sbp17
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Post by sbp17 on Mar 24, 2009 12:55:48 GMT -5
Zazie, you can listen to just I'm Trying without listening to the rest of the cd by following the link above posted by singer262. Her vocals definitely aren't over-the-top and the arrangement is very sparse, just guitar I believe (with a bit of violin later in the song). To me, the sound even pre-dates Evolution and sounds like something that would come from her debut disc. I doubt I'll ever hear this album, but I'm interested in Martina's version of I'm Trying, which made me take a few deep breaths when I heard the D Rio and Chely version. I own that one, so I don't need another -- but I am interested in what makes Martina's version work, if you think it does. Does she avoid over-the-top vocals? Is the arrangement simple? What is she doing? Any sign would be welcome that Martina's range of performance still includes what she used to do so often. I haven't heard anything in the ballpark of Happy Girl in so long, not counting the Timeless venture. And I'm sure this counts (to some) as being a hateful post, but I'd be a Martina fan again if she just gave me a little sign.
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lyrichord
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Post by lyrichord on Mar 24, 2009 13:03:12 GMT -5
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realityBITES
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Post by realityBITES on Mar 24, 2009 13:08:20 GMT -5
I love Walk Away. It's definitely my favorite on this album.
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Mar 24, 2009 17:05:26 GMT -5
I'm actually very impressed with the album. After being disappointed with her last couple of releases, I have to say that this new album is quite good on first listen. It doesn't touch the quality of Evolution, but that's a once in a career album.
After a couple of listens, my initial favorites are her take on "I'm Trying" (better than the original, IMO), "Sunny Side Up", "Wild Rebel Rose" and "What Do I Have To Do", but I'm sure these will change with time. As of right now, I would rank this album third (behind Evolution and Wild Angels), but I'll see how time impacts that.
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Post by gallopinggold on Mar 24, 2009 21:21:39 GMT -5
what a nice surprise to be loving her new CD as much as do. I hoping "Ride" continues to move to be a Top 10 or Top 5 for Martina. Have to give it a few more listens to pick my favorites
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Post by zaclord on Mar 24, 2009 21:23:18 GMT -5
i kinda like this album. i have listened to a few songs a few times and i really like some of them. HUGE improvement from the last album. that was a disaster.
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lyrichord
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Post by lyrichord on Mar 24, 2009 23:22:22 GMT -5
I think this review from the Hartford Courant is pretty accurate, I bolded the lines I especially agree with:
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musicbuff78
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Post by musicbuff78 on Mar 25, 2009 16:52:34 GMT -5
I wonder if during these tough economic times if it cost too much to include lyrics?
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rsmatto
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Post by rsmatto on Mar 25, 2009 17:17:56 GMT -5
I wonder if during these tough economic times if it cost too much to include lyrics? Considering the impending death of CDs, the fact that there aren't lyrics was purely financial.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2009 19:53:18 GMT -5
The HITS One-Day Sales predictions are in. The following is the Country-related information. Geffen’s Papa Roach is up next at 45-50k, followed by RCA/ Sony Music Nashville’s Martina McBride at 40-45k. Universal Motown’s Blue October and Columbia’s Jim Jones are looking at between 35-40k, while Reprise metal gods Mastodon appear to have a total in the 30-35k range. Capitol Nashville’s Eric Church, E1’s Slim Thug, WB Nashville’s John Rich and Disney Pearl’s Yanni are all clustered in the 25-30k neighborhood. HITS
Martina's new cd might debut at # 1 on the Country albums chart. It all depends on how Taylor Swift's cd does. Right now, new cds by Eric Church and John Rich are said to debut behind Martina.
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kim8
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Post by kim8 on Mar 25, 2009 22:03:07 GMT -5
I am really liking Martina's CD so far. I've only listened to each song once, but I think this is much improved over Waking Up Laughing.
I am loving Wrong Baby Wrong. That might be my favorite. I think that would make a good single. It sounds very Sheryl Crowish in the beginning.
I like the softness of Lies. I wasn't a fan of Love Don't Cost a Dime on first listen. I think that was my least favorite so far.
For some reason, she reminds me of Faith Hill a lot on some of the songs. I guess it's her phrasing and way of getting out some of the notes, but it just struck me on some of the songs.
