Surfboardt's Album Reviews!!! (I LOVE 2 GET ON)

[surfy]

I love making music, so it only seems fit that I review some of my favorite new albums and some of the biggest albums on the market right now! I hope you enjoy my take and respect my views! :)

[surfy]

Alright, who should I review? Tove Lo or Tinashe?

[Baby Spice]

Tove Lo because I've never heard of Tinashe.

And also because "Habits" of course.

[Mikey]

Tove Lo :)

[Flip]

Tove

[Chelsea Press 2]

Please do Tove Lo. You could do Tinashe eventually too.

[Lahey's Lucky Star]

Ugh everyone's doing Tove Lo which makes me not want to do Tove Lo... :'(

[Deleted]

I'll be the odd one and say Tinashe since I couldn't get through the other one.

[surfy]

I think I will just do multiple album reviews each week (or when I have spare time) So Tove Lo comes first and then Tinashe later.... :)

[Green Baron]

I started the Tove Lo trend.

[surfy]

Ehhhh... I think everybody had that plan.

[Mikey]

except me

[Green Baron]

Oct 9, 2014 16:58:59 GMT -5 surfy said:

Ehhhh... I think everybody had that plan.

Yeah, but I had the element of surprise

[surfy]

Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds

    This is the debut LP of the artist who has brought you the hits "Habits (Stay High)" and "Not on Drugs". Ever since the first listen of her Truth Serum EP, I have been waiting for this album, and she certainly didn't disappoint.

My Gun - A clapping beat that makes you dance uncontrollably kicks in, and it sets a nice pace for the start of this album. I really enjoyed it. Given it is repetitive, but it doesn't bother me one bit, it really is a great song!!! You can definitely tell that this song describes sex as she talks about him being her "gun" (meaning he could possibly kill her if he leaves) as she opens the album with a very enjoyable bang! Score: 8 out of 10

Like 'Em Young - Who needs an older sophisticated man? Not Tove Lo, that's for sure! This song has quirky lyrics, but that is what I love about Tove Lo! Her ability to write is undeniable!!! I also love those "Aahs" in between each line on the verses. The chorus will be stuck in your head for days, and once you have the lyrics down, you just can't resist singing along!!! Another solid track! Score: 9 out of 10

Talking Body - The verses sound like a blend of "Habits" and "Not On Drugs" two of my favorite songs, and it works as she practically begs a perfect man to have sex with her, and if he pleases her, then she would NEVER let go of him. The chorus is absolutely an earworm, there is no denying the catchy nature of the album thus far!!! Her vocals have been solid so far as well! The bridge definitely builds up anticipation to the chorus, and you start jamming as soon as the chorus is back! I hope this becomes a single at some point, and those layered harmonies are just beautiful, nearly perfect song!!! Score: 10 out of 10

Timebomb - The rhythm of the first few lines are a tad bit annoying, but the hook and chorus more than make up for it! The run on "Ti-i-i-i-i-me bomb!!!" definitely is my favorite part, as the instrumental swells into a beautiful crescendo, and then right after that a sudden drop of sound into a minimal synth! The lyrics deal with an awful relationship a la "Love the Way You Lie", she knows that it will never last, but she will enjoy it until it all eventually blows up. Just an absolute masterpiece of an album thus far!!!
Score: 10 out of 10

Moments - Definitely one of the weaker tracks on the album, it starts with a monotone singing of lyrics that talk about her not being perfect, but that doesn't mean that she isn't a charming person at times, sounds kind of like a Lorde-esque song. The chorus is okay at best, but the line "On good days I am charming as fuuuck" is really annoying to hear over and over... The bridge is my favorite part, but that isn't saying too much. Score: 7 out of 10

The Way That I Am - This track is really raw and the emotion in her voice is definitely noticeable as she hopes that the one she loves accepts her. The beat makes the track go hard, and the pre-chorus is definitely missing something, come to think of it, this song is missing something for sure, it's good, but it just doesn't deliver in comparison to the other tracks on the album. Score: 6 out of 10

