:lovedup:...I didn’t ever want to leave..!!!...this album is actually quite stunning, I love how it time warps across decades in its styles...it’s like it’s burrowing a hole and each track becoming deeper and deeper....:love:...

[Ammi]

Tame Impala - The Slow Rush...

...so anyways, as I’m onto my second listen atm and probably going to play it on a loop for a few more days, I’ll give it a score now as I’m really no good at music reviews...I like it, I like it a lot...it makes me want to do a dream road trip in a convertible/Thelma and Louise style but without all the awful and sad bits and not driving off a cliff..and this album would be my dream road trip soundtrack...it’s dreamy/it’s heavenly and it’s very, very accomplished and wonderful in its time travelling psychedelic style...in saying which tracks are highlights, I could probably list them all because it all feels so seamless...and then Scott would say ...is that really necessary...well, I think so but just to show a bit of restraint I’ll say...highlights are Posthumous Forgiveness, Breathe Deeper, Borderline and Lost in Yesterday...8.5/10...

[Shaun]

I ended up giving Tame Impala's record an 8/10. I was initially fearful this'd be a huge step down from their previous releases and I can understand why some still think it was; but there are tracks that stand up there with their best. 'Posthumous Forgiveness' is a weird, dark song that feels like it's been pinched from Kanye West's 808s era and reupholstered with a Kevin Parker lacquer, whilst single 'Lost in Yesterday' is cheery, summery and serene. My two favourites, though, are the perky 'Borderline' and the summery haziness of 'It Might Be Time'.

I wouldn't give it higher than an eight because the last two tracks really finish off the album with a whimper and a shrug, and I might just delete them from my iTunes entirely, but otherwise this is definitely an album worth revisiting.

[Tom4784]

I listened to it when it was released and I had completely forgotten about it and so I listened to it again today and I can only describe this album as Starbucks music. It's pleasant enough to listen to in the background but it's really boring to sit down and listen to and a lot of it is indistinct.

I didn't hate it but I'll doubt I'll ever feel the need to go back to it again and listen.

5/10

[Shaun]

Just the three reviews so far :worry:

[Jake.]

Will be submitting mine either tonight or tomorrow :pipe:

[Samm]

slow rush

HMMM after loving currents. i perched this when it came out but only listened to half of it after being quite disappointed. After re-listening to the full album it's not as disappointing. I think it's fair that after currents which is a brilliant piece of work and for the next one not to make a impact it really tones down the album for me. Their are a few highlights for me however; One more year is a great start to the album, borderline is probs my favourite of the album a electronic dance floor TUNE!!! the similar vibe fits for lost in yesterday. it might be time is a stand out as well, I know it's very short and probs can be classed as an interlude but i rly rate glimmer? :eyes:

overall a bit of a miss, some of the tracks just didn't resonate with me, but far from being awful. 6/10

[Ammi]

...only Shaun and I on the dream road trip, then...:laugh:...I thought it was a really accomplished album, which isn’t fully appreciated on first listen...

[Jake.]

The Slow Rush Review

Tame Impala had a lot to live up to after Currents and whilst on first impressions TSR didn’t blow me away, it’s definitely been a grower. Whilst their 2015 hit went for a more psychedelic sound, they seemed to have returned to the roots laid out by their first two albums with this one. Whilst I didn’t care for One More Hour and found that a couple of tracks overstayed their welcome, there’s some really good stuff here. Glimmer definitely feels like a missed opportunity (as did Disciples from their last album) and the endings being switched up on Posthumous Forgiveness/Breathe Deeper felt a bit disjointed, but Lost In Yesterday is probably one of their best songs yet. Overall, pretty good!

Highlights: Lost In Yesterday / One More Year / Borderline / Breathe Deeper / Is It True / It Might Be Time

Album Rating: 8/10

[Shaun]

Okay, after five reviews Tame Impala end up with a decent score of 71. As always, late reviews are welcome and will amend the score.

I originally had Grimes pencilled in for this week but given one of the biggest popstars in the world has just surprise-released an album, it seems only sensible to hop aboard that train whilst it's still hot and get her out of the way. Therefore, this week's album is "folklore" by Taylor Swift, and will be edited into the OP shortly!

[Jake.]

This better not push back La Roux!!!

[Nicky91]

This better not push back La Roux!!!

irrelevant Taylor had to randomly release folklore now :idc:

[Ammi]

...would it be okay to add Phoebe Bridgers/Punisher to the future list also as its one that I’m listening to a lot right now, so already quite familiar...:laugh:..

[Shaun]

yeah I need to get around to listening to that at some point, so I guess that'll be album #12 :eyes:

[Tom4784]

It's a very listenable album, there's few tracks as catchy as your typical Taylor Swift earworm but it's pleasant enough. There's a handful of tracks I've added to my Liked Songs but there's a lot of filler on this album. I feel like I have this criticism for every album but the tracklist could have done with some editing since there's a few songs that sounded so similar to each other that they melded into one.

I think the lyrical quality is quite underwhelming across the board too, you can tell this was her attempt at a prestige album but the more lowkey sound doesn't really mesh well with her lyrics a lot of the time.

When it comes to Taylor's albums, it's better than most but I don't think I can rate it higher than a 6/10.

[Ammi]

....so..what can I say, I’m really bad at music/album reviews but Shaun will hit me if I just give a rating/score...Taylor Swift is an artist that I confess, I’ve rarely listened to...well, only her chart songs, I’ve never listened to a full album of hers before...and Folklore is FULL, with 16 songs...but I’ve been having a Taylor morning and have listened to each and every one...with each individual song, I would say that it’s hard to find a stand-out, an exceptional one..?..and yet, every one of them is really quite lovely and as an album, it would be hard to choose a favourite because they all flow so beautifully and tell a story...there is an American artist who is a favourite artist of mine...Edward Hopper...and his art was famous for showing isolated figures ...looking at them through a window or a doorway etc...they showed loneliness and nostalgia and human touch and contact and so many emotions in a nostalgic American way...for me..?...that’s what this album is, it’s a listening version of an Edward Hopper painting and it leaves you feeling so much and very thoughtful and thought provoking and all of that jazz...and yet, no real stand out, exceptional track...?...how can that be...



...I will say 8/10...


...edited to give a special mention to tracks and in no particular order...August, Peace, Invisible String and This is Me Trying...

[Shaun]

Where do I stand on Taylor Swift? 1989 and Red were great, and were looking likely to be her peak since Reputation was garbage and Lover was just 'fine'. All of the thinkpieces written about her are, largely, a boring waste of time - I cannot really understand why so much hate or love is expressed about a popstar so...plain and boring? Neither of those are insults by the way, she's not really done anything objectionable since the "write about my celebrity ex" days where everything was an annoying flouting of victimhood by Kanye West, Harry Styles and whoever else. She's obviously grown up and is able to craft a song without the intention of it being covered by Entertainment Weekly, now.

Certainly, her shift towards more vocal politics is interesting and the most obvious example of her breaking from the shackles of record label expectations - I'd imagine her legal issues over her back catalogue and Scooter Braun being a colossal dickhead helped fuel this "no ****s given" approach - and I guess, in turn, that's made her more of an artist with something to say than just a singer lamenting their romantic issues.

But all of that out of the way... I have to say the critics may have oversold this to me. I went into this expecting a Norman ****ing Rockwell-style return to form, and whilst it's not bad, it's... not blowing me away. There are some very, very nice tracks that have a captivating quality that'll keep me coming back for repeated listens (see: the highlights below), but there are some that just pass me by without making an impression. I was under the illusion that 'Cardigan' was the main single from this... but why? It's one of the least memorable tracks.

It should come as no surprise that Jack Antonoff is behind most of the highlights for me; his work with Lorde, Lana, St Vincent and Carly Rae Jepsen in recent years has made for the best chunks of pop. Unfortunately, of his contributions, 'Mirrorball' sticks out as a particular misfire... just doesn't do anything for me. I expected a little more of 'Exile' too, since I love Bon Iver, but it's not going to stand the test of time as a high point in either of their discographies.

The two clear standouts for me are Epiphany and My Tears Ricochet. The former is simple and beautiful, a real time-standing-still moment that's bound to be used in at least 10,000 fanmade videos of Twitter users' favourite film and TV heartbreaks, whilst the latter feels the most like a standalone single that should've been the lead.

Highlights: My Tears Ricochet, Invisible String, Seven, This Is Me Trying & Epiphany
Avoid: Cardigan, Mirrorball, Mad Woman

I'm not sure if it's an 8/10, but it feels better than a 7.5... so I'll bust out my first annoying random decimal score here and give it a 7.9 :spin2: Shave off a couple of tracks and it could easily be an 8.

