Ivy Leegue™
Moderator
Successful And Blessed
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 36,849
Pronouns: He/Him
Staff
|
Post by Ivy Leegue™ 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.
|
|
Caviar
Diamond Member
Queen X
Joined: October 2003
Posts: 31,119
My Charts
Pronouns: He/his
|
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. 🤷🏾♂️
|
|
Ivy Leegue™
Moderator
Successful And Blessed
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 36,849
Pronouns: He/Him
Staff
|
Post by Ivy Leegue™ 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!
|
|
SPRΞΞ
Diamond Member
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 22,079
|
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.
|
|
Ling-Ling
Diamond Member
Kill Kill Kill Kill! Die Die Die!
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 14,132
|
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.
|
|
ObhiDonna
Charting
Joined: December 2023
Posts: 175
|
Post by ObhiDonna on Sept 19, 2024 17:25:22 GMT -5
Where are you guys listening?? Still not out here
|
|
wjr15
9x Platinum Member
Joined: October 2013
Posts: 9,071
|
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.
|
|
Nick
8x Platinum Member
Joined: August 2004
Posts: 8,763
|
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.
|
|
Soundcl🕤ck
Diamond Member
Joined: August 2017
Posts: 10,968
|
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.
|
|
HEADOFTHEPACK
6x Platinum Member
Joined: November 2008
Posts: 6,064
|
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.
|
|
Ty
Diamond Member
good vibes and R&B
Joined: March 2009
Posts: 13,142
|
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?!
|
|
👑 Eloquent ™
Diamond Member
TSC: Certified Member
Joined: September 2007
Posts: 21,931
|
Post by 👑 Eloquent ™ 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.
My 143 Ranking
Favs/Good
1 "Gorgeous" 2 "I'm His, He's Mine"
Solid
3 "All The Love"
Almost there
4 "Lifetimes" 5 "Nirvana" 6 "Crush"
Blah
7 "Gimme Gimme"
Poor
8 "Truth" 9 "Wonder" 10 "Artificial"
Tf?
11 "Woman's World" (the lead? really?)
Had she continued the vibe/direction of "Gorgeous" and "I'm His, He's Mine" (without Luke), I think we would have had a really solid album and the direction would've been much better received.
|
|
|
Post by eyeofthestorm on Sept 19, 2024 20:21:28 GMT -5
I really like the album. The only songs I didn't like were 'Artificial' and 'Gorgeous'. 'Gimme Gimme' isnt as horrible in full as I initially thought, but I still won't be returning to it. I really love 'Crush', 'All the Love', 'Nirvana' and 'Truth'. The dance tracks are definitely my thing.
|
|
SPRΞΞ
Diamond Member
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 22,079
|
Post by SPRΞΞ on Sept 19, 2024 20:40:55 GMT -5
Should I buy the album on iTunes like the dilf I am or should I force @wavey to give me a Spotify membership?
|
|
Soundcl🕤ck
Diamond Member
Joined: August 2017
Posts: 10,968
|
Post by Soundcl🕤ck on Sept 19, 2024 21:03:50 GMT -5
okay, this is based on my very first listen:
on repeat #1 Artificial - PRODUCTION! JID! Sorry, I'm a sucker for this sound, only wish there was a solo instrumental part, kinda like in Dark Horse. #2 Gorgeous - similar vibe to Artificial, that's why it's #2 lol, I can definitely hear Unholy.
bops #3 Lifetimes - hands down the best hook on this album, but it seems unfinished a bit - popular opinion here. #4 Wonder - this is so nice. #5 All The Love - the verses are great, not a huge fan of the chorus, it's a fun song. #6 Nirvana - that pre-chorus is HOT (ah ooh take me to nirvana), but overall something is definitely missing.
solid tracks #7 I'm His, He's Mine - I think I'd like this song more with different production (Espresso's for example lol), but this is really solid, Doechii shines. #8 Crush - mindless bop, nothing spectacular.
nah #9 Gimme Gimme - so this is the Dark Horse of the album? It's basic and 21's part is soooooooooo lame. Had to play Dark Horse after this, really. #10 Truth - not bad at all, just boring. #11 Woman's World - yeaaaaah, I'm still shocked they chose the weakest track to be the lead single.
