Kelsea Ballerini - "The First Time"

[bigfan101]

Debut album from Kelsea Ballerini "The First Time" can be heard here: www.cmt.com/artists/kelsea-ballerini/

01. XO
02. Peter Pan
03. Love Me Like You Mean It
04. Square Pegs
05. The First Time
06. Looking At Stars
07. Sirens
08. Secondhand Smoke
09. Dibs
10. Stilettos
11. Yeah Boy
12. Underage

[ant]

Totally thought the title track was the next single when I saw this thread as the last post on the main page before clicking on it (which I hope it is eventually, as I really love that one).   I really loved the EP with the exception of "Looking At Stars", so I look forward to listening to the album.

It also bothered me that on the EP, the song was titled "First Time" without the word "The" in front of it. Just my OCD tho...

[bigfan101]

^ Same here...I am skipping around through the songs I haven't heard.

- XO is solid, could be a huge hit. Very clever play on words.
- I LOVE Underage. Such a story song, ballad but a beat about being young and not listening to anything.
- Stilletos is another breakup anthem; pretty solid.
- Secondhand Smoke is DEEP, wow. Beautifully clever lyrics.
- Peter Pan is not relatable to me, but I am sure her core fanbase will love it.
- Square Pegs is a solid album track; could see it being used in a "be who you are" style campaign.
- Sirens is a throwaway for me.

Great debut album for me. Bypass Looking for Stars and Sirens in the middle and their otherwise is no flaws.

Several solid single options on this album; I would go: Love Me Like You Mean it, Dibs or Yeah Boy, Underage and XO (I know going four single deep is optimistic.)

[zaclord 🌈]

Wow, I love every single song on this album. I'm only through one listen at this point so I'll analyze each song more after a few more listens, but my initial reaction is that this is a spectacular debut album. "Love Me Like You Mean It", "Yeah Boy", and "Dibs" have been jams of mine for months, and I also love "The First Time". "Looking at Stars" is good as well, but doesn't stand out nearly as much as the other 4.

The other songs I wanna listen to some more before commenting, but I certainly will be purchasing this when it is released!

[.indulgecountry]

I'm having a dilemma of whether I wanna listen to this now or just buy the album, because I have a feeling I'm going to love the record, so part of me doesn't really wanna "spoil" it by listening early... but idk for sure if I'm buying it just yet. Decisions, decisions, lol. I'm glad to see good things being said about it so far though. I do enjoy all four songs on the EP, and the lead single has become one of my very favorite songs out at radio right now. <3

[.indulgecountry]

Okay, I caved and listened to this... and HOLY CRAP. This is even better than I thought it was going to be. What an incredible album! I am definitely buying this next week! She really delivered an album full of hits here -- just about anything could be a single and do pretty well, imo. I keep seeing a lot of comments calling her "the next Taylor Swift" and I wouldn't mind that at all. This girl is super talented and it's about time we got some new female superstars at country radio.

Early favorites: XO, Peter Pan, Love Me Like You Mean It, The First Time, Stilettos

[ant]

I completed the album on iTunes today, and I have to say it's pretty great. I wasn't expecting "Peter Pan" to be that good, but I had it on repeat so many times that I could barely get to the next song. Can't wait to listen more later today after work!

[rsmatto]

She steps nicely into Taylor Swift's vacated slot with her country/pop sounds. There are plenty of hits on this record. It just depends if radio finaly buys into Black River after this or not.

[.indulgecountry]

This album is seriously so, so good. I want this era to be huge and for her to blow up big, because man is this fantastic stuff. I hope that her lead single can be the first #1 debut single from a female artist in almost 10 years, and that "Dibs" can break the female artist second single curse and be a big hit, too. There's a lot of radio potential on this album, so I hope we get at least four singles total. <3

Also, random observation but "Stilettos" seems to already be an early fan-favorite. A quick browse of Instagram photos with the #kelseaballerini has more posts of that song than any other, which makes me happy because it too is my favorite song on the album, alongside "Peter Pan."

[Deleted]

I love this album but am I the only one who is somewhat bothered by the R Kelly reference in a song titled UnderAge. Or am I like the only one creeped out. But my favorites are Love Me Like You Mean It XO Dibs Peter Pan SecondHand Smoke. Where's the projected sales total doe this I think 10k to 25k.

[sabre14]

May 19, 2015 16:03:12 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

I love this album but am I the only one who is somewhat bothered by the R Kelly reference in a song titled UnderAge.

Windmills was as well:

[bigfan101]

May 19, 2015 16:14:31 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

May 19, 2015 16:03:12 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

I love this album but am I the only one who is somewhat bothered by the R Kelly reference in a song titled UnderAge.