[Ammi]

Where do I stand on Taylor Swift? 1989 and Red were great, and were looking likely to be her peak since Reputation was garbage and Lover was just 'fine'. All of the thinkpieces written about her are, largely, a boring waste of time - I cannot really understand why so much hate or love is expressed about a popstar so...plain and boring? Neither of those are insults by the way, she's not really done anything objectionable since the "write about my celebrity ex" days where everything was an annoying flouting of victimhood by Kanye West, Harry Styles and whoever else. She's obviously grown up and is able to craft a song without the intention of it being covered by Entertainment Weekly, now.

Certainly, her shift towards more vocal politics is interesting and the most obvious example of her breaking from the shackles of record label expectations - I'd imagine her legal issues over her back catalogue and Scooter Braun being a colossal dickhead helped fuel this "no ****s given" approach - and I guess, in turn, that's made her more of an artist with something to say than just a singer lamenting their romantic issues.

But all of that out of the way... I have to say the critics may have oversold this to me. I went into this expecting a Norman ****ing Rockwell-style return to form, and whilst it's not bad, it's... not blowing me away. There are some very, very nice tracks that have a captivating quality that'll keep me coming back for repeated listens (see: the highlights below), but there are some that just pass me by without making an impression. I was under the illusion that 'Cardigan' was the main single from this... but why? It's one of the least memorable tracks.

It should come as no surprise that Jack Antonoff is behind most of the highlights for me; his work with Lorde, Lana, St Vincent and Carly Rae Jepsen in recent years has made for the best chunks of pop. Unfortunately, of his contributions, 'Mirrorball' sticks out as a particular misfire... just doesn't do anything for me. I expected a little more of 'Exile' too, since I love Bon Iver, but it's not going to stand the test of time as a high point in either of their discographies.

The two clear standouts for me are Epiphany and My Tears Ricochet. The former is simple and beautiful, a real time-standing-still moment that's bound to be used in at least 10,000 fanmade videos of Twitter users' favourite film and TV heartbreaks, whilst the latter feels the most like a standalone single that should've been the lead.

Highlights: My Tears Ricochet, Invisible String, Seven, This Is Me Trying & Epiphany
Avoid: Cardigan, Mirrorball, Mad Woman

I'm not sure if it's an 8/10, but it feels better than a 7.5... so I'll bust out my first annoying random decimal score here and give it a 7.9 :spin2: Shave off a couple of tracks and it could easily be an 8.


...I seriously was going to give it a 7.9 as well ..:laugh:..but I just so hate messy numbers...it jars with my OCD, I just couldn’t bring myself to type it but that 8 is so curvy and lovely and perfectly formed...:flutter:..

[Samm]

Taylor has been a difficult one for me, until now. her first two records are skips apart from love story, just really not my cup of tea. then she knocked it out the park with red, and then even more with one of the best pop albums of all time; l989. I loved reputation and it's whole vibe at the time but a good 70% of the tracks on the album have kind of aged terribly for me. Lover then came and that was a corny mess, the only stand out to me was false god. and to my absolute surprise miss thing has given us an album with 16 false god like tracks :flutter:

this is taylor's most cohesive album, a prober stripped down album done RIGHT!. she's a brilliant song writer which i've especially noticed on; cardigan, my tears ricochet, august, invisible string, mad woman and betty (bi taylor :eyes:). there's just such a soft, somber mood across the album that just doesn't get boring.

highlights included exile, mad woman and my tears ricochet, mirror ball, seven, august, this is me trying are all probably now some of my favourite taylor songs of all time. the only negative I can think of is that I wish the album had a stronger outro.

9/10

[Nicky91]

listened to few songs more, urgh :(

it lacks bops for sure, what 1989 has still a lot of what i still like


i apologize for what i said too in taylor folklore album thread, if other people like it, fine, it is different from all her other work anyway, if i have to find anything positive

but not my personal cup of tea, i rather enjoy listening to 1989 all over again

5.5/10

[Nicky91]

before i get any comments like, you shouldn't have done a review on folklore, yes since i am its biggest (maybe only) critic so my honest opinion counts too

those who do like the album, i mean it you should ignore me, and just enjoy it

[Liam-]

Actually remembered to review this one :worry:

I went into this album with an open mind but not being a Swift fan at all, I mean, the last song of hers I liked was Love Story back when I was a hormonal teenager with a crush on a new straight guy every other month, that was the life.

While none of the songs are necessarily bad, I just couldn’t get into the album as a whole, I get the whole folk theme and her wanting to put her feelings on paper after the last year or so she’s had and it’s kind of cute, but there isn’t much variety, it’s all much of the same to me, it bleeds together like one big album of cheesy American prom slow dance music, it’s not really for me.

Quite enjoyed Invisible String and Betty though.

Have to give it a 5/10

[Shaun]

I am not allowing one of the year's biggest releases to sail by with just six bloody scores!

[Smithy]

I’ll do this later

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

I’m gonna give folklore a 7/10 because it’s just far too long and if it was 10 tracks/about 40-45 mins long it’d be a lot better. I don’t really find any of the individual tracks amazing either, they range from boring to decent to good. Favs are the 1, seven and invisible string. Listening to the album in a single sitting is quite a chore because of all the filler you have to slog through so yeah

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Like imagine this as the tracklist

The 1
Cardigan
Last great american dynasty
My tears ricochet
Mirrorball
Seven
August
This is me trying
Invisible string
Betty

Wouldn’t that be stunning girls?

[Jake.]

Folklore Review

Given the acclaim this has received, I went in to this expecting great things and it really wasn’t anything more than fine for me. It feels 5/6 tracks too long, there wasn’t anything particularly evoking and I just can’t see myself ever listening to it in full again. It’s certainly not a bad album. the 1, cardigan, mirrorball and peace are all nice; august and invisible string are probably my favourites. I couldn’t help but find exile (ft Bon Iver) and the last great american dynasty to be absolute cringe fests. Overall, there’s just nothing here that pops out for me.

Highlights: august / invisible string / the 1 / cardigan / mirrorball

Album Rating: 6.5/10

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Whitney point @ the exile shade i hate it

[Jake.]

Whitney point @ the exile shade i hate it

Honestly it’s like Elton’s verse in Sine, makes my skin crawl

[DouglasS]

Like imagine this as the tracklist

The 1
Cardigan
Last great american dynasty
My tears ricochet
Mirrorball
Seven
August
This is me trying
Invisible string
Betty

Wouldn’t that be stunning girls?
Get rid of my tears ricochet and add mad woman and illicit affairs

The worst two tracks for me are epiphany and my tears richochet

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Honestly it’s like Elton’s verse in Sine, makes my skin crawl

https://i.imgur.com/SxgcUYi.gif

[Smithy]

It took me a few listens to get on board with this album, the first time the only tracks that stood out to me were the one, Betty and epiphany. It’s definitely a grower and it’s definitely not easy listening music as all the songs sound very similar. Generally I don’t think the acclaim the album is getting is deserved, I think a lot of the time surprise releases are over acclaimed because everyone is on the hype bandwagon. That being said it’s still a decent album, I think if you cut two or three of the tracks it’d be a lot better as an hour + for an album is a tad too long imo.

I’d like to see how much some of the songs would have changed had they stuck to the original November release date, perhaps some would be a bit more uptempo as opposed to the very sombre feeling throughout. I’d give it 7.5/10

[Shaun]

Alright then, after nine reviews, Taylor Swift ends up with a TiBB score of 69! Nice.

We move on, now, to Grimes. 'Miss Anthropocene' was released back in February of this year, and is Grimes' fifth studio album. It's a comfortable little 44 minutes compared to some of the slogs we've had to endure on here so far, and so we have a week to gather our thoughts on an album we may already have some on :pipe2: I'll edit the Spotify link for this album into the OP.

As always, late reviews for any of the previous albums are welcome and will affect the scores.

[Ammi]

...bump for me because I completely forgot ...sorry Shaun, I’m just starting to listen now with my first track...anyway, bumpity bump people, while I’m here...

[Ammi]

...oh gosh this is really quite gorgeous...that’s my review...:laugh:..

[Ammi]

...this really isn’t a one time listen to album...(...I guess albums in general aren’t ...)...and I have only listened to it in full, one time...I have though, listened to a few tracks in more of a loop, several times...I’m not even sure how much I like the album...:laugh:...but it’s totally absorbing, totally encompassing and mesmerising...similar to Slow Rush, it’s an album that takes you on a journey or that would accompany you on a journey...not so much a road trip, though...a space trip or a trip looking at the earth from afar...it’s like a siren beckoning you to a mystical place...there is so much about this album that reminds me of David Bowie in his earlier albums...


...I shall score 9.2/10, even though I don’t like messy numbers...it just has to be more than a 9 but never a 10....


...standout tracks in no particular order....Delete Forever, Violence, Darkseid, My Name is Dark, We Appreciate Power and So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth...

