twinmatrix
Member
Join Date: Aug 9, 2015 12:51:19 GMT
Posts: 90
Likes: 101
Last Online: Nov 10, 2021 22:19:04 GMT
|
Post by twinmatrix on Mar 12, 2019 15:53:35 GMT
I wasn't here for the album release so I didn't catch everyone's opinion on the album release. I am wondering, what is now in hindsight the general consensus on the album? Is it an OK album? An amazing album? Her best yet? Everyone loves it or there's disappointed people?
|
|
BogoGog24
Administrator
I'm off again in my world...
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 12:38:58 GMT
Posts: 14,682
Likes: 39,024
Last Online: Apr 18, 2024 1:02:21 GMT
|
Post by BogoGog24 on Mar 12, 2019 18:03:44 GMT
For me personally I'd rank it as her 3rd best album. LG and TBDT will always be favorites of mine. But I think it's basically a better version of GL and definitely better than AL. And UMS has never been a favorite album of mine either so yeah it easily outranks all those. I don't think it's her best album but certainly not her worst either.
I do think it is probably her best album or at least one of her best in terms of lyrics (aside from LG, don't think anything will ever top that because she had so much professional help with it), though this album's lyrics are more poetic, which is nice. And I think it's her best album vocally too.
I think it would have been better maybe if she had released the album in two parts, like while she was still sick if she released the Lyme songs, and then released the love songs later. But I also like that the album tells a story - it is definitely her most cohesive album in that sense. None of her other albums really tell a complete story from start to finish. GL maybe a little bit, but as we know, that album had its own set of issues.
I think this is a good direction for Avril to keep going in and is a good comeback album for her. It may not have gotten the sales/charts that people hoped for, it will probably get ignored at the Grammys and other award shows, but that's ok. This is overall a huge achievement for her to have made the album at all after what she went through and not even knowing if she'd make music again. That in itself is something she should feel proud of. And hopefully she will just keep going from here.
|
|
birdie2020
Member
Join Date: Feb 17, 2019 20:43:58 GMT
Posts: 2,782
Likes: 3,459
Last Online: Apr 18, 2020 21:41:08 GMT
|
Post by birdie2020 on Mar 12, 2019 18:30:09 GMT
Think it's at least as good as LG in terms of sound and singing. Lyrically not as much in certain parts of songs. First album since LG that has all tracks on my Ipod. Agreed it could be looked at as a better GL. People are kinda on opposing sides for GL and HAW. I still play it daily but notice things I don't llike that I didn't before. Minor stuff though and doesn't ruin it for me.
|
|
heaven
Member
Join Date: Nov 13, 2018 10:52:36 GMT
Posts: 273
Likes: 481
Last Online: Sept 5, 2022 10:07:07 GMT
|
Post by heaven on Mar 12, 2019 19:06:31 GMT
It's a great album, too bad that she has some fillers like Bigger Wow and Love Me Insane.. and i don't like Warrior either but i don't consider it a filler because it's a perfect album closer. Lyrically is very good since she co-wrote with great writers, it's better than the past albums minus Let Go( that album will always be her best lyrically), but too many na na yeah yeah yeah that ''ruin'' the pleasure to listen to the songs, at least to me. I always felt like she added those things because she couldn't write anything more and in the long run it's repetitive and annoying, very annoying..especially the yeah yeah of Souvenir and yeah yeah lo lo ve me insane part. In fact i tend to not hear those songs because they get on my nerves.
To me the best songs of this album are the underrated ones: Crush, Tell Me It's Over and Goddess.. they shows her vocals perfectly. The dark side.. well i like it very much, but it's too overrated: Birdie and Devil are great song, but it doesn't mean they are the best only because they are dark and more ''Avril-ish''.. And i wish she had written more songs like It Was In Me.
|
|
cleverblonde
Member
Join Date: Feb 7, 2019 16:42:00 GMT
Posts: 62
Likes: 66
Last Online: Jun 13, 2019 13:32:00 GMT
|
Post by cleverblonde on Mar 12, 2019 20:51:11 GMT
if you're talking about critical consensus... yikes
I personally quite like the album. While it's heavily frontloaded (goddess is pure cringe, love me insane is filler, and warrior is a glorified KHO), most of the songs actually do it for me, which wasn't the case on GL. GL and the latter half of HAW are mostly acoustic love songs which has never been Avril's strong suit. While i like souvenir and bigger wow, songs like "i love you" and "love me insane" seemed to be based around a good idea, but she can never seem to articulate it in a way that she could on, perhaps "things i'll never say" which is one of my favorite love songs for her.
