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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 18,571
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Heavy Metal and Reflective
When I pressed the play button, the music that started playing urgently brought back memories from when my ears were graced with an Azelia song for the first time in March 2013, right in time when Yung Rapunxel leaked. It took me several repeats to grasp what she was trying to deliver with her (at first sight!) silent yet agressive and progressive rhyme-spitting. To date, I still wouldn't be able to imitate any of Yung Rapunxel's verses. Might be enough said about her skills to actually bring a demanding rap song with tough jawbreaker to the table. She's not one that makes it easy to comprehend yet everything she does comes off as super effortlessly. As it does with Heavy Metal & Reflective. The cover imagery aligns itself with the song, it feels like watching associated video stills. The song kicks in with a majestic video game-esque beat, along with the noises of barking thirsty wolves and a collective engine humming. The song quickly rises to its climax although it's not to doubt the whole song could be a part of a greater something. It fades out with an epic outro of Azealia preaching the "fires of oak" and you feel like the apocalypse appears right in front of your eyes. After listening to the song no one would dare set a foot into her territory ever again, the delivery is the ultimate punch in the face (the claps in the background just want to make sure though). Heavy Metal & Relective is the speeded-up, less hysteric cousin of Yung Rapunxel, that dips even more into 90s sounds while still being one step ahead of contemporaries. And that's only one thing to adore about Azealia. She's easily capable of connecting two music decades and literally make them her own. May her album (will it see the light of the day when we're old and grey?) provide more material like that but as well her laid-back and luxurious beats that were only one part of what made the 1991 EP so extraordirany and enjoyable.
10/10
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 20,654
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Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Sadly, I can barely express in words how underwhelmed I am by the latest release from these three power women.
Not even Ariana hitting notes I'm not even aware exist or Nicki's on-point-flow can help from how annoyed I felt after listening to the track 3 times in a row.
It took me another 6 hours to find the courage to give it another try but the first impression remained.
I feel like I'm listening to a failed attempt to recreate something like a 2014's Lady Marmalade.
At least I feel like all three artists tried, because after all they ARE infact very talented, but honestly nothing can save this tragical instrumental.
Score:
1.5/ 10
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Reviews:
Sia - 1000 Forms Of Fear, Drake - 0 to 100, La Roux - Trouble In Paradise
Jessie J - Bang Bang
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 20,654
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Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective
After listening to HM&R I must say that Azealia Banks can do no wrong. Beside not putting out an full length studio album out already.
Her music quality stays stable since the release of her debut single "212" back in 2011.
It may not always been an easy road for her fans or even the singer herself, but waiting has been worth wile.
With her latest single Banks once again proves that she's way ahead oh her peer(s).
Score:
10/ 10
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Reviews:
Sia - 1000 Forms Of Fear, Drake - 0 to 100, La Roux - Trouble In Paradise
Jessie J - Bang Bang, Azealia Banks - Heavy Matel & Reflection
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Banned
Member Since: 4/13/2011
Posts: 18,738
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Quote:
Originally posted by ririfan21
Bang Bang.
Great music for the summer.
8/10. |
tf
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Member Since: 2/6/2014
Posts: 41,074
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Quote:
Originally posted by ririfan21
Bang Bang.
Great music for the summer.
8/10. |
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Member Since: 8/22/2007
Posts: 8,800
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The reviews being all over the place for both 
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Member Since: 3/2/2014
Posts: 7,276
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Some of the reviews...  Especially for BB... What kind of ruthlessness...
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Member Since: 2/27/2012
Posts: 12,567
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Quote:
Originally posted by ririfan21
Bang Bang.
Great music for the summer.
8/10. |
I love it.
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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Bang BangJessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
Noisy. Loud. Catchy. Undeniably, the song screams hit from the first listen. The production is extremely noisy, yet the melody is extremely catchy. The lyrics are the same as any other generic hit on the radio.
The song features 2 pop stars that are usually criticized for screaming too much in their songs, and this one is no different. Ariana Grande & Jessie J, despite both having great and strong voices, served their usual loud vocals, although Ariana's verse was more tolerable.
On another note, Nicki Minaj gave us the usual Nicki Minaj rap verse. Nothing special, but nothing bad about her verse.
The song overall is fresh and suitable for summer. But beware listening to it too much on repeat or you might get an headache.
Production: 4/10
Lyrics: 4/10
Melody: 9/10
Jessie J: 4/10
Ariana: 7/10
Nicki Minaj: 6/10
5.7
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Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 34,961
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I mean that's pretty straightforward 
How long is Azealia's due? I want to try before it's too late.
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Member Since: 8/29/2012
Posts: 22,883
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Bang Bang - Las Tres Amigas
The song itself would be great if it didn't sound like a High Schoo Musical/Glee reject and Jessie J and Ariana didn't yodel and scream to see who would make your iPhone speakers blow up first. The beat is catchy and the chorus itself works in some weird kind of way. It gets stuck in your head for some reason. Nicki's verse is cute and the only reason I'd give it a
1.5/5.
If it smashes and goes #1
4.5/5
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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All these reviews.
Quote:
Originally posted by SupahBass05
Bang Bang - Las Tres Amigas
1.5/5.