[Shaun]

I've created a decimal monster :worry:

I listened to this a long time ago and whilst I can't quite recall every thought I had on it, here's some basics... I got the deluxe so had the remixed tracks too, and I think I prefer the standard edition versions of IDORU, My Name is Dark and So Heavy... but I preferred the remixed version of Violence.

There's only really one track I don't keep coming back to and that is 'Before the Fever'. All of the others have a lot about them that keeps me interested. My favourites are definitely 'Violence (Club Mix)', 'Delete Forever', 'IDORU' and '4AEM'.

I was fearful because heading into this album she had the whole messy Azealia Banks drama, and married a delusional psychopath... but thankfully it doesn't seem to have impacted the music.

I'm gonna give it a strong 9.

[Tom4784]

I don't think it's as strong as her last album but I'm very fond of it. I've gone back to it a lot and listened to it in full frequently when usually, I'll pick my favourites from most albums and usually stick to them.

9/10

[Daniel.]

I think this is one of her strongest to date as it's shorter and thus no track really feels like filler..it's a busy album that has a lot going on which is something I like, plus whilst the concept is a bit confusing, it's an interesting one. This album has the ethereal feeling the greats like Kate Bush and Bjork where you feel you're completely in another universe for the duration of the album.

Favourites: So Heavy I Fell Through The Earth, 4AEM, New Gods, My Name Is Dark

9/10

[Samm]

FAVOURITE ALBUM THIS YEAR :love: everything about this project I enjoy, the whole climate change / alien theme of it all. (her last album before she leaves earth : worry: ) I would say grimes is the most interesting artist of this generation. She’s stepped up her game with every release for me. It’s hard to find a signature track for me but 4AEM stands out, IDORU and Delete Forever are beautiful. Darkseid is phenomenal, love New Gods as well.

10/10 for our queen and her little baby anti-christ

[Shaun]

5 reviews so far, deadline is tonight! :spin2:

[Jake.]

Miss Anthropocene Review

I’ve never really listened to Grimes properly before so I jumped in not really knowing what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised! Violence was easily the standout track for me and whilst I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to some of them again, none of the album was awful or unlistenable. I loved the sound she’s gone for, definitely unlike anything else out at the moment. I‘m also glad that it only stands at 10 tracks, it doesn’t wear out its welcome. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect by any means, but it’s extremely solid.

Highlights: Violence, So Heavy I Fell Through The Earth (Art Mix), 4AEM, My Name Is Dark (Art Mix)

Album Rating: 7.5/10

[Shaun]

well then... after six reviews, Grimes storms into the TiBB leaderboard with a phenomenal aggregate score of 90. That's going to take some beating :omgno:

Week 11, as promised, is going to be spent revisiting the February release of La Roux's third album, "Supervision". It's her first in six years, so be nice or she'll piss off again! The album link will be crammed into the OP. Happy listening x

[Ammi]

...I only just realised yesterday that you put the album links in the OP....oooop....

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Can somebody do a leaderboard thing with all the reviews so far i cba i’m fat

[Ammi]

....so...ladies and gentleman of the class of 2020, Listen to an Album...if I could offer you only one tip for the future, discovering an album would be it....the long term benefits ...etc, etc....I’m realising how much I’ve missed out for a long time by not listening to full albums in the way that I’m doing now...it’s a bit like having a story out of context, just little excerpts and highlights, type thing....Jake introduced me to La Roux a long while ago but I hadn’t really properly listened to her quite the same as this....only 8 tracks though, is that right...did I play the whole album...?...it was actually quite delicious with lots of layers of cake for ya eardrum...it’s hard with only 8 tracks to pick standouts because each one is most definitely as electro and as funky as the last...but I’ll say 21st Century, Do You Feel and Gullible Fool are very memorable and very playable/repeatable....


....ughhhh, I seem to be stuck in a messy number groove....I’d say a very strong and very likeable 7.8/10....

[Ammi]

Can somebody do a leaderboard thing with all the reviews so far i cba i’m fat

...is this what you mean..?...(..you’re not fat though..)...


Grimes - Miss Anthropocene — Score: 90
Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure? — Score: 87
Lady Gaga - Chromatica — Score: 83
Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters — Score: 82
Soccer Mommy - Color Theory — Score: 79
Haim - Women In Music Pt. III — Score: 74
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush — Score: 71
Taylor Swift - folklore — Score: 69
The Weeknd - After Hours — Score: 68
The 1975 - Notes on a Conditional Form - Score: 53

[Ammi]

...they’re in order from the top, Scott...(...yes it was necessary to put Fiona at 4th because that’s where she placed...)...

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

...they’re in order from the top, Scott...(...yes it was necessary to put Fiona at 4th because that’s where she placed...)...

https://media1.tenor.com/images/db736b3f2ba19a88f417b897029e743f/tenor.gif?itemid=17529533

[Ammi]

...gosh is it Monday already...that’s almost a full review week gone by etc...

[Shaun]

7.8 seems a very fair score Ammi but I feel nice today so I'll round mine up to 8 for Supervision. That might be a spot too generous... I'm not sure this is a record that'll endure with me but it's still enjoyable from start to finish. I've always held La Roux at arms length though... perhaps too burnt and scorned from the annoying screams of "In for the Kill" all the way back in 2009 now :think:

I definitely think it pales in comparison to 2014's album... but it's still decent. Favourite tracks were Automatic Driver, International Woman of Leisure and Do You Feel. I thought that the end of the album kinda burned out, though... Otherside and Gullible Fool were both pretty uninteresting....

In fact you know what, I'm taking this down to a 7.5 :hmph: Try harder, Ellie

[Jake.]

Supervision Review

La Roux’s third album was long overdue. Her previous effort was (rightfully) acclaimed so you would have thought she would have been eager to put out a new record sooner but then, she did have a lot to live up to.

Is Supervision better than Trouble In Paradise? Probably not, no. Nothing here quite lives up to Uptight Downtown and the latter felt a bit more cohesive / better placed together. Having said that, Do You Feel is excellent, Automatic Driver is a sad but great slice of synthpop and International Women of Leisure is infectious. He Rides is a personal favourite of mine - I’m not sure what it is, I just love the composition. Everything I Live For/Otherside are both fine but they demonstrate my main issue with the album, that being the length of some of the tracks. Whilst it works on those I’ve mentioned previously, with these two it feels a bit unnecessary. She could have easily skimmed off a minute from a few of these and added another track or something.

That all being said, it’s an extremely enjoyable album and although it isn’t without its faults, Ellie adds some great tracks to her already impressive catalogue.

Highlights: Do You Feel, Automatic Driver, He Rides, International Woman of Leisure, 21st Century

Album Rating: 8.3/10

[Tom4784]

La Roux

I think it's a solid album of what I've come to expect from La Roux. It doesn't really push the boat out or do anything completely jawdropping but it has enough good bops to keep it interesting enough although it's not on the same level as the second album. I don't think it's an album I would look to listen to often but it's not one with many tracks I'd skip if they popped up on Shuffle either.

7/10

[Shaun]

Hmm, after four reviews La Roux end up on a sensible 77.

I'll let someone else pick the new album because there's nothing exceptional in today's new releases, and I've earmarked next week's for Dua Lipa since the remix album is released then (we'll just be doing the original though girls x)

Dean, you pick :oh:

[Shaun]

Right, Dezzy's messaged me on my phone to suggest this week's album, and it's the fifth from Perfume Genius. 'Set My Heart On Fire Immediately' was released back in May and picked up a ton of rave reviews, sitting prettily at 91 on Metacritic at time of writing.

[Ammi]

...oh....no Phoebe Bridgers, then...it was going to be Punisher next...

[Ammi]

...ignore me, Shaun...ignore me, Dezzy...I’ve just listened to my first track of the album chosen....and I’ll save my Phoebe Bridgers tantrum for when you both deserve it...

[Ammi]

...I really wish with some of these albums that I was familiar with previous albums so I can compare to those as well...but I just can’t give the time to listen to more than the one album we’re reviewing, so it always feels almost out of context...anyway, this album feels as though there have been ‘coming of age’ albums before it and this is an ‘arrival’ album..it feels filled with wish and desire and want and love and lust, in quite an intimate way..?..quite a personal way...?....there are some beautiful songs and he is undoubtedly talented and his vocal range is gorgeous....but I somehow am not sure that I’ll listen to many, if any...of these album tracks again...they’re just something that I didn’t personally connect to...one of the tracks and I can’t recall which one...I think it might have been One More Try...actually sounded quite Elvis Presley-like...:laugh:..

...some of the stand out tracks include...Whole Life, Describe, Jason and On the Floor...(...but most tracks are incredibly standout, only a few are less memorable...)...

...I’ll go straight in with a rating and say...Set My Heart on Fire Immediately...8/10...

