| |
Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 4/26/2010
Posts: 13,102
|
Adele - 'Hello'
Impressive, anthemic. A song that only comes once in a lifetime. True talent shines through, as this soon-to-be iconic songs soars through the hearts of many, and right up them charts. Superb.
10 / 10
|
|
|
|
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
|
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 5/22/2011
Posts: 21,227
|
Mezik's Music Review ♪♫
Carrie Underwood
Storyteller
It has been three full years since Carrie's last full length album of all new material has been released and it could not have felt any longer for those who routinely listen to her music. When it seemed like Carrie was getting the album finally started in mid 2014 she had other plans when she became pregnant for her first child, Isaiah, and postponed the album all together until after his birth. With three years to reflect on all her previous albums and take time to write, and find, the best material possible for her fifth album 'Storyteller' could not be any more grand in terms of cohesiveness--lyrically and sonically. Changing it up and finally working with new producers on this album, Zach Crowell and Jay Joyce, there is almost a different atmosphere and dimension to this album compared to her previous ones due to the simple fact that these two producers brought different elements to Carrie's recording. Where Mark sometimes drowned Carrie's vocals with layers of massive production, Zach and Jay were able to strip back the production and showcase Carrie in a much more clear and pure form. Furthermore, 'Storyteller' incorporates elements of R&B, Delta-blues and rock to make it an interesting listening from start to finish. In regards to lyrics, the 13 tracks on the album introduces the listeners to various mythical characters that you cannot help but feel anger, sorrow, displeasure and happiness for. Although one may be looking for deeper, more personal lyrics that are a reflection of Carrie's life, Carrie has never filled that role and always showed her strengths when telling stories which is another reason this album is such a strong artistic growth compared to her previous efforts. Not to be scared though, Carrie does offer more personal songs for those looking for something more intimate by her that can be relatable to anyone in the situations. Overall, with a fresh sound and engaging, and clever, lyrics 'Storyteller' is an album everyone should learn to love, understand and appreciate for it's worth.
The album opens up with the fiery 'Renegade Runaway' that showcases Carrie's power vocals with a more rock-leaning production. Although it is similar to previous album openers 'Cowboy Casanova' and 'Good Girl' in production, lyrically the song talks about a strong women (another common theme among the album) who can never be caught because she is always on the run. However how can it be a Carrie Underwood album without the uptempo opener that gets us on our feet anticipating what's to come next? Following the opener is the sharply written 'Dirty Laundry' that tells the story of a women discovering her husband has been cheating on her. Her twangy voice as she sings the hook is what makes the song what it is. Next up is the power ballad 'Church Bells' which is about hope in difficult situations. From the opening banjos, to the huge chorus, to the lyrics being so descriptive, yet concise, that they can make a two hour movie about the song alone makes it one of Carrie's best recordings in her career. Very few artists get a song that is at the calibre of 'Church Bells', and even fewer artists are able to perform the song so majestically that you can visualize the whole song perfectly in your head. With three huge, fast paced, songs in a row the album slows down a little bit with 'Heartbeat', a sweet song that is relatable for anyone that has ever been in love, that has additional harmonies from Sam Hunt. It is one of the few crossover potentials the album has that would satisfy the pop listeners in Carrie's fanbase. Next the albums lead single 'Smoke Break' comes up that is much more appreciated when listening to the album in whole. After, the Bobbie Gentry inspired 'Choctaw County Affair' showcases delta blues in a more modernistic form in one undeniably unique recording. Carrie tells the story of a love triangle gone bad that results in, what appears to be Carrie's favourite theme, murder. The hums that open the song creates an atmosphere of suspense, Carrie's sexy, and sassy, delivery of the lyrics makes it entirely her own and hard for the listener to think of anyone else who can pull it off. Love junkie penned 'Like I'll Never Love You Again' is one of only three ballads on the album and serves it's role of making you feel giddy and nostalgic, sung in Carrie's beautiful soft tone. 'Chaser' and 'Relapse' are perfectly, and strategically, listed that seem as if they can be a two part song overall. 'Chaser' has Carrie singing about the heartbreak that accompanies knowing the person you love is not into you, whereas 'Relapse' has Carrie pleading how she keeps going back, not for good, but because she keeps breaking down and only wants the moment of intimacy - no love or commitment. While both songs contrast each other they serve as the albums best songs on the album with 'Chaser' being easily the best song she's written since 'Wine After Whiskey'. Although it isn't necessarily bad 'Clock Don't Stop' really does not provide anything special or important to the album and serves as the albums only skip ahead song. 'The Girl You Think I Am' is a beautiful testament to what every girl wants, to keep making their dad proud no matter what happens or situation they are in. Carrie's vocals soft and somber, with a light production that compliments the emotion in Carrie's voice makes it hard for the listener not to tear up as the song progresses. 'Mexico' is really the albums only song that showcases the belts that Carrie is known for, and is a fun track that really can do well as a single or just as an album track. Lastly, the album closes with the elegant and emotional 'What I Never Knew I Always Wanted' which has Carrie admiring the revelation that some of life's greatest moments are things that are unplanned and what we may not have considered as something we wanted. With an album full of strong characters, explosive storylines and personal reflection, ending the album on the soft track that deals with the story of life concludes the album perfectly.