Windmills was as well:

It is a shame that is what everyone is talking about when it comes to that song because it's my favorite. I hope if it gets a radio release, they just drop R and go with Kelly and everyone can assume it is Ms. Clarkson.

I want this to do so well, so Dibs can also climb the chart with the realive ease that Love Me Like You Mean It has.

[zaclord 🌈]

Edited after several more listens:

Here's my ranking:

01. Peter Pan
02. Dibs
03. Love Me Like You Mean It
04. First Time
05. Square Pegs
06. Xo
07. Stilettos
08. Yeah Boy
09. Secondhand Smoke
10. Looking at Stars
11. Underage
12. Sirens

[.indulgecountry]

Here's my ranking:

01. Peter Pan
02. Stilettos
03. The First Time
04. Love Me Like You Mean It
05. XO
06. Sirens
07. Dibs
08. Yeah Boy
09. Looking at Stars
10. Square Pegs
11. Underage
12. Secondhand Smoke

The Top 2 are really, really close, and so are #s 6-8. The only track I'm not in love with is "Secondhand Smoke," but even that is still a solid song. For singles, I think "Dibs" is a great choice for the follow-up. After that, I'd go with either "XO" or "The First Time." The former is something of a safer hit, but I could see it doing very well, while the latter would be more of a 'big risk, big reward' type single, and then I'd love to see them go at least 4-deep on this record because it's stacked with hits, in which case I'd pick "Stilettos" to close out the era. That one already seems to be a fan favorite from what I've noticed on social media, and it doesn't hurt that it's also one of my favorites as well. "Peter Pan" is an incredible song, too, and would probably work well as a single, but I feel like the song title might hold it back some.

[Deleted]

My own rankings
1. Peter Pan
2. Dibs
3. XO
4. Square Pegs
5. Love Me Like You mean It
6. Stilettos
7. The First Time
8. Sirens
9. Secondhand Smoke
10. Yeah Boy
11. Looking At Stars
12. Underage
This album is surprisingly solid while I was expecting mediocre at best Kelsea actually proves to combine the best of pop and country it works really well I could do without UnderAge just like I said before.

[bigfan101]

Oh man, I'll play the game.

1. Underage
2. XO
3. The First Time
4. Dibs
5. Love Me Like You Mean It
6. Stilettos
7. Yeah Boy
8. Secondhand Smoke
9. Peter Pan
10. Square Pegs
11. Looking At Stars
12. Sirens

I'm stunned for the lack of love for Underage, but as you all said this album is FULL of hits and very well done. Since that one line in Underage is a little controversial, after Dibs I would go with XO or The First Time, depending on the success of Dibs. But this girl is talented and she is giving radio EXACTLY what they have asked for and what they have proved they will play, so if she doesn't become a hit maker it will be an absolute shame.

[Deleted]

May 20, 2015 9:21:21 GMT -5 bigfan101 said:

Oh man, I'll play the game.

1. Underage
2. XO
3. The First Time
4. Dibs
5. Love Me Like You Mean It
6. Stilettos
7. Yeah Boy
8. Secondhand Smoke
9. Peter Pan
10. Square Pegs
11. Looking At Stars
12. Sirens

I'm stunned for the lack of love for Underage, but as you all said this album is FULL of hits and very well done. Since that one line in Underage is a little controversial, after Dibs I would go with XO or The First Time, depending on the success of Dibs. But this girl is talented and she is giving radio EXACTLY what they have asked for and what they have proved they will play, so if she doesn't become a hit maker it will be an absolute shame.

She has talent but why namedrop someone not related to country what's surprising to me is that she looks more than ever to be the female to sick let's hope when she releases Dibs it doesn't get lost in the pack I wouldn't imagine why not she'll have tons of momentum from Love Me so I'm pumped for Kelsea Ballerini 

[dajire4]

May 20, 2015 9:24:54 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

May 20, 2015 9:21:21 GMT -5 bigfan101 said:

Oh man, I'll play the game.

1. Underage
2. XO
3. The First Time
4. Dibs
5. Love Me Like You Mean It
6. Stilettos
7. Yeah Boy
8. Secondhand Smoke
9. Peter Pan
10. Square Pegs
11. Looking At Stars
12. Sirens

I'm stunned for the lack of love for Underage, but as you all said this album is FULL of hits and very well done. Since that one line in Underage is a little controversial, after Dibs I would go with XO or The First Time, depending on the success of Dibs. But this girl is talented and she is giving radio EXACTLY what they have asked for and what they have proved they will play, so if she doesn't become a hit maker it will be an absolute shame.

