Juan Carlos
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Post by Juan Carlos on Apr 7, 2023 0:10:55 GMT -5
Ignoring the rollout and the two push-backs this album had, Higher Than Heaven is easily one of the most cohesive projects that Ellie has done. Of course, it's not Halcyon, but it's on par with Delirium, although I think this is better than the latter. "How Long" is the only weak moment of the album and I don't know why it was included in the standard edition when it could have easily been put in the deluxe or, even, discarded in my opinion. There are so many great moments, including "Midnight Dreams", "By the End of the Night", "Like a Saviour", the title track, "Intuition" and "Better Man", among others.
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kimberly
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Post by kimberly on Apr 7, 2023 1:56:43 GMT -5
this is great, easily eclipses her last effort for me. Delirium and Halcyon I'm very nostalgic for, so we'll see if this can work its way up there.
might just be the most instant new album I've heard this year (granted, I haven't heard many — been off of my new music friday grind for a bit). boygenius when I'm sad and Ellie for when I'm trying to dance!
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Post by Ling-Ling on Apr 7, 2023 7:54:15 GMT -5
It's an incredibly slick, consistent, well put together pop album. I do agree with JC that "How Long" is the only true bum note, could have easily been discarded. "Just For You" kinda whizzes by without grabbing me, but at least it's a breezy little trifle.
HTH is definitely a more consistent album than Brightest Blue. But in terms of her going full-on pop, I feel like the maximalism of Delirium better suits her voice and overall style. That album felt like Ellie filtering pop tropes through her own lens, this feels like her conforming to those sounds a bit. But an excellent album nonetheless! Well done. And once again, she drops a random R&B tinged track ("Waiting For It") that really makes me want a full-on R&B moment from her.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2023 8:12:38 GMT -5
Fantastic album! 👏🏻 Probably my second favourite album of this year next to “Endless Summer Vacation.”
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schnetzka
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The album that never ends... I mean 'THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY' out now!
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Post by schnetzka on Apr 7, 2023 9:02:50 GMT -5
Just finished the album and it is unabashedly pop and I love it. I wish more artists would release their least personal albums because sometimes you just need a pick-me-up.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2023 9:08:46 GMT -5
“Better Man” is almost her weird Alanis/Billie moment.
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divasummer
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Post by divasummer on Apr 7, 2023 10:06:31 GMT -5
I never considered myself an Ellie fan but starting with “Delirium” things have changed. I’ve liked most of the stuff she has released since then. I figured her hardcore fans didn’t care for some of it because she was getting “commercial” so I would like it. Lol This latest album is great!! There’s some tracks I didn’t add but if I was still purchasing albums I definitely wouldn’t have been disappointed. I’m liking so many tracks from this nicely put together pop release. So far my favorite tracks are: “Cure For Love” I’m obsessed with this one. I think I even like it more than the promoted singles so far. “Midnight Dreams” which is a nice opener. “Like A Savior” which kind of reminds me of a Weekend song. “Easy Lover” “Higher Than Heaven” “Let It Die” definitely top 3 from the album for me. “How Long” which kind of reminds me of Sabrina Carpenters “Nonsense”. Well parts of it does. I’ve already read some fans find this to be the dud of the album so I figured I would like it… lol “Temptation”. I’ll probably go back and listen to more tracks to see if they stick, but these were my immediate favorites.
Perhaps I should go back through her catalog and see if I have a change of heart about a lot of her prior music..?
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Juan Carlos
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Post by Juan Carlos on Apr 7, 2023 17:49:33 GMT -5
Ellie was interviewed by Zane Lowe on Apple Music, where she discusses about the album, Calvin Harris and anxiety.
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Post by Active Aggressive on Apr 8, 2023 9:07:45 GMT -5
This was fun and extremely well-produced and well-executed. Delirium is better and I would probably say Halcyon is as well because of the earth-shattering, soul-crushing ballads that album has. But, Ellie doesn't make bad albums. I never heard Lights, but I have been a fan since Halcyon. She is one of the most unique artists out there because her voice is always instantly recognizable, no matter the sonic landscape. Ultimately, I think, similar to Delirium, this could have been trimmed a bit, but on the strength of my top 6 alone, this gets a B+ from me.
