Active Aggressive
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Summertime Sadness
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Post by Active Aggressive on Sept 19, 2024 16:25:39 GMT -5
Ok, so on first listen, I think the main issue with the album is that it's soulless: a lot of flash, pomp, and circumstance with no heart. That and I feel like they're behind the curve on a lot of the production elements here. I feel like a lot of this material would've popped off 10 years ago, but now seems a bit empty and dated. Like, I could easily hear "Neon Lights" by Demi Lavato in this tracklisting perfectly. I think one of the songs capture the gist of 143 perfectly: "Artificial", in that it's trying to be something it isn't. The strongest material we've got here is "Gorgeous" 🤩 and maybe "I'm His, He's Mine". There are a few others that are good melodically ("Nirvana", "Crush", "All The Love"), but the production is just so dated I can't get into it. With "Gimme Gimme" you can tell 21 Savage just wanted a check and threw on whatever bs he could come up with in 5 minutes. 143 would've been HUGE....in 2010! Yeah, the reviews aren't going to be kind with this. Ugh. I mean...this makes the album sound at least good for a throwback to a fist-pumping time when songs like Feel This Moment by Christina Aguilera and Pitbull ruled the airwaves, except the only difference here is: Katy isn't ruling the airwaves. I think it will be $.70 worth spent! A soundtrack to a drunken train ride to go get more drunk or something.
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Caviar
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Queen X
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My Charts
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Post by Caviar on Sept 19, 2024 16:49:23 GMT -5
I don’t think I’ve ever read a good critic review of any of her albums, so these won’t phase me. Used to it by now. This. But the “critics” will pile on and publish their review probably without even hearing the album. 🤷🏾♂️
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Active Aggressive
Moderator
Summertime Sadness
Joined: May 2007
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Post by Active Aggressive on Sept 19, 2024 17:09:55 GMT -5
Curious about the Target track.
Edit: Just placed my order. 70 cents for the CD. YESSSSSSSS. Hopefully, it's worth it!
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SPRΞΞ
Diamond Member
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 22,014
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Post by SPRΞΞ on Sept 19, 2024 17:18:20 GMT -5
I don’t think I’ve ever read a good critic review of any of her albums, so these won’t phase me. Used to it by now. This. But the “critics” will pile on and publish their review probably without even hearing the album. 🤷🏾♂️ Of course. They’ve been written weeks ago.
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Ling-Ling
Diamond Member
Kill Kill Kill Kill! Die Die Die!
Joined: September 2003
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Post by Ling-Ling on Sept 19, 2024 17:22:39 GMT -5
It's a big step down from Smile IMO. Not rotten bad, it's... pleasant. One of those albums you can press play on and let coast in the background. It's bad in the sense that it's so uninspired and empty. This doesn't even come close to reaching Ava Max levels of basic boppery. The biggest issue is Katy's vocals for me. She's never been a vocalist per se, but she has a very distinct voice and vocal tics. It's like she's been polished and processed off of the album. Seriously, where are the adlibs/belts/warbles? In terms of the song-writing, it's so rote. We're in an age of female artists having very strong POV's and this album has none. Charm? Wit? Emotion? Where? The production rarely rises above the level of "harmless." Every now and then, a moment will break-through, like the pre-chorus on "IHHM," the Doechii and JID features, the post-chorus on "Lifetimes," the backgrounds on "Truth" caught my ear, the chorus of "Crush." But those moments don't come often enough.
"Woman's World," "Wonder" and "Gimme Gimme" are the chops for me. "WW" and "Wonder" die on the lyric page, and yes, the Daisy feature is bad. "GG" sounds so cheap and lifeless and 21 Savage suuuucks on it. Everything else is perfectly fine fodder to throw into a rando pop playlist. It's not gonna standout in the playlist, but it's not gonna send anyone flying for skip either.
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ObhiDonna
Charting
Joined: December 2023
Posts: 125
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Post by ObhiDonna on Sept 19, 2024 17:25:22 GMT -5
Where are you guys listening?? Still not out here
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wjr15
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Joined: October 2013
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Post by wjr15 on Sept 19, 2024 17:42:06 GMT -5
Where are you guys listening?? Still not out here It leaked already. I’m not surprised since the album was played from an audio file sent to the record stores at the listening parties yesterday.
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Sept 19, 2024 17:47:27 GMT -5
I can wait until tomorrow, I'm sure there are songs I will like.
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Soundcl🕤ck
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Post by Soundcl🕤ck on Sept 19, 2024 17:48:09 GMT -5
also, it's out in Australia, Asia, and most Africa and Europe.
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HEADOFTHEPACK
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Joined: November 2008
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Post by HEADOFTHEPACK on Sept 19, 2024 18:27:46 GMT -5
"I wanna know the truth even if it hurts me"
Ok well... I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, but the truth is that this is pretty dull. I'm disappointed, she has some excellent songs to her name and there is nothing remotely close to those on this album. I didn't think much of Smile either, but it least it had Never Really Over. Even Daisies is melodically superior. Sure, work with Dr Luke, do whatever you want to do, we can debate that forever, but she seems to have lost her knack for a great pop hook. This is tepid as fuck. Womp.
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Ty
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good vibes and R&B
Joined: March 2009
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Post by Ty on Sept 19, 2024 18:32:48 GMT -5
My hotel is right next to a Target so guess who will be there tomorrow morning?!
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Eloqueen™
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Post by Eloqueen™ on Sept 19, 2024 18:35:56 GMT -5
Smile is leagues above 143. I was actually thinking earlier 143 makes me somehow appreciate Smile even more. lol
Now I'm just waiting for the music video to the one song I am loving "Gorgeous". Kim slayed her part too IMO. I LOVE that Katy is so invested in visuals and performance aside, her releases are gonna be getting a visual unlike a lot of artists who can barely be bothered with one video an era.
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