[Shaun]

...ignore me, Shaun...ignore me, Dezzy...I’ve just listened to my first track of the album chosen....and I’ll save my Phoebe Bridgers tantrum for when you both deserve it...

I'd forgotten you suggested her, tbh, I am a fickle little farmhand and I offer my apologies

[Ammi]

https://media1.tenor.com/images/db736b3f2ba19a88f417b897029e743f/tenor.gif?itemid=17529533

[Ammi]

...:laugh:..

[Tom4784]

Perfume Genius

It's a really excellent album that's mostly all highlights with very few lowlights. Most of the tracks are highly listenable and I just don't really have anything bad to say about it aside from nitpicking and saying that it's got a very typical Perfume Genius sound to it and it doesn't really go anywhere his others albums don't but that's a weak criticism when the album is as good as it is.

10/10

[Jake.]

(Have listened a few times and will submit my review tomorrow)

[Shaun]

I only just listened to this today but jesus christ what a walloper :love: I've loved PG since his debut, and he's one of the very, very few acts I've been to see live... he's always mastered the lyrics, and assembled some aching music before, but this might be his best yet. I'd always considered "Put Your Back N 2 It" (his second album) his opus but I may have to reconsider. This has a distinctly more 70s sound; dramatic drums, vaguely psychedelic guitarwork and slotting in somewhere between the Carpenters, Dusty Springfield and John Denver.

My favourites are 'Whole Life', 'Just a Touch', 'Jason' and 'Leave' but honestly there isn't a bad track. I thought Fiona would end 2020 without much competition for album of the year but... maybe we have to reevaluate that too! I give this a 9.5.

[Jake.]

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately Review

I’m glad that I decided to participate in this as it has given me the opportunity to listen to artists (and/or albums) I usually wouldn’t bother with, Perfume Genius being one of them. All in all, it’s pretty glorious. The rawness of the lyrics on display here is something to behold and there isn’t any real dips in quality between each track. It’s a very well produced, honest piece of art.

Highlights: On The Floor, Moonbend, Your Body Changes Everything

Album Rating: 8.8/10

[Shaun]

Right then, Perfume Genius ends up with a strong score of 91. Our next album is going to be "Punisher" by Phoebe Bridgers, since I got the date wrong for Dua Lipa's remixed album (which is now next week, apparently)

[Tom4784]

I'm gonna review this in a few days once I've had another listen to it, I liked it a lot when I heard it a few weeks back but I need to refresh my memory of it.

[Ammi]

...so I think that I’ll just score this album because, yeah, music reviews are not my thing...and I don’t know what to say about an album like this, about a talent like Phoebe’s and about her lyrics...from the very first deep incision into your heart and into your soul of Garden Song to the very last incredible crescendo of I Know the End...it’s just a journey of beauty, of such depth and of incredible lyrics...:lovedup:...

...so I guess for a review, I’ll just quote a few lyrics...because they make no review words necessary..and for me, they’re one of the reasons that have made Phoebe, one of the most exciting music artists I’ve felt for a long time...In her career, The End is most definitely not near, it’s beautifully and perfectly continuing a very long journey that I hope to travel with her...

And when I grow up
I'm gonna look up from my phone and see my life
And it's gonna be just like
My recurring dream...


Took a tour to see the stars
But they weren't out tonight
So I wished hard on a Chinese satellite...


We hate Tears in Heaven
But it's sad that his baby died
And we fought about John Lennon
Until I cried
And then went to bed upset...


So she picks a direction, it's ninety to Memphis
Turns up the music so thought don't intrude
Predictably winds up thinking of Elvis
And wonders if he believed songs could come true...


Somewhere in Germany but I can't place it
Man, I hate this part of Texas
Close my eyes, fantasize
Three clicks and I'm home...


....three clicks is all it took from the first moment of Punisher...three clicks for her to get to the very core of your soul...

..Punisher..10/10...

[Ammi]

...oh highlights, yeah...all of them, every track...

[Shaun]

:omgno: Nathan might propose for that 10

[MB.]

8.5, mainly because she got into a very casual Twitter feud the other week with Eric Clapton

1294251965430497281

(also because I really like the album, especially Kyoto and ICU, even if it's really predictable that my two favourite songs on the album are the two most upbeat ones)

[Tom4784]

Phoebe Bridgers

It's a consistently strong album with a sound that's rarely adventurous but still great in it's own way. Most of my complaints are ones that I have for a lot of the other albums we've done. Some songs overstay their welcome, and I wish there was more variety in her sound. That being said, the album is pretty great and most of my complaints are just nitpicking tbh.

9/10

[Shaun]

I'm going to start to feel burned out from this soon because Punisher is clearly another and makes it a three horse race for album of the year (burned out because it is almost certain that nothing we listen to for the rest of the year will match up to 3 we've already tackled, now)... but who knows?

Highlights were I Know the End, Savior Complex, Kyoto, Halloween and Graceland Too... but it's just excellent from start to finish.

This puts Punisher at a big fat [b]93 and we can now move onto Dua Lipa.

[Ammi]

...the power and force of outstanding music and albums is just too much for Ms Coronaville....:love:...kick her COVID ass off the dance floor...

[Tom4784]

Dua Lipa

It's a great album that really grew on me since release, there's few songs I dislike and a lot of songs that I listen to to a lot. What i like most about this album is that there's more a sense of individuality in this album then there was for her first which I found to be quite generic, competent, but generic. This is the album where she's really coming into her own as an artist, I think.

9/10

[Ammi]

...apologies it’s taken so long, I‘ve just listened to the whole of Future Nostalgia this morning while I was doing morning stuff...hmmmm, I guess it’s a bit like Taylor Swift in that I haven’t listened to that much Dua, other than chart stuff...and obviously I’ve seen her award performances etc, which were all pretty fabulous...but not a whole album as such, in this way...I was already familiar with some of the tracks because that’s the thing with such a popular artist, isn’t it...?...we become familiar very quickly because of how much played, songs can be...anyways, some I hadn’t heard before so I’m just going to walk on by the more familiar...(...but still fabulous...)...ones and give a mention to Break My Heart, Hallucinate, Love Again and Cool...actually they’re all just jolly, jolly good and Future Nostalgia is a jolly, jolly good album...and I think in the future of music when music is being reflected on with nostalgia...?....Dua Lipa will be very much who is thought of...because she’s not just a ‘now’ artist and an artist of the moment....she’s a fabulously talented young lady....I was a bit not sure with a rating because I think that I said 8 for Jessie and What’s Your Pleasure...so I was having a Play Your Albums Right, moment....and should it be higher than or lower than an 8...?...I still don’t know actually but I’m going to say a gorgeous 8.5 for the holy heck of it...


...Future Nostalgia...8.5/10...

[Nicky91]

Future Nostalgia

special bits of wow for me personally: Break my Heart, Don't Start Now, Physical, Cool

am gonna say it again, Dua makes this retro sound feel fresh again


luv the INXS influence in Break my Heart especially (my dad got me into INXS music, i enjoy that music too a lot)

downside i do not enjoy the remixes so far that much


9.0/10

[Jake.]

Future Nostalgia Review

Dua’s second release improved on her first in nearly every way. The sound she’s found here is so much more distinctive and polished and the amount she’s grown in one album is definitely evident. The only song I don’t rush back to is Boys Will Be Boys, just because it feels a bit out of place. I do feel that FN is maybe missing that ‘killer app’ track.. but wait, Hallucinate exists so ignore me. Also Good In Bed is an absolute bop and I wish there were a few more included along the same kinda line tbh!

Highlights: Hallucinate, Good In Bed, Don’t Start Now, Pretty Please

Album Rating: 8.6/10

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Kelly lee owens inner song next

[Shaun]

not when you don't partake, sweetie!

[Shaun]

welp if Dua can only get 4 reviews including my own, maybe this is dead </3

Mine: I'd give it an 8. I think the release of the club album kinda dampened my excitement over the whole project for me, because that was just a lot of silly noise. The original album is still very good, though, and full of some great songs... to be honest I'm still not 100% sold on 'Don't Start Now', I think it's missing something :shrug: Physical, Break Your Heart, Hallucinate and Love Again are all excellent though.

Those four scores round Dua to a score of 85.

The next album... I don't think there are any in the queue any more so I think I'll just select one myself. I suppose Katy Perry's album is a "big release" (even though it isn't 2010-14 any more) so we'll jump into that :spin2:

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Just **** rina then i guess

[Jake.]

Smile Review

Eh, it’s fine. Katy’s played it completely safe and the end result is something more on the side of Prism rather than Witness. Never Really Over is an anthem and I thought it meant that we were on to better things, but unfortunately that isn’t the case. Teenage Dream feels light years away from this and I doubt we’ll ever get an album from Katy of that quality again. When the first three tracks on the album are the best, you know you’re in trouble.