I also really like You're Not Leaving Me, although it feels a lot like When God Fearin Women Get the Blues, but I like the "countriness" of it. Kind of sounds like a sassy Trisha Yearwood song.
Listening to Sunny Side Up now--I definitely here the Sheryl Crow influence in that one, more than Wrong Baby Wrong. :)
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leilamaurizia
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Post by leilamaurizia on Mar 26, 2009 8:03:57 GMT -5
As points of reference, here are the first-week sales of her last 3 albums:
Waking Up Laughing (2007) - 144,000; #3 on BB200 Timeless (2006) - 185,000; #3 on BB200 Martina (2003) - 123,000; #7 on BB200
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Lee
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Post by Lee on Mar 26, 2009 8:31:06 GMT -5
I think that says says something about radio listeners connection with the single, "Ride".
For some reason I would still like to see "Ride" sneak into the Top 10 because I hate to see people fail, but she is going to have to bring better material.
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rsmatto
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Post by rsmatto on Mar 26, 2009 9:38:07 GMT -5
As points of reference, here are the first-week sales of her last 3 albums: Waking Up Laughing (2007) - 144,000; #3 on BB200 Timeless (2006) - 185,000; #3 on BB200 Martina (2003) - 123,000; #7 on BB200 You can't compare the sales #s because the music world has changed since then. While iTunes was around in 2006-2007, most country fans weren't using it and certainly weren't cherry-picking tracks to purchase.
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leilamaurizia
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Post by leilamaurizia on Mar 26, 2009 10:13:16 GMT -5
I hadn't compared or commented one way or another. I was just posting raw data. I had planned to do the same for all the major releases coming out this year because I personally find the trends interesting, whatever it may indicate or however it can be explained. Apparently, I should re-think doing that. Nevertheless, here is my comment. While I completely agree with you that the sales landscape has changed drastically, I wouldn't blame the massive difference between previous first-week sales to that of Shine completely on iTunes and/or other digital outlets which allow for cherry-picking of tracks. If we totally rely on that reasoning, then it should follow that the Shine tracks will show up on the iTunes country chart. However, that isn't the case. Right now, only "Ride" and "I Just Call You Mine" are currently charting. In fact, "Ride" has been available for download for months now and it hasn't even sold enough to prominently place in the sales charts. I did expect first-week sales to be down, primarily because of the recession and the over-all downward trend. However, a minus-100,000? That can't all be attributed to the usual slump. I'm going to stop there and not list possible theories because... seriously, I got scared by this: ...the hatred shown to her makes me wish your favorite singers were never born. Yikes! That's scary. Really crazy-scary. It should win an award. Since I don't gush-post, I guess I'm in the hatred column? Eep!
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rsmatto
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Post by rsmatto on Mar 26, 2009 10:16:53 GMT -5
I hadn't compared or commented one way or another. I was just posting raw data. I had planned to do the same for all the major releases coming out this year because I personally find the trends interesting, whatever it may indicate or however it can be explained. Apparently, I should re-think doing that. Nevertheless, here is my comment. While I completely agree with you that the sales landscape has changed drastically, I wouldn't blame the massive difference between previous first-week sales to that of Shine completely on iTunes and/or other digital outlets which allow for cherry-picking of tracks. If we totally rely on that reasoning, then it should follow that the Shine tracks will show up on the iTunes country chart. However, that isn't the case. Right now, only "Ride" and "I Just Call You Mine" are currently charting. In fact, "Ride" has been available for download for months now and it hasn't even sold enough to prominently place in the sales charts. I did expect first-week sales to be down, primarily because of the recession and the over-all downward trend. However, a minus-100,000? That can't all be attributed to the usual slump. Yes, the economy has a big impact on the album sales for an artist like Martina. Also, remember that the genre has quickly become a 'radio format' that allows for low, low, low sales, quite like CCM and AC formats. When music is targeted to 'adults,' particularly mothers, they don't/won't buy the music. If Martina's songs were appealing to the same audience as Taylor Swift, etc. she would certainly have bigger sales #s.
