Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade - Page 100

Legofanyoda

Songs Of Innocence
U2

The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone): It starts out with what sort of sounds like a Fall Out Boy-esque chant. I love this! It sort of reminds me of Speed Of Sound by Coldplay (one of my favourite songs of all time

) Not only that, but its' chorus is so damn infectious! I think it was very right of them to choose this as the lead single. Not only that, but choosing it as the first track was smart as well. It immediately draws you in to see what the rest of the album is like. I live for that guitar riff! 10/10
Every Breaking Wave: This starts off as pretty soothing. I can't help but think of it as filler, though. I like the whole sound of it, though. Much like Miracle, it's very catchy. I don't like the backtrack as much as I liked The Miracle's, though. 8/10
California: The beginning immediate reminds me of Midnight by Coldplay. But then, there's a guitar riff that begins, which reminds me of yet another Coldplay song, Lovers In Japan. All in all, it's a pretty OK song, but it's nothing that special. It is pretty catchy, though. 8.5/10
Song For Someone: The beginning sounds like some Taylor Swift song from 2009

This sort of reminds me of You & I by John Legend. I like it! The guitar riff towards the end sounds like something straight off of Mylo Xyloto.

9/10
Iris: This is pretty catchy! I don't know what, but something makes this almost as good as TM(OJR). This reminds me a lot of the Imagine Dragons song Hear Me. 9.5/10
Volcano: I don't like this that much, I don't know why. It just sounds like filler... 6/10
Raised By Wolves: Pretty catchy and good. Don't have much to say, though. 7/10
Cedarwood Road: Sort of sounds like a non-EDM version of Lovers On The Sun, or possibly even Yes by Coldplay. I like it! 8/10
Sleep Like A Baby Tonight: This is a really cool track. It has a pretty nice electronic feel to it that I REALLY like. This track surprised me, to be honest. 9/10
This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now: I like the piano intro a lot. It's nothing more than alright, though. I like it, but not that much. It sounds like a track from some cheesy (and/or iconic) 80's movie. 8/10
The Troubles: Pretty good. Not much to say about it, though... 9/10

Consensus: A very catchy, well put together album, Songs Of Innocence
Highlights: The Miracle, Song For Someone, Sleep Like A Baby Tonight

83/100

tittieslap

In before C2C gets panned by most of these ATRL users.

Prometheus.

Should we open up a second thread where we can vote for the albums/songs we want to review? Instead of cluttering this thread with reviews AND voting AND conversation?

alexanderao

Quote:

Originally posted by Prometheus.

Should we open up a second thread where we can vote for the albums/songs we want to review? Instead of cluttering this thread with reviews AND voting AND conversation?

That's an excellent idea. i hadn't thought of that but it really does seem both feasible and efficient. I'll PM Matty about it and see what kind of opinion I get back.

I guess it could work like this:

This thread
- Reviews
- Discussion around reviews and reviewed singles/albums

Proposed thread
- Requests for singles/albums to be reviewed
- Miscellaneous voting (e.g. if we were to have a poll to determine who our Top Critics would be)

Thanks for the idea. I think this could be quite helpful.

Almighty Gaga

The constant bumping is what gives this thread life though.

alexanderao

Quote:

Originally posted by Almighty Gaga

The constant bumping is what gives this thread life though.

I think the hope is that members would be bumping it enough with reviews and review discussion.

I'm going to try to keep at least 2 things up for review on any given day, the ideal number being three.

I'd be hesitant to have four but if there was enough demand I don't see what's wrong with it.

alexanderao

I received a reply from Matty:

Quote:

I'll see what other moderators think about [the idea of a second thread].

I honestly think maybe try doing PMs first. Have [people] PM you requests of singles/albums they would want reviewed and then you can update with the ones that get the most requests.

You probably saw how we did do reviews for stuff [people] requested, but we also made more of a priority to do bigger pop act stuff first. That would ensure more people to review and get further involved.

MP2K

Quote:

Originally posted by alexanderao

Here's what I'm thinking:

Tentative Review Schedule

This way we are not reviewing more than 3 at any given time.

Um we've got to do Chasing Time, it's the top thread right now with over 30,000 views.

Prometheus.

PM's would work, but it would fill up your inbox so quick. You'd have to do a lot of deleting.

Either way is really efficient, though.

Matty

Quote:

Originally posted by alexanderao

Also, if there is still a high demand for a Top Critics feature, I will get working on that.

Let's slow the roll now.