Highlights: Never Really Over, Cry About It Later, Teary Eyes

Album Rating: 5.5/10

[Ammi]

..apologies, Shaun...I hadn’t realised that a new album had gone up../...I’ll try to listen either later today or tomorrow, if that okay....from the tracks I’ve listened to so far, I would say that Moses Sumney/Grae and Waxahatchee/Saint Cloud are worth a visit as well...?....

[Jake.]

Declan McKenna’s new album is out now too :pipe:

[Ammi]

Declan McKenna’s new album is out now too :pipe:

...well then..:pipe:...

[Tom4784]

Katy Perry

https://www.zeitgeistworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/gia-560x314.jpg

NRO and Daisies are cute enough but the rest of the album is just bland and dull. It's just lazy and tired and most of the songs sound like rejects from her bigger albums. I did not care for this album at all and I think it's easily the worst one I've heard so far this year.

2/10

[Jake.]

Welp, and I thought that my middle of the road rating was harsh

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

What’s next girls

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Cocteau twins heaven or las vegas

[Ammi]

...oh gosh, I forgot to post but I did listen to it yesterday...so this is just the quickest review and if it doesn’t count as such then I understand and that fine...the album for me just all felt kind of hollow...although its quite an easy listen.../..(Sooty’s Easy Listening thread...:lovedup:...)...but just no heart, no soul, no depth etc....it felt like opening a really prettily wrapped gift but the box was empty...


...anyways, no particularly memorable songs../..apologies, Katy...


...Smile...a prettily wrapped 6.5/10...

[Shaun]

scott in all seriousness pls **** off with suggestions when you cba submitting reviews

Smile review:
I've only listened to it once but I was very underwhelmed. The only highlights aside from 'Never Really Over' (which really is one of her best singles) were 'Cry About it Later', 'What Makes a Woman' and the other singles... but none of them really strike me as anything I'll choose to put on even in a shuffling playlist. Too many tracks just flounder and ooze vapid femininity that doesn't even mean anything to anyone but herself; it feels very much like a shallow Hollywood 'I've had a baby now I'm a real woman' statement.

Worst tracks for me were Resilient, Tucked and Not the End of the World... those three were enough to drag my overall score for this album down to a 4.

[Shaun]

Right, Katy ends up with a 45. This week's album can be Declan McKenna since that seems to be on course to get #1... I don't know anything about ha though :worry:

[Shaun]

nvm i just realised I already put Purity Ring in the OP oops

[Ammi]

...Declan McKenna now or....

[Daniel.]

MARILYN MANSON has a new one

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

MARILYN MANSON has a new one

Nobody is interested bitch

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

I have to say i was slightly disappointed by WOMB when it released but i think that’s because i was hoping for something on par with shrines which was fantastic. It definitely isn’t on par with shrines but it’s still pretty great. My absolute fav track is i like the devil because the rest of the album sounds quite similar but this stands out amongst the rest and is one of my fav tracks of the year. Stardust is another highlight and i think they definitely played us a bit releasing that as the lead single because there’s nothing else on the album (apart from i like the devil) as strong as it. As a whole though it’s still quite lovely and i’ll pick femia to round off my top 3. I think all of the other tracks are weaker than my chosen 3 but it’s still a cute listen. 7/10

[Shaun]

...Declan McKenna now or....

purity ring sry! declan can wait until next week!

[Ammi]

...with this album, I don’t really know what to say because Scott pretty much has already said it all, already..there didn’t feel like any ‘build up or intro, type thing/song...and no fade out, either or a huge track to represent any type of ‘coming of age’...it was just there and that’s fine because it was very, very pretty in places ...but it just stayed there and stayed one one level, type thing ...and not in any cohesion type way ...the ‘promise’ that didn’t quite get there..?..I don’t know, maybe I’ve missed something because I only gave it one listen and maybe it’s just not a one listen/type album...Meghan does deserve more than one listen, I think, so I will revisit it at some time in the up and coming..but for me with that one listen of the here and now, it had a feeling of being less of an album with tracks gelling together etc in their journey...of more an extended single or something...

...anyways, highlights...?...eeeek, that’s the thing with just floating at the same pace and time etc...they all melted into each other, leaving less room for any to stand out...but I Like the Devil also for me...Pink Lightening and Femia are quite pretty...and Stardew has a nice intro....so...

I don’t know with the rating because it has to be more than Smile...so I’ll say...

....WOMB...7.5/10...

[Ammi]

...how weird...on YouTube, I was playing Zeros/Declan/full album etc, because obviously the next track just runs through next on its own so playing the full album is the best way...but two of the tracks..Beautiful Faces and The Key to Life on Earth wouldn’t play because they came up ‘video blocked in this Country’...?...but if I individually search those two tracks, the videos play okay...why is that, Shaun...?...

[Jake.]

...how weird...on YouTube, I was playing Zeros/Declan/full album etc, because obviously the next track just runs through next on its own so playing the full album is the best way...but two of the tracks..Beautiful Faces and The Key to Life on Earth wouldn’t play because they came up ‘video blocked in this Country’...?...but if I individually search those two tracks, the videos play okay...why is that, Shaun...?...

That’s very strange :think:

They’re probably the two best tracks from the album too lol

[LemonJam]

Pink lightning and peacefall are both *chefs kiss* and have been on my everyday playlist for a few months now, but the rest of the album I agree is just fine. The production is stellar but a couple of tracks are a bit ho hum. I'll give WOMB a 6.7

[Ammi]

That’s very strange :think:

They’re probably the two best tracks from the album too lol

..yeah it was strange, Jake because I could get the vid for each track by individually typing them in...

...I don’t know if you can see that in this link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQc0fjrUomE&list=PLfiMjLyNWxeYMtwETLz3MQ1wZ3TpjtTci&index=4

[Jake.]

..yeah it was strange, Jake because I could get the vid for each track by individually typing them in...

...I don’t know if you can see that in this link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQc0fjrUomE&list=PLfiMjLyNWxeYMtwETLz3MQ1wZ3TpjtTci&index=4

Yeah, it showed the same thing for me too :think:

[Ammi]

Yeah, it showed the same thing for me too :think:

https://media.giphy.com/media/Yiw4aLjpxldhC/giphy.gif
https://media.giphy.com/media/3o7bu0mcp3ibhm0mvC/giphy.gif

[Shaun]

I ended up giving Purity Ring a rather generous 7... I think pretty much all of my sentiments have been stated in here so I won't bother echoing them. I loved both of their previous albums but this was very unsatisfying... actually if it's not satisfied me then I should push it down to a 6. It's fine but I'll forget it quickly.

This gives 'WOMB' a score of 68.

And we move on, now, to Declan McKenna or whatever his name is x

[Ammi]

...I listened to Zeros a week or so ago ...but I’ll listen again in the next few days to refresh etc....because the music round in the quiz and listening to 7589465867423 different tracks since Zeros has fuzzed it all a little...

[Ammi]

...I’ve listened to Zeros twice and it’s an album I’ll probably listen to some more as well and dip in and out of, because it is a good album...I hadn’t heard of Declan McKenna before, so hadn’t heard any of his tracks ever, I don’t think..I read, though, that his greatest influences are David Bowie and the Beatles...and I think both of those influences shine through quite a bit in Zeros...which is lovely, but some tracks felt a little ‘too influenced’...too much Bowie and/or Beatles and not enough Declan McKenna...so only a tiny criticism of a balance not quite right on a few tracks, I though...because he himself in his own music as an influence, has to be the ‘most notable and outstanding feature’ of any track on his album, surely...


...anyway, a lovely listen and so many good tracks....Stand outs would be for me...Rapture, The Key to Life on Earth, Daniel You’re Still a Child, Beautiful Faces, You Better Believe...those are all I can recall atm but there are probably more.../...they’re all mostly pretty lovely...:love:..


...Zeros...a Bowie inspired 7.5/10...

[Nicky91]

who in earth is Declan McKenna :conf:

[AnnieK]

Radio X has been championing Declan for a while.

[Tom4784]

Declan McKenna

I utterly despised this. It was bland, derivative of better artists and the lyrics are just hideous. In one song, from the sounds of it, he mispronounced 'Nature' in order to rhyme it with 'Thatcher' and I physically cringed. He also likes to talk about Nike trainers a lot in different songs which shows a lack of versatile imagery in his music. The album as a whole sounds like he desperately wants to turn back time to the mid-late 00's Indie craze but he comes across as an Alex Turner tribute act with little in the way of personality or a sound of his own.

I'm going to give it a 1/10 and I'm loathe to give this waste of an album even that.

