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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 4/29/2012
Posts: 15,977
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Marina & The Diamonds - Froot
I pictured a lot of different sounds for Marina's comeback. I thought a sound like Lorde with nothing but a drum machine would suit her. Or a very dramatic sound in the vein of "Ceremonials" by Florence + The Machine. But never would I have expected her to come back with a disco song.
The song was produced by David Kosten and Marina herself yet Daft Punk couldn't come up with a more better 80s disco production.The song is relatively long and the instrumental is rarely changing with its videogame influenced beat yet the song is never repetitive because every part of the song has a unique and strong melody.The song opens with a single short guitar chord and immediately drops the disco instrumental on the listener. Marina's extremely versatile voice is one of the things that make the song stand out. Her voice changes from very high to very low has been a technique she kind of left behind for her sophomore album but what made her debut very unique so seeing them back is very refreshing. Lyrically the song deals with fertility and virginity yet the song is very open to interpretation and doesn't seem to try to convey a definite meaning.
Final Say: "Froot" is an instantely catchy pop song but not at all generic or cheap and still very authentic. In short the perfect kind of pop music.
9,7/10
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 39,572
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Quote:
Originally posted by Prometheus.
I can't wait to review Out Of The Woods.  |
Either I missed the single announcement or you is outta luck.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Listened to Tokio Hotel, I might review that one
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Member Since: 11/10/2011
Posts: 870
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FROOT
Marina has taken two separate paths in her career so far; a distinguishable indie pop vocalist with the strangest and most charming vibrato I've ever heard, and a mock pop-sensation devoid of that distiguishing vibrato, but a damn solid true, dark, pop contender.
Never would I imagine these two worlds combining into such a perfect blend.
Froot embodies all of the charm of her first album with strong production of her second, and takes the two strongest parts of these albums, combines them with her fantastic as always lyrics, and cranks out the wunderlied known as Froot.
It is easily a song that can withstand multiple repeats without growing old, and stands as one of my top favorites of the whole year.
10/10
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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 | Synthpop artist "Marina and the Diamonds" has released her lead single from her third studio album named "Froot". The lead single is for sure a very enjoyable experience. I love that she's bringing us that 80s ABBA-influenced disco style. I also see an amazing improvement from Marina's previous lead singles which weren't the most happy ones for sure. Overall, I am super excited to hear what Marina has in store for us as she kept my attention with this 5 minutes long song that doesn't even tend to be boring. If you didn't like it at the first listen, check it again and you'll love it! |
Score: 10/10
Other reviews
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Member Since: 9/11/2012
Posts: 5,512
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(My first review , I hope it's all right . Great initiative . And i am super pissed at missing the Hozier deadline , my favorite album of this year  )
Froot
This is actually the first song I have heard by Marina and the Diamonds (on suggestion of Humanity Sector[ATRL Member]). Judging her on the basis of this song alone , i think she is an Alternative pop artist -whose lyrics usually have a lot of metaphors and similes . Froot is an exceptional catchy pop song. With a infectious beat that sounds like a slowed down version of Azealia Banks monstrous club hit 212 and use of unique but catchy phrases like " La Dolce Vita" makes one instantly gravitate towards the song and you are bound to press the replay button just to listen to that first line from the chorus.
Where the production is top notch , lyrics of the song are in a bit of a muddle. It generally happen to a lot of alt-pop artist , when they are in a dilemma, whether to make a catchy commercial pop song or stay true to their form by writing deep and complex lyrics and in order to achieve the balance artist sometimes end up adding awkward lyrics to the song which would make the song sound "Alternative". I think that is what happened with froot.
Overall the song is immensely catchy but it doesn't truly show artist's true capabilities as lyricist
Score - 7.5/10
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cupid
I can't wait for Sound Of A Woman. |
Yes. I really need to listen to the album!
If it hasn't been seconded for review, I second.
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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I wanna listen to Kiesza's album too
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Member Since: 11/16/2011
Posts: 32,177
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Quote:
Originally posted by hello_world
Either I missed the single announcement or you is outta luck.
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I don't think they have to be official singles. We did the ***Flawless Remix.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Prometheus.
I don't think they have to be official singles. We did the ***Flawless Remix.