Got Love - The verses are great, and it almost comes off as rapping. The hook is heavenly as her "Ooo aaahh"s are always great to hear! The chorus and its melody is definitely strong, and the beat drives the song to another level as well. As she sings the praises of her partner and the wonders of their love! This is not the strongest song on the album, but it is definitely up there! Score: 9 out of 10

Not On Drugs - A plucking of guitar, a hypnotizing beat, and echoing vocals that beckon you as she sounds very much like Selena Gomez. (but in the best of ways) The song is very powerful, and the energy seems to never cease in the chorus while still maintaining a tranquil vibe that gives the song a magical quality in itself. She just gives her all on this song and it clearly shows as she tells us that she isn't on drugs, but she's showing these symptoms because his love is her drug... Score: 10 out of 10

Thousand Miles - A minimalist production to start off with a pulsating beat, then it kicks up a notch with a stomping/clapping sort of beat. This song definitely shows her versatility and power as a vocalist as she quickly switches gear from a whispering falsetto to a belting lower mid range and then to a lower range for the verses, it's just incredible. This song is definitely captivating! The chorus definitely packs a punch with her power and songwriting abilities collide into something epic! This definitely takes starts a darker side to the album as she wonders what her ex is doing and if there is even a possibility of getting back together, something that she is desperate for it.
Score: 10 out of 10

Habits (Stay High) - Definitely some Miley-esque vocals here, but once again, not a bad thing at all! This lead single and album highlight is another song full of some really quirky lyrics that are equally as lovable. She lists all of her habits that she is participating in now that her ex has left her, and that she must "stay high" to forget that he's out of her life. One of her strongest songs so far, if not the strongest! Her emotion, vocals, production, and songwriting create something that is truly remarkable and infectious in this song that is definitely one of my favorites of the year. Score: 10 out of 10

This Time Around - Continuing down the dark path, she reminisces of her previous relationship and the memories that went along with their love, and she talks about how she doesn't now what she's doing... The song is so dark, but it is truly something beautiful, Tove Lo is able to make the heaviest of songs seem effortless while keeping the emotion of the track intact. Score: 8 out of 10

Run On Love (QOTC Edit) - A very dubstep/house instrumental plays, and Tove Lo sings in her usual way. This track doesn't necessarily stand out, but it does have its own unique feel to it. It's the only song to have a strictly electronic feel to it, and it sounds like it could be on UK radio right now. The songs message is that even though the relationship is going nowhere, they will just ride it to the end. The falsetto break when she says "while" is one of those small things that make the song very enjoyable. This doesn't sound like the rest of the album, but I find it okay due to her collaborations with DJs such as Hippie Sabotage and Alesso, so it clearly shows that she has an interest in EDM music. Score: 8 out of 10

Stay High (Habits Remix) - This was my initial exposure to Tove Lo, and at one point it was my favorite of the two versions. Now, that is not the case. It definitely still has charm, but the pitch change and repetition take away from what I love about the original, its enjoyable lyrics... This version is still good, but just pales in comparison to the original version. Score: 7 out of 10

Overall: This album actually has  a storyline, not just a random compilation of songs, this brings me great joy as it serves the purpose of an album, to tell a story. It tells the highs and lows of being in love at a young age, and I couldn't be happier with the songwriting, and I'm extremely impressed that she writes or co-writes on every song! Even though she tends to stay in one area range-wise, she shows her potential without overdoing it, and I love that about her! The production never disappointed as well!!! Definitely one of the best albums of this year, especially when compared this year's debut artist. Score: 88/100

Highlights: Talking Body, Timebomb, Not On Drugs, Thousand Miles, and Habits (Stay High)


Updated the album score to an 88!!! (Accidentally included the Interludes so instead of it being out of 130 points it was accidentally out of 160 #fail!)

[surfy]

I'm thinking about doing Tinashe's sometime over fall break...