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Post by 43dudleyvillas on Mar 26, 2009 11:10:28 GMT -5
Generally speaking, my advice would be to ignore the crazy and let the Pulse staff handle it. ;) I did expect first-week sales to be down, primarily because of the recession and the over-all downward trend. However, a minus-100,000? That can't all be attributed to the usual slump. I agree with this. I was shocked when I saw the Martina projection. While I wasn't expecting first-week sales to match those of Waking Up Laughing, I figured that 75-90K was a reasonable bet because of Martina's core fanbase. Obviously not. Having said that, I do think Martina might have promoted Waking Up Laughing more aggressively up front, and "Anyway" was a bigger hit with better callout at the time of the album's release than "Ride" is at the time of Shine's release. While I agree with rsmatto that tweens and teens seem to be the demo most driving albums to #1 at the moment, I don't think that or the state of the market and economy fully accounts for the initial projection of 40-45K -- I have to think that this reflects at least somewhat on "Ride" and more generally, the excitement that this album and the direction of Martina's music are generating. Even if those factors did explain the initial projection, it seems to me that "Ride" is intended to appeal to the younger female demo. So what I'm wondering is whether the sales of Shine will ultimately be an indictment of how Martina and her team understand her audience. I do understand that it's way early to be drawing conclusions. Shine sales could very well trend up for the week, and it is quite possible that "Ride" and subsequent singles will sustain strong album sales. For example, despite the extent to which I loathe the song, I suspect that "I Just Call You Mine" will be chosen as a single and connect pretty well (it was the second song that Martina performed on the Today Show). I do hope it isn't next, though. If RCA Nashville is choosing between "I Just Call You Mine," "Wild Rebel Rose" and "Sunny Side Up" for the album's second single, I hope the label goes with "Sunny Side Up." Although the line about seeing the beautiful in a song she hears on the radio is irritating, I still think the song is a breezy charmer.
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leilamaurizia
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Post by leilamaurizia on Mar 27, 2009 11:12:24 GMT -5
Looks like Martina will debut at #1 on Country Albums. Here's HDD's updated forecast:
** Now 30 (UMe) 135-140k ** Hannah Montana: The Movie (Walt Disney) 125-130k ** Keri Hilson (Interscope) 80-85k Twilight (Chop Shop/Atlantic) 80-85k Kelly Clarkson (RCA/RMG) 50-55k U2 (Interscope) 50-55k Lady GaGa (Interscope) 50-55k ** Papa Roach (Geffen) 45-50k ** Martina McBride (RCA Nashville) 40-45k ** Jim Jones (Columbia) 40-45k Taylor Swift (Big Machine) 35-40k The-Dream (Def Jam/IDJ) 35-40k ** Mastodon (Warner Bros.) 35-40k
** denotes debut
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Zazie
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Post by Zazie on Mar 27, 2009 13:04:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the link, singer262, and I have listened to quite a few of the songs. I won't say much, on a general theory of "if you can't say something nice...."
I do think You're Not Leaving Me is very good. If someone posted the comment that she sounds like she did on God-fearin' Women, then that was a good post and I agree. I don't think I'm the first to make that connection. She's got some life in her singing here.
I really disliked I Just Call You Mine. I disagree with dudley in that I think this is less bad as a love song than as a devotional one. But that's a theological dispute that I should just stay away from. And it's a bad love song, too. Just a matter of which is worse.
And I was unmoved by I'm Trying. She did sing it with restraint, and I've been waiting for that side of Martina for awhile. But it seems to me that, in order to do that, she had to kill its emotion entirely. It's still a fine piece of songwriting. I remember how moved I was by Chely and Marty singing it. Oh, well.
The others -- I'm not impressed. I could live with Sunny Side Up on the radio if I had to, though YNLM would make me actively happy. Still, she sounds too girlish and I don't know why she needs to do that. It could be a grown-up song. I'm about to give up on Martina. She's gone somewhere and I don't think she's coming back. 1 for 8 is a disastrous batting average.
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Mar 27, 2009 14:15:23 GMT -5
I'm about to give up on Martina. It's taken you this long? I gave up on her sometime around "Concrete Angel". (Okay, "Trip Around the Sun" was great, but that was only a guest vocal.) Timeless didn't do much for me, even.