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We're not going to be reviewing Out Of The Woods, as promotional singles are not reviewed. If it gets an official release later, we can review it then. Alternatively, maybe the 1989 review period will allow people to express their thoughts on OOTW.
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Member Since: 11/16/2011
Posts: 32,177
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
We're not going to be reviewing Out Of The Woods, as promotional singles are not reviewed. If it gets an official release later, we can review it then. Alternatively, maybe the 1989 review period will allow people to express their thoughts on OOTW.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Tokio Hotel - Kings Of Suburbia AND Marina & The Diamonds - Froot - 24 HOUR NOTICE
You have approximately 24 hours to review Kings Of Suburbia and Froot if you have not already.
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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Omg so fast for KOS 
I guess my review has to come tomorrow
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Member Since: 11/18/2011
Posts: 5,396
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Marina & the Diamonds - Froot
Release Date: October 10, 2014
"Babe I love you a lot, I'll give you all I've got, yeah you know that it's true, I've been saving all my summers for you... like Froot."
Marina & the Diamonds has finally returned! With this new song, Marina has decided to evade going back to "Marina staple producers" such as Liam Howe and Greg Kurstin. Instead, Froot is produced by the wonderful David Kosten who has produced for musical act Bat for Lashes in the past. Perhaps this means that we'll get something as delicious as All Your Gold?
Anyway, regarding the song, Marina has decided to go against suggestions of revisiting her past album sounds. With The Family Jewels and Electra Heart, Marina has gone with productions that have been either modern alternative or modern pop tracks. With Froot, Marina has decided to unexpectedly go in the funky, disco, and throwback feeling.
This song is also the longest song that Marina has done ever (I'm counting out 2-minutes-of-birds-chirping-Fear-and-Loathing) and the song actually goes by very quick. I personally don't realize that five minutes have already gone by towards the end of the song. Froot also does a good job of matching the streamlined vocals of Electra Heart with the eccentric and fun vocals of The Family Jewels, which are admittedly a lot more interesting than the safe Electra Heart.
The only real downside to the song is that some of the lyrics are nonsensical or are just put into the song to fit the theme of fruit. However, this can be quite excusable when you discover that Marina decided to write the song completely by herself as she has with songs in the past. Marina has said that every song on the upcoming third album, also named Froot, will sound different from the title track. Froot is a great start to the new era, so it's very exciting to see what will come next.
8.8/10
★★★★★★★★✩✩
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Member Since: 5/14/2007
Posts: 2,296
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Any chance of us reviewing Tinashe's Aquarius?
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Member Since: 11/16/2011
Posts: 32,177
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Quote:
Originally posted by ExclamationMarks
Any chance of us reviewing Tinashe's Aquarius?
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Gurl, you are L8.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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holyground: music in review 
6.8
"an uneven album with a respectable direction"
highlights
love who loves you back
kings of suburbia
invaded
| Kings of Suburbia
Tokio Hotel
The 4-piece German band have been around for around 10 years, basing their music off mostly alternative rock and pop punk. On their 4th album, Humanoid, there were a lot more electronic influences, something that was really hot in 2009. After 5 years, they're back with a brand new look and a much more evolved sound. Generally, I've not really heard much of their music except for the singles on Humanoid (which were played tons on the radio in this tiny Asian country of mine). I think that this album is decent, but is it really worth the 5 year wait?
This album is clearly much more electronic, so much that I could barely hear any rock sounds in it. Not that it is a bad thing though, because it does bring about some smooth bops with a good poppy flavour, making them very catchy. The disco-influenced Loves Who Loved You Back is a prime example where their new sound works. It contains some guitar playing that harks back to their roots, but it's the way the synths and electronics create an ambiance that feels sexy and fun which makes this song so glorious.
Also, the album does contain some experimentations, where they really stray far from their usual sound, and also almost every track has his vocals AutoTuned. Girl Got a Gun can be a quite polarising song (especially with that music video it has), but after a few listens, the quirky production and delivery is infectious and fun.
There are also a couple stripped-down ballads on the album. Some may think they're a nice breather amongst the heavier production, while others may think they just sound of place. To be honest, for the first few listens, they did sound like they didn't fit. But they are great songs in their own rights. Run, Run, Run may be a bit boring (but is still a good ballad), but Invaded is a stunning one, brimming with emotion.