[LemonJam]

Album starts with You Better Believe which is a pretty unremarkable start to be honest sounding like any up and coming indie rock artist in the last 10 years. Be an Astronaut makes up for it with stellar songwriting. The Key to Life on Earth is a good catchy cooldown. Beautiful Faces is very catchy but feels like an homage to Arctic Monkeys. Daniel, You're Still a Child is pretty decent, but Emily feels like a much needed break from the heavily guitar based instrumentation. Twice Your Size is fine, Rapture shows off McKennas songwriting chops very well with one of the catchiest choruses on the album. Sagittarius A* has a more engaging play with dynamics and use of synths over the course of the album but as a song it didn't engage for me. Eventually Darling has plenty of interesting ideas but I don't feel any were developed fully.

The space theme is certainly there even if the references to it aren't particularly inventive. Declan clearly has talent as a songwriter and each song is fairly distinct, but I'd love to see him broaden his instrumentation further for his future releases. My biggest gripe with this album is how his influences are painfully obvious the album almost sounds like a tribute to Bowie, Queen and Elton John.

Giving this album 7.3

[Jake.]

Bye @ 1/10 :skull:

Will review tomorrow

[Morgan.]

I’m a huge fan of Declan McKenna, and although I much preferred his debut (What Do You Think About the Car?), Zero’s was still a nice follow up. He’s only young so I can see how his influences have almost taken over his own work but regardless of that I found it an enjoyable album and I think he will definitely be one to watch in the music scene. The standard of British Music in 2020 isn’t exactly sky high, so I find Declan’s presence refreshing and seeing his growth has been nice.

It’s no surprise that the singles are the stars of the show - The Key to Life on Earth, Beautiful Faces and Daniel, You’re Still a Child are huge standouts to me and have been on repeat over the last few weeks. I see this album at a comfortable 8.5, none of the songs make me want to switch off but I wouldn’t say I’m excited about absolutely everything there. The album, however, is definitely a grower and it took me about 5 spins to fully appreciate it, you have to be in the right mood and headspace to take it in properly.

I’m (assuming Covid allows) seeing him live in April so I’m really interested in seeing how this album translates to a live production as I can’t say I’ve seen too many of his live performances, bar the off TV chat show guest slot.

[Jake.]

Zeros Review

Declan’s first album contained some great tracks but felt a bit underdeveloped. Zeros feels far more polished with a bit of a more “grown-up” production. The Key To Life On Earth, Beautiful Faces & Daniel You’re Still A Child are all well made pieces of indie pop and set the bar for the album, so it’s a bit of a shame that there’s a slight dip in quality afterwards.Nevertheless, it’s still a pretty great album and makes for easy listening.

Highlights: The Key To Life On Earth, Beautiful Faces, Daniel You’re Still A Child, You Better Believe!!!

Album Rating: 8.2/10

[Shaun]

An imminent second lockdown to see the numbers for this soar back to its April/May heights? :fc:

My biggest gripe with this album is how his influences are painfully obvious the album almost sounds like a tribute to Bowie, Queen and Elton John.

I was just listening to 'Beautiful Faces' and trying to place what it reminds me of, and it's probably a good blend of the three you name. I'm enjoying the record somewhat, but would agree the instrumentation at times isn't particularly innovative or challenging. It's kinda 'glam rock fast food'y.

'Daniel, You're Still a Child' shows promise though; it has a slightly Tame Impala sheen and the production isn't as paint-by-numbers as some of the tracks that precede it. I didn't really know what to make of 'Emily', it felt a little all over the place and I kinda liked that about it? Similarly liked 'Sagittarius A*' a lot.

I think overall I'd give the album a 7.8

[Shaun]

After six reviews, Declan McKenna ends up with a score of 67. Which is pretty decent given someone can't review fairly :oh:

Our next album - "Ungodly Hour" by Chloe x Halle - is being edited into the OP soon. Which is annoying because today marks the release of new albums by Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes and Idles :(

[Tom4784]

I can't help the fact that I thought the album was irredeemable ****, Shaun!

[Ammi]

...I do see Dezzy’s review as well...some of the songs were too ‘influenced’, so it made it difficult to feel the artist in what he brought to his music...poor Dezzy, he wasn’t here for karaoke night...

[Ammi]

...digging a hole, digging a hole...

[Ammi]

...maybe Shaun, try choosing better albums if you want better reviews...did you ever think of that...

[Ammi]

...:laugh:..

[Gstar]

Our next album - "Ungodly Hour" by Chloe x Halle - is being edited into the OP soon. Which is annoying because today marks the release of new albums by Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes and Idles :(

Better late than never

[Ross.]

Katy Perry

https://www.zeitgeistworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/gia-560x314.jpg

NRO and Daisies are cute enough but the rest of the album is just bland and dull. It's just lazy and tired and most of the songs sound like rejects from her bigger albums. I did not care for this album at all and I think it's easily the worst one I've heard so far this year.

2/10

Katy was SCALPED

[Shaun]

Just listening to Ungodly Hour now. I am liking it but I'm not slain.

Forgive Me and Ungodly Hour are both fantastic - I especially liked the noticeable but not OBVIOUS production by Disclosure on the latter - but some of the others meander along a little too monotonously... 'Lonely' in particular left me feeling rather bored. But there are other moments that really are intoxicating: 'Don't Make It Harder On Me' is like a slice of 1990s feelgood R&B that is just gorgeous from start to finish, and I really enjoyed the change of tone between that and 'Wonder What She Thinks of Me', this weird siesta moment that hovers between spanish guitars and full blown strings. It's probably the best showcase of their vocals, too.

I'm a little confused by 'Do It' being their best-performing single - it's nice but nowhere near their best - but I guess the radio is all about repetitive, minimalist production lately. I think overall I'd give the record a 8.3. It's on the verge of being great but there're still a few duds holding them back.

[MB.]

My brain is mush today and I can't string a sentence together, but 9!

[Tom4784]

Katy was SCALPED

Katy to thank god for Declan McKenna's existence?

[Tom4784]

Chloe X Halle

I have to admit, I felt a bit wrong footed by this album, the opening and Forgive Me has kind of this epic, almost classical feel to it and I was hoping that kind of sound would be more present throughout the album as such a mix is something I rarely hear in RnB music but it's not and it feels quite derivative because they aren't doing anything all that special outside of Forgive Me and Ungodly Hour. The rest of the album passed me by like background music really, pleasant enough but nothing that demands your attention or time.

It's not bad but it doesn't excite me. It's just a decent middle of the road album, really. Not bad, not great, just purely middling.

5/10

[Gstar]

Ungodly Hour is my favourite album of 2020 so far. I like the unique sound to their music along with the heavenly vocals and innovative arrangements.

My favourites are Tipsy, Ungodly Hour, Lonely and ROYL. Could of easily picked more but just narrowed it down to four. Special shoutout to “Do It” (of course)

I love how they’ve really blown up this year and hope they’ll continue to bless us with more music as time goes on. I will give this a 9/10 :love:

[Shaun]

With 4 reviews, Chloe x Halle end up with a score of 78.

I think we're long past queued suggestions now so I'll just jump in with a new release for a change. This week's album will be Roisin Murphy's "Roisin Machine". For anyone unfamiliar with her, you might recognise her as the vocalist from Moloko ("The Time is Now", "Sing it Back") at the turn of the century. She's done solo stuff for yonks now and this is her first album since 2016 (and her fifth overall). It's been getting pretty universal acclaim so let's test it in the TiBB waters :spin2:

[Ammi]

...I give Roisin a 10/10....well okay, I’ll listen to it if you insist..you’re such a pedantic...

[Tom4784]

Scott to actually post a review for this one?

[Ammi]

Scott to actually post a review for this one?

...not A review, Dezzy...THE review...he’s been perching his whole life...

[Shaun]

I've penciled in Kiesza for next week's album because it's a very short one (only 9 tracks) and there aren't really any crazy-big releases next week (unless fans of Future Islands and Dizzee Rascal want to convince me otherwise).

If anyone wants to choose albums for the week after and following that, October 16 sees new releases from Annie, Astrid S, beabadobee and Katie Melua, whilst October 23 sees new releases from Gorillaz, Bruce Springsteen, Major Lazer and Nothing But Thieves.

Obviously if anyone has any suggestions they can ignore those releases and just choose something else from this year... off the top of my head we still need to get around to reviewing Rina Sawayama, Kesha, Charli XCX and Ava Max (of the "big" 2020 pop releases)

[Ammi]

.... Beabadoobee...is it Fake It Flowers...?...I would love...

[Shaun]

it's a date! *cackles bc my guerrilla marketing of her has worked on Ammi's wall*

[Ammi]

..you’re so sneaky but I like it...don’t you think though that you’re the boss of the powers of persuasion because I was listening to her at that time as well..I’d had a Beabadoobee day before that wall post became even a twinkle in your sneaky eyes...

