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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 20,654
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The Hilary scalping 
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Quote:
Originally posted by WeFoundWill
The Hilary scalping |
I know right? I had never knowingly heard a Hilary Duff song before today and checked out the new single. I kind of liked it, I don't see how it could be that bad
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Member Since: 10/2/2011
Posts: 43,174
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Quote:
Originally posted by maiko
5 out of what?
hopefully not 5/5. |
Not with that review 
Quote:
Originally posted by August
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Uhm.
Quote:
Originally posted by Bloomers
I know right? I had never knowingly heard a Hilary Duff song before today and checked out the new single. I kind of liked it, I don't see how it could be that bad
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That's why you don't!
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Azealia Banks - "Heavy Metal and Reflective" A bitch has been waiting for what seems like 84 years to hear rapper Azealia Bank’s next single from her pushed-back (and back, and back, and then back again) debut album ‘Broke With Expensive Tastes.’ After she got dropped from Interscope, I thought for sure the album and single would never come. I thought that the album would remain locked in the Vault, collecting dust alongside the “Put It In A Love Song” and “Do What You Want” music videos. But in a twist of events, Azealia announced a new single, and actually followed through with releasing it! With such a long wait, one would have expected the rapper to release something to give “212” a run for its money. Unfortunately, “Heavy Metal and Reflective” just isn't on par. The beat is strong and reminiscent of beats that the rapper has used in some of her great past work, but it lacks a certain something. Her flow works well with the beat initially, but it quickly grows dull—it’s far too monotone to carry a full-length song. If there’s a highlight to this song, it’s Banks’ lyricism. She deserves props for finally straying away from constantly littering her lyrics with “bitch,” “p****,” and “n****.” But overall, “Heavy Metal and Reflective” lacks the luster of Banks’ previous work. It’s a good song by all intents and purposes, but it’s no “212.”
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 27,856
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Chasing The Sun
Not even the cute, light-hearted music video could salvage this comeback single from Hilary Duff.
In the video, Hilary looks young, vibrant and like she hasn't aged a day. Tragically, only the latter attribute is carried over into the content of Chasing the Sun. Her single sounds old, dated, and comes across like a Miranda Cosgrove "Sparks Fly" reject. Many were hoping that Hilary would come back with something special, however Chasing the Sun is nothing of the sort. The song will be lucky to ever receive another listen from me.
0.5/10
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Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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The way you lot are dragging Chasing The Sun to the pits. 
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Hilary Duff – Chasing the Sun
Before listening to Chasing the Sun, I have never knowingly heard a Hilary Duff song and the most I’ve ever paid attention to her was when she guested in an episode of Community. Not that I dislike her, I just was never interested in anything she had to do with. Going in blind I didn’t know what to expect: Power-ballad? Black Metal? Throbbing club anthem? Experimental Electronic Country-Rap? It turns out Chasing the sun is just a simple, bubbly pop song, nothing more and nothing less. There’s a simple drum beat and bright sunny guitars. It’s completely inoffensive and breezy with zero edge, something that would play excellently in a clothing store as background music. Vocally, the song is nothing special but it doesn’t need to be. Hilary does a great job of selling the music and the dreamy feeling of the song by not stepping all over the music. The song is just fun and easy-going, it doesn’t want to be anything else and it shouldn’t need to be. Chasing the Sun works well for what it is.
__________________________________________________ ________________
Grade: B
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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Lemme hope this still gets accepted 
holyground: music in review 
5.1
"interesting at first listen, ultimately monotonous"
highlight
i be P.Y.T,
you Billie Jean
you been that ex bitch"
| Heavy Metal and Reflective
Azealia Banks
I've never really heard much of Azealia Bank's music, other than a couple of listens to some of her earlier tunes. Generally my impression of her music is, interesting production paired with sharp, vulgar lyrics rapped with tons of braggadocio. The production is good. The hypnotic beats are probably the wildest thing in this song. But overall, the production does give the song an interesting flair.
Sad to say though, that her rapping is nothing special. They feel very stilted and her flow isn't fantastic. She remains in her low and slightly monotonous rapping tone throughout the song, which makes the song feel repetitive and boring. Furthermore, clocking in at a length of 2:30, the song has no high points to make listening to the song worthwhile; the song just fails to go anywhere.
