Shania Twain - "Now"

[.indulgecountry]

The comeback album 15-years-in-the-making from Shania Twain has arrived:

[Deleted]

I'm beginning my full listen to the album now
So far:
Swingin With My Eyes Closed <3
Poor Me <3
Life's About To Get Good <3

And now to listen to the rest

[codyj100]

Oh this is going to be so hard for me to rank. I love everything about this album. I’ll post more later. “I’m Alright” and “Where Do You Think You’re Going” are my top two favorites.

[recordyear]

HDD predicts this to debut at #1 all genre with 100k+

[recordyear]

Pitchfork reviewed this album and gave a 6.6.
pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/shania-twain-now/

[codyj100]

Here’s a review I wrote of the album earlier today. I figured I’d post it here, too.

For an artist who has not released a full-length album in 15 years, it must be incredibly hard to re-acclimate to the industry. That's what one would usually think, right? This is not the case here. Now, is a beautifully personal and polished record with more than a little vulnerability. This is not Twain 15 years ago, nor should it be.

As everyone does, artists evolve their craft. In this case, Twain had no choice but to move on from her past if she wanted to continue making music. Mutt Lange is no longer in the picture, that part of the picture fell away almost a decade ago. Then, came the rehabilitation process with her voice after the dysphonia diagnosis as a result of Lyme Disease. These things are trying on a person without fame, but then you add Twain's level of fame, and the pressure almost seems insurmountable. It's a story many have wanted to hear in the form of a song for many years coming.

Thankfully, writing the album alone while also having four producers aboard gave Twain the chance to tell her story her way - with four different approaches. Those pieces that fell apart years ago, they are coming back together. Twain's voice is in top form, especially considering all that has happened. On the strikingly beautiful, "Where Do You Think You're Going," Twain gives a vocal performance that may just be one of the best of her entire career. The lyrics are mature. Sure, the previous three albums, had fun, optimistic lyrics. However, there is growth in Twain's songwriting. The clever hook line of the heartbreaking mid-tempo, "Poor Me," shows it all. "Poor me this, poor me that...pour me another." "Because Of You" brings Twan into her country element, and here, she sings about love with her new husband. The rollercoaster of emotions fledged between heartbreak and love is not all that this album has to offer. Fans can hear Twain with all of her uptempo rock-edge on the banger, "Roll Me On The River." While, fans of her earlier country material can find peace with the optimistic "Home Now." Laced with violins and a beat that truly brings the song into contemporary country standards, "Home Now," is a shinning moment where Twain has found common ground following the aftermath of everything that has transpired in the last 15 years.

If you were interested in the heavy productions of Mutt Lange, be warned, you won't find much, if any of that on, Now. What you will find is an artist who was often cast aside as Mutt Lange's prodigy, come into an artist spotlight all her own - accompanied by just as much sonic flexibility (if not more) than was heard during the Lange era.

Now wasn't released with any time constraints, Twain's most loyal fans can attest to that. The album feels as though each detail was clearly thought out. The result of all of this: a well-mounted 16 song comeback album.

My favorites (other than my top three, they change all the time).

1. “I’m Alright”
2. “Where Do You Think You’re Going”
3. “Because Of You”
4. “Home Now”
5. “Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed”
6. “We Got Something They Don’t”
7. “Who’s Gonna Be Your Girl”
8. “Soldier”
9. “Let’s Kiss And Make Up”
10. “All In All”
11. “Roll Me On The River”
12. “You Can’t Buy Love”
13. “Poor Me”
14. “Life’s About To Get Good”
15. “More Fun”
16. “Light Of My Life”

[recordyear]

Early HDD prediction: 121-132k SPS, 120-130k album

[justin5545]

Sept 30, 2017 22:10:26 GMT -5 recordyear said:

Early HDD prediction: 121-132k SPS, 120-130k album

I expected high numbers since you get a copy if you buy a ticket for her tour next year.

[thy4568]

I am listening to Shania's new album now -- am I the only one to say, this is her worst album to date. I mean after 15 years, we get this? None of the songs really jump out. The lyrics of "Swinging" doesn't even cohere and they are trite (can I say that?). I mean I am disappointed by it.

[countryfan15]

Oct 2, 2017 5:07:59 GMT -5 thy4568 said:

I am listening to Shania's new album now -- am I the only one to say, this is her worst album to date. I mean after 15 years, we get this? None of the songs really jump out. The lyrics of "Swinging" doesn't even cohere and they are trite (can I say that?). I mean I am disappointed by it.

Nope I completely agree with you. I couldn't even finish listening to it all the way through. It doesn't even attempt to be country but that's not saying much after her last album. And it was just bland and some of the songs just sounded like lyrics that are poorly written. I was disappointed with this too seeing as I like her music.