She has talent but why namedrop someone not related to country what's surprising to me is that she looks more than ever to be the female to sick let's hope when she releases Dibs it doesn't get lost in the pack I wouldn't imagine why not she'll have tons of momentum from Love Me so I'm pumped for Kelsea Ballerini 

I'm sorry if it sounds rude, but.. punctuation marks much?

[Deleted]

HITS is projecting The First Time to debut with first-week sales of 13-15k. That's not too bad, but I was hoping for something in the 20-25k range.

"Love Me Like You Mean It" isn't my favorite song in the world, but I'd love to see it go to #1.

[rsmatto]

May 20, 2015 22:26:40 GMT -5 jhomes87 said:

HITS is projecting The First Time to debut with first-week sales of 13-15k. That's not too bad, but I was hoping for something in the 20-25k range.

"Love Me Like You Mean It" isn't my favorite song in the world, but I'd love to see it go to #1.

This record is going to be a "Grower" I think. I really think "XO" should be the second single instead of "Dibs." While I think "Dibs" can be gigantic, I think "XO" would be more palatable to more people and not as divisive as "Dibs" will be (cause of the talk/rap). But hey, it works for Sam Hunt so why not Kelsea?

[zaclord 🌈]

Single 3 needs to be "Peter Pan" - after a few more listens, its easily my favorite on the album and I think it has everything needed to be a hit. "XO" should be 4th because that should be a monster hit as well.

[wilbur]

Peter Pan needs to be the next single

[onebuffalo]

#4 country CD, #31 top 200 CD with 14,000 sold. Congratulations, Kelsea Ballerini.

[zjames]

Love
02 "Peter Pan"
05 "First Time"
08 "Secondhand Smoke"
10 "Stilettos"
12 "Underage"

Like
01 "XO"
04 "Square Pegs"
06 "Looking At Stars"
07 "Sirens"
09 "Dibs"

Meh
03 "Love Me Like You Mean It"
11 "Yeah Boy"

I'm generally not a big fan of outright pop-country, but this album is damn good. Kelsea's personality comes bursting through this album. The biggest surprise to me was the strong lyricism; Kelsea co-wrote every track and every song sounds personal and relatable to her. I wasn't expecting too much after I didn't care for "Love Me Like You Mean It" but consider me a Kelsea fan now. 4.0/5.0

[Kanenrá:ke]

I love the album for it's writing, this is definitely it's strongest aspect. On some of the songs I would've liked more traditional instrumentation but overall I can't fault her when she readily admits to only being introduced to country influences at a later point in life, maybe she'll head in to a more organic sound one day. Should she not it's not bad for me cause I do enjoy pop sounds anyway. :)

My rankings

01. Peter Pan
02. The First Time
03. XO
04. Square Pegs
05. Underage
06. Secondhand Smoke
07. Stilettos
08. Sirens
09. Love Me Like You Mean It
10. Dibs
11. Yeah Boy
12. Looking At Stars

How I'd do singles
01. Love Me Like You Mean It
02. XO
03. The First Time
04. Stilettos

I'd love "Peter Pan" to be a single as I love the song so much but honestly I don't see it doing as good as "The First Time" would so I slotted that in instead.

The need to switch out "Dibs" for "XO" too!

[rsmatto]

Jun 9, 2015 18:55:20 GMT -5 Kanenrá:ke said:

I love the album for it's writing, this is definitely it's strongest aspect. On some of the songs I would've liked more traditional instrumentation but overall I can't fault her when she readily admits to only being introduced to country influences at a later point in life, maybe she'll head in to a more organic sound one day. Should she not it's not bad for me cause I do enjoy pop sounds anyway. :)

My rankings

01. Peter Pan
02. The First Time
03. XO
04. Square Pegs
05. Underage
06. Secondhand Smoke
07. Stilettos
08. Sirens
09. Love Me Like You Mean It
10. Dibs
11. Yeah Boy
12. Looking At Stars

How I'd do singles
01. Love Me Like You Mean It
02. XO
03. The First Time
04. Stilettos

I'd love "Peter Pan" to be a single as I love the song so much but honestly I don't see it doing as good as "The First Time" would so I slotted that in instead.

The need to switch out "Dibs" for "XO" too!

Sadly, I don't think that's gonna happen. Especially since "Dibs" is doing so well on SXM.

[sabre14]

Just letting it be known that Kelsea's favorite song on her debut album is "Peter Pan", which seems to be the favorite for a lot of folks here, lol.