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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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We should do BLUE by iamamiwhoami. 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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All right, there are only 3 reviews for I Bet My Life, so regretfully I am extending it until tomorrow.
I guess I'll give it a few listens and a review, then. I don't want another Kiesza situation.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life AND Taylor Swift - 1989 - 24 HOUR NOTICE
You have approximately 24 hours to review I Bet My Life and 1989 if you have not already.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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try and squeeze a 1989 review in tomorrow. know what i want to write
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Member Since: 4/29/2012
Posts: 15,977
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Quote:
Originally posted by ChapelHooker
We should do BLUE by iamamiwhoami. |
Quote:
Originally posted by Cupid
Can I request Motion - Calvin Harris?  |
I second these
Quote:
Originally posted by Lucas32
Can we review P!nks new folk album?
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.....
and myself 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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Lucas, you're actually the third one for Motion 
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Taylor Swift - 1989
Taylor Swift abandoned her country roots for full-on pop music on '1989' but we all know that already. It was a risky move for sure, maybe not so much now that we know that she's easily going to achieve the best selling album of 2014 in only one week, but it was risky seeming when it was first announced. She is a singer that is known for her songwriting and lyrics, she's able to tell a story and make her songs feel lived in and personal with her great attention to detail; this is why many people, myself included, were uneasy when they heard the news that she was transitioning to a genre that is known to be more about Style over substance. "Shake It Off" did nothing to alleviate the fears that she was about to sell out and take the easy way out. The song was fine, but something most other pop artists could do, and probably do better.
Thankfully, nothing else on the album is as generically poppy as "Shake It Off" (except maybe for the track about a rivalry with another female singer: "Bad Blood"). In fact, almost nothing is as trend chasing either ("Shake It Off's" horns and bouncy sound has many peers on Top 40 including, but not limited to "Problem," "All About That Bass," and "Bang Bang" among others), most songs on '1989' are 80s inspired, and rely on synthesizers occasionally accompanied by other instruments for accents, like disco guitars, pianos, or drums. Taylor's lyrics, while adjusted for pop audiences, still include those little details that she is known for: moving furniture to have an impromptu dance party, late night driving, sicked back hair on her love interest...
The majority of the album is love songs, beginning with her being interested in certain guys, and ending with her clean of all the struggles of a relationship. The album's best tracks "Out Of The Woods," "Style," "Clean," "Blank Space," all combine pop sounds and hooks with great story-telling to make Taylor's transition to pop so smooth, and make so much sense, you almost forget her country roots. The worst tracks, are mainly filler, as all pop albums risk having. The most interesting track, is the slightly messy :"Bad Blood," almost sounding like a Kidz Bop sound alike track, with chanting, the most simple lyrics on the album, and production very similar to "Roar," it's an interesting track, but all doesn't quite come together (tracks like these are best left to other singers, who have mastered this type of song).
Overall, '1989' is a very solid album, much better than "Shake It Off" hinted at and one of the best pop albums in a year that has been disappointing for pop music. At times, the production and synthesizers feels a little too cold and processed (that wouldn't be the case on a country album), a result of the meticulous synthesized production, but it's a minor problem that doesn't distract from the majority of the album. It's an ambitious album, by one of music's most talented songwriters.
Grade B+
(I saw that I didn't have much time to do this. I have to study for a midterm later, but had to get my say in for this. I'll come back and make it look nicer)
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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I will start Motion when I end Imagine Dragons and Taylor Swift at 7:00 tonight.
Any more reviews for ID, please? 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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about to post my TS review pls no update
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Imagine Dragons - i Bet My Life
Imagine Dragons return after their immensely successful Night Visions era. It seems that Imagine Dragons has a couple different sounds and styles: a poppy-folky style (It''s Time), a melodramatic and bombastic mode (Radioactive), and a Coldplay-influenced slow burn power-ballad style (Demons).
I Bet My Life falls under the folky category and is a close cousin to It's Time. I Bet My Life finds the frontman singing about letting down a significant other, in various ways, during the verses while declaring that he's bet his life on his significant other during the explosive choruses (and asking for forgiveness during the bridge). The track isn't anything to write home about lyrically, it's pretty straight-forward; it's much less straight-forward musically. It combines their familiar pop-rock synth and guitar sound with folky handclaps and a stomping beat with soulful backing vocals. If that sounds cluttered, it's because it is. Imagine Dragons definitely are operating in the weaker of their three styles, they're a band from Vegas that favors dramatics and melodrama (think Demons and Radioactive) and that conflicts with the more subtle style that folky music requires. Still, I Bet My Life is catchy and energetic and nearly energetic so it's hard to dislike the song; they're capable of better though.