[James]

I wanted to love the album and I really feel for her but it seems she took a bit of a stubborn approach to it. I listened to her Facebook Live interview and she was adamant about having a producer that would not interfere with her writing. I think had she collaborated with producers and done some co-writing, she could have had a good project. There are a few decent songs - for some reason Let's Kiss and Make Up keeps sticking in my mind. A friend of mine was spot on when he said everything is sung like a sad song - even the songs that should be upbeat. More Fun is an awful song in my opinion - the music and the vocals are downers! The two singles are alright - but what an embarrassing product to release from a superstar. You know Mutt has listened to the album, I wonder what his thoughts are!

I would love to see a project like Garth is getting ready to release come from Shania too. Would love more insight as to how her collaborations with Mutt worked. She's certainly an assertive person, so I genuinely believe she was hands on with the songs - I suspect she probably delivered basic phrases and ideas and he helped develop them. At least it seems that's how it worked with Any Man of Mine based on the leak of her song This Man of Mine (which, btw, does anyone know how that song leaked? and how no other demos have leaked?)

I noticed the new album has very few ad libs and "mmmm's" (don't know if there's a technical term for that). I guess maybe Mutt pushed for all of that. How did she do Vegas with all of the vocal problems while releasing this album with pretty rough vocals? I don't think she's a terrible vocalist and I got the sense she was restraining herself on some songs. Don't know if that's due to lack of being comfortable with the producers, then again, she did fine with Harold and Norro on her first album.

It's sort of sad to hear her talk about how the writing is therapy for her because the writing is the biggest problem on the album. Production is fine, although I definitely preferred Mutt's style - particularly when it came to background vocals - but the songs just lack interesting melodies.

[thy4568]

There's no shame in getting songs from other writers. This is why Tim McGraw, Reba, and George Strait had such lengthy careers. They don't rely on their own pen. Even Kenny Chesney gets outside songs for almost every album. So, I don't understand why Shania wants to be in so much control of her own writing. And there's no shame in co-writing either. I think most of the songs lack lyrical depths. And while her earlier material were stellar catchy, these new songs sound so dull. A big contrast. Hope Mutt isn't laughing and singing, "I told you so."

[lyrichord]

Oct 2, 2017 8:34:31 GMT -5 James said:

I wanted to love the album and I really feel for her but it seems she took a bit of a stubborn approach to it. I listened to her Facebook Live interview and she was adamant about having a producer that would not interfere with her writing. I think had she collaborated with producers and done some co-writing, she could have had a good project. There are a few decent songs - for some reason Let's Kiss and Make Up keeps sticking in my mind. A friend of mine was spot on when he said everything is sung like a sad song - even the songs that should be upbeat. More Fun is an awful song in my opinion - the music and the vocals are downers!

This. I couldn't understand why a song about fun could sound like such a dirge. The old Shania had such a joie de vivre in her vocal performances and these new songs are just flat in comparison. Obviously she's been through a lot and the weariness shows. I liked "Swinging" and "Poor Me" of the pre-release tracks so I had some hopes but the rest of the album doesn't appeal to me much. Maybe "Soldier" could be released to country radio, it seems to have a relatively higher amount of streams and downloads compared to the other tracks that weren't previously released.

[codyj100]

Oct 3, 2017 1:44:05 GMT -5 thy4568 said:

There's no shame in getting songs from other writers. This is why Tim McGraw, Reba, and George Strait had such lengthy careers. They don't rely on their own pen. Even Kenny Chesney gets outside songs for almost every album. So, I don't understand why Shania wants to be in so much control of her own writing. And there's no shame in co-writing either. I think most of the songs lack lyrical depths. And while her earlier material were stellar catchy, these new songs sound so dull. A big contrast. Hope Mutt isn't laughing and singing, "I told you so."

For this project, she was determined to write alone, to prove to herself that she could do it - regardless of response. She recently said in an interview that for the next album (which she is already five songs into) she will definitely have co-writers. But, this time it needed to be a solo venture.

[someguy]

I've listened to this album quite a lot since Friday, and I really do like it. I think it's one of those albums that gets better and better the more you listen to it. I don't like it as much as The Woman In Me or Come On Over, but I think it was a little unrealistic to expect anything like that again. Considering how long she's been away, and all that she has been through vocally and personally, I'm actually quite pleasantly surprised by how good this album is. The sales are fantastic as well - she's going to easily open at #1, more than doubling new albums from pop stars less than half her age.

Right now, I would rank it like this:

1. All In All
2. Swingin' With My Eyes Closed
3. Home Now
4. Poor Me
5. Who's Gonna Be Your Girl
6. We've Got Something They Don't
7. Life's About To Get Good
8. Because Of You
9. Roll Me On The River
10. You Can't Buy Love
11. Let's Kiss And Make Up
12. I'm Alright
13. Where Do You Think You're Going
14. Soldier
15. Light Of My Life
16. More Fun

[renee75]

I was going to ask why you had 16 songs while I only had 13, then I realized there's a deluxe version! :)

Anyway -- I'm sort of opposite of many of you. I think the songwriting is good. Catchy melodies, good lyrics -- the odd cliche here and there, but no more than usual for an album, and lots of strong words and phrases in there with them. It's a little overproduced sometimes, but that doesn't surprise me from Shania.

