| |
Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
| Sugar - Maroon 5
Maroon 5 | Interscope | Release Date: January 13, 2015 | Review Period: February 2, 2015 - February 13, 2015
|  | dddddddddd
77 | Member Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 5 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
7.6 | Experimental Top Critic Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 2 Top Critics |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The third single from V follows top 10 Hot 100 hits Maps and Animals, which reached #2 and #1 on pop radio respectively. | Record Label: Interscope
Genre(s): Pop |
|
| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 4 | | d | ....iMixed: 0 | | d | Negative: ████ 1 |
|
| | Top Critic Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 2 | | d | ....iMixed: 0 | | d | Negative: 0 |
|
|
Sugar results.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 2/20/2012
Posts: 24,225
|
That one biased review killing Sugar's score. 
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 2/20/2012
Posts: 24,225
|
Can we possibly do Imagine Dragons' Smoke + Mirrors?
|
|
|
|
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 8,547
|
We're obviously going to do Drake next, right?
Honestly, TRF.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
I think I might put Drake's mixtape/album up even without three requests just because we don't have much going on right now. Stay tuned- I might start it tonight!
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
|
I'll try and do Vulnicura tomorrow or the day after, I'm kind of swamped with work to catch up on for the holiday tomorrow.
Can I still go back and review anything that wasn't closed? Like Kiesza or The Hunger Games and have that count or no?
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
|
i might be up for drake
suggestion: we could do style
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/15/2012
Posts: 6,964
|
alexanderao, I think the review periods should be a couple of weeks longer with more reviews up simultaneously for variety. Metacritic takes a couple of months before its scores settle down, why can't we have a 3 week review period at least?
I love 'Vulnicura' but it's a complex album and to review it I would need more time. :/
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
|
someone else request style please and thank you
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
Quote:
Originally posted by Mastamaind
alexanderao, I think the review periods should be a couple of weeks longer with more reviews up simultaneously for variety. Metacritic takes a couple of months before its scores settle down, why can't we have a 3 week review period at least?
I love 'Vulnicura' but it's a complex album and to review it I would need more time. :/
|
The review periods have definitely lengthened since I took over. We've been having frequent 2 week periods lately. I'll keep Vulnicura up for now because we really don't have anything else to do. 
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
|
We should do Style and maybe Thinking Out Loud. I have a few thoughts to say out loud on that one or Imagine Dragons.
Let me listen to Vulnicura one more time and come back.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 9/13/2012
Posts: 29,559
|
BJÖRK - VULNICURA
The breakup album -- whiny, melodramatic, ~relatable~, and vengeful. That's how most people see the genre nowadays, no? Vulnicura throws all of that out the window and into the trash where certain breakup albums belong. Björk isn't a teenager and her relationship wasn't some fling; it lasted ten years and spawned another human being, its beginnings inspired Björk's best album (Vespertine), its collapse inspired her best album since then, and some weird **** (I mean that literally) came out in the interim, like River of Fundament and Drawing Restraint 9. This album probably isn't relatable for most, because most people don't have a child and a longterm relationship with Matthew Barney, but who ****ing cares? It's real and it's raw and it's stunning in every way. Hearing Björk's struggle to cope with the realization that her relationship is coming to an end and her instinct to somehow keep her family together is a one-of-a-kind experience. Underneath the lyrical content are her best string arrangements to date and subtle yet compelling electronic production. Don't waste your time on any other "breakup album."
The only world in which I could imagine a superior breakup album is a world in which Louis and I split up + he documents it musically, but obviously that's all just hypothetical.
EAT YOUR HEART OUT, ADELE! 
9/10
Read my previous reviews:
Cheek To Cheek
1989
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
|
Bjork - Vulnicura
What is there to really say about Bjork at this point? She's released 7 full-length studio albums over the span of solo career that has lasted 20 + years and been associated with many other outside projects. She has a public perception that's almost completely cemented as an outsider, a strange woman that makes strange music and Bjork really never has done anything to dispel that image, her imagery and music is always far from the conventional pop style and at this point seems like it always will be. In addition, that exploitative way of singing she has always been known for, still remains as she continues to sound as if she is attempting to find new pronunciations for syllables that have always existed.
