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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 8/10/2012
Posts: 7,072
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LIGHTS - Little Machines
Album Review
On Lights Bokan (born with the completely different name Valerie Anne Poxleitner) third album, Little Machines she goes full-time pop. There is no dubstep influence anymore (see Siberia, her previous album). Instead, the album is filled with catchy melodies and old school synths.
But that was the goal, Lights said from the beginning that she wanted to create a very infectious record with lyrics people could sing along to. And boy can we do that.
The album opens with 'Portal', the most mellow of the tracks. It's a gorgeous opener and track, without big vocals or production, Lights enchants us with her voice and lyrics under a monotone production (she wanted to find out if she could build a song off of a production based on one chord, and she succeeded)
Next are Running With The Boys and Up We Go, two very powerful singles, that remember us of the good old 'The Listening' era. Up We Go spots slight CHVRCHES inspiration, while I personally can really connect with RWTB.
On the next track 'Same Sea', Lights sings about long-distance relationships over a very powerful beat. On 'Speeding' she comes down a bit, singing about the fast life we all live today.
'Muscle Memory' and 'Oil & Water' are another of my favorites of the album, they are super catchy remind me of Depeche Mode and Erasure, two musical acts I grew up with. 'Slow Down' does just that and it lives in condradiction with 'Speeding', because sometimes we really just have to slow down and smell the roses.
'Meteorites' and 'How We Do It' play as the final upbeat tracks of the album and are super fun, while some synth choices in 'Meteorites' do confuse me, it's another album highlight.
But the album does beg the question: How much catchiness is too much? When every song has extremely catchy rhythms and big choruses, at what point does it become tiring?
Gladly, Lights is a master at the pop genre, twisting it inside out, whether experimental or not, she can create amazing body of works that will fascinate you and with songs that will stuck in your head for days.
Little spaceships will fly and so will Lights' Little Machines.
8/10
Based on the standard edition
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 4,520
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Edgy. Addicting. Thrilling. This is who Fergie used to be. With her exit from the popular music, her place has been promptly filled with new, "edgier" popstars. After a break of seven years, Duhamel needed something which would make her interesting again. Sadly, she failed. L.A. Love is a step down even from A Little Party Never Killed Nobody. Fergie shows no growth as an artist, which she really needed to become relevant in the industry a second time. Verses are taken out of a Becky G song, while the hook is extremely dated and not even catchy. It's annoying and maybe even disconcerting. DJ Mustard delivers yet another repetitive beat. The try hard cover is the final nail in the coffin. The only remotely good part of the song is the second part of the chorus.
25/100
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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ATRL has been down for me since around 3:00, so I am just back on the site now. I'll resume updating.
Fergie is over; Carrie and 1D will start momentarily.
LIGHTS goes for 2 more days, until October 5th.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
| L.A.LOVE (la la) - Fergie
Fergie | Interscope | Release Date: September 29, 2014
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34 | Member Score
Generally Unfavorable Reviews
based on 9 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
}-- | Modscore
N/A
based on 0 Mods |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The former Black Eyed Peas member releases her first single in 6 years. | Record Label: Interscope
Genre(s): Hip-Hop, Pop |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ███ 1 | | d | ....iMixed: ██████████ 3 | | d | Negative: ████████████████ 5 |
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| | Mod Reviews | | d | .iPositive: 0 | | d | ....iMixed: 0 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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L.A.LOVE (la la) results.
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Member Since: 6/25/2012
Posts: 41,860
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
No, it's always been 5-7 days.
