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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
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Quote:
M83 disappoints with latest album 'Junk'
M83’s newest LP Junk is just that — an album stuffed with junk.
With minor exceptions, M83’s Junk is overwhelmingly stale. The first two tracks, “Do It, Try It” and “Go!” are easily the best on the album, with boisterous productions and decent melodies. From there, however, a relentless onslaught of dramatic yet empty mid tempos suck the life out of an album that was supposed to be full of promise.
M83’s last release, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, was one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2011. It produced a platinum hit in the stratospheric and psychedelic “Midnight City.” After almost half a decade away, fans and critics alike expected that M83 would return with not just a good album, but a great one. After all, the threat of a sophomore slump passed in 2003.
Instead, Junk feels like it’s going through a civil war, unable to determine what it wants to be. At points, the LP sounds oddly Broadway, with strings and dramatic half-sung lines on “For the Kids” coming off as bizarre, and with the monologue of a young child in the bridge, unsettling. At other points, like the Mai Lan-assisted “Laser Gun,” it’s wildly lucid. From start to finish, it’s impossible to understand what M83 is trying to express. Instead, it only raises questions: Is this a love album? A reflective album? A psychedelic one? Or is this truly just “junk?”
There’s little consistency or cohesiveness on the LP, making the product as a whole ambiguous. Celestial and futuristic themes are strong undercurrents on the ambient LP, with the awkward interlude “Moon Crystal” and “Laser Gun” displaying this prominently in their titles. Tracks like “Walkaway Blues” sound otherworldly with staccato riffs and distant lyrics: “Taking a foreign flight/Looking for signs of life.” However, these themes appear and disappear too spontaneously for any real meaning to be derived from them.
The most egregious quality of the album, however, is the abysmal organization of the track listing. Tracks three through seven are almost indistinguishable, failing to compliment each other or the album and killing the energy that later tracks like “Road Blaster” try to restore. The sparse beacons of hope on the album, the thumping uptempos, are stuffed at the beginning and middle sections, leaving massive chunks of the record without energy. At 15 tracks, those bookend songs have to carry so much dead weight that the record is prone to suffocating the listener.
Throughout, M83 makes the mistake of not playing to their strengths. They shine with vibrant instrumentals and beaming synthesizers, yet they devote their attention to redundant piano and kick drum lines. When the band attempts to enter the realm of the conceptual and multilinguistic, they fail to capture the energy of artists like Grimes and Phoenix. When sinking into a relaxed, psychedelic groove, M83 sounds like a poor man’s Tame Impala. Whatever Junk tries to accomplish, it ends up falling short of the achievements of M83’s past records, as well as the work of their contemporaries.
To say the latest release from French electronic band M83 is underwhelming would be an understatement. Disjointed and conflicted, little can be salvaged from the wreckage of an album that tries and fails to make substance out of nothing.
Junk
Band: M83
Genre: Electronic
Tracks: 15
Rating: 2.5/10
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Member Since: 12/15/2009
Posts: 23,385
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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I really need to start doing this.
I could do M83.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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I can do this. I'm starting to have much more free time now that I'm nearing the end of my senior year of high school. I'm going to make a list that we can vote on! (Too much free time)
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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Made a table! I made the format pretty easy to use (but I had to condense it so it wouldn't have unnecessary spacing), so feel free to add your own suggestions in here or state a suggestion so I can add it in here.
I'll be coming back soon to make a poll of the options.
ALBUM | ARTIST |
| Junk | M83 | | Cleopatra | The Lumineers | | Weezer (White Album) | Weezer | | Lukas Graham | Lukas Graham | | Beautiful Lies | Birdy |
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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That's more than 3 for M83.
Now starting:
M83 - Junk
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 68,548
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I think that all the major pop album releases (Ariana, Meghan, 5H) should start on the release day to take advantage of the hype.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
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Quote:
Originally posted by KillingYourCareer
I think that all the major pop album releases (Ariana, Meghan, 5H) should start on the release day to take advantage of the hype.
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i agrih
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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Is Mind of Mine closed?
Also, we never did The Life of Pablo!
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by St. Charles
Is Mind of Mine closed?
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Yes.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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Hey someone requested TLOP a while back in this thread. I second that. So we need one more to be able to review it.
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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Almost done with M83's album, and it's coming up soon.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Better late than never.
Now starting:
Kanye West - The Life Of Pablo
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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 THIS KINDA SLAYS
75
| TONE/CONSISTENCY | 26 | | COMPOSITION | 20 | | PRODUCTION | 18 | | LYRICS | 6 | | VOCALS | 5 |
| St. Charles
It's been five long years since M83's last studio album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. While the album took their career to new heights, it also showcased some of the best work the band had done up to that point. For quite some time, the anticipation for M83's next studio album had been steadily rising, and the band wondered just how well it would hold up along side the rest of their discography. But by the ninth track or so, it is safe to say that the jazz-flavored, indie-pop Junk will do just fine.