|
|
maurice67
New Member
Join Date: Mar 4, 2019 15:25:51 GMT
Posts: 10
Likes: 9
Last Online: Apr 6, 2019 1:31:39 GMT
|
Post by maurice67 on Mar 13, 2019 3:49:49 GMT
For me all filler except 2 tracks Fake Instruments again
|
|
biggerwow
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 18, 2017 21:37:25 GMT
Posts: 6,029
Likes: 11,501
Last Online: Dec 5, 2018 5:20:38 GMT
|
Post by biggerwow on Mar 13, 2019 3:53:38 GMT
Not sure where I'd rate it yet. I think she's clearly still struggling to find her new style but is heading in a good direction. I loved that she experimented with some Soul / Motown type of songs like Crush and TMIO. It's something unexpected and very welcome from me which is an unpopular opinion. Her vocals are also amazing, I am glad they are a focal point in this album.
The storyline of the album is great even if it's not the story I expected (Lyme) or how I thought she'd make it sound. There are some moments where the sound doesn't really flow and distracts from the story, namely the transition between TMIO and DB. But I get it and I think it was her way of showing a drastic turn in her life where she stopped taking shit and showed us that tough Avril again. I thought she'd sing more about finding the strength in herself rather than having so many love songs. Although I actually prefer love songs because it makes IWIM so much more special.
Finally, I'm really happy this album sounds modern and mature, for the most part. Before the album came out that was a big fear of mine. I think the majority of these songs could be played on radio alongside the popular artists of today. Some stand out more than others so I hope Avril picks those as singles.
|
|
TomX
Video Team
TBDT Video Editor
Join Date: Mar 20, 2015 0:57:41 GMT
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 8,563
Last Online: Apr 18, 2024 4:46:05 GMT
|
Post by TomX on Mar 13, 2019 4:04:02 GMT
In my opinion, it's nowhere near to LG or UMS, but I could see it turning into my 3rd favorite album, leaving TBDT in 4th place. However, it's VERY new, and my outlook on it may change. I certainly think this will outrank GL and AL for sure, nonetheless.
At first I was kind of annoyed at how the last songs are so much lighter than the first ones, but after giving it more listens and realizing how it actually tells a story (something unprecedented in her discography), I can see why she went that way. I'm still curious to see what kind of album we would've gotten if she hadn't had that falling out with Rotem. It probably could've been her second or even her best album to date. I have a feeling the songs she had before the Phillip songs "Souvenir, ""Goddess", "LMI", "Bigger Wow" were a lot better, but oh well.
The only thing that annoys me is the jazz vibe in a few songs. I'm ok with TMIO, but then the Crush verses are very annoying, she's like forcing her voice too much to fit that genre. On the contrary, I don't think it really suits her that well. The chorus, which is more pop, suits her a lot better. By the time I get to Love Me Insane, I'm kind of done with that vibe.
I hope the next album is more upbeat and more like TBDT in terms of sound and production, with HAW type of lyrics. That would be pretty amazing.
|
|
twinmatrix
Member
Join Date: Aug 9, 2015 12:51:19 GMT
Posts: 90
Likes: 101
Last Online: Nov 10, 2021 22:19:04 GMT
|
Post by twinmatrix on Mar 13, 2019 19:11:34 GMT
If we are going to compare HAW to other albums, my opinion is this
AL is my favorite album. I understand the critique but it's above and beyond the most beautiful and strong album she has released, one of my favorite albums from any artist. Start to finish it's amazing minus maybe Let Me Go but that one is also nice.
GL has better lyrics and cohesive sound. More emotional. Not better singles though imo.
TBDT is simply an amazing punk rock empowering brat cheerleader album. It's organic, loud and awesome.
UMS is my least favorite but the singles are stronger than HAW singles and the sound is very timeless.
LG is the only candidate where I'd say HAW might be better. There's some songs on LG I don't listen to like Unwanted and Losing Grip. However LG has that awesome "free out at night on the street" vibe which is awesome and beautiful.