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Zazie
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Post by Zazie on Mar 27, 2009 15:19:55 GMT -5
I don't give up easily. Her duet with AJ, for instance, extended my hopes another year. (Too bad that wasn't released instead of any of AJ's last 3 choices.) And her version of Thanks A Lot on Timeless (and a few others there) made me think that my original assessment of Martina still had merit.
But now I fear that, even when she doesn't go over the top, and even when she picks well-written songs, she's still off. And since most of her songs aren't well-written and she generally does go over the top, I quit.
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musicbuff78
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Post by musicbuff78 on Mar 27, 2009 18:51:33 GMT -5
This is EASILY her best album since her GH.
The only song I really disike is Love Don't Cost a Dime.
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Mar 27, 2009 21:58:39 GMT -5
This is EASILY her best album since her GH. I agree. The album has held up well for me after repeated listens the last few days. I'd like to see "I'm Trying" released as a single next, followed by "Sunny Side Up". The sales projections are somewhat disappointing though. Yes, the album sales climate has changed, but there's no reason that Martina McBride should be opening with 40k. Ouch. I only hope that people are being cautious after the last album, and that Martina's fans will return once they hear that the album has strong possibilities for future singles.
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musicbuff78
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Post by musicbuff78 on Mar 27, 2009 23:44:28 GMT -5
I was actually going to post that Sunny Side Up was my 2nd least fave song on the album.
The song that I tend to like is Walk Away and I hope that gets released at some point.
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bamafan2102
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Post by bamafan2102 on Mar 28, 2009 0:01:15 GMT -5
Her version of I'm Trying pales in comparison to Diamond Rio's and Chely Wrights. She does sing it well and the acoustic vibe is good also. I tried to listen to the whole album but didn't get very far and lost interest. I think I have a problem with every artist. After about 4 or 5 albums I pick a favorite then expect every album after those to live up to my favorite. For Martina it's Wild Angels. That is one of my favorite all time female cd's of all time and nothing she has put out since then has even touched it. Even when I went in to her newest releases with an open mind, they still just don't resonate with me in any way. Now with all the self help songs she has done recently I may very well be done with her as well. Her voice is still top 3 in the genre but her material is HORRIBLE.
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drock89
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Post by drock89 on Mar 28, 2009 11:05:33 GMT -5
On first listen, I thought this album was awful. But I've warmed up to a few tracks. I'm in love with "Lies" and "Wild Rebel Rose." I'm also really liking "Walk Away," "I'm Trying," and the iTunes bonus track "I Can't Stop Loving You" (the same one that is on Keith Urban's LP&TWCT). There's some really good cuts on this, I think more than on Waking Up Laughing, but this won't end up as one of my favorite albums of the year. She still, in my opinion, hasn't shown the artistic depth like she did on Timeless. I know some here despise that album, but for me, she truly shined.
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kim8
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Post by kim8 on Mar 28, 2009 17:49:58 GMT -5
What? There is an itunes bonus? I bought mine from Itunes and I'm pretty sure I didn't get that song. I'll have to go back and check again.
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tigers19
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Post by tigers19 on Mar 30, 2009 10:14:47 GMT -5
i think she would have done better to take the good songs off of Waking Up Laughing and the good ones off of Shine, to make one really good album and spare us from the mediocre filler. "Waking up Shining" ???
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avalyn
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Post by avalyn on Mar 30, 2009 11:04:27 GMT -5
What? There is an itunes bonus? I bought mine from Itunes and I'm pretty sure I didn't get that song. I'll have to go back and check again. Most of the time the bonus songs come with pre-ordering. Maybe that's the case here? I'd love to hear her version of that song though. Normally I love Martina's songs right off the bat. This one has taken sometime and I'm finally starting to like it. Hopefully it continues to well for her since it seems to be.
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Kanenrá:ke
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Post by Kanenrá:ke on Mar 30, 2009 11:29:40 GMT -5
I'm really happy with the album still not her best (Wild Angels) but much better than her last couple. Actually it's my favorite of her's since Evolution. I don't find any of the songs horrible though a few are a little boring (Don't Cost A Dime, I Just Call You Mine). I'd like to see "Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong" "Walk Away" or "Lies" be released as a single. Or "Sunny Side Up" just to hear Sarah Buxton on the background vocals. :)
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