Grade: B-
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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ALBUM: Taylor Swift - 1989
In a world where ambition followed with poor execution is rife within the industry, 1989's prologue of being a 'pure pop album' stands out as something humble, maybe even unambitious. However, upon listening to - perhaps - 2014's most anticipated album, it's clear to see that 1989, if anything, is a cathartic reaction against the industry's growing pretence; an album which so explicitly is aware of itself is refreshing to hear. Had Swift labelled this album, say, 'her most personal record to date' (registered trademark of Britney Spears), it would be difficult to take it serious. Instead, the album is somewhat audacious in its own humility, defining itself as take-it-or-leave-it pop which succeeds in the sheer acuteness to which the songs have been crafted.
Despite the Katy Perry 101 lesson in 'one lyric fits all songwriting' of the lead single Shake It Off being slightly disconcerting to those who feared Swift's loss of personality, the rest of 1989 is craftily varnished with the storytelling persona with which everyone fell in love to begin with. It's moments like this which present 1989 as a grand assimilation of all the most recent, compelling contributions in pop music, from the 'nice dress' Del Rey-isms of album standout Wildest Dreams and the ode-to-Lorde Out of the Woods, all assorted into one disc which is fully observant and masterful of the thing it attempts to imitate, all signed off in black marker pen with Swift's own signature.
In a way, this shows Swift at her most self-aware and most endearingly self-depricating: a pop artist openly embracing the "I go on too many dates" and "Got a long list of ex-lovers" persona the media has built up for her. That is not to say, however, that the album is fully indulgent in the persona of pop, since Taylor's trademark confessional songwriting is still present and a vital organ in this body of work. The melodies (take, the anthemic Style, or 22's younger sister All You Had To Do Was Stay) are catchy and raring for both radios and arenas, while the lyrics tread idiosyncrasy and widespread appeal, culminating beautifully in the standard edition closer, Clean, which begins as stark and as vivid of the drought of which it speaks. Yet, unlike the sterility of many recent pop albums, not once does it feel like Taylor is ostensibly catering to others through both structure or lyrics. It's a work of joy - a product of fascination - and one which is accomplished by someone so understanding and self-aware.
While the pop landscape has recently been flooded by the likes of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears whom attempted to preclude their "spiritual", "personal" and "artistic" albums with marketing white noise, it is, in fact, Swift who is so unabashedly embracing of pop music in its purest form who emerges on top. Much like the music industry's last biggest album event - Beyoncé's self-titled, of course - which avoided prerelease pomp in order to inspire a message of the art directly connecting to the audience, 1989 is an album which reels back the pretence of marketing. Essentially, it's pop at it's most pure, endearing and enjoyable. Much like the delicate symbolism of 'you taking off your coat' in Style, 1989 merely asks us to drop pretence as tangibly as a coat for a while and for us to enjoy pop in it's purest, most visceral form: thus creating something simultaneously so simplistic and yet so astute in the way in which all it asks is for us to 'listen', 'enjoy'... and maybe even 'shake it off' while we're at it.
4 out of 5
Review archive
Tinashe - Aquarius
Calvin Harris ft. John Newman - Blame
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective
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Member Since: 8/15/2012
Posts: 6,964
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Hmm... I wanted to review '1989' to back up my 4.5/10 and to make sure it was the right rating but I would have needed to listen to it a couple of more times and you're closing the rating so I guess it'll be for another time.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 8,995
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Taylor Swift 1989
Overall opinion:
In 2006, she released country lead single "Tim McGraw" and now eight year later she explodes onto the scene with her fifth studio and first full on pop effort, 1989. A brilliantly constructed piece of pop that the music scene as missed for a few years has arrived. And her she comes in full on high fashion exploded onto the scene with a national anthem of heartbreak.