In conclusion, 'Storyteller' is such a step up from 'Blown Away' that it sets a new foundation for what is an excellent Carrie Underwood album. Although she always release solid work, 'Storyteller' is truly an exceptional piece of art that proves to the world Carrie is evolving constantly as an artist, vocalist, songwriter and interpreter. With so much strength and emotion, and personal ties one cannot help but truly be amazed by the album. Lyrics are strong, themes are consistent and risks were made to produce what is not only the best album to be released this year, but an album that will go down in history as being a country classic and a turning point in females not being afraid to sing what they want in the genre.
Mezik's Score
10 / 10
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 4/22/2012
Posts: 33,490
|
Quote:
Originally posted by ClarksonSlays
What is Every Open Eye?
|
CHVRCHES album.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 4/4/2014
Posts: 17,141
|
STORYTELLER (CARRIE UNDERWOOD)
Oh. It's just me hopping onto the wagon.
B (69% - 6.9/10) [Std.]
STANDARD EDITION
Renegade Runaway: I first heard a snippet of this watching the Smoke Break video and was hyped for it. It lived up to the hype. It feels anthemic as soon as Carrie starts singing. It's not one of my fave Carrie songs by any means but it's great. (4/5)
Dirty Laundry: I loved this on my first listen. The verse slays. The chorus slays too. The post-chorus is a letdown, but overall it's great. (4/5)
Church Bells: On my first-listen, all I could think about was the album was getting better and better with each track. Lyrically, the Two Black Cadillacs of the era. Love it. (4/5)
Heartbeat: eh. I like this song but I find it overrated. It doesn't touch any of the first three nor Smoke Break. It's a good album track but it gets lost in the overall feel of the album. (3/5)
Smoke Break: Typical Carrie, well typical Blown-Away Carrie I guess. Loved it from the first listen and still do now. A really underrated single. (5/5)
Choctaw County Affair: This song is truly weird. I don't know if I love it or just find it alright. I think it's amazing and one of my favorite but i'm not sure. It's so strange.. It's definitely great though. (4/5)
Like I'll Never Love You Again: A beautiful ballad. It will take me longer than 3 listens to appreciate it. I'm not sure if I'l love it or if it'll turn into Forever Changed and I skip it everytime. It's good though. (3/5)
Chaser: It's personally the worst song so far. It's good enough but there's just something missing and I didn't even realise I was listening to it until I was almost 2 minutes in. Love the bridge / pre-chorus for the final chorus. (3/5)
Relapse: I don't know what to make of this song. I was loving it and singing along but there's just something missing. It's better than Chaser imo. (3/5)
Clock Don't Stop: This sounds like a smash. It interested me from the get go. I love the vocal effect for the chorus, and the adlibs at the end. Just great. A highlight of the album. (4/5)
The Girl You Think I Am: From the first note, I knew this would slay me. It's beautiful. Melodically perfect. It'll take time for me to say it's one of my faves but it could definitely get there. (4/5)
Mexico: Amazing. A highlight of the album for sure. Wasn't expecting to have an upbeat track so late in the tracklist. The Cupid's Got a Shotgun of this album. One of the best imo. (4/5)
What I Never Knew I Always Wanted: Another beautiful ballad to end the album. Sure, it doesn't touch Who Are You, but it's great. Love it. (4/5)
Overall; a great album. I listen to predominantly female pop but I use some female country albums from girls like Carrie too. The reason I love them is that they focus on what real music should be all about; vocal melodies. Sometimes though that leads to the production making every song indistinguishable from the other. And most of the times, it does, especially at first, and therefore the albums take longer to have an impact on me. It's not the fact that Carrie doesn't show personality, it's just the genre itself. I'll need more listens to solidify my views on the album, but I can conclude it's great. It doesn't touch Blown Away and never will, but it's a solid album.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 18,803
|
Hello - Adele
Following the blockbuster success of her sophomore album 21, expectations for Adele's 3rd album have been high and many thought that the British-born songstress would not deliver, including myself. I was wrong.
The soaring comeback single of Adele, Hello meets many, if not most, of the requirements that I thought her new song would need to not disappoint. From the get-go, the fittingly titled, Hello opens with an alluring verse that hooks the listener, only to lead us to an incredibly mesmerizing chorus. Adele continues the momentum of this throughout her song and tops it off with those unmistakable vocals that we have come to love.