[LaLaLand]

Too late to vote for Roisin? If not, solid 10/10.

Best “disco revival” material we’ve seen lately (seems to be a new trend with Dua, Jessie Ware, Katy Perry, Kylie’s upcoming album etc). I thought Ware had aced it but this just tops her for me I have to say, only slightly.

I think I love the fact that it’s not just “disco themed” it’s like more “vintage club” and could be an album straight out of any year between the late 70’s and mid-80’s. It doesn’t feel forced or contrived or anything, just raw throwback to underground clubs and I love it.

Elements of pure disco, bit of glam on there, post-disco, new wave hints, early electronica, the lot. Awesome!

[Ammi]

...I’ve listened to it all of the way through this morning and I still don’t know what I would rate it as...it’s a great disco album, I mean it can’t really be faulted with that...but hmmmmmmm, for some reason it’s not gelling and connecting with me in a way that What’s Your Pleasure did...I can’t really highlight any tracks specifically atm ...they’re all great but there isn’t any distinction between them either../...any individuality of personality between them...they should seamlessly flow but they should also be individual stand outs at the same time...I’ll think on it for a while and have some more listens if I have time...

[Tom4784]

Roisin

I really liked this and how it felt like one cohesive piece going through different movements. The sound was retro with modern sensibilities and most of the tracks are incredibly easy to listen to and get lost in. My only real complaints are that some songs outstay their welcome and that I think you need to listen to all the songs together to get the full effect, it's not really an album I can see myself saying, 'Oh, I'm in the mood to listen to Incapable!' I'll listen to the whole damn thing and enjoy it but that means that it's not an album I can listen to in full very often, because who's got time for that in today's world?

8/10

[Shaun]

I've given it a first listen and omg... what a revelation :love: I've always viewed Roisin with a little bit of a shrug in the past; she's done some epic stuff but I'd never really embraced an album of hers before (I liked Overpowered but I was a teenager at the time).

The only song really holding me back from loving this fully is 'Game Changer', it sort of takes the tempo and the steam out of the whole machine (pun intended). 'We Got Together', 'Simulation', 'Narcissus', 'Incapable' and 'Murphy's Law' are all excellent, and more than enough to keep me occupied and bopping.

I know the disco sound is being dabbled with by various popstars at the moment, but this is a slice of it that feels authentic and being done by someone who fully loves the genre rather than aiming to make a quick buck (eyes at BTS, Dua Lipa and The Weeknd)

And now 'Jealousy's just come on and blown my wig off. **** it... this is another 9/10... maybe a 9.5... but I'll stick with 9 for now.

[Shaun]

3 and a half reviews so far (just need a score from Ammi), but it closes tomorrow.

[Ammi]

...sorry, I’ll go 8/10 for Roisin/Machine, Shaun...it is an outstanding disco album but it lacks some heart and soul to be bordering ‘perfection’ for me...I also think that it’s when we listen to albums for the first times as well and if we’re in the vibe for them...so maybe more me than Roisin and I just wasn’t with her yet..?...that’s why I wanted to listen more times but I still didn’t quite get there but every track is stunning, well most tracks anyway...it did feel like one extended single/totally seamless but with no distinguishing...so yeah, 8/10 for the moment...

[Shaun]

Roisin Machine ends up with a score of 88. We move on, now, to Kiesza :spin2:

[Ammi]

...I’ve just started to listen now...so around a year ago she had a serious car accident.../...serious injuries ...and now she’s produced this album..?...wow, I didn’t know that, she’s not someone I’ve really listened to much and I’m not always up with celebrity news stories etc...but so very glad that she’s recovered as she has...:love:..

[Tom4784]

Kiesza

I never really listened to her before but I thought the album was perfectly listenable. I liked the 80s/90s inspired big sound and I don't really think there's any awful songs on the album, all of which I'd probably be happy to listen to if they popped up on shuffle BUT I do think the album has some issues. The first of which is a lack of variety, the first half of the album sounds like the same song with slight changes, none of them are bad but it is rather noticeable how repetitive the album can be. The second issue is that I think this could be an album I'd either forget about in a few days time, or I would completely hate it. It's a very disposable kind of music, one with a shelf life, which isn't a bad thing but it's not great. Thirdly, I just think there's not much to the album, it's fun, it's catchy and it is what it is and I enjoy it for what it is but there's not much substance here.

All that being said, I did like the album but I can't realistically give it more than a (very good, mind) 6/10.

[Ammi]

...I’ve just listened to the album for the second time...I wasn’t sure the first time because it did feel a little ‘background’ ...although perfectly good tracks as well...I read about her accident, I hadn’t known that ...and her brain injuries.../...such a life changing thing and I understand life changing and I understand ‘rebuilding’ as well because if we’ve had life changing from who we were then who are we at all...and that’s such an emotional journey of highs and lows ....Run Renegade is such a great opener/highlight...and then All of the Feelings and ughhhhh, I felt every one and it made me cry...Crave, Can’t Be Saved...all excellent songs and When Boys Cry...:lovedup:...

...I didn’t know much of her before but life changing and she’s come back with such a strong album, pretty incredible......Crave...I’m going to say a glorious 7.9/10..

[Shaun]

welp I haven't actually listened to Kiesza yet but it's time for a new week. I'll get around to reviewing it ASAP and work out a score for 'Crave' when I do, but for now I'll edit the new album into the OP!

[Shaun]

Really impressed with this Kiesza record. The only thing holding it back is its length; it's all over in just half an hour. 'Run Renegade' is hella catchy, and then follows immediately with the triumphant 'All of the Feelings' (which is honestly the pop song of the year, sorry Dua/Gaga). Second single 'Crave' is also pretty great, channeling a little bit of Belinda Carlisle / insert other 80s icon here, and something I'll keep in heavy rotation.

Most tracks, in spite of their obvious filler role, serve up a strong dose of sugar and it's satisfying. 'Love Me With Your Lie' is probably my favourite of the rest - it stands out with a weird, witchy house vibe. Some are a little too muted and uninteresting experiments though; 'When Boys Cry' isn't really doing anything for me, and 'Love Never Dies' feels like the sort of ballad that Albania might send to Eurovision and finish in 16th place with.

I think, all in all, a score of 8 might be too high... so Ammi's probably nailed it with a 7.9 because the highlights are deserving of 10s across the board :hee:

Our three reviews give Kiesza a score of 73.

[Tom4784]

Beabedoobee

I thought the album was likable enough in itself but nothing really stood out about it to me. There's nothing on the album I'd skip but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to, either. It also suffers from being a bit indistinct, I've heard so many artists with this exact sound that she doesn't really stand out all that much.

I can't really rate it too low so it's not a bad album but it's not one that excites me either.

6/10

[Shaun]

Hmm... we're now at the stage where it's a struggle to get even 3 reviews on time :laugh: so I think it might be time to call it a day on this thing (and I won't accept the excuse that it's because of obscure albums, even Dua Bloody Lipa only managed 4 reviews :oh:)

For what it's worth, I'd give 'Fake it Flowers' a solid 8. It loses traction towards the end but I enjoyed enough of it to give it some repeated listens.

[Ammi]

...ughhhh apologies, Shaun...I did listen to it, I was just hoping to have another listen and didn’t realise how long I’d taken....with one listen...?...I would say 7.5...it was very good but slightly disappointing to what I’d hoped, it was one that I’d been quite excited about...it is an overall good album though and I feel thats a great score...

...Fake it Flowers...7.5...

[Ammi]

...I agree, it does need repeated listens, which I will do...I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet...

[Ammi]

...on the whole, all of the albums have been excellent choices so I guess that it’s waiting for that WOW one again to shake us up a bit...and that’s a difficult ask when they are all so good...

[Shaun]

Forgot to update the OP oops. I think this might have run out of steam but here's a semi-major pop release this week. I know it's a bit late but I've always accepted late reviews for albums, you could even submit one for Album #1 if you wanted.

[Ammi]

...so I’ve given Heaven & Hell/Ava Max, one listen...I could wait to give it another one, which is what I prefer when I’m not entirely sure enough to rate or I could be brutal and just dive right in there...I’m actually going to go for the dive right in there, just because I don’t know if I’ll get another chance and I don’t want you to think, Shaun...that I’m just not bothering etc...anyways, that’s the first time I’ve listened to her...I’m sure we had a music question in the pub quiz that was Ava and I had thought it was GaGa..(...forgive me, Smithy...because I can see now that they don’t look alike...but one that one little still pic...)...anyways, just nothing memorable about the album and nothing particularly stand out...so sorry, Ava...you’re lovely...and a 6.5/10 is not too shabby at all...

[Ammi]

...gosh, if I rated Lady GaGa and she wasn’t a complete 10/10, the pressure...the Twitter war that Smithy would be waging....the stress, the anxiety, the panic attacks etc...

