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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 5/16/2012
Posts: 12,486
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A 71 is a pretty good score. I was expecting a far lower score. 
And I'm finally ahead of the pack for once. I just finished my Azealia review + Hilary one too. I'll post those when the time comes. I think Azealia will get a pretty decent score, but Hilary will ended up slaughtered.
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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I completely didn't get around to reviewing La Roux 
A 71 is very fair though. I'm looking forward to reviewing whatever is next!
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 23,374
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Quote:
Originally posted by Doc
La Roux - 'Trouble in Paradise' La Roux is not typically a musical group that I would be inclined to listen to. I don't know much about Elly Jackson or her estranged musical partner Ben Langmaid. I'm familiar with their 2010 smash "Bulletproof," but I had no idea what to expect with 'Trouble in Paradise.' Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The electronic synthpop sound of "Bulletproof" is still present, but the use of guitar present in many of the tracks on this album creates a much more organic feel to the music. The production is fabulous, certainly the most impressive aspect of the album. It manages to be feel nostalgic while remaining undeniably fresh.
The production is very consistent and similar throughout the album, but while that was Sia's '1000 Forms of Fear' Achilles' heel, it's 'Trouble in Paradise''s strong suit. The songs sound connected and complementary without becoming indistinguishable. Despite the similar production, songs like "Uptight Downtown," "Kiss And Not Tell," and "Sexotheque" are still able to shine and shine brightly. The album's real downfall is the lack of attention to vocals. Elly Jackson's vocals take a clear backseat to the production, to the point of sounding like a complete afterthought. This in turn causes the lyrics and any thought or meaning that they convey to become lost in the shuffle. Nevertheless, Jackson's casual and breezy vocals do compliment the music wonderfully. 'Trouble in Paradise' sounds fun, light, and airy—the perfect soundtrack to a wonderful summer. |
This is great and you made really good points about the vocals.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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Well 71 is practically acclaim for atrlcritic so slay Elly.
Also, LP1 by FKA Twigs leaked and it's flawless.  We have to review it when it's released.
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Member Since: 5/1/2007
Posts: 15,659
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 55
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Azealia Banks - "Heavy Metal and Reflective"
| Heavy Metal and Reflective - Azealia Banks
Azealia Banks | Unsigned | Release Date: July 27, 2014
|  | dddddddddd
68 | Member Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 47 Ratings | d | dddddd
6.4 | Modscore
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 2 Mods |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The second single from the rapper's long-
awaited debut album was produced by Lil Internet. | Record Label: Unsigned
Genre(s): Trap, Hip-Hop |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 29 | | d | ....iMixed: ██████ 11 | | d | Negative: ████ 7 |
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| | Mod Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 1 | | d | ....iMixed: ████████████████ 1 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 39,618
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Reserved. 
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Banned
Member Since: 11/7/2011
Posts: 36,781
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YAS! Ima def review this. Someone PM me a reminder of when i got 24 hours plz 
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Banned
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 24,153
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A 71 is fair. The criticisms seem warranted even if I didn't agree
 at a Azealia.
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Banned
Member Since: 6/25/2011
Posts: 37,192
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Let me give it another day to sink in
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Member Since: 12/2/2011
Posts: 52,765
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Reserved 
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Member Since: 11/17/2011
Posts: 52,363
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oh yes...let the praise pour in
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Member Since: 12/15/2011
Posts: 4,771
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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"Heavy Metal and Reflective" REVIEW
It's pretty rare to hear hip-hop music evolve nowadays; lately, it's been the same "DJ-Mustard" or "J.U.S.T.I.C.E. Leauge" sounding trap beats over and over again. It seems now we leave it to the women to take the experimental side, to test the waters before the men decide to jump in. Azealia Banks coined witch-hop, and she's going to see it through!
What makes this song interesting besides the beat is how minimal and clean the rap is compared to her breakthrough "212"! This could very well be a direction that could change the sound of hip-hop forever, but it might be too early to see. We didn't think the "Rack City" sound would end up being the main style in hip-hop today, but look where DJ Mustard is now. So I'm going to applaud Azealia for her forward-thinking sound, but now we need stronger lyrics to reflect the beat, not deflect the beat.
Score: 7.5/10
Final say: Azealia is coming for blood, but only time will tell how much is spilled…
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"Bang Bang" REVIEW
It's the collaboration you'd never see coming had you dreamt it! We have two explosive singers, and one dynamite lyricist on a nuclear beat; that equals in my eyes a song that could set the entire pop world on fire! But, is it enough?
While this song might be the most interesting collaboration, only one of these ladies has the staying power to make this song an instant classic. This is so similar to what could've been the next big song, "Can't Remember to Forget You"! Even with a name like Rihanna under it's name, it couldn't make it to the top 10! So, it's not to say that a name like Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, or Jessie J will not make a splash, since all these women have tasted Billboard gold. However, I see this as being a cult classic in the eyes of the fans, not the general public.
But I cannot deny that hook has some blaze going on! Whether it guarantees a #1 spot or not is not up to me, but if it were, I'd make this my #1 song of the week in a heartbeat!