Track-by-track review:
Welcome to New York - "Walking through a crowd/The village is aglow/Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats/Under coats" are the opening lines of the first track on 1989. A track filled with 80s synths and about her move to New York, it may be her weakest opening track yet but it still does not come across as a dud. 6/10
Blank Space - "But I've got a blank space, baby.../And I'll write your name" Taylor sings on the second single from 1989 which is basically a kiss off to the critics. One of the best tracks on the album packs a poison with a pen click because she is a "nightmare dressed like a daydream". 10/10
Style - Max Martin and Shellback's production her punches a hole through the whole along with Taylor's voice riding this sick beat. What I see becoming one of the biggest hits of her career packs a punch as a much well-deserved stand out on the album. 10/10
Out of the Woods - "Are we out of the woods yet?" and "Are we in the clear yet?" are two questions Swift asks as you will move the furniture to dance to this relationship on the rocks anthem. A fantastic track and the best Jack Antonoff production on the album. 9/10
All You Had to Do Was Stay - The inspiration behind this track comes from a dream Taylor had with a high-pitched "stay" scream out of someone's mouth and that is translated onto the track beautifully. This is certainly one that will be epic live and rings in he back of you head until... 10/10
Shake It Off - ...She stays out too late and goes on too many dates or at least that's what people say. Well whatever they're saying, Taylor is clearly gonna shake it off and get you on on your feet. When in comparison to the rest of the album, you realize this is not quite as strong as the majority of the tracks. 7/10
I Wish You Would - A very oddly structured song is something only Taylor can pull off and she does it well. It's rhythms undeniably infectious and the "You always knew how to push my buttons" carried bridge brings the song full circle. 9/10
Bad Blood - What may be the most worse written song on the album still reminds you one of Taylor's relationships has gone rogue with problems and bad blood. The drum line is possibly the strongest on the album along with the key board synths in the pre-chorus. 8/10
Wildest Dreams - There is something utterly organismic about the way Taylor sings "He's so tall and handsome as hell/He's so bad but does it so well" and the sexualized moan following each "wildest dreams". Although it's very Lana Del Rey-esque, it remains one stand outs on 1989 with the best bridge on the album and it's clear Swift has brought something out of Max Martin and Shellback other artists can not. 10/10
How You Get the Girl - Although many praise this track, I still believe it does not have the same quality as the rest of the album. The two changes of perspective are right out of Taylor's playbook and the best feature of the track. 8/10
This Love - Swift's only solely written song on the album may be a disappointment to the likes of anything on Speak Now but it is still beautiful. With a reference to another track on the album, "Wildest Dreams", one is left to wonder if it's about the same partner as "This love came back to me". 8/10
I Know Places - What I declare the best song on the album, the spectacular pre-chorus states "They got the cages, they got the boxes, and guns/They are the hunters, we are the foxes/And we run" as her lover's green eyes shine in the dead of night. This is Taylor at her absolute best and Ryan Tedder as well. 10/10
Clean - Closing the standard edition of the album, "Clean" manages to confess "I must admit/Just because you're clean/Don't mean you don't miss it". What can be interpreted as the as a clean break to a relationship's end oy a final clear to a drug addiction, it's just this that makes the track so fantastic. 10/10
Wonderland - We first saw dub-Swift on "I Knew You Were Trouble" and her she is again in full costume with "Wonderland". While the other bonus are nothing short of great, this is just the best one and could have easily replaced one of the weaker tracks on the standard edition. 10/10
You Are In Love - "You can hear it in the silence/You can feel it on the way home/You could see it with the lights out" is how you know you are in love apparently. Another key style of Taylor's mark to the paper but the weakest of the deluxe tracks. 8/10
New Romantics - What could have worked as the album opener is this. The verses play off a sassy side to Taylor similarly to "Blank Space" but only could she turn that into one of the most relatable choruses on the album. 9/10
Conclusion:
1989 provided a reminder of what great pop music sounds like as well as Taylor's geniusness as she further evolves her career. Every track is great and no other album has been able to do that this year. What she has served here is a beautiful crafted piece of work that will stand the test of time.
Final score: 9/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mastamaind
Hmm... I wanted to review '1989' to back up my 4.5/10 and to make sure it was the right rating but I would have needed to listen to it a couple of more times and you're closing the rating so I guess it'll be for another time.
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I can extend the period. After all, reviews have still been coming in today.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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I have just extended both review periods for one more day. We still only have 4 ID reviews and 1989 reviews are still coming in.
I will start "Motion" tonight, though.
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Member Since: 8/15/2012
Posts: 6,964
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
I can extend the period. After all, reviews have still been coming in today.
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Cool, I was about to tell you to wait some minutes since I decided to write the review while listening to the album now, so I guess I'll take my time with the last paragraphs since I was finishing already.
I'm not much a reviewer, this is actually the first review I do so I guess it'll be very rusty with also the fact that I had to hurry but I'm not remaking it so I'll just drop it.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mastamaind
Cool, I was about to tell you to wait some minutes since I decided to write the review while listening to the album now, so I guess I'll take my time with the last paragraphs since I was finishing already.
I'm not much a reviewer, this is actually the first review I do so I guess it'll be very rusty with also the fact that I had to hurry but I'm not remaking it so I'll just drop it.
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Hope you're satisfied with your review! Thanks for participating! 
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Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 3,459
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Could we review Medicine by The 1975? 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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| Motion - Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris | Columbia | Release Date: October 31, 2014 | Review Period: November 3, 2014 - November 9, 2014
|  | dddddddddd
66 | Member Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 6 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
7.4 | Experimental Top Critic Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 2 Top Critics |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The fourth album from the British dance-pop artist features hit singles "Summer" and "Blame". | Record Label: Columbia
Genre(s): Pop, EDM, Dance-pop |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 4 | | d | ....iMixed: ████████ 2 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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| | Top Critic Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 2 | | d | ....iMixed: ? | | d | Negative: ? |
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