I appreciate the enthusiasm, but your basically still on a trial run until we can decide exactly what to do. Remember, this may be temporary or it may be permanent.

HonourableVomit

Cheek to Cheek
10/10

I'm not only biased as a stan for this one, but I've loved jazz since I was little and my grandparents always listened to it, including Tony Bennett. Now to have my favourite artist serve me a whole album of classic standards is a dream come true, but throw in the nostalgia factor and I don't think I could like this album more unless it was longer.

The track times on most jazz standards is relatively low compared to today's pop songs, and I find that adds a very refreshing flavour while listening to this album. Nothing drags. There's no "I'll just skip ahead and get to the good bit" like on most pop albums. From "Anything Goes"to "I Won't Dance" is utter perfection. "Firefly" I'll admit is a let down from the flawless run of the first half of the album, but Lush Life, my personal favourite track from the entire project, completely rectifies it. The most beautiful rendition of the song I've heard yet, the climax is heartbreaking and poignant. Tony misses some steps on "Sophisticated Lady" but after that it's pure joy with the last 3 tracks celebrating everything there is to love about jazz, from balladry in "But Beautiful" to the "Swing" finale.

The deluxe additions are also wonderful, especially Ev'ry Time and Bang Bang where Gaga proves what everybody already knows; bitch can sing.

holyground

holyground: music in review

6.0
"another one for the dancefloor"

Blame (feat. John Newman)
Calvin Harris

Calvin is at it again, releasing a song with someone else's vocals after he released a lead single with his own vocals, even though he said he wanted to give up singing a long time ago. There really isn't much to talk about about this song, other than it's a really typical Calvin song.

John Newman is quite a polarising vocalist I guess. Some say that he has a really unique tone, some say that it's unbearable. I find myself to be in the middle of this. I do think he has a unique voice which is exemplified in studio recordings and he does have some moments in the song. But when he tries to recreate it live, it's simply a horrendous trainwreck.

Whereas for Calvin's production, it's really nothing special. Nothing as euphoric as Feel So Close, nothing as dreamy as I'm Not Alone, nothing as catchy as Summer. It follows the same pattern his music has had for the past few years. Also, the video is unbearable. How is it that since Drinking From a Bottle, his videos became cheap and gross?

Even though I may be trashing this a bit, I admit, I'm a huge sucker for a nice beat to get myself pumped to. So yes, as long as the song isn't outrageously disgusting, the most generic song with a good solid pumping beat will suck me up effortlessly.

previous reviews

archives

...

shake it off - taylor swift - 8.0

break the rules - charli xcx - 7.5

my everything - ariana grande - 6.7

v - maroon 5 - 5.0

goddess - banks - 8.8

Ronaldista

Quote:

Originally posted by holyground

So yes, as long as the song isn't outrageously disgusting, the most generic song with a good solid pumping beat will suck me up effortlessly.

now I finally understand why you like Shake It Off!

holyground

Quote:

Originally posted by borntodie

now I finally understand why you like Shake It Off!

That was for another reason

Skywalker

Cheek to Cheek
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

All little monsters and little crooners were awaiting this unlikely duo's album. Despite pushback after pushback, the album finally managed to go into full swing to release this week - pleasing many. The first note to make about this album: it is not something brave. It is not some complex, naked glimpse into the soul. It is not some experimental void where Mother Monster conducts her decompositions of auras and planetary travels. It is what it is - a simple throwback to older times.

Tony Bennett (coming off of his smash album Duets II) sounds younger and greater than he ever has. The crooner has been in the business longer than Lady Gaga (who had just released the global #1 album Artpop last November) but the two voices seem to match together like fine wine and cheese.

The album, like all albums, has its series of flaws and successes. 'Anything Goes' is the lead single and opener to Cheek to Cheek - and an opener it is! With heavy brass coming from instruments and Lady Gaga herself, the energy of this track seeps into its listeners with gusto; inviting, albeit somewhat bracefully, for them to enjoy this fun little romp in the park. Gaga is a bit weak on this one. She goes a bit flat and strains her voice on some of the higher lines, getting a tad bit throaty and shouting (thankfully this is only really evident in this track). The titular track, however, is an immediate contrast. The duo's vocals blend immediately after Gaga offers us a quiet seductive purr of "heaven, I'm in heaven."

'Nature Boy' & 'I Can't Give You Anything But Love' were the next promotional singles for the album. Both are deserving of the title. The former has a stunning production that strikes as timeless but with a nostalgic flute hanging in the distance - wistful, clinging. 'Love,' on the other hand, is a laid back and slightly funky song that has Tony and Gaga purely enjoying themselves; one can just imagine the two singing back to each other at the back of a club at night.

