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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 56,234
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86 for FROOT. 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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Jessie Ware - 'Tough Love'
8.5
Jessie Ware's unique blend of RnB, Pop and Electronic music lead to her debut album 'Devotion' being an unexpected critical and moderate commercial success. Two years on, she returns with her second album, 'Tough Love'. While it isn't quite as good as Devotion, 'Tough Love is in no way a sophomore slump.
The first thing you may notice about 'Tough Love' is that it is distinctly poppier, perhaps more calculated than 'Devotion'. Subtle, yet effective hooks, are found all over the album ('I could hear your song forever/ you're the sweetest, sweetest song') and a conveyor belt of high-profile co-writers and producers including Miguel and Dev Hynes of Blood Orange have been enlisted. You could argue that too many cooks spoil the broth with the album losing some cohesion, but they all play their parts well and the album has no bad songs. The Ed Sheeran co-written 'Say You Love Me' with it's melodramatic choir backing, does border on mediocre and feels like it was written simply to be hit (and it worked, slay that top 30 smash hit, queen). But Jessie at her poppiest is also at her best, 'Champagne Kisses', with it's euphoric, high-pitched chorus, is a song that can't help but make you smile even on a pretty somber album.
'Tough Love' is filled with highlights; The string laced 'Pieces' is reminiscent of 'Born To Die' while the keyboard-backed, hymn-like 'Keep On Lying' shows off Ware's impressive vocals. Unfortunately, as amazing as these songs are, they lack the raw the emotion of powerful 'Devotion' tracks such as 'Wildest Moments' and 'Taking In Water'. Lush closer, 'Desire' is the perfect way to end the album but unfortunately it lacks the magical harmonies of Devotion's stunning closer, 'Something Inside'
Must Listen: 'Champagne Kisses' 'Keep On Lying' 'Tough Love' 'Sweetest Song' 'Desire'
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 46,848
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
I was wondering if this thread would be a bit more lively/active if we were to review current singles that were already released on albums (like Animals or I'm Not The Only One).
Thoughts?
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Yes please 
Also we should review Baby Don't Lie since it's brand new
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Yes Baby Don't Lie is a must. Any new albums coming out?
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Member Since: 4/4/2014
Posts: 32,654
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Im going to try and start reviewing some stuff i think. i agree with doing baby don't lie too
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Member Since: 11/18/2011
Posts: 5,396
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I promise a Tough Love review will come from me before the deadline, most likely tomorrow.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Okay, I'm on mobile but we have the sufficient amount of requests for "Baby Don't Lie." When I get home I will begin it. It will go until the 23rd or 24th.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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| Baby Don't Lie - Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani | Interscope | Release Date: October 20, 2014
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77 | Member Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 15 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
9.8 | Modscore
Universal acclaim
based on 1 Mod |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The lead single from the pop singer's first album in eight years. | Record Label: Interscope
Genre(s): Pop |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 11 | | d | ....iMixed: ██████ 4 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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| | Mod Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 1 | | d | ....iMixed: 0 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Extending Tough Love period to the 24th because we only have 1 review.
Anybody want to throw out some current-single suggestions?
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 46,848
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Yas. Let me right this thorough review real quick 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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We should review Meghan's new single too (Lips Are Movin) 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie
The No Doubt breakout returns after a long solo absence with new lead single Baby Don't Lie. The song itself plays off current trends, combining a tribal beat and worldbeat influences to form one of the best beats of the year. The melody itself, however, is almost nonexistent at times. The bridge is the weakest part of the song by far. I almost just want to skip straight through it at each listen. Still, Stefani's signature vocals and powerful performance of the song prevail in the end, combining to form a catchy pop tune. Even if it isn't brilliant, Baby Don't Lie is a solid pop single that should prove to be a successful comeback single for Gwen.
Jessie Ware - Tough Love
Even in my days of listening to strictly pop, Jessie Ware stuck out as an artist that could effortlessly and successfully combine genres into something that was both intuitive and commercial. Ware's 2014 effort, Tough Love, continues this streak of success, combining elements of pop, electronic, and R&B music. The album feels extremely fresh. Ware's vocals are better than ever. The melodies and harmonies on the album combined with the slick production form superb tracks that just aren't getting the attention they deserve. The first track to immensely stand out to me was Say You Love Me. From the first beat I was instantly drawn in. Even with minimalistic production, Ware's vocals seem successfully supported by the bright harmonies present on the track. She has a way of making ballads seem new that few artists can do these days. If there is one drawback on the album it is that she never seems to leave her comfort zone. There are a few boring tracks, although I wouldn't call them fillers. Still, I hope to continue to watch Jessie grow in style and success as an artist and I was pleasantly surprised by this album even on even the first listen.
8.7/10
___________________________
Other Reviews
SINGLES
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang 9/10
Carrie Underwood - Something In the Water 10/10
One Direction - Steal My Girl 4/10
ALBUMS
Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds 8.5/10
Tinashe - Aquarius 9.5/10
Hozier - Hozier 6.8/10
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 46,848
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Baby Don't Lie by Gwen Stefani
With a huge splash, the comeback track "Baby Don't Lie" by the "Hollaback Girl" hit maker overwhelms the senses with cleverly infused Raggae-pop stomps in the chorus and a hip hop influenced intro and outro. Although, the track is reminiscent of Rihanna's "Diamonds" and Ellie Goulding's "Burn", there is something more ominous and baleful about that I personally love that gives it just a hint of uniqueness. The silver lining kind of gets hazy toward the bridge. Much like Katy Perry's "Roar" and Ariana Grande's "Problem", the bridge is almost nonexistant - it literally comes and goes, leaving no impact on the listener whatsoever - which for a song of this caliber is a bit of a let down but not completely detrimental. Overall the production is anthemic, the lyrics are catchy and the bridge is lacking but still respectable enough to make its presence made. Although the single is lacking in total originality in my opnion, this single choice was near-perfect for Gwen.