So based on this kind of criteria HAW is my least favorite. But I feel that's unfair because it's still a very nice album. Hmmm.
|
|
lrb22
Member
SOTY '17
Join Date: Dec 26, 2016 13:19:03 GMT
Posts: 486
Likes: 866
Last Online: Apr 17, 2024 19:04:07 GMT
|
Post by lrb22 on Mar 14, 2019 11:20:01 GMT
For me Head Above Water is a love/hate relationship:
Dislikes: - Birdie: One of her best songs ever, great production and lyrics! But why are her vocals so screechy?!? - Dumb Blonde: For me, this is another Bitchin Summer, so much potential but so CRINGEY!!! I actually prefer Niki Minaj verse to any of Avril's. The lyric video is Pure Killer though. - It Was In Me: I really don't understand the hype of this song? It's okay but sounds exactly like Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. - Souvenir: One of my favourite songs on the album however after the chorus before the bridge when there is the 'Souvi - Souvenir' break down that should have continued for another 4 bars but ends abruptly - bad production work. - Goddess: A great song that's ruined by the 'Bananas / Pyjamas' rhyming couplet. - Love Me Insane: Feel like there should be another repeat of the chorus at the end, the song kinda just ends after this big build up. - Warrior: The chant during the bridge should have repeated, it kinda just happens and then is forgotten about, would have liked to have seen it reappear at the end with a slow fade. - Considering it took her so long to produce the "perfect" album, songs feel rushed like they were trying to meet a deadline. - Would have LOVED to hear the other songs she worked with J.R.Rotem. - A general feeling that Avril is as talented as other pop female artists. Compare this to Rainbow by Kesha and it's clearly obvious who is the better musician... - It's another concept album with songs varying vastly in sound. - Some of the songs, mainly the singles, are again quite Radio-Disney like her previous album.
Loves: - Avril maturing and modernising her music! FINALLY! - Her vocals are great. - Love the album cover. - Was worried that it was going to be 100% emotional ballads but she has provided song great pop tunes. - Top 5 Songs: Souvenir, Goddess, Bigger Wow, Birdie and Fell In Love With The Devil
Overall for me, it's a 3.5/5
|
|
BogoGog24
Administrator
I'm off again in my world...
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 12:38:58 GMT
Posts: 14,682
Likes: 39,024
Last Online: Apr 18, 2024 1:02:21 GMT
|
Post by BogoGog24 on Mar 14, 2019 16:02:45 GMT
I agree her vocals are really screechy on Birdie. It suffers from Push Syndrome - great song, bad recording.
|
|
goodbye
Member
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 7:22:34 GMT
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 1,283
Location: Germany
Last Online: Jan 28, 2023 8:30:29 GMT
|
Post by goodbye on Mar 14, 2019 16:57:08 GMT
It's her 3rd best for me. GL & UMS are above it and TBDT follows it as 4th best album.
|
|
adamf83
Member
Join Date: Mar 16, 2019 1:12:27 GMT
Posts: 616
Likes: 875
Location: Newcastle, England
Last Online: Apr 17, 2024 10:33:28 GMT
|
Post by adamf83 on Mar 20, 2019 0:43:35 GMT
It's her 3rd best for me. GL & UMS are above it and TBDT follows it as 4th best album. Very surprising not see Let Go in someone's top four!
|
|
goodbye
Member
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 7:22:34 GMT
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 1,283
Location: Germany
Last Online: Jan 28, 2023 8:30:29 GMT
|
Post by goodbye on Mar 20, 2019 5:55:15 GMT
It's her 3rd best for me. GL & UMS are above it and TBDT follows it as 4th best album. Very surprising not see Let Go in someone's top four! It's good because that means she evolved. I know some singers where the first one is still the best and they have 3 to 4 albums.
|
|
Jinkxx
Member
20 June 2008 & 04 May 2023 - The days I met Avril <3
Join Date: Mar 13, 2015 20:51:25 GMT
Posts: 6,026
Likes: 9,852
Location: The Netherlands
Last Online: Apr 12, 2024 12:56:07 GMT
|
Post by Jinkxx on Mar 20, 2019 9:45:19 GMT
For me it's her best album to date. I became a fan with Complicated but have grown so Let Go is what got me into Avril and still is a nice album tho but I prefer the 'new' sound. My fave was UMS and it was GL after that one came out and also after AL it still was GL and I think this is slightly GL part 2 but better. I skip no songs and no songs have annoyed me while I play this record daily since the release, so that's about more then a month now.
To mention some things that could've been better: I expected more from Warrior but it's an okay song, as said before never skip it tho. And Love Me Insane is a bit of a filler. Also I liked if she had more songs on the album since she had a lot of material but not those unreleased such as In Touch, Don't Stop, IWWIW and so. I'd like those titles such as Lucky Ones or others.
|
|