The leading track, "Do it, Try it," is a bit of an odd one. Its unconventional chord progressions and timing make it quite the eyebrow-raiser. However, the steady, dance-induced chorus swiftly kicks in just in time, along with the catchy chorus. The following track, "Go!", shies away from the dance genre, and leans toward a more live, indie sound. Its thrilling chorus outshines that of the previous track's by far. This indie sound is further continued by the next track, "Walkway Blues," though its chorus is not nearly as climactic. The following tracks, "Bibi the Dog" and "Moon Crystal" draw clear inspiration from the 80's and 70's respectively. The former boasts a catchy, cartoonishly high-pitched chorus, and the latter radiates a much brighter and steadier vibe. While the slow-tempo sixth and seventh tracks, "For the Kids" and "Solitude," do under-perform, the resonant and harmonious vocals almost save the songs. However, the tracks stand out too greatly in a mostly upbeat album, and therefore feel as though they carry on for an eternity. "Laser Gun" and "Road Buster" immediately renew the steady pace that the first couple of tracks had established, while also introducing softer elements, such as the acoustic guitar. In both of these tracks, the steady rhythm and dynamic choruses which M83 has become so well known for, are perfectly executed. "Tension" and "Time Wind" are both very hypnotic, with the latter maintaining a fairly funky rhythm. The other three tracks, "Atlantique Sud," Ludivine," and "Sunday Night 1987," were generally disappointing, and again lost the uplifting feel the album had so well established. These lethargic tracks feel like pure filler at some points, but the production alone manages to hold them together.
The album's overall tone is very indie and dance-influenced, while still maintaining a hint of jazz. The groovy baselines in songs like "Walkway Blues" and "Time Wind" work very well with the recurring saxophone found in many tracks, most notably "Go!" and "Laser Gun." The production of the album, which is completely intricate and clean all throughout, brings many of the melodies and rhythms of the songs to life, such as the fluid synths on "Do it, Try it." Vocals are where M83 shines, as Mai Lan's resonant voice effortlessly fills ballads like "Atlantique Sud", while Gonzalez's vocals are soft and harmonious, adding a dream-pop factor to nearly every track. "Solitude" is the clearest example of this.
So, yes. Junk will do just fine for now. It highlights M83's many strong points, as well as demonstrates how well they've improved their previous weaknesses. While the slower tracks feel unnecessary, and muddle the album's catchy, rhythmic, dream-jazz tone, the album still shines with all its glory, and M83 can confidently say they've done it yet again.
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DO IT, TRY IT 7/10
GO! 8/10
WALKWAY BLUES 6.5/10
BIBI THE DOG 7.5/10
MOON CRYSTAL 8/10
FOR THE KIDS 6/10
SOLITUDE 6.5/10
THE WIZARD 7/10
LASER GUN 7.5/10
ROAD BLASTER 8/10
TENSION 7/10
ATLANTIQUE SUD 5.5/10
TIME WIND 8.5/10
LUDIVINE 6.5/10
SUNDAY NIGHT 1987 6/10
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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We should review the single Panda!
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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 A BIT OF A MESS
68
| TONE/CONSISTENCY | 28 | | COMPOSITION | 18 | | PRODUCTION | 11 | | LYRICS | 8 | | VOCALS | 3 |
| St. Charles Merely four months have passed since 2016 began, and many critics are already calling Kanye West's new LP, The Life of Pablo, one of the best releases of the year. While this album is indeed very attention-grabbing, and definitely doesn't bore, it also feels like a poorly glued together collection of tracks. However, it is still far from terrible.