[surfy]

Tinashe - Aquarius

    From the girl who brought you "2 On" featuring the up and coming rapper, ScHoolboy Q, comes the studio debut album Aquarius. I will be doing my reviews differently from now on, instead of going track-by-track. I will do an overview, then give my rankings for each track, signify which of the tracks were standouts, and then give an overall score for the album! Let's get started! This album is full of whispering vocals, soothing and serene. (Such as on the album opener and standout "Aquarius" or "Cold Sweat") Her vocals sometimes almost resembling the likes of Rihanna or even a more enunciated Ariana Grande, yet she stands on her own. Her futuristic and simplistic style of production full of synths and light but powerful beats only highlight her beautiful vocals. She can switch from a very delicate falsetto into a belting alto range, and it all draws you in. She's clearly learned how to use her voice, as you always wonder what she will do next. The whole album has a sort of... I don't know... spacey essence to it, as everything makes you feel like you're floating through a sonic world of angelic R&B. Tinashe is definitely what R&B needs to be, beautiful, vulnerable, yet equally powerful and enrapturing. Now although, this song has quiet ballads and midtempos, there are also a few uptempo songs that you could expect to hear with your girls in the club, the lead single for instance, "2 On" (Or "Bet" and "All Hands On Deck") is a standout, not for necessarily being an outstanding piece, but rather, for not fitting the overall feel of the rest of the album, but this fact doesn't make it any less enjoyable, and even features the relatively new and raunchy rapper ScHoolboy Q who raps about pulling down her panties and beating the pussy up... The sex theme then continues with an album highlight "How Many Times" in which her inner Rihanna shows up, but then the blissful track is abruptly ruined with the guest verse rapped by Future, whose music I've always loathed, as he has yet to prove himself able to give me an actually listenable verse, it's a shame that he brought the track down from the masterpiece that it was. The follow-up single to "2 On", "Pretend", honestly finds me bored as it doesn't stand out from the album, but at least it actually resembles the rest of the album unlike its preceding single. Now the song isn't bad by any means, I just like many more songs on the album more... so I find myself almost underwhelmed that they chose this track over some other stellar tracks on the album to follow up with. Her Rihanna appears yet again in "Far Side of the Moon" and she even raps on the song, it is thoroughly entertaining, and it just proves that this girl is extremely diverse as she quickly changes into a belting skillful vocalist... it's truly astounding. The track "Feels Like Vegas" once again resembles Riri in some parts. (but Tinashe can sing miles better) My only complaint about this track would be that it doesn't actually capture a Vegas atmosphere, but with that aside, it's a very solid track, as she croons about some really orgasmic sex. (Also the same message in another solid track "Thug Cry") Now there are multiple interludes on the album, and many of them are relatively short and extremely listenable, except for "Indigo Child",  the one that really caught my attention was "Deep in the Night", this interlude features a young girl singing live while playing the piano, and I just have to say... it sound absolutely beautiful! The album closes out with two non-standout tracks, but they are still very solid on their own ("Bated Breath" and "Wildfire" IT EVEN FADES OUT!!!) 

Individual Scores:
"Aquarius" - 10/10
"Bet" - 9/10
"Cold Sweat" - 7/10
"2 On" - 8/10
"How Many Times" - 8/10
"Pretend" - 7/10
"All Hands On Deck" - 10/10
"Far Side of the Moon" - 9/10
"Feels Like Vegas" - 7/10
"Thug Cry" - 6/10
"Bated Breath" - 6/10
"Wildfire" - 8/10

Highlights: "Aquarius", "All Hands on Deck", "Bet", "Far Side of the Moon", and "How Many Times"

Overall Score: I would say that this was an excellent debut album, and in fact, there wasn't even a bad track on it! She is the future of R&B, and she has a lot of room for improvement and growth. Her individuality and unique musicality is a gift, and once she learns to harness it, all the other so-called "divas" will cower in fear at the power of Tinashe.
 79/100