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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by hello_world
Can I just thank this for getting me into Lights 
Like my friend tried pushing Siberia on me before but this is the first time it's really clicked with me. Woo lord Up We Go take over my body |
I'm so addicted to Up We Go 
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 39,572
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
I'm so addicted to Up We Go |
I've listened to it 24 times in like 18 hours including school. 
I also have new appreciation for the roughness of Siberia. Siberia > Little Machines > The Listening. 
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Member Since: 10/5/2009
Posts: 137,162
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Release Date – September 24th, 2014
Length – 43:29
Label – Island • Universal
Producers – The Struts • Klas Åhlund • Mattman and Robin • Ali Payami • Alx Reuterskiöld • Mike 'Scribz' Riley • Kyle Shearer • Lucas Nord • Captain Cuts
| REM.COM REVIEW:
TOVE LO - 'QUEEN OF THE CLOUDS'
Written by Rem My
Tove Lo, a new artist coming off her current success of Habits (Stay High), has released her debut LP, Queen of the Clouds. Somehow, her big hit single was actually quite a grower for me. I heard it a while back and didn't enjoy it, but I heard it on the radio a few weeks back and loved it all of a sudden. That was the only track I heard from her before listening, and I'm happy to say that the album isn't the same way. Queen of the Clouds provides plenty of amazing tracks and no fillers (not counting the remixes, intro and interludes.) All of them are pretty solid and catchy - so catchy that even the ones that aren't as strong, you'll still like because they get into your head. She knows how to master pop, and does it all with a nice edge. The whole album flows pretty well and the majority of it (if not the whole record,) is upbeat and fun, but the lyrics avoid it of being too generic. Musically, the interludes + intro are practically useless but they set the album up into sections, which I think is pretty cool and creative. Overall, this is a well-done debut full of great jams that'll get your head bobbing + your skip button unclicked.
Final Verdict:
91 | A-
 Track-By-Track Ratings + More*NOT COUNTING: Intro, Interludes, Remixes
Track-By-Track:
My Gun: 9/10
Like Em Young: 9/10
Talking Body: 9/10
Timebomb: 10/10
Moments: 9/10
The Way That I Am: 9/10
Got Love: 9/10
Not On Drugs: 9/10
Thousand Miles: 10/10
Habits (Stay High): 10/10
This Time Around: 9/10
Run On Love (QOTC Edit): 8.5/10
Love Ballad: 8.5/10
Crave: 8.5/10 |
Top 3:
1. Habits (Stay High)
2. Thousand Miles
3. Timebomb
Bottom 3:
12. Run On Love (QOTC Edit)
13. Love Ballad
14. Crave
Points:
127.5 / 140 |
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 39,572
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Who is Tove Lo, a trashy anarchist or a calculated trendhopper? Arguments could be made for either but I think she can only be thought of as both. The left-field thought out garbage that made Ke$ha so alluring and the cold, ice queen persona of Lana Del Rey are combined into a fantastic album. The highlights are plentiful - Timebomb, Not On Drugs and Talking Body stand out - and it rather cunningly hadn't played its trump card yet - breakout single Habits, whilst catchy, doesn't come close to what this album has to offer.
My only complaint would be that the production doesn't lend itself to giant climactic songs. Not On Drugs and Timebomb stand out for their familiarity - production leading up to a big crash. These songs usually abandon this approach in favour of maintaining a steady feel throughout the song, which can sometimes work well, but after 10 or so tracks can get a little tiresome.
Flawed as it is, this is still a brilliant album, perhaps my favourite debut of the year so far along with LP1.
8.9/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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Quote:
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Originally posted by hello_world
Flawed as it is, this is still a brilliant album, perhaps my favourite debut of the year so far along with LP1.
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More praise for LP1 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 7/22/2012
Posts: 8,060
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TOVE LO - 'QUEEN OF THE CLOUDS'
One of the best this year, I really love how the interludes sort the album into 3 different stories and moods, you know the first being about the sex with songs like Talking Body, then you have songs about love and then the pain that comes after love. I personally though that was a really unique touch added to the album. The album clearly showcases that unique swedish dance style seen in other swedish artists like Loreen, which I really love. I loved literally every song. All of them are catchy, distinct and addictive! Highlights are Talking Body, Moments, Not On Drugs, Thousand Miles and Crave! When I listened to her first EP, I didn't quite like Habits but after listening to this album and getting used to it, I realized it was actually a grower and now I started to sing along!
The production compliments both vocals and lyrics and they mix in very well together.
I also would've loved if Paradise was somehow included in the album, people would love it.
Score:
94/100
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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 | After breakig through with her debut single "Habits", Tove Lo has released her debut album "Queen of the Clouds", title which appears in her song "Not On Drugs". The album itself is a solid electropop album, I have to say that I liked almost every track, but none of them wow-ed me (except "Timebomb"). The major thing I have to criticize is that she left us all the worse songs on the album and by this I mean no more slaying material like "Habits" or "Not On Drugs".
Overall, I feel that the record is nice, but not something that we've never heard before. I just didn't get the same feeling I got when I listened to the lead single for the first time. However, Tove's songwriting is very good, the album has themes, it's a really nice debut from Tove and I hope she's the new thing because I really want her to be successful. |
Score: 7.6/10
Other reviews
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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| Hozier - Hozier
Hozier | Island | Release Date: October 7, 2014
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80 | Member Score
Universal Acclaim
based on 7 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
}-- | Modscore
N/A
based on 0 Mods |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The debut album from the Irish musician. | Record Label: Island
Genre(s): Alternative, Folk |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 6 | | d | ....iMixed: ███ 1 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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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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| Aquarius - Tinashe
Tinashe | RCA | Release Date: October 7, 2014
|  | dddddddddd
81 | Member Score
Universal Acclaim
based on 10 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
}-- | Modscore
N/A
based on 0 Mods |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The debut album from the L.A.-based R&B artist. | Record Label: RCA
Genre(s): R&B, Urban |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 10 | | d | ....iMixed: 0 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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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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Good job getting those reviews over 150 words. 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
LP1 was rated an 80. I gave it a 1.7.