I feel like a rotten person for saying this, knowing what her voice has been through and that it's a miracle she's singing at all, but her vocals are the weak point to me. I understand why she's in a lower register, and I don't mind that, but there's a croakiness sometimes that grates on me a little. Not always -- she doesn't have it much on "Home Now" and a few others, which is one reason why "Home Now" is probably my favorite or at least one of my favorites. (Also because it's just a good song!) Maybe that's just part of her sound now, and not her fault.

But I do like this album, and I have the most enormous respect for her for coming back and doing this after so long, and when so many had given up on her. You go Shania! :))

[.indulgecountry]

I'm gonna have to listen to this a lot more to discern all my favorites, but I think "Poor Me" might be my favorite, or at least very high up there. The lyrical hook to that one is so clever and hits pretty hard, as codyj100 pointed out above, and I think her vocals on the "poor, poor me" are just chillingly good to me for some reason.

I do miss her old style and this album is very different from her past work, but I do find myself enjoying this album quite a bit.

[codyj100]

The album just hit #1 officially in the UK this morning and was verified Platinum in Canada on Tuesday (4 days after release).

[onebuffalo]

#1 country, #1 top 200 album with 134,000 sold. Congratulations, Shania Twain!

[Deleted]

I will give the album this. I like the lyrics and the writing is solid.

My problem with this album is I find the production pretty horrid while I also don't care for Shania Twain's vocals on this album (I understand she went through something with her voice but that doesn't mean she's immune from criticism for her voice, at least in my eyes to say the least).

I am glad that she's recording music and good for her. But this huge Comeback just kinda feels a little underwhelming to me in terms of enjoying her music like I used to.

[gardyfan]

Oct 1, 2017 10:05:34 GMT -5 justin5545 said:

Sept 30, 2017 22:10:26 GMT -5 recordyear said:

Early HDD prediction: 121-132k SPS, 120-130k album

I expected high numbers since you get a copy if you buy a ticket for her tour next year.

If they ever ship it.  >:(  

[.indulgecountry]

The more I listen to it, the better it gets. Really the only songs that aren't totally clicking for me are "More Fun" and "I'm Alright." There's something about "I'm Alright" that's keeping me from getting into it, though it has elements I do enjoy. "More Fun" is the one head-scratcher for me on the album because the verses are fine, but as others have stated, that chorus is a total dirge. It sounds so out of place and discordant with the rest of the song. It's truly the black sheep of the record because of that chorus.

The first two singles are great, uplifting tempo tracks. "Home Now" has excellent country production. "Poor Me" is still one of my favorites because the vocals, production, and lyrics are all wonderfully done. It's probably the closest thing to a masterpiece on the record for me. I can't get it out of my head. "Where do You Think You're Going" sounds like a grandiose James Bond-style theme song. "Roll Me on the River" has a great production job on it and it's pretty catchy. "Soldier" is just a beautiful song. Her voice sounds elegant on it as well. <3

[codyj100]

Oct 9, 2017 23:28:12 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

"Soldier" is just a beautiful song. Her voice sounds elegant on it as well. <3

Interesting fact with that song: The song was initially written with her parents in mind and her struggle to find peace in the fact they are gone. It took me a few listens to realize that in the verses it was like a conversation between Shania and her Mom/Dad. Verse 1 (Shania's perspective): "I need to say out loud that you'll be home soon, not to worry...you're gonna hurry back." Second verse (Shania's parents' perspective): "You're not alone when you dream, I'm with you." 

In one of the interviews leading up to the album release, Shania said that in the end it just became a song about the brave and the fact that you never know when you'll see you're loved ones again. 

In other words, absolutely crushing to listen to as a listener. 

[.indulgecountry]

Oct 10, 2017 22:57:20 GMT -5 codyj100 said:

Oct 9, 2017 23:28:12 GMT -5 .indulgecountry said:

"Soldier" is just a beautiful song. Her voice sounds elegant on it as well. <3

Interesting fact with that song: The song was initially written with her parents in mind and her struggle to find peace in the fact they are gone. It took me a few listens to realize that in the verses it was like a conversation between Shania and her Mom/Dad. Verse 1 (Shania's perspective): "I need to say out loud that you'll be home soon, not to worry...you're gonna hurry back." Second verse (Shania's parents' perspective): "You're not alone when you dream, I'm with you." 

In one of the interviews leading up to the album release, Shania said that in the end it just became a song about the brave and the fact that you never know when you'll see you're loved ones again. 

In other words, absolutely crushing to listen to as a listener. 

Man, I had no idea. And here I thought it was a beautiful song even without that context.