What remains underwhelming about Adele's new single is how somewhat generic it can be perceived to be. Although the simple lyrics, coupled with her voice, are nonetheless an amazing duo to listen to, the poignant lyricism that made 21 resonate so well, appears to be missing. For a woman who has had the past 4 years to grow and experience life in ways that would hopefully evolve her writing style, the song's lyrics are slightly disappointing.
However, this small criticism is only one of the few drawbacks that are evident in Adele's record breaking new song. I can only hope that 25 maintains the same type of quality that Hello promises, if not more.
Score: 8.5/10
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
|
Hello
Adele
Review archive
Selena Gomez - Revival
Lana Del Rey - Honeymoon
Carly Rae Jepsen - E·MO·TION
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
Madonna - Rebel Heart
Florence + The Machine - What Kind of Man
Carly Rae Jepsen - I Really Like You
Taylor Swift - Style
Rihanna - FourFiveSeconds
Nick Jonas - Jealous
|
The key to Adele’s success is the way she turns words into something that sounds a lot more poignant and resonant with situations we may have never experienced. We may never have known heartbreak to 21’s degree, yet we can palpably feel turning up uninvited out of the blue as if we’re still reeling from it happening just last Thursday. Someone Like You exemplifies this the best, the seemingly unintentional assonance of ‘Never mind I’ll find’ erasing the line between Adele’s conversational style and simple poetry.
Hello assumes this formula as its jump-off point, Adele’s re-emergence to pop culture being punctuated by the opening lyrics to Hello surfacing over a black screen. The intent of the song couldn’t be more obvious: it’s an emphatic reintroduction of her brand which aims to create possibly the most ballad-sounding ballad that’s ever to have existed. The chorus – which perhaps overstays its welcome – harks back to the power-ballad dynasty of the nineties, and places her voice front and centre; it begs to be re-appropriated by anyone who has felt loss in their lives.
However, while Hello feels like the ballad we've all come to expect, it starkly lacks authenticity. It’s a song underscored by being too atypical of the Adele of four years ago. It represents a stubbornness to grow, which is evidenced by the awkwardly vague and clichéd nature of the lyrics – ‘When we were younger and free’ and ‘that town where nothing ever happened.’ It’s a contrast to the Adele of the 21 era, who stood up on the BRIT Awards stage and made everyone believe her story.
Hello’s inner vacuity stems from the fact that it doesn’t appear to be indicative of where Adele is right now, currently in a stable relationship with a young child. Instead, it sounds like someone imitating Adele. No doubt, Adele's return would have incited a storm regardless of her output, but Hello plays the comeback unnecessarily safe. It aims to imitate her success rather than her artistry, and - as it stands to effortlessly amass every conceivable record in sight - it ultimately feels far more interesting as a chart juggernaut than it does a song.
4.3 out of 10 |
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
Should I end Hello and Every Open Eye on Saturday night?
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
|
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 68,548
|
Carrie Underwood
Storyteller
8/10
After four albums and a greatest hits compilation, Carrie Underwood comes back stronger than ever with her new album, 'Storyteller'. Despite a lead single that was not very promising, which I'm happy to label the worst song on the entire album, she served us a very good album.
It's surprising to see that Carrie has managed to change her sound a bit, despite staying country. There are some nostalgic elements on certain songs that remind me of her early music, but even in these cases, she managed to make them sound fresh and new. Some other songs, like "Choctaw County Affair", sound completely different from anything released by Carrie so far. The lyrics are very well-written on almost every song on the album, and the title, 'Storyteller', completely makes sense, considering Carrie is actually singing stories to us.
The only downside of the album has to be the vocals. We didn't get an "I Know You Won't" or a "Blown Away" on 'Storyteller', and that's the only disappointment about it.