Overall, the song feels tame according to Azealia's standards. If this song was meant to showcase something in Azealia to the public, then it has shown nothing. Even if it somehow does, it doesn't feel like a track worth listening to again.
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previous reviews
archives
chasing the sun - hilary duff (coming soon)
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Member Since: 2/12/2012
Posts: 27,814
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Reviewing Star...
What can we expect from Disney singer? The generic material with corny lyrics, dated instruments, sooner to be forgotten summer "smash", Emphasis on smash. Oh, wait. Lookie there, Hillary Duff is back with her breezy summer single that sounds like a rejected material for Katy Perry "Roar". I am really disappointed in her after hearing Dignity- A better material from Disney Singer. I am glad that she didn't turned into "dirty" image singer, like other. Oh wait, she did. Bye.
Production: 2/10
Lyrics: 1/10
Tune: 3/10
1/10(-1)
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Member Since: 5/16/2012
Posts: 12,486
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"Chasing the Sun" by Hilary Duff
I went into my listening session for Hilary Duff's new single "Chasing the Sun" not knowing what to expect considering I was (and, by choice, will remain) unfamiliar with Hilary Duff's past musical endeavors.
Simply put, the song is very bad.
Hilary's vocals sound artificial and processed thus putting her into the same vocal category as the likes of fellow "singers" Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian. The production is clearly a try hard attempt at creating a summer anthem while the mediocre Colbie Caillat-penned lyrics are very uninspired.
But, hey, the music video is pretty solid, so there's that.
Score: 1/10
Archive
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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The Lowdown: The worst song of 2014.
I don't know much about Hilary Duff. From what my research turned up, she was popular when I was in preschool. Her comeback to pop music begins (and should end with) Chasing The Sun. The song begins with the cheesiest and most generic guitar and drum machine intro in history, and Duff's whiny, annoying vocals kick in soon after. My attention was immediately diverted to the lyrics, which are so clichéd it's laughable and cringeworthy at the same time. The chorus consists mostly of the lyric "I'm chasing the sun" which is repeated 100 times (give or take a few) throughout the song. Every single element of this song is generic in every sense of the word. The overall sound of the song is also extremely dated, and could probably fit comfortably on an HAC radio station's playlist- in 2006. Chasing The Sun will no doubt be very high on my "worst songs of 2014" list, if not at #1. Right now it is far and away the worst single released this year. Even though Wiggle is just as stupid, it was trying to be fun. Chasing The Sun is an honest attempt at a good song. If you took away the vocals, it would be perfect elevator music.
Reviews:
Drake - 0 to 100 / The Catch Up (4.0)
La Roux - Trouble In Paradise (2.3)
Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective (2.0)
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang (5.8)
Hilary Duff - Chasing The Sun (0.5)
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Anything Goes (4.9)
Nicki Minaj - Anaconda (2.0)
Beyoncé f/Nicki Minaj - ***Flawless Remix (3.7)
Pixie Lott - Pixie Lott (6.0)
FKA Twigs - LP1 (1.7)
Hilary Duff - All About You (4.1)
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (7.1)
Charli XCX - Break The Rules (4.6)
Ariana Grande - My Everything (5.2)
Maroon 5 - V (5.4)
Banks - Goddess (8.2)
Calvin Harris f/John Newman - Blame (8.6)
Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat (8.8)
Fergie - L.A.LOVE (la la) (2.5)
LIGHTS - Little Machines (6.7)
One Direction - Steal My Girl (2.0)
Carrie Underwood - Something In The Water (5.3)
Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie (5.4)
Iggy Azalea f/MØ - Beg For It (7.7)
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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Poor Hilary 
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Member Since: 1/4/2014
Posts: 3,221
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OMG Hilary being Braziled, yall ain't have to Germany ha like this 
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Member Since: 10/2/2011
Posts: 43,174
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You guys are so extreme  First the unnecessarily too high votes for Bang Bang, now the unnecessarily too low votes for Chasing The Sun. Mess
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Banned
Member Since: 4/13/2011
Posts: 18,738
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the hilary reviews are deserved tbh. never been so disappointed.
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Member Since: 8/6/2012
Posts: 5,333
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I was not prepared for these Hilary reviews... 0's, 0.5's, 1's
Poor girl.