Score: 8.5/10
Final say: Lacks staying power, but it's going to make headlines for sure!
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 26,488
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HEAVY METAL & REFLECTIVE
Azealia's first released song from Broke With Expensive Taste in over a year, "Heave Metal & Reflective" is a futuristic, dark sounding jam that's lacking a true hook, making the song very confusing yet interesting at first listen. During the first impression the song sounds like one giant verse, making it seem repetitive, when actually after listening to it a few more times one can appreciate the similarities within the song but also notice the differences throughout. Topping both releases from this album so far, the flunked "ATM Jam" that has already been scratched from the album, and the similarly angry but less danceable "Yung Rapunxel", this song represents what hip-hop could sound like in 2020 in a very good way.
Score - 9.5 /10
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Member Since: 11/16/2011
Posts: 32,177
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C
Not bad, but not good. I was hoping for more "Esta Noche" vibes instead of "Yung Rapunxel". Definitely nothing groundbreaking or anything that will solidify her as a heavyweight rapper. Her flows are usually pretty slick and intriguing, but this time, I just can't latch onto it. Don't even get me started on her voice. Was she drunk when she rapped this? It feels so fast and slurred I couldn't really enjoy the track.
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 6,548
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Grade: 3/10
Single Review: Azealia Banks: Heavy Metal and Reflective
Azealia has been one of the most intriguing and polarizing figures to emerge in hip hop recently. For me, she has always shown tons of potential, but has only lived up to it a few times.It's no secret that she's had issues with her label, but recently she announced her split from them, and now her fans have finally started seeing the first bits of the music she's been promising them. I know I definitely was very curious what she would bring to the table. The first time I listened to this song, it honestly just sounded like noise to me. I had no idea what she was saying for the most part, and I dont think enunciation has really been a problem for her up till now so it was confusing. But I found a lyrics breakdown and listened again. The lyrics are mainly just her saying the same thing over and over but in a lot of different ways. The gist is that she's awesome, hot, the best, etc. Pretty standard stuff and some of the wordplay reminds me a bit of Nicki although AB definitely has her own writing style. There are a few clever lines here and there that I really liked but its hard for me to get excited at this point about songs like this with no storytelling, no variety or switch ups in content, and nothing new or interesting to say in that repetitive conetent. There isnt a real hook either, and I think this song couldve used a good one. Her flow (the thing she's best known for, form what I gather) is weird. She's kind of rapping in this low voice and its just one flow the entire time. I wasnt a huge fan of her delivery on this one, although it was certainly unique. The whole song is very unique, which includes the beat. The beat is interesting enough, but its mostly a huge mess and drowns the vocals. Whatever points I decide to give her in the score above, are only for at least trying to do something different sonically, something I will always applaud in artists. But the execution is really shoddy and this song was very dissapointing on basically all levels.
previous scores:
albums-
Sia, 1000 FOF: 6.8/10
La Roux, Trouble in Paradise: 7/10
singles-
Drake, 0-100/TCU: 5/10
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Member Since: 2/6/2014
Posts: 41,074
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Heavy Metal + Reflective
Azealia Banks is the only artist that utilizes a track properly. Her songs are short and to the point. Her use of alliteration always blows me away. This song makes a big statement. Nobody can see her artistically. Her wordplay is insane and unreal.This is real lyricism. Metaphors, allegories, themes, double entendres with full meanings.It has a nice groove and it's laid back, with clever bars.
Score: 8.9/10
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Member Since: 8/10/2012
Posts: 7,072
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Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective
Pretty much everyone cheered with joy when Azealia Banks was released form what was holding her back all this years, Interscope Records. A new era began with the release of Heavy Metal and Reflective, the debut single off the upcoming debut of Miss Banks. But what comes with it is huge disappointment. This was her song to release, completely her decision and it becomes clearer and clearer that Azealia might have lost her spark. What made her previous efforts so outstanding was the devotion to complete tracks, rather on here it feels like Banks just jumps around, not comminting and leaving me feeling deserted and like I was stood out in the rain.
Sure, the beat is nice, her flow is the best in the game, as always. The lyricsm is almost on point, yet it leaves me wanting more, not in a good way. There is nothing exciting about this song, it's only there. Only Azealia knows what comes in the future, but if the continues like this, she might as well have stayed with Interscope.
5/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 41,181
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Someone needs to teach me how to format  I'll just leave a basic one for now
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This track is definitely not for everybody. It doesn't have a structure that can easily catch on, it doesn't have a melody, it's not a sing along or even a rap along. But at the same time it's eclectic and different. And at the same time, literally noone else but Azealia could have pulled it off. Gotta love an artist with a signature sound and that's what Azealia proves to be with this song. Her sound, her approach and her message are all over the quirky, futuristic beat. And another thing worth of appreciation is how the beat is much more EDM than it is hip hop, like most of Azealia's productions. Daring, risky, unique. Therefore, representative. And in my opinion, incredible!
9 / 10
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