If it smashes and goes #1
4.5/5 |
dd this is so true, I can just imagine the backtracking and Bang Bang mv avis if it smashes.
I'll do reviews tomorrow if I can think of anything to write.
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Member Since: 11/18/2011
Posts: 5,396
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Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective
Release Date: July 27, 2014
"I be getting several, you be zero, bet you be pressed bitch, I be looking very heavy metal and reflective, I could get that!"
This song feels like a return-to-form Azealia song. It's pretty damn mellow, but not mellow in the same vein as 1991 or Liquorice. It's more of an expanded take on Van Vogue, or at least in the production, with the metallic-feeling beat keeping the pulse of the song going. I'm not sure if it would be the best song for Azealia to try and throw to the mainstream crowd, but then again the trap feel of the song could work for urban crowds pretty well.
It's always hard to REALLY get into the lyrics to AB's songs because she raps so quickly (really that's how I feel about all/most rap music, not in a bad way), and this song also has pretty standard lyrics for Azealia. Show-offy on looking real real good, hex being thrown in, "getting that dick" and what-not. Being heavy metal and reflective is kinda weird to me and I don't really get it but that's okay. Also, "That's the loveliest thing I've ever heard" makes me laugh and is a great sampling. It's probably my favorite part.
It's pretty exciting that pretty AB got some music out there to show that she's ready to be active once again. She seemed to be in a total bind with Interscope after Fantasea swept us away (hahahahaha) and that was already two years ago. It's time for Azealia to show us that she's got it, and Heavy Metal and Reflective is a good start.
7.5/10
★★★★★★★✩✩✩
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 26,488
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Bang Bang
This song sounds like a sad remake of Wham's "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" this song is an utter disappointment considering the talent of contributors Jessie J and Ariana Grande. The instrumental to this song sounds very unpolished, leaving the production much to be desired. Jessie J is missing the rawness and pureness she had in previous singles "Do It Like A Dude" and "Domino." Ariana's vocals are great, but sound out of place on this feature. Nicki Minaj's rap hasn't evolved since she has exploded onto the music scene: cut her part out and on it's own, sounds like a 2011 feature.
1.5 / 10
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Member Since: 11/18/2011
Posts: 5,396
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Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Release Date: July 29, 2014
"She might've let you hold her hand in school, but I'mma show you how to graduate."
The thought of this song coming out is... just really strange. I mean, Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj... you can't deny that it's just super weird. Jessie J seemed to be having issues with her second album last year and it didn't even get released across the pond at all. This new song may be the attempt to make up for the underperformance.
Let's talk the three ladies in the song. Jessie J still loves to scream-sing. This has been nothing new, but it feels slightly new the way she screams in this song. Her part is probably my least favorite. Ariana screams some whistle notes, but has also taken up scream-singing for this song. Her lyrical area is pretty nice. Then out of nowhere Nicki's all "yo lemme bust dis one out" and does a totally out-of-place rap. It's actually not a bad rap, though. And then Jessie comes back "you need a BA GA DABLA YAMAAAAAA" ow.
Basically, the song is one giant mess. A catchy, very loud, fun, and dancey mess. The production is loud, and full of horns and claps and other instrumentation that is pretty fun. The lyrics are nothing special I suppose, but have pretty repeatable qualities that stick in your mind. It has potential to be quite a big hit, as it fits the sound of what's doing well now, so we'll see how that goes.
6.5/10
★★★★★★✩✩✩✩
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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Heavy Metal & Reflective
At the first listen, I had no idea what I was listening to. Actually, I still have no idea what I listened to. I played it several times, and still don't get what's that. If this was supposed to be a song, then it failed its purpose.
To sum it up, all I heard were terrible lyrics, creepy rapping, cringeworthy talk in the middle (is that Azealia?) and awkward silences during the song. Although the instrumental was pretty decent.
If this is any indication of what Broke With Expensive Taste consists of, then I guess Banks will never have any kind of future success.
Production: 6/10
Lyrics: 1/10
Melody/Rapping: 1/10
2.7
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 41,181
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Things I love Things I Hate
The pulsating drum pattern
Ariana not having a bigger part The old school feel
Ariana not doing falsetto notes Jessie J's adlibs
Lack of chemistry
The production during Nicki's verse
The lyrics
The fact that the verses are more powerful, exciting and memorable than the below average chorus
6 / 10
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Banned
Member Since: 4/13/2011
Posts: 18,738
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Image zoom sis, imagezoom.
 fixed
[imgzoom=90]http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music4/v4/8a/16/2f/8a162f44-a593-7045-108e-6500f5be4da2/UMG_cvrart_00602537969326_01_RGB72_1500x1500_14UMG IM31140.1200x1200-75.jpg[/imgzoom]
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 41,181
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Quote:
Originally posted by maiko
Image zoom sis, imagezoom.
[collapse=fixed]
[imgzoom=90]http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Music4/v4/8a/16/2f/8a162f44-a593-7045-108e-6500f5be4da2/UMG_cvrart_00602537969326_01_RGB72_1500x1500_14UMG IM31140.1200x1200-75.jpg[/imgzoom]
[/noparse]
[/collapse=fixed]
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Don't need it. I just replaced the image 
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Banned
Member Since: 4/13/2011
Posts: 18,738
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