On First Listen:
1. Let It Die (God-tier level of Ellie's uptempos and she has some BANGERS. This is at least top 5.) 2. Like A Saviour (An eternal jam. Those drums...WHEW!) 3. Waiting For It (OOOOOOH! Never knew I needed this from Ellie. Also, Jesse produced the FUCK out of this! It sounds so immaculately polished and also experimental in places. Those phantom moans and coos or whatever they are are just...TRANSCENDENT.) 4. All By Myself (LOOOOVE the sample. Wow!) 5. By The End Of The Night (I love this so much.) 6. Midnight Dreams (What an album opener, OMG.) 7. Intuition 8. Tastes Like You 9. Just For You 10. Easy Lover (Underrated. Unfortunately, I think due to the strength of some of the bonus tracks, it gets a bit devalued.) 11. Temptation (What in the Pebbles? I LOVE this and it truly nails 80s pop effortlessly!) 12. Love Goes On (What in the Janet is this?! Love it!!)
Bonus Tracks: 13. How Long (I won't say this is complete trash because she was doing songs like this that were tacked onto Brightest Blue at the end and I thought those were bops, but this style just doesn't fit this album at all. Totally agree with it being a bonus track at best) 14. Better Man (Odd.) 15. Higher Than Heaven (I don't love the chorus, but the post-chorus is GREAT!) 16. Cure For Love (No one is calling this a fave for a reason, but it's OK. Edit: Just saw divasummer's review again. Sadly, this didn't stand out much for me, but it's not a bad song, at least.)
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Apr 8, 2023 9:23:10 GMT -5
The media/critics are taking that "not a personal album" thing and running with it. The notices are still great thankfully, but it's not that big of a deal. Some of the greatest pop music and classics we have were literally made on an assembly line, lol. We don't need Ellie to pillage the depths of her soul for a dance/pop album when there's clearly this much love and craft involved. Besides, everything on this album is fairly universal and there's no doubt she's felt all of these things at some point anyway.
After a dozen listens or so "Just For You" has grown on me. I love how lite and airy it is, so the hook kind of fading into the song instead of jumping out actually works? I'm even okay with "How Long" now. Such a consistent album front to back. I also need to commend the art direction, the photography is STUNNING. I see she has a glossy photo booklet version of the album on her website now, super tempted to buy it.
She just uploaded this "LAS" performance, she really is pitch perfect live. I will always regret skipping her on the Delirium tour, UGH, so dumb. "Like A Saviour" really should have been the first single with a more aggressive push though.
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Post by Active Aggressive on Apr 8, 2023 9:52:38 GMT -5
Yeah, this is her most critically acclaimed album, with a 78 on Meteoritic. Interestingly enough, next most acclaimed album is Brightest Blue with a 74. Delirium at least has a 70. The other two albums are in the 60s. So, she is on an upward trajectory, it seems, inching closer to her classic.
To be fair, Ellie herself is the one who is pushing the "not a personal album" narrative, so I am not surprised that it's the first thing critics are mentioning, but it's never mentioned in a negative light. In fact, it seems to work in her favor in the reviews that I've read.
I wish the photos in the booklet were glossy because they would pop more. I like that she is keeping this underwater aesthetic in the visualizers, but it doesn't seem to really gel with the title of the album or the album itself. Just pretty underwater pics that are kinda hazy without the gloss. Also, I don't think there are enough photos for me to give the art direction any praise, personally.
As for her snging live: one of the things that always stuns me when I watch her live performances is just how...spot-on they are, in terms of vocals. Considering when I first heard her, I thought she was an acquired taste and didn't expect her to actually be able to sing live, I am consistently amazed and for some reason, always forget what a capable vocalist she actually is until I watch another performance.
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Apr 8, 2023 10:30:00 GMT -5
Admittedly I haven't received my physical copy yet, was just scrolling through the pics online. I bet the recycled materials dull everything, I just think the photography itself is stunning, and let's be real, we've seen plenty of underwater stuff before. The main cover shot kinda looks like she's ascending and the deluxe immediately made me think of Ophelia, very dreamy. Maybe I will grab that glossy book, lol.
And agreed, I find that so many atypical singers just don't translate well live a lot of the time. She 100% sounds as good as she does in the studio every time.
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kimberly
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Post by kimberly on Apr 8, 2023 12:13:15 GMT -5
"Miracle" hit No. 1 in the UK this week, perfect timing. I'm still surprised it's not tacked on to Ellie's album (yet) — wouldn't be the oddest thing sonically.
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martinittoe
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Post by martinittoe on Apr 10, 2023 9:47:50 GMT -5
Great album!!! Elena Jane Goulding did it again!!! 8/10, best 2023 album so far. Okay maybe besides Lil Yachty’s album.