But, there are also times when their new direction doesn't work, such as We Found Us, a midtempo EDM-themed track. The song almost feels vapid, with a typical beat low-key pulsating around a typical track. There is no climatic feeling or anything noteworthy. Even if the track was meant to be filler, the production and the song itself doesn't feel like anything special, just boring. The album's opening track, Feel it All, also shows this problem to a lesser extent. Basically it doesn't make me feel anything at all.
The album is ultimately, rather uneven. Some tracks manage to play off the new sound magnificently while others aren't as well executed. However, the album does contain enough gems that could help them break into new markets outside of Europe and Asia. Even as the album as a whole feels inadequate in some places, it is no indication that the band should stray from the electronics. They probably need to keep finding a nice balance between rock, their new sound and bold pop punk sensibilities that their songs usually have.
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previous reviews
archives
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something in the water - carrie underwood - 8.5
little machines - lights - 7.8
queen of the clouds - tove lo - 7.4
hozier - hozier - 9.0
aquarius - tinashe - 7.3
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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Do you think you could extend Froot a bit? 
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Tokio Hotel - Kings Of Suburbia
I'm not too familiar with Tokio Hotel. Apparently, they are a German rock band that has been around since 2001. I know I have heard of them before; I know I came across the name years ago when emo was huge and I believe that they used to do more emo music if I remember correctly. I say used to because the sound of Kings Of Suburbia is a different sound from classic emo music. Before listening to Kings Of Suburbia, I was hesitant because that style of music was never my favorite, too melodramatic and there were plenty of bands that were just slight variations on the same thing; but I was really surprised listening to the album.
Like 30 Seconds to Mars and Panic! At the Disco, Tokio Hotel are a band that have changed with the times to more of a synth-based sound and to be honest, the sound works better for Tokio Hotel than 30 Seconds or the awful most recent Panic! album. Maybe it's because Berlin is a well-known hotbed for electronic music, or maybe it's because Tokio Hotel just have a better grasp on song writing, or something in the middle. Kings Of Suburbia, after a couple listens grows, on the listener instead of getting old so that's a start. The majority of the songs ride a cool electronic groove and master a balance between rock and electronic, the songs are poppy enough to be catchy and appeal to pop fans, and also have enough serious rock attitude to appeal to pop haters. The group hasn't left its 2000s rock roots behind, some emo styles still exist: the frontman's singing can get a little too melodramatic, with wailed high notes, but overall he doesn't go too overboard; the guitars cruch and slash just like you would have heard in any mall in the mid to late 2000s, but are balanced out well by electronics that are not overdone. It's a solid album, with enough variation between tracks and solid construction to appeal to anybody willing to give it a shot. My favorite tracks after a couple listens: Run, Run, Run (almost could be a Radiohead ballad) and Stormy Weather (I like the synth hook, it's also really catchy) and Love Who Loves You Back (Empire Of The Sun's Best Song). It's an album that is a great example of what a band can do if it matures well.
Edit: The album was inspired by Los Angeles and its club scene. It's always a creative risk to push your boundaries and try and expand your sound and the electronic influences on this album do add accessibility to the album, in addition to making the album more easy to play in different situations than the standard rock album.
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Grade: B
Marina & The Diamonds - Froot
Marina is back with a new single after the underwhelming Electra Heart. Her last album suffered from being mainstream pop made from the perspective of someone who had no desire to make mainstream pop. The album's concept was something about making fun of the vapidness of mainstream pop, but using mainstream pop in order to make the statement. It was a good concept, but executed poorly, the music really wasn't enjoyable; something probably best left to enjoy in the abstract. It's a shame because Marina can write a good pop hook. Consider Froot. The new single has it's moments, Marina knows when to use her lower vocals to catch the attention of the listener and she knows when not o overuse them.
The song rides a dark disco sound that sounds like something Greg Kurstin might come up with. The track has a funky bassline and video game beeps combined with a disco guitar. Froot is definitely one of the most interesting singles of the year. It's also completely solid, if not spectacular, for the first 4 minutes or so, but continues on well past the 5 minute mark without much progression to make things interesting; the track is overlong, and lacks in dynamics, but solid.
__________________________________________________ ______
Grade: B-
 My Reviews
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by holyground
Do you think you could extend Froot a bit? |
There are still a few reviews trickling in, so maybe.
No one has reviewed Jessie Ware 
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