Active Aggressive
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Post by Active Aggressive on Oct 6, 2017 5:21:11 GMT -5
Timbaland did the closer (Pray) and...it's aight.
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Wavey✨️
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Post by Wavey✨️ on Oct 6, 2017 6:21:56 GMT -5
He lost mad weight. The cover looks raw and creepy. I like it, very different from his debut cover.
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Oct 6, 2017 6:48:44 GMT -5
Not big on the shot they picked AT ALL, he just looks kind of... lost and confused. I don't think it's nearly as disastrous as people are saying though, but maybe that's because Maroon 5 recently released that horrific cover and I'm still in shock. And hmmmmmmm at the title, Sam Smith and the word "thrill" eh? We'll see!
"Pray" is another just okay track to me. He needs more lush/dynamic production, PERIOD.
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Post by adamalterlago on Oct 6, 2017 10:04:25 GMT -5
Everything is not good so far.
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Linnethia Monique
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Post by Linnethia Monique on Oct 6, 2017 15:44:30 GMT -5
I expected much more from Timbaland, Jimmy Napes, and Sam Smith on Pray. The production needed to be way more dynamic and it ends up sounding like another place-over from his last album. I'm blaming Jimmy Napes for this sh!t because he seems to be the one pushing the direction of the album into the same soundscape as his last album.
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14887fan
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Post by 14887fan on Oct 6, 2017 19:12:25 GMT -5
That album cover. He's really trying to roll with those (off) "male Adele" comparisons this time around, isn't he?
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dbhmr
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>
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Post by dbhmr on Oct 6, 2017 19:17:23 GMT -5
I'm actually torn about the cover now. My first reaction was negative, like the rest, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder if that's just because we aren't used to a shot like this from male artists. I couldn't help but wonder if this had been Adele or Rihanna or some other female pop star, if we wouldn't be praising it for its effectively minimalist design, its striking monochromatic color palette, the clarity and rawness of the photograph. But then I think the expression on his face is kinda dumb-looking and the album title seems aggressively sarcastic.
It's very...disarming. On the fence.
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Kurt
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Post by Kurt on Oct 6, 2017 19:18:37 GMT -5
That facial expression makes the title The Thrill Of It All sound so sarcastic and depressing. lol.
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Dammn Baby
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Post by Dammn Baby on Oct 6, 2017 20:28:03 GMT -5
Is that cover photograph and title supposed to be one big meta exercise in ironic juxtaposition or is he really that dense?
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Linnethia Monique
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Post by Linnethia Monique on Oct 6, 2017 20:37:10 GMT -5
Is that cover photograph and title supposed to be one big meta exercise in ironic juxtaposition or is he really that dense? There is not an iota of thrill in his expression.
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toomuchboy
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Post by toomuchboy on Oct 6, 2017 21:34:17 GMT -5
The cover is fine. The title is fine. I'm just glad we have a release date now. "TGwG" has me more excited for this album than any other being released this Fall. I really didn't expect that with Kelly, Taylor, etc. dropping around the same time.
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Caviar
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Post by Caviar on Oct 6, 2017 21:38:25 GMT -5
Love the cover. Can't wait for the album! "pray" is cute.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2017 22:13:09 GMT -5
I like the cover..embracing his odd look. The detail in that photo is pretty...epic imo.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2017 23:39:15 GMT -5
I'm actually torn about the cover now. My first reaction was negative, like the rest, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder if that's just because we aren't used to a shot like this from male artists. I couldn't help but wonder if this had been Adele or Rihanna or some other female pop star, if we wouldn't be praising it for its effectively minimalist design, its striking monochromatic color palette, the clarity and rawness of the photograph. But then I think the expression on his face is kinda dumb-looking and the album title seems aggressively sarcastic. It's very...disarming. On the fence. It's not the style of the photo; it's the photo itself. It's just a terribly unattractive picture of him, which I think maybe a lot of us are hesitant to say for the same reasons we'd be ready to jump down someone's throat if they tried to come for one our female faves with such a vain statement. Sam is hardly about to lose any sales over this one bad photo though (and let's be honest a woman would likely be judged to oblivion and sell less if she used a similarly unattractive photo) so *shrug* I just hope the album has something more uptempo than TGAG. I can't even shade TGAG anymore though b/c it took two weeks of hearing it on the radio to realize that even Sam's standard dullness is like a strong cup of coffee compared to huge amount of guitar driven softpop we've been getting from male singers lately.