The album starts off with "Ultralight Beam," which a religious-themed track with a choir feature, and a few snippets of sermons. It deals with Kanye's faith in God, as well as his struggles. While still an odd choice for an intro, the Chance the Rapper feature makes it all seem to come together, with his verses highlighting the track's significance to the album as a whole. The next tracks, "Father Stretch My Hands, Pts. 1 & 2," are sister tracks. While the first deals with his own temptations and problems with infidelity, his second deals with the roots of those problems - his father's absence in his life. He essentially speaks about continuing the negative example that his father set for him. The latter track also transitions into the song "Panda" by Desiigner, which symbolizes how well he is living now, compared to the times when his "jaw was broke." However, the Desiigner feature heavily overshadows the rest of the track, and Kanye's verse is forgotten by the end of the song. His ego is extended into the next track, "Famous," in which he raps about his struggling conflict with the concept of fame. Yet even though the track makes an attempt to have a deeper meaning, it fails to differ substantially from any other"I'm famous, you're a jealous hater" anthem. On another egotistical track, "Feedback," Kanye begins flaunting his wealth again, celebrating his comeback, and even comparing himself to Tupac. A typical Kanye track. The next two songs are also sister tracks, which are "Low Lights" and "Highlights." The first is another sermon, which adds to the overall theme of the album (yet also drags on quite a bit), and the latter is yet another ego-booster for Kanye, which doesn't add much to the album at this point. His vocals on the first half of the song also kill the track. "Freestyle 4" does not cast Kanye's freestyle skills in a positive light, with its overly-repetitive lyrics. Its minimal production surely doesn't help it, either. Yet the next track, "I Love Kanye," manages to make this repetitive style of lyricism work. It also addresses the many criticisms he receives, including how many love the "old Kanye" rather than him. |
The second half of the album kicks off with a Chris Brown feature, and makes for a calm and slightly enjoyable track. However, Brown completely dominates the song, and it feels as though his album is playing rather than Kanye's. Actually, West only drops 13 lines throughout the entire song. The next song, FML, lets us see Kanye in a much different light. He "pours out his feelings" in this track, and rather than giving us another egotistical club-banger, he instead delivers a track with humble and selfless lyrics ("I'll die for those I love"). The Weeknd feature does carry the track to greatness, however. It is also one of the only tracks on the album in which the minimal production actually compliments the work. In another good song, "Real Friends," Kanye discusses his experiences with "fake" and "real" friends, which have contributed to his trust issues. The decent instrumental track in the background also helps the song out quite a bit. The next couple of tracks, "Wolves" and "30 Hours," continue the streak of goodness throughout the second half of the album. The former has a bit of a darker feel, with Kanye again opening up to his audience, and the latter has an addictively intoxicating instrumental and refrain, which gives the track a ton of replay value. It also reflects back on a previous relationship that Kanye experienced. In "No More Parties in L.A.," Kanye again delivers an impressive track, with an even more impressive feature from Kendrick. However, ironically, Kendrick does not overshadow Kanye on this track. Their raps blend together very well, and the backing track has a wonderfully steady flow, which is reminiscent of classic 90's rap. "Facts" disappoints a bit, as it is surrounded by some of the best songs on The Life of Pablo. It can be regarded as Kanye's own version of "Jumpman" by Drake and Future. He mainly discusses his deal with Adidas, while trashing Nike. The last track, "Fade," which one could say is a house-influenced track, is a highlight. It oozes confidence, and multiple features. Clearly, it is a great way to end the album.
This album focuses on Kanye's relationship with God as well as with those around him, and his constant need to balance ego and humility, as well as fortune and family. While he reflects on very recent events, such as the Adidas deal and Robert Kardashian's new fiance, he also reflects on how they've affected him as a person and these aforementioned relationships. He sometimes resorts to his old ways of becoming his own biggest fan, yet is also not afraid to open up and discuss how he really feels. While one may view Kanye as a very egotistical person due to his social media accounts along with his coverage in the media, this album does a sufficient job of portraying him in a different light. But no. This album's main problem wasn't with its theme, which was one of its strong points. Its main problem is not with the myriad of features that sometimes completely overshadow Kanye. It also isn't with the lyrics, which are, at times, repeated until the shock factor derived from them has gone completely. This album's problem is the sheer mediocrity of some of the tracks. Sonically, the entire first half of the album feels very unnecessary. A 10-track album would have benefited Kanye much more than an 18-track one in this case. Though the lyrics on these songs are fairly strong and needed, they are sometimes the only good attributes songs really possess. Yet though the album was a huge mess, it does show a bit of character development from Kanye. It'll hold just fine.
ULTRALIGHT BEAM 6/10
FATHER STRETCH MY HANDS, PT. 1 5/10
FATHER STRETCH MY HANDS, PT. 2 7/10
FAMOUS 7/10
FEEDBACK 6/10
LOWLIGHTS 4/10
HIGHLIGHTS 5/10
FREESTYLE 4 7/10
I LOVE KANYE 7.5/10
WAVES 7/10
FML 8/10
REAL FRIENDS 7/10
WOLVES 7/10
SILVER SURFER INTERMISSION 5/10
30 HOURS 7/10
NO MORE PARTIES IN L.A. 8.5/10
FACTS 5.5/10
FADE 7.5/10
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 68,548
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We're obviously doing Lemonade asap. I'll review it after at least 5 listens, Beyoncé is hard for me to get into.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Yeah I'll circumvent the normal request rule to start Lemonade now. Hopefully that'll get us some more reviews.
Now starting:
Beyonce - LEMONADE
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 22,126
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omg charles 
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