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In that case you have flop taste 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Tinashe - Aquarius
I'll admit up front I don't usually listen to R&B, and when I do I buy one or two songs from an album. So when I purchased 2 On earlier this year I didn't expect Tinashe to make a huge impression on me. But as I found the song creeping up my personal charts, I began to think she could be something more. Upon my first listen of the album I was instantly floored. Before the title track was over I was ready to hit the purchase button. And it only got better from there. From ethereal gems like Bet to dance ready tracks like Thug Cry and All Hands On Deck, Tinashe proves her staying power and crossover appeal. I easily rank this the best R&B album of the year. In just an hour of listening, Tinashe puts herself above other R&B newcomers such as Jhene Aiko and Sevyn Streeter. I rank this album even above last year's BEYONCÉ. I can say nothing other than that I'm excited to sit back and watch this girl shoot to superstardom with this stellar debut.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 8,047
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Aquarius
Album of the year. Every song is amazing, the production, the lyrics, the voice, the whole theme/vision/feel is flawless and perfect. 10/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by OnlyXtina
Aquarius
Album of the year. Every song is amazing, the production, the lyrics, the voice, the whole theme/vision/feel is flawless and perfect. 10/10
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This review will not count.
Album reviews must be at least 150 words long and they must be thoughtful and justify the score attached to the review.
If you would like to revise your review, please edit your post accordingly.
Thank you for your participation. 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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Quote:
Originally posted by OnlyXtina
Aquarius
Album of the year. Every song is amazing, the production, the lyrics, the voice, the whole theme/vision/feel is flawless and perfect. 10/10
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--
Hozier 
I'll write something before the deadline.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Superpower
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Hozier
I'll write something before the deadline. |
See, this is why I made the new guidelines.
Hozier ends on the 14th, by the way. Plenty of time for you (and me )
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Will you count a review if I decided to combine my Tinashe and Hozier review into one mega review?
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Member Since: 11/18/2011
Posts: 5,396
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I'm doing Tove for sure I've already given her album a few listens and she's been in my drafts waiting for the review.
Had no clue who Hozier was, but checked out a song from the album thread and it's pretty cool! I'm wanting to give him a review too. I think I'll have some good free time this weekend to do some reviews. 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bloomers
Will you count a review if I decided to combine my Tinashe and Hozier review into one mega review?
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You can put them both in one post, if that's what you mean. That's perfectly OK.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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holyground: music in review 
7.4
"nice pop album, albeit not extremely exciting"
highlights
habits (stay high)
timebomb
| Queen of the Clouds
Tove Lo
Ever since I listened to Habits, this lady shot up to one of my most anticipated new artist for 2014. The EP, Truth Serum, only catapulted my hype for her. A Swedish girl churning perfect pop songs, what could get better than that? So, I was really excited for this album. However, I feel like it didn't really meet my expectations. Then again, it is an acceptable debut album which still makes me excited for what is to come.
My first problem would be how the songs just feel pale compared to tracks like Over, Out of Mind and Habits on the EP. Those songs have a sort of uplifting feel to them, which sounds amazing. On the album, there really isn't much that feels like that, or has the same kind of quality. The mood of the album is more dark, with more dark-ish production and moody vocals. Also, the hooks are simply not as great. The choruses feel more formulaic, more of in the lane of Not on Drugs compared to Habits. That just kind of underwhelmed me, especially at first listen.
Also, there is a minor thing that bugs me too, the lyrics. Stuff like Over an Out of Mind have very typical lyrics, but they're decent, while Habits and Not on Drugs play with getting high in an interesting manner. But there are tracks on the album which have moments that are cringey, like Moments ("But on good days I am charming as ****"), Talking Body ("If you love me right, we **** for life") and Like Em Young (for obvious reasons). I guess they're just very direct, which could throw people off momentarily.
Thankfully, the album is quite a grower. At first, each song may sound just like each other because they're mostly in the same vein production wise. But I think as time goes on and you focus on each song individually, you can appreciate the production, which is pretty stunning and boppable. One great example for me is Timebomb. Initially, the off-beat verses felt extremely weird for me and I couldn't get into the song. But little did I know, this track holds the most brilliant production and when I discovered that, the song really felt so much better and made more sense.
Though it may seem like I'm criticising the album more than I'm praising it, it's more of because my negative points have me comparing the album to what I've heard before and my high expectations. But it really isn't as bad as I may say. Objectively speaking, it's a great album if I ignore what she has put out in the past. Also, despite the album having some weird times, it still consists a lot more substance compared to such pop albums.
All in all, Tove Lo deserves to be a full-fledged pop girl with her innovative brand of pop music and style. Every track sounds like great hits and Tove is unique enough to carry them well. And one thing is for sure, this album will sound fresh even after many listens.
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previous reviews
archives
...
blame (feat. john newman) - calvin harris - 6.0
yellow flicker beat - lorde - 8.8
l.a. love (la la) - fergie - 5.0
something in the water - carrie underwood - 8.5
little machines - lights - 7.8
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