overall, it's not BAD, but it's not GREAT either, I'd give the album 65/100 based on my first listen. Before the album, I was afraid Lifetimes would be in my top 3, but here we are lol, and I think this might be my first KP album without a 10/10 track. If this album came out in 2021-22, I wouldn't mind it at all, but I don't think it's worth the four-year wait. I'm sure I'll like the album more with each listen, but I'm mad because she had 4 years and this is still a big step down from Smile. It's obvious 143 won't be a commercial success, so I hope she'll release something more current next year, it doesn't even have to be an album, only 2-3 songs/collabs.
|
|
|
Post by Resident_Evil on Sept 19, 2024 22:05:55 GMT -5
I must admit....this is not half bad. Too bad she detroyed her momentum and chances with that trashy first single.
|
|
haven
Charting
:3
Joined: July 2023
Posts: 148
|
Post by haven on Sept 19, 2024 23:27:03 GMT -5
wow... I knew there would be some missed singles on this album, but I wasn't expecting it to be this bad. Literally EVERY SONG, with maybe one or two exceptions, would've been better then what they choose.
I actually like this album a lot. Are some songs dated? definitely, but EDM has a pretty high baseline for me, and I can't really get mad at it for replicating a thing I already like. Gorgeous is serious hit material, if this album has any budget left SEND IT OUT NOW!
|
|
Mike
Diamond Member
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 16,127
|
Post by Mike on Sept 19, 2024 23:30:37 GMT -5
Ready for the "Catch My Breath" by Kelly mashups with the chorus of "CRUSH" (the second part of the chorus is virtually identical melodically and lyrically).
I skipped the songs I've heard and generally, I have to agree with a lot of the other reviews. This is just so soulless and paint by the numbers. She should have extended an olive branch to Bonnie and shelled out the money for Max (she can OBVIOUSLY afford it). There was no need to ever involve Luke in any of this.
|
|
shakemaki
Charting
Joined: July 2024
Posts: 365
|
Post by shakemaki on Sept 20, 2024 0:38:57 GMT -5
Idk, this really really blends together on an initial listen. Nothing stands out for me, just kind of a glut of passable but unmemorable dance pop, that also sounds dated. Actually, WW does in fact stand out the most by quite a lot just because it’s so terrible (and it has a bit more of a traditional pop Katy sound than the other songs).
I think shockingly enough, I might have to say that Lifetimes had the potential to be the highlight of the album, but they decided to leave it a demo that’s a hook on loop. Why bother with a hook that’s not half bad, but then basically not finish the song? Such a messy era smh.
I suspect some might grow on me a bit, but this is definitely going to compete with her debut as her worst for me. Which is a low bar since I dislike that album quite a bit outside of the 3 hits. Nothing here is even close to being in the same stratosphere as the Smile trinity of NRO, HIH, and CAIL. Not even close. About half a dozen others from that album are above all of these songs for me as well at this moment.
On an aside, I’m cackling thinking about that vid of that obnoxious reporter from the listening party several months ago who claimed there were “bops after bops after boppps after bopppps” on this album lmao. Why you never trust that stuff.
|
|
MissAmericana
Platinum Member
How long could we be a sad song?
Joined: August 2019
Posts: 1,862
My Charts
Pronouns: They/Them
|
Post by MissAmericana on Sept 20, 2024 1:12:56 GMT -5
“All The Love” and “I’m His, He’s Mine” are the only two songs I would consider coming back to. The rest is so dull and unimaginative, this might be her weakest album in my eyes.
|
|
Anticonformity
Platinum Member
Dancing My F*ck Off
Joined: January 2007
Posts: 1,570
|
Post by Anticonformity on Sept 20, 2024 1:26:56 GMT -5
The majority of this album is literally Artificial
My top 3: Wonder (!) All The Love Crush
Wonder is one of the best songs she's done and that's even including the nauseating part with Daisy (I'm having River Rose flashbacks)
Album order: Prism Teenage Dream Witness Smile 143 One Of The Boys
|
|
Dylan :)
Diamond Member
smth 'bout youu
Joined: October 2014
Posts: 12,937
|
Post by Dylan :) on Sept 20, 2024 1:42:59 GMT -5
The transition between All My Love and Nirvana is 🔥 I’m afraid people will start to listen to this and give up by track 3, missing so many good songs
|
|
SHOOTER
Diamond Member
3x Poster Of The Year!!!