It is perfectly ok for an artist more than two decades into his or her career to remain doing the same thing; but Bjork seems to have some type of wanderlust, always wanting to switch up her style and explore new territory with her music. Almost every album since the new millennium has embarked on new territory culminating with 2011s Biophilia in which Bjork had to invent some new instruments to play; but some albums, (although all good to great). whether due to that sonic restlessness, or trying to achieve too much too quickly, contained stretches of music are more interesting in theory than in ear.
Vulnicura, her newest album, is the first that really doesn't sound like Bjork is going in a new direction. Her producers are trendy and were hyped; but a change in sound was not and that's one of the biggest surprises of the album. Instead of sounding like she is trying to do everything, Bjork really doesn't sound like she's trying to achieve much of anything at all with this album; She sounds, dispirited, downcast, heartbroken. This album is a break-up album; and the music instead of inspired by musical discovery, sounds inspired by heartbreak and sorrow. The album itself is made of a short (in number) 10 tracks, but most are largely lengthy meandering songs filled with sad strings and dark electronic beats.
The structure of the album and lengthy songs coupled with the lack of pop structure of immediately accessible hooks makes the album chilly and distant at first; likely to slip in one ear and out the other without much of an impression. After time is spent inside the album, it opens up. The strings, beats, and Bjork's voice all come together as she reflects on the relationships past. It's an affecting album, one that finds Bjork more subdued and quieted. The album recalls, prior albums (a relative first for her) Vespertine and Homogenic especially, but also updates the sound and production to be more modern and mournful. Even though, the album may not be as overtly dark as the the producers list initially suggested, there is a noticeable pall cast on her normally energetic and vibrant sound. Vulnicura is also one of her most surprising albums as she often does not allow this tempered side of her to show on album and allows Bjork, the person, to outshine Bjork, the adventurous artist and that's a refreshing change of pace for her.
_________________________________________________
Grade: A-
 My Reviews
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 3,247
|
Björk - Vulnicura
Before hearing Vulnicura, I wasn't really a huge fan of Björk, or really a fan at all. If anything, I thought she was creepy, scary, et cetera, et cetera. After seeing all of the positive reactions to this album, I finally decided to listen to it. Immediately after my first listen, I bought it.
While all of the songs are very lengthy (aside from two), it doesn't really hold me from finishing the songs at all. I can listen to this album in full and not be bored of it. The music is so captivating and intriguing, and almost all the songs are standout tracks. If anything, I think that the length of the tracks just shows how much time and effort Björk put into this album, and who she truly is as an artist.
This album is truly an amazing album, filled with emotions that are definitely geniune. Vulnicura is not your average breakup album, or your average album.
I love Björk now.
STANDOUT TRACKS: Stonemilker, Black Lake, Family, Notget, Mouth Mantra
RATING: 9.5/10
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 9/1/2013
Posts: 3,235
|
We should do the new Imagine Dragons album and Style
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
Okay, we're doing Style. 
Is it okay if Vulnicura ends tomorrow night?
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
| Style - Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift | Big Machine / Republic | Release Date: February 9, 2015 | Review Period: February 21, 2015 - March 3, 2015
|  | dddddddddd
87 | Member Score
Universal Acclaim
based on 5 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
8.8 | Experimental Top Critic Score
Universal Acclaim
based on 3 Top Critics |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: Produced by Max Martin & Shellback, Swift debuted Style in December 2014 and radio picked it as the third single from 1989 shortly after. | Record Label: Big Machine / Republic
Genre(s): Pop |
|
| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 4 | | d | ....iMixed: ███ 1 | | d | Negative: 0 |
|
| | Top Critic Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 3 | | d | ....iMixed: 0 | | d | Negative: 0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
I had to use the 1989 cover for Style. 
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
|
wb this?
or does it need to have square dimensions
|
|
|
|
|
|