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ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 6/29/2002
Posts: 77,601
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Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective
While Azealia Banks is an interesting character to say the least, she's always backed up her polarizing presence online with some great songs. "212" was a fantastic pop song and "Yung Rapunxel" was even better, albeit too alternative for the general public to enjoy. New single "Heavy Metal and Reflective" is a cute little ditty, but it feels incomplete. Her delivery is pleasing to the ear as ever, as is the cool and understated production. But just when you're getting into it and hoping for the song to take it to the next level, it ends. She has all the potential in the world, but I'm hoping her album (if it ever does come out) contains more epic and memorable stuff than this.
7/10
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 1/21/2012
Posts: 13,593
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Chasing the Sun is Hilary's attempt at making a reentrance into the music industry after a hiatus of a few years. It is however not a very good one at that. Chasing the Sun is an overly cutesy summer song that has all characteristics of it amplified: Corny and repetitive lyrics, a fun but generic melody, etc. It simply ended up boring and cringeworthy. After listening to it I'm not sure what the real content of the song is. Did it even have content? I don't know.
Also: what is Kim Kardashian doing on the single cover? Why does Hilary look so much like her on the cover? Am I the only one who noticed that?
Verdict
Hilary seems to be Chasing the Success she used to have.
3/10
My Next Review: Bang Bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
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ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 6/29/2002
Posts: 77,601
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Hilary Duff - Chasing the Sun
I've always been a huge supporter of Hilary Duff. Classics like "Come Clean", "So Yesterday", "Fly" and "Haters" united the ATRL community back when we were just a small group of pop aficionados. Despite her unimpressive voice, she managed to release dozens of great songs. So it was no surprise that many people were excited for her comeback. Well, that excitement has all but completely deflated after the release of "Chasing the Sun". Whose bright idea was it to record a song that Colbie Caillat deemed too lame to record herself? And then to make it the lead single? I don't understand. The song is repetitive, annoying and cheap. I could not even finish my second listen of it. This is one hiatus that could've stayed indefinite.
1/10
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Member Since: 9/9/2012
Posts: 59,872
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Hilary Duff — Chasing the Sun
July 31, 2014
Summary: Hilary Duff's comeback single after a 7 year break, "Chasing the Sun" released at the height of the Summer.
Genre(s): Pop, Bubblegum Pop
Release Date: July 29, 2014
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Hilary Duff's comeback single after a break that lasted almost a decade, is released at the height of Summer. The song, 'Chasing the Sun' is a nice, positive song with a free vibe to it. As I listened, I knew however, it wouldn't be something I would be really into. The song is cute for what it is; but nothing to leave a lasting impression. It's kinda corny, but in a way, it's still a Pop song done right that could go well in the right places. To me, it sounds as if this was a Carly Rae Jepsen demo that was thrown at her by her label. Moreso, it was disappointing because it seemed as if she took a step back, despite a break that long. She left us with mature, fierce, and spicy songs like 'Stranger' and 'With Love'. I think something along the lines of 'Slow Down' and 'I Knew You Were Trouble' would've fit her if she was going down the Bubblegum Pop route. However, it was a neat song that was decent, and not something I was turned off by, or on. She's taking a step, now it's time to find the right direction.
5.5 out of 10
July 31, 2014
Summary: Azealia Banks returns to the scene independently, with the new single 'Heavy Metal & Reflective'.
Genre(s): Rap, Witch-Hop
Release Date: July 28, 2014
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Another comeback, finds Azealia Banks free from label-hell, and finally fulfilling promises of new music. Though this time, the promise wasn't fulfilled on the quality side. I've loved Azealia Banks — stanned at one point; 1991 EP was pure  and the same goes with Fantasea. Even her recent work that has received mixed views such as 'Young Rapunxel' & 'ATM Jam' has been fine in my book. But this doesn't really cut it; this isn't Azealia. She's been declining in quality so quick it's crazy, she's gotten the best of herself. This just doesn't hit me — the cheap beat, the inaudible rapping, everything is so...not her. This just seems so poorly thrown together, including the artwork which is by far the worst I've seen this year. Everything was such a disappointment — did the freedom kill the label slave?
3.5 out of 10
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