A -
Other Reviews:
Bang Bang: B+
Chasing The Sun: F-
Flawless Remix: A+
Anaconda: D
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Member Since: 6/3/2006
Posts: 51,724
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10 for Gwen's Baby Don't Lie!
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Pedro
10 for Gwen's Baby Don't Lie!
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This review will not count.
Single reviews must be at least 80 words long. 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: 11/18/2011
Posts: 5,396
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Jessie Ware - Tough Love
Release Date: October 13, 2014
"Just say you love me, just for today, and don’t give me time cause that’s not the same, want to feel burning flames when you say my name. I want to feel passion flow into my bones, like blood through my veins."
Jessie Ware had a fantastic couple of years with her debut. She started popping up on tracks from electronic musicians such as Joker and SBTRKT before finally releasing her debut album in 2012, called Devotion. It received huge critical acclaim and, basically, is a great album. The album did not spawn any albums that hit the top 40 in the UK, which was a bit of a surprise considering the album made it to #5. With her newest album, helmed by BenZel, Jessie was able to crack top 40 with both of her singles.
BenZel is a duo compromised of two producers: Benny Blanco and Two Inch Punch. They are the executive producers of the album, and there are a few key differences in Jessie’s sophomore release to her debut. The biggest is that Jessie has put her magnificent voice on the front of most, maybe all, of the songs on the album rather than hiding behind reverb of production. Also, while the album is concise in overall theme and sound, Tough Love is a bit more diverse than Devotion was.
The title track is out of this world and the peak of BenZel’s production on the album. At worst, Tough Love is a modern-day Time After Time, which is probably one of the biggest compliments I can give a song. It’s tough (lol) that the lowest point on the album, You & I (Forever), follows right after. The lovey lyrics are nice, but the production is just innate drumming over and over. However, it is quickly saved by the Dave Okumu (the main producer for her debut) produced track Cruel. It’s a mirrored version of Still Love Me, again from her debut, and the lyrics show the real sides of love.
Big-hit Say You Love Me is next and channels Beyonce in all the best ways. The second verse is ethereal in vocals and the song overall is just perfectly too lovey-dovey to pass up. Somewhere in the middle, Sweetest Song, Pieces, and the bossa nova Keep On Lying are still gorgeous songs. Miguel-tinged Kind Of… Sometimes… Maybe, while a grower of a song, creates some sort of glitchy R&B that works almost too well with Jessie.
Want Your Feeling is another high halfway through. Produced by Dev Hynes (seriously, if you don’t know him already just look him up), it sounds like the sister of Blood Orange’s You’re Not Good Enough with its midtempo disco and funk. The album then rounds out with Champagne Kisses, which is slightly lame, and then Desire, which is a lovely track but doesn’t really feel like a closing song.
To sum up Tough Love as a whole, it almost feels like it should have been Ware’s debut album. She explores many different sounds and producers and she received commercial success in the singles. I do admittedly wish Jessie put some of the deluxe songs on the standard and vice-versa, regardless of how well the album works on its own. Jessie Ware has done a fantastic job of retaining her overall artistic vision from Devotion to Tough Love and will undoubtedly continue to shine throughout her music career.
8.7/10
★★★★★★★★✩✩
Top Tracks: Tough Love, Say You Love Me, Kind Of… Sometimes… Maybe, Want Your Feeling, All On You (deluxe)
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Member Since: 11/16/2011
Posts: 32,177
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Member Since: 9/26/2011
Posts: 6,117
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Jessie Ware, Tough Love
2011's Devotion put this sensual vocalist, who rose to prominence thanks to collaborations with SBTRKT, Sampha, Disclosure and the like, somewhere in between the soul-inspired R&B of fellow Britons Sade and Lisa Stansfield. Occasional interactions with 90s-inspired dance/house left their mark on her sophomore album, the newly released Tough Love. Though her first album stood out thanks to the harmony between her simple yet very elegant and sensual voice and the production, her second effort mostly relies on poppy, up-tempo melodies mostly present on the slightly dull (thank you Ed Sheeran) guitar ballad Say You Love Me, Dev Hynes' eclectic disco-influenced Want Your Feeling, and the cheerful Champagne Kisses. The album distinguishes itself from its predecessor moreso through its themes: while Devotion felt melodramatic, hopeless even at times, Tough Love listens, touches, moves like a lovely serenade, going from delightfully praising the present relationship (Sweetest Song), to upfrontly doubting the truth left in the love shared (Kind Of...Sometimes...Maybe). All in all, Ware has again proved her ingenius capability at applying her sultry voice to whichever rhythm, guitar riff or beat served, keeping enthousiastic listeners' desire for more.
4.5/5
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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Quote:
Originally posted by Pedro
10 for Gwen's Baby Don't Lie!
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I'll post a Gwen review at the last minute
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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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I'll post a Gwen review at the last minute |
I'm about to post the 24hr notice for Jessie Ware and Gwen Stefani, so don't rush.
I will get a review of Stefani's single up as well, probably late tonight.
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The chorus is so catchy, and I love the repetitiveness of this song in the same vein as "Love Me Harder". I usually don't like it when songs repeat the first verse twice, and I wish this song didn't follow suit, but it doesn't take away from the song in my opinion. Great song to put Gwen back on the map, but with that new Pharrell track that her fans still stuck in 2005 are interested in and with her collab with Calvin Harris... Q4 of 2014 and 2015 are looking to be the "Second Coming of Gwen" and I couldn't be more excited!
THE SINGLES