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Post by Heart Shaped Box on Oct 6, 2017 23:50:56 GMT -5
Let’s be real... Sam is as gay as it comes..... and we don’t post pictures until they’ve gone through a few repeats and multiple filters.
So, I appreciate him offering such an interesting personal photo. The vulnerability he so easily provides in his artistry makes me want to invest in what he has to say.
These two new songs are definitely solidifying his brand, but I agree that I wanna hear some versatility.
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🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾
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Post by 🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 on Oct 7, 2017 0:07:17 GMT -5
Sam on the album cover looks like he has done too much PnP and he needs to stop.
He looks hungry too. I feel like tying him to a chair and force-feeding him a turkey avocado and fresh mozzarella sandwich on pumpernickel bread.
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Dammn Baby
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Post by Dammn Baby on Oct 7, 2017 7:32:26 GMT -5
It's hard to believe he's 25 after seeing that shot. He looks strung out and hungry.
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toomuchboy
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Post by toomuchboy on Oct 8, 2017 0:24:28 GMT -5
I thought he did well on SNL. He looked much better in the outfit he wore during the "Pray" performance. Hearing "Pray" for the first time, that's 2 for 2 so far with me.
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Active Aggressive
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Post by Active Aggressive on Oct 8, 2017 15:16:00 GMT -5
Did he always sing with a lisp?? Also, he sounded TERRIBLE live on SNL.
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Post by Live Your Life on Oct 8, 2017 20:51:53 GMT -5
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Bigfatliar 3
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cool people call songs "joint" which is little inappropriate to me cuz i think of an elbow or someth
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Post by Bigfatliar 3 on Oct 11, 2017 15:55:27 GMT -5
preview:
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14887fan
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Post by 14887fan on Oct 11, 2017 16:05:53 GMT -5
Literally everything in there sounded like it came from a funeral.
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Post by Heart Shaped Box on Oct 11, 2017 16:52:20 GMT -5
Like what I’m hearing. I’m still standing behind him lol
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#LisaRinna
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Post by #LisaRinna on Oct 14, 2017 6:13:22 GMT -5
It's hard to believe he's 25 after seeing that shot. He looks strung out and hungry.I'm SCREAMING! His weight loss actually reminds me of Jennifer Hudson's. She too did need to settle into her new weight, I remember her face looked weird at first especially around her mouth. But yeah this shot is dreadful. Just an all around mess between the artwork, album title and the material. Talk about a good SLEEP!
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Post by Heart Shaped Box on Oct 23, 2017 12:11:13 GMT -5
Well, I’m still bumping this up and staying positive and supportive. The first single did it’s job - so I hope he has some promo lined up.
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shrk314
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Post by shrk314 on Oct 23, 2017 15:58:25 GMT -5
What kinds of first week sales should we be expecting for this? I have no idea if it will move 100K or 400K.
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Active Aggressive
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Post by Active Aggressive on Oct 23, 2017 18:23:27 GMT -5
I am actually interested based on that video. If he is going to keep the tempo set to a light snooze, at least bring the soul and gospel singers to give it some oomph. I really hope he sings more in a lower register because that screech of his starts to grate after a while.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 18:26:42 GMT -5
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Post by Heart Shaped Box on Oct 23, 2017 18:53:17 GMT -5
Yes. Please continue to discuss your identity.
I love that he can be a musical artist representing sexual fluidity in the mainstream.
His message, his voice, is so important and necessary.
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Post by Live Your Life on Oct 23, 2017 21:08:07 GMT -5
Wow....
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