Proud internet hater > real-life narcissist. #FreePalestine
Joined: April 2006
Posts: 76,007
|
Post by SHOOTER on Sept 20, 2024 2:01:00 GMT -5
Gorgeous Artificial I’m His, He’s Mine Lifetimes
I’m sure I’d appreciate this a lot more if it didn’t sound like it was written by ChatGPT. She completely phoned it in lyrically and doesn’t even try to sell it vocally. Faceless dance-pop is not what I would’ve expected from this era when it was announced yet here we are. It’s pleasant enough background music though so maybe it’ll grow on me.
Still better than Witness. Thank the pop gods for that.
|
|
Dylan :)
Diamond Member
smth 'bout youu
Joined: October 2014
Posts: 12,937
|
Post by Dylan :) on Sept 20, 2024 4:42:31 GMT -5
#1 on iTunes in 30 countries
|
|
ObhiDonna
Charting
Joined: December 2023
Posts: 175
|
Post by ObhiDonna on Sept 20, 2024 5:43:31 GMT -5
Listening to it with my coworker today, we both said “is this what music made by AI will be like with lyrics by ChatGPT?” Everything blended in as one track on first listen and I cannot shake it off how much the album sounds like a demo cassette which has been dropped off at Capitol’s new artist postbox.
|
|
Marooned@Midnight
6x Platinum Member
It’s me…HI!…I’m the problem, it’s me
Joined: September 2007
Posts: 6,760
|
Post by Marooned@Midnight on Sept 20, 2024 5:53:51 GMT -5
All the Love > Nirvana > Artificial is the best stretch on the album and there’s actually some magic happening in this three track stretch. Very enjoyable. The rest mostly isn’t for me. I do agree that Lifetimes had a ton of potential, maybe the most potential, of anything here, but just doesn’t reach it.
|
|
wavey.
Moderator
Look...
Positive Vibes🙏🏾❤
Joined: August 2006
Posts: 43,559
Pronouns: He/Him
Staff
|
Post by wavey. on Sept 20, 2024 7:47:51 GMT -5
The transitions really hit for me, wow.
|
|
Dylan :)
Diamond Member
smth 'bout youu
Joined: October 2014
Posts: 12,937
|
Post by Dylan :) on Sept 20, 2024 7:53:05 GMT -5
#30 (+117) on US Apple Music. It’s #1 in 32 countries on iTunes now, too
|
|
gbaby
2x Platinum Member
Joined: April 2007
Posts: 2,589
|
Post by gbaby on Sept 20, 2024 8:18:33 GMT -5
On first listen, I agree with a lot of you -- seems pretty bland. I'll listen again, maybe there's something I missed, but on first impression, it is rather meh.
|
|
popwizard
Charting
Joined: November 2017
Posts: 262
|
Post by popwizard on Sept 20, 2024 8:21:57 GMT -5
I’m not sure why this doesn’t work for her. It might be a perception thing, or subjective bias that influences how I perceive the quality of music. It’s just so basic and doesn’t really offer anything beyond generic pop music. That’s just not going to work, and it’s not what anyone was really asking for, to put it simply.
It doesn’t capture anything of what Katy is best at, which is the soulful and empowering vocals in "Firework," or the darker, but sincere, lyrical elements and sounds of "Dark Horse" or "ET," or even the playfulness of "California Gurls."
Conceptually, it’s a “la da dee, la da da” vibe throughout the whole album. What Katy once lacked in lyrical depth, she made up for by making you believe what she was singing. Here, there’s just nothing distinctive.
There’s so much irony in songs like “Artificial” and “Truth.”
In some ways, it reminds me of Britney’s “Femme Fatale” album, but without the hits—it feels very phoned in and flat.
|
|