Absolutely love Let It Die, Temtation, By The End Of The Night and Tastes Like You. I really wish she chose standard/deluxe songs better.
And also I think the deluxe artwork is a lot worse than standard and I wish we got the standard one on streaming too. I love the standard one 100 times better…
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schnetzka
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The album that never ends... I mean 'THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY' out now!
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Post by schnetzka on Apr 10, 2023 10:09:33 GMT -5
I guess it's an unpopular opinion around here but I like the deluxe edition cover. I don't really have a favorite between it and the standard edition one.
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Post by Au$tin on Apr 10, 2023 11:25:30 GMT -5
This is such a strong album, wow! Literally the only skips for me are "Better Man" and "All By Myself." Everything else goes off!
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Post by ampersand on Apr 10, 2023 12:08:56 GMT -5
I love the album. Also enjoying her leaning into the meme on Twitter lmao.
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Normi
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Post by Normi on Apr 10, 2023 17:28:11 GMT -5
'Higher Than Heaven' is one of her best songs ever, that post-chorus!! ('By The End of the Night' is pretty cool too)
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Post by Devil Marlena Nylund on Apr 10, 2023 18:11:02 GMT -5
Why does the CD only have like 11 songs tho
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Apr 10, 2023 18:21:47 GMT -5
Why does the CD only have like 11 songs tho There's a deluxe CD that has all 16 tracks.
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HEADOFTHEPACK
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Post by HEADOFTHEPACK on Apr 10, 2023 23:05:35 GMT -5
It's an incredibly slick, consistent, well put together pop album. I do agree with JC that "How Long" is the only true bum note, could have easily been discarded. "Just For You" kinda whizzes by without grabbing me, but at least it's a breezy little trifle. HTH is definitely a more consistent album than Brightest Blue. But in terms of her going full-on pop, I feel like the maximalism of Delirium better suits her voice and overall style. That album felt like Ellie filtering pop tropes through her own lens, this feels like her conforming to those sounds a bit. But an excellent album nonetheless! Well done. And once again, she drops a random R&B tinged track ("Waiting For It") that really makes me want a full-on R&B moment from her. Yeah Delirium is the one for me, I agree that it sounds like her mixing pop with her own vibe. Love that album.
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HEADOFTHEPACK
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Post by HEADOFTHEPACK on Apr 10, 2023 23:22:29 GMT -5
'Higher Than Heaven' is one of her best songs ever, that post-chorus!! I'm listening to this now and AGREED. Love it.
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Post by Max_X5 on Apr 11, 2023 10:30:14 GMT -5
I'm really liking this album so far, especially after never getting into Brightest Blue. My early favorites are "Midnight Dreams," "By The End Of The Night," "Easy Lover," "How Long" (surprised by the dislike for it here), and especially "Higher Than Heaven." Glad she came back with a winner!
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HEADOFTHEPACK
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Post by HEADOFTHEPACK on Apr 11, 2023 12:03:17 GMT -5
I'm really getting into this. The awful rollout gave this such a false start in my mind.
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Juan Carlos
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Post by Juan Carlos on Apr 11, 2023 14:34:50 GMT -5
On course of debuting atop in the UK. If this indeed happens, Higher Than Heaven will be her fourth #1 there and she might do the chart double (having a single and album at #1) too.
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HEADOFTHEPACK
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Post by HEADOFTHEPACK on Apr 11, 2023 16:12:07 GMT -5
^^ pleased for her, it's just funny seeing that she may do a chart double (granted the single is a collab) when the album singles did literally nothing ha
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Post by adamalterlago on Apr 14, 2023 1:32:23 GMT -5
wtf?!! what is this pop excellence?! i haven’t listened to an Ellie Goulding song is 5+ years. jesus, easily best pop album of 2023 thus far. absolutely blown away. might be controversial going off the last pop girl masterpiece - Future Nostalgia < Higher Than Heaven.
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Ling-Ling
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Post by Ling-Ling on Apr 14, 2023 12:08:50 GMT -5
Awwww... she got her chart double in the UK.
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Post by Active Aggressive on Apr 14, 2023 19:26:29 GMT -5
Elena really said Fuck you streaming cunts, I'mma give you bridges and full songs! Love her and this album.
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martinittoe
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Post by martinittoe on Apr 15, 2023 15:31:31 GMT -5
Elena really said f**k you streaming cunts, I'mma give you bridges and full songs! Love her and this album. What do you mean? Are there longer versions of songs somewhere?
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