[Ammi]

...I might have a listen tomorrow though, I think I will...

[Ammi]

...so Chromatica...I’m not going to give much of a review as such because I’m so the late comer and just about everything has been said already...a music world without GaGa would be unimaginable....she’s such a goddess and brings so much depth to her music...:lovedup:..

...standouts for me are Rain on Me, 911, Enigma and Replay....I would say a totally worth while catch up listen of 8.8/10...:love:..

[Shaun]

I'll try and work out the new score for that later on :p

For Ava Max... I've been pretty vocal about not understanding the appeal with her this year (and last; I was mortified to discover it's already been almost two years since the release of 'Sweet But Psycho'), and I was going into this album somewhat open minded. There are some strong highlights; I love the most recent single 'Naked', the production is crystal clear and full of pop excellence. The gothic melodrama of 'Born to the Night' is also relatively fun, and evocative of this campy, Cascada-does-Halloween vibe that also resurfaces on 'Belladonna' (which, if you can get past the facade that seems purpose-built for Tiktok kids to insert into their clips of putting on skeletal makeup, is also fun). Earlier single 'Torn' is probably her best; a catchy vocal and a melody that borders a little close to ABBA's "Gimme Gimme Gimme" (or Madonna's "Hung Up", if you prefer).

But for every highlight there's a single like 'OMG What's Happening' or 'So Am I'; the former is a mundane listen, alluding to a vague lover-spurned story that lazily tries to inject personality with a spoken middle part, whilst the latter is just... grating. Repeating the same line over and over again can sometimes work (just ask 2017 Carly Rae Jepsen) but it needs a melody or a backing to pack the punch in lieu of clever wordplay, and this is lacking in both.

There are other moments that just can't disguise their filler roles; 'Call Me Tonight' underwhelms in every sense, whilst the padding out of the album to match the title's thematics results in a completely pointless show from 'H.E.A.V.E.N.' and 'Take You To Hell' (the latter shows promise with a Stranger Thingsesque intro, but then just turns into something Sia might slap together for a crappy animated movie).

A lot of the production and writing that goes into 'Heaven & Hell' is some impressive billing... for 2011. Chief producer 'Cirkut' was responsible for hits including Kesha's Die Young and C'Mon, Katy Perry's Roar and Part of Me, and Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball. If you search further down his list of contributions, you begin to get to the struggling careers and forgettable 'hits' of the likes of Iggy Azalea, Fergie and Jennifer Lopez. And so, we're left with Ava Max. Last decade's sound... today. I give this a 5.

[Tom4784]

Ava Max

This is an album with a sound too recent to be considered retro yet too dated to be relevant. Everything about this album feels like it's fallen out of a time capsule buried in 2009 and sometimes it works, but often, it simply doesn't. A lot of the songs are bland and uninspired and some of them are painful to listen to simply because Ava Max tries to present herself as this crazy out there person when she's as basic and milquetoast as it gets. Like, her album is called Heaven & Hell and the cover is literally her in a blonde and red wig to represent the two afterlifes and it's just... really?

It also doesn't help that a lot of songs sound the same, whether that's sonically or lyrically. There's the occasional song that I wouldn't skip if I heard it again but for the most part, it's all pretty bland, and at worst, grating and cringey.

I'm gonna give it a 3/10 because there's a few listenable songs but everything else is a complete and utter abortion of taste and execution.

[Shaun]

Before we fall any further behind from last week with waiting for any straggling Ava Max scores, I'll open up the new album week for probably the year's biggest release. It'll soon be edited into the OP.

[Ammi]

...I don’t think that Ariana’s full album is on YouTube yet, Shaun...it’s not coming up for me...

[Shaun]

Hmm... is Spotify not possible for you? I'm not sure how long it'd be until that whole thing is up on YouTube. Did you give Ava Max a go, perchance? Edit: oh you did! Way before Dean and I! Oops!

[Shaun]

The YouTube playlist for positions is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MogWz-LHXI&list=PLojpqoibx6qK9iM1ZSn0aaJuhOnfss7eq

I'll try and embed it but idk how to with playlists.

Edit: nah you can't post a whole playlist in one preview here.

[Ammi]

Hmm... is Spotify not possible for you? I'm not sure how long it'd be until that whole thing is up on YouTube. Did you give Ava Max a go, perchance? Edit: oh you did! Way before Dean and I! Oops!

...no worries, I was totally dazzled by Dezzy’s review as well...:laugh:../.. milquetoast...

[Ammi]

...I think that I’ve listened to the whole album...all I’ve really heard with Positions is ‘disappointing’../...type criticism...these songs are ‘lockdown’ songs...?...written when she was locked away with her guy and in a place of huge contentment...?...I can’t imagine that she’s ever been in a position to have spent that kind of time with a love in her life before because of her busy work/lifestyle etc...so I think the title ‘Positions’ and the position she’s felt in her life, really fitting...no pain, no angst, no heartache, no breakup etc...just happiness and contentment and in love, is what I feel...

....although there aren’t for me any huge standout tracks, there are some really delightful and pretty ones...I think the main colab I like is with Doja ...Motive, I think it was...Love Language and My Hair are really lovely...:love:...and I do like the last track, POV....I was thinking of an 8/10 because I do think it’s a good album and I don’t feel disappointed in her sharing the position she’s in, in her life and love etc and how she felt that during lockdown and writing it, just enjoying her guy...but I know I’ll listen to probably every track again....and then again...and again...so goddamnit, this is Ariana and Ariana deserves a 9/10 so that’s how it is...Positions 9/10...

[Tom4784]

I listened to it earlier but I think I'm gonna give it another listen over the next few days to get my thoughts together.

[Babayaro.]

Hi if u review Moral Panic can I join in?

[Tom4784]

Ariana

This is an album that should have been an EP, at best. The highs are high and the lows are boring and indistinct. There's some tracks (most noticeably 34+35) that feel like they've taken the bones of far better songs from Thank U, Next and Sweetener and have just repurposed them into songs that are just lacking.

On the plus side though, most of the features are pretty great, Doja and Weeknd's offerings are particular highlights, but most of the songs where it's just Ariana alone are just lacking in anything unique or of substance. Ghostin and Imagine were two songs I really loved from her last album and I was hoping she'd explore those sounds and themes more but instead we just got some bangers mixed in with a lot of filler. Less is more, Ariana.

It's not a complete wash of an album though, as I said, there's a number of bangers and a few more that I wouldn't mind listening to again but the other half of the album is just production line disposable trash.

For the high points alone, I'm gonna give it a 6/10 but that's a low, barely passable 6. I hope she takes a year or two off so she can actually serve something a bit more fully realised than this album.

[Shaun]

normally I would be annoyed by the complete lack of votes for one of the year's biggest pop releases, but I completely understand that this has been some week (Halloween, Bonfire night, start of lockdown, the very public exorcism of that vicious orange prick) and therefore I'll take a slightly different approach and extend Ariana's go until Thursday, making her the first (and hopefully only) fortnighter.

[Ammi]

...this is Ariana and an Ariana album is such a moment in time, it really does deserve some moments of our time to acknowledge it...

[Shaun]

Finally finished it and - as is the case with the past 3 years - I'm once again left frustrated. I just don't understand the hype behind her at the moment. It's just payola :shrug:

There are some good moments: "pov", "love language", "safety net" and "motive" are the chief four. All of them play with different styles and influences, and introduce interesting instrumentals into the mix... the problem is they've just been incredibly diluted by the samey, tired dreamy R&B that pollutes the rest of the album.

"shut up" and "six thirty" are my two least favourites; the former is just a directionless string of harmonies with absolutely nothing else going on, whilst the latter is perhaps the most boring song I've heard all year.

I'm just... losing patience with her at the moment. In fact, I'm fairly sure it's all gone; 'Sweetener' was pretty bland, 'thank u next' was worse. This one... I think I prefer it to TUN but not by much.

I'm giving this a 5.5

[Shaun]

I gather I am supposed to be under the impression that only 3 members have heard Ariana Grande's album and have an opinion on it. Alright then! (this is the death knell, btw, cba if nobody can be bothered to just type in a bloody score for an album they're already listening to)

[Ammi]

...:sad:...I’ve loved this...:love:...your music reviews have always been such a treat, Shaun...and when Dezzy dislikes an album, his dragging to filth is just everything, also...:love:..

...I’m listening to PJ Harvey/Is This Desire atm but then will to listen to Little Mix/Confetti and Kylie/Disco anyway...because you’ve inspired me to listen to whole albums again as a daily thing and I don’t want to lose that again...it’s the only way to properly feel the artist...thank you..:lovedup:...

[Ammi]

...I love Disco/Kylie album so much...:lovedup:...it’s the sprinkling of joy that we needed in 2020...