Just from one listen from Gaga's 'Lush Life' will have anyone immediately swept away and in awe. The 'Marry The Night' hitmaker demonstrates that, yes, Lady Gaga can actually pull off subtlety. 'Ev'ry Time,' a deluxe song, further demonstrates the dynamic power of her surprisingly well-done phrasing. Her two solos are definite top material - every Gaga fan should take a listen.

Mr. Bennett is no slouch himself. His 'Don't Wait' is a sweet little track that could melt the icy heart of any individual. 'Sophisticated Lady' fails to live up to that same sentimentality - Tony often slurring the melody, coming out flat at times, and ending it with a sour note (but we'll forgive the jazz legend for this one).

'I Won't Dance' and 'But Beautiful' are the last duets that truly must be mentioned. Despite being polar contrasts, the two songs showcase the duo at their very best. With 'Dance,' the two play and bounce with each other line after line, with brass highlighting the melody. 'But Beautiful' is a sweeping love story between the two with delicious and infectious harmonies that would make any blossoming soul fall straight into immediate infatuation.

But the real surprise is an iTunes bonus song. Lady's cover of Cher's 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)' is the true highlight of the album. Perhaps it is fitting as a bonus track: unlike the rest of the safe and enjoyable tracks, this song is wrapped deliciously in a Spanish tango that dares to be different than the more famous covers. The final chorus is a stunning gusto that pushes out pure emotion line by line. Indeed, the live performance is likely the best performance of Lady's career and the definitely the best track on the album.

Cheek to Cheek lives up to its promise of nostalgia and beauty. We forget the darkness that surrounds us in trying times and wallow in a nostalgia that, while foreign to some, always seems comforting. Despite the occasional slip up, the record is one that will not be forgotten for many monsters and fans of the American Songbook. A success through and through, Cheek to Cheek is a sweet happiness that we all could use - including Gaga herself.

8.75/10

Bloomers

Congratulations alexanderao! How much more time for Blame? That's the only thing I haven't listened to yet.

Nice review from Meowster above me. Very well written. You should review more often. Let me go buy Bang Bang.

alexanderao

Quote:

Originally posted by Bloomers

Congratulations alexanderao! How much more time for Blame? That's the only thing I haven't listened to yet.

Nice review from Meowster above me. Very well written. You should review more often. Let me go buy Bang Bang.

Blame until tomorrow night. In fact, the 1 day notice will be coming later today.

Αnt

Danity Kane's ~~comeback~~ single "Rhythm of Love" needs to be done.

bluth

Calvin Harris ft. John Newman - Blame

It's difficult living in the UK and trying to avoid hearing the new Calvin Harris hit single. His presence on British airwaves and playlists is as ubiquitous as the vast array of guest singers he has appear on his songs, and as such one becomes more and more desensitised and disenchanted with his easy bake hit singles - of which Blame is certainly not exempt.

Perhaps this is a song we could blame on Rihanna. It's difficult to remember a pre-We Found Love pop music landscape wherein Harris was mildly subversive and interesting in his offerings (I'm Not Alone, Ready For The Weekend), but with 2011's era-defining monster hit from Rihanna, it seems like Harris has thereafter clung to his golden formula with the tenacity of Jack Dawson clinging onto a door in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The marriage of a simple structure with pseudo-profound lyrics was accessible enough for pop listeners and hip enough for dance audiences, however the reuse of this formula by Harris is not too dissimilar to someone wearing the same killer outfit over and over: it becomes boring.

It's especially pertinent to note that the rent-a-vocals contribution this time around comes from John Newman, who broke through into the social conscience via his guest appearances on Rudimental's soul-dance hybrids (Feel The Love, Not Giving In), and yet this feels like one of Harris' most soulless outings to date. Any chance at finding something legitimately organic or worth caring about is shot down by the predictable structure and the generalised-beyond-identity lyrics.

Maybe we could blame this on Rihanna's all-encompassing draw, but to call We Found Love detrimental - if anything - is unfair. Instead, fingers point to Harris himself, who stands monolithically in an ever-changing pop music scene, churning out his soulless dance diatribe on a production line that [unfortunately] never seems to end.

1 out of 5

Review archive
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective

alexanderao

Calvin Harris - Blame f/John Newman - 24 HOUR NOTICE

You have approximately 24 hours to review Blame, if you have not already.