 | 1. Renegade Runaway
This is Carrie's typical strong album opener, quite reminescent of "Flat on the Floor". The vocals are great and the song itself is catchy, and any listener is going to want to check out the rest of the album after this. 8.5/10
2. Dirty Laundry
The sassy lyrics are the only standout of this song that could've been better overall. The music is too loud for Carrie's vocals, and the chorus is very weak. 5.5/10
3. Church Bells
"Broke as hell, but blessed with beauty" is already my favorite line of 'Storyteller'. As the title of the album suggests, this song is a very well-written story Carrie is telling--well, singing--with her great voice over a nice beat. 8.5/10
4. Heartbeat
A quite nostalgic song that reminds me of the 'Some Hearts' era. It definitely deserves to become a single. 9.5/10
5. Smoke Break
This shouldn't have been a single, let alone the lead. The song sounds so impersonal, and it's not even catchy. I'm so surprised to see Carrie in the credits, considering how generic and uninspired this song sounds. 4/10
6. Choctaw County Affair
Completely different from anything Carrie has released so far, and definitely outstanding in her discography. In a good way. It has 60s vibes in it, and I love it. 9/10
7. Like I'll Never Love You Again
I was waiting for the album's first sweet song, and here it is! It's really classic Carrie, and it's impossible not to enjoy her saccharine side. 9/10
8. Chaser
The chorus is pure eargasm. When it kicks in, the music and the vocals explode and, together with the calm verses, create a complete masterpiece. 10/10
9. Relapse
Another flawless song with a quite nostalgic chorus accompanied by Carrie's completely perfect voice and a strong rhythm. 10/10
10. Clock Don't Stop
For some reason, this song has some elements that remind me of 'Some Hearts', yet it's overall fresh for Carrie. It's probably the most pop song on 'Storyteller'. 10/10
11. The Girl You Think I Am
I've always been intrigued by this song's title. I expected it to be a song about cheating or something like that, and it was surprising to hear this slow emotional ballad. I loved every single second of it. 10/10
12. Mexico
This song is quite disappointing, especially after some masterpieces on the album. The chorus isn't particularly catchy, the vocals are nothing special, and the lyrics could've been better. 6.5/10
13. What I Never Knew I Always Wanted
A relaxing album closer that, again, doesn't say much to me. The vocals are quite flat, the song overall is nothing memorable. 6.5/10
14. Little Girl Don't Grow Up Too Fast
This song is just too good to be used as a bonus track for a limited edition of the album. The beautiful lyrics, the nostalgic sound, and the very well-done vocal production should've won it a place in the standard tracklist. 8.5/10 |
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 4/4/2014
Posts: 17,141
|
I request Little Mix - Get Weird
|
|
|
|
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
|
Already have my Delirium review cooked up 
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 68,548
|
Quote:
Originally posted by ClarksonSlays
Already have my Delirium review cooked up |
+1
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 26,488
|
Delirium 
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 61,634
|
Quote:
Originally posted by jpow
Delirium |
+1
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 19,167
|
Quote:
Originally posted by RihannaRTT
I request Little Mix - Get Weird
|
+1
Quote:
Originally posted by K$Ellie
+1
|
+1
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 7,105
|
Quote:
Originally posted by lhdang2000
+1
|
+1
|
|
|
|
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 8,547
|
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
|
Now starting:
Ellie Goulding - Delirium
Little Mix - Get Weird
Hello, Every Open Eye, and Storyteller will end tomorrow night!
|
|
|
|
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
|
DELIRIUM
Quote:
When people listen to UK songstress Ellie Goulding, people are generally divided on what they hear: they either hear her folk and indie influences as her sonic center and others hear her Electronica roots, and push her into the larger category of Pop. With "Delirium," the difference is not apparent at all, Delirium is blatant Electro-Pop.
From the swirling guitars of On My Mind, to the Urban tinged Don't Need Nobody, Delirium delivers mid and up-tempos track after track, never stopping for a ballad like her previous have (the last half of "Halcyon" or The Writer on "Lights"). The result is an album that to its modern audience will scream Taylor Swift's "1989," while to it's broader and older audience, it will sound completely millennial.
The main difference between Delirium and previous pure-pop offerings this past year from Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift, is that there is there is no breathing room. From the moment Aftertaste hits its stride, the audience is locked in for a roller coaster ride of strict tempos. While most artists would struggle to keep up with this pace, Goulding does so with the expertise of a near-pro, only stumbling on the forgettable and rather lifeless We Can't Move to This and Holding on For Life. Midtempo power ballads like the mega-hit Love Me Like You Do and Army offer some release - and standout amongst an album of bangers - but don't offer enough to quench the hunger for ballads like Halcyon Days' I Know You Care and How Long Will I Love You. This is perhaps Delirium's biggest fault, that it lacks lyrical and sonic beauty that can be found on Goulding's prior works.
While the album is factory pressed with singles ready to launch on to Top 40 radios with ease, there is something strictly Goulding about much of the album, especially the latter half: While Swift's comparable aforementioned work relied on the strength of drums and synths, Goulding sneaks in the sound that made her a star: a twinkling acoustic guitar. In the intro of second single Army, and the chorus of the retro standout Devotion, she establishes herself with her audience that she understands her place in Pop music, and that she brings something new to the table with a unique sonic palette.
Goulding has called Delirium an "experiment" in interviews leading up to the release of the album. In some regards, the album is an experiment: she has enough on the album that there is something for everyone; she got lucky in that so many of the tracks hit the bullseye. However, Delirium seems more fine tuned than a mere experiment; yes, the deluxe tracks are about as useful as your wisdom teeth, but the standard edition tracks are all carefully crafted to allow Goulding to fully submerge herself in glowing-Pop goodness.
Overall: 7.8/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