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oh, alright. 5 for singles and 7 for albums seems fair
I might do a Little Machines review once i listen to it a bit more
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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| Something In The Water - Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood | Sony Music | Release Date: September 29, 2014
|  | dddddddddd
86 | Member Score
Universal acclaim
based on 13 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
}-- | Modscore
N/A
based on 0 Mods |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The lead single from the country star's first greatest hits album. | Record Label: Sony Music
Genre(s): Country |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 11 | | d | ....iMixed: █ 1 | | d | Negative: █ 1 |
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| | Mod Reviews | | d | .iPositive: 0 | | d | ....iMixed: 0 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Dollas n Diamonds
oh, alright. 5 for singles and 7 for albums seems fair
I might do a Little Machines review once i listen to it a bit more
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It's actually 3-4 days for singles and 5-7 for albums.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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| Steal My Girl - One Direction
One Direction | Syco | Release Date: September 29, 2014
|  | dddddddddd
64 | Member Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 9 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
}-- | Modscore
N/A
based on 0 Mods |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The lead single from the boy band's fourth studio album. | Record Label: Syco
Genre(s): Pop |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 5 | | d | ....iMixed: ██████ 2 | | d | Negative: ██████ 2 |
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| | Mod Reviews | | d | .iPositive: 0 | | d | ....iMixed: 0 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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Not 34 
I actually really like it. 
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Can we review Tinashe her Aquarius next week?
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Eeveelution
Can we review Tinashe her Aquarius next week?
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We've had 2 requests (including yours) for Aquarius. One more and it will be reviewed.
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Banned
Member Since: 2/8/2014
Posts: 23,320
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
Yellow Flicker Beat results.
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yassssss get that acclaim Lorde 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 27,856
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What about Tove Lo's album? I think that deserves reviewing?
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Wonderland
What about Tove Lo's album? I think that deserves reviewing? |
It starts in two days.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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Let me put in the first request for Hozier (it's coming out next week but it's already on iTunes Radio)
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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I'll try to get a review of Steal My Girl up tonight.
I need to listen to Little Machines and get in a review tomorrow.
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Member Since: 8/15/2012
Posts: 2,344
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Quote:
Originally posted by Superpower
Let me put in the first request for Hozier (it's coming out next week but it's already on iTunes Radio)
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This. I'd love to review it
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 10,569
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I'll be the third to request Aquarius 
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 10,569
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The world's biggest boyband is back with their fourth album in four years...appropriately titled, well, Four. After 3 super predictable and generic lead singles in a row (What Makes You Beautiful, Live While We're Young, and Best Song Ever), the boys have finally decided to change it up a little with a delightfully '80s inspired tune.
Steal My Girl is a different approach for the group because there are barely any solos in the song - the majority of it is sung in a 'group chant' style, and is just begging for a massive live performance. The '80s vibe is drenched all over the track, from the keyboard synths to the electric guitar to the big drums kicking in. The first artist that came to mind while listening to this was Bruce Springsteen. Of course, the lyrics are nothing interesting or groundbreaking, but does anyone really expect that from 1D?
Hopefully after the success of Story of My Life, they're starting to realize we're not here for the generic fluff anymore. They seem to be on the right track with their musical direction on this single, and hopefully this is just a tease of what's to come with Four.
B+
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Member Since: 11/16/2011
Posts: 32,177
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B-
8/10
The intro immediately made me think that this was a song they meant to put on "Take Me Home" but couldn't fit, forgot about it until now and decided to make it the lead single. The chorus is a basic teen pop chorus, but I really love the verses, the "alright" parts are so cute. I also really like the pre-choruses and the bridge. Lyrically, it's nothing special, just more lyrics a boyband is made to sing. Sonically, I appreciate the throwback feel, but it doesn't impress me or wow me. So many songs have had retro feels to them lately, so if this smashes along with "1989" and if certain album tracks from Maroon 5's "V" get released, this will be the year the 80's came back with a vengeance.. and I personally am not excited.
In the end- the song is still cute and catchy. But that's all there is to it. It's a guilty pleasure, but that kinda says a lot coming from a 1D stan. 
SINGLES:
Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal & Reflective - Jessie J (f. Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj) - Bang Bang
Hilary Duff - Chasing The Sun - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Anything Goes
Nicki Minaj - Anaconda + Beyonce (f. Nicki Minaj) - Flawless (Remix) - Hilary Duff - All About You - Taylor Swift - Shake it Off
Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat + Fergie - L.A. Love (La La La) One Direction - Steal My Girl
ALBUMS:
Ariana Grande - My Everything
Maroon 5 - V
LIGHTS - Little Machines
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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^ What do you want me to count for your review score - a 8/10 or a B- (67)?
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