katy
Member
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 11:48:03 GMT
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 14,425
Last Online: Apr 24, 2024 21:21:38 GMT
|
Post by katy on Jul 24, 2020 10:53:00 GMT
Ok I’m twice through now lol. My highlights are...
Betty Exile (the back and forth at the end!!!) Invisible String The 1 August Cardigan The Last Great American Dynasty My Tears Ricochet
|
|
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 Jul 24, 2020 11:18:25 GMT
My Top 3 so far: Hoax, The 1 and Illicit Affairs
|
|
Jinkxx
Member
20 June 2008 & 04 May 2023 - The days I met Avril <3
Join Date: Mar 13, 2015 20:51:25 GMT
Posts: 6,027
Likes: 9,856
Location: The Netherlands
Last Online: Apr 24, 2024 13:12:19 GMT
|
Post by Jinkxx on Jul 24, 2020 11:34:18 GMT
When did I become such a Swiftie?? I ask myself this all the time if someone asked me my favourite artists I don’t think I’d think to say Taylor but i dunno why cos I actually love all her songs and I’m buzzing when she puts new music out lol Same here! I knew her from Love Story but it was the time when I heard Blank Space I was gonna check her music and ended up loving 1989 and rep. Also like quite a few songs on Red. Lover is not really my cup of tea. Some songs are awesome but I miss a theme. I just listened to Folklore once (except Hoax cause I listened at work doing something where I can listen to music but my time was up haha). I feel like I have to sit down with headphones and the lyrics to understand this album better. Kinda am a Swiftie since I ordered nr 8 Clandestine Meetings yesterday, I thought that one had the nicest pics. In all the excitement I forgot to add my housenumber so I emailed them and this morning I saw they replied and fixed my order thank god! I was so scared haha 8 is over the top so I just ordered 1 deluxe version. It's not Avril where I want every version available. Curious tho about what songs will be favorites. The video for Cardigan is beautiful, what do you guys think about the video?
|
|
BogoGog24
Administrator
I'm off again in my world...
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 12:38:58 GMT
Posts: 14,700
Likes: 39,055
Last Online: Apr 25, 2024 1:11:41 GMT
|
Post by BogoGog24 on Jul 24, 2020 14:11:38 GMT
|
|
katy
Member
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 11:48:03 GMT
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 14,425
Last Online: Apr 24, 2024 21:21:38 GMT
|
Post by katy on Jul 24, 2020 14:30:56 GMT
The videos nice (and impressive given the lockdown circumstances!), though not one I’d go back and watch again
|
|
BogoGog24
Administrator
I'm off again in my world...
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 12:38:58 GMT
Posts: 14,700
Likes: 39,055
Last Online: Apr 25, 2024 1:11:41 GMT
|
Post by BogoGog24 on Jul 24, 2020 14:37:39 GMT
My thoughts:
I LOOOVVVEEE the Cardigan music video! I watched the music video first and then listened to the album. At first the song was underwhelming to me and I liked the video better than the song. But as I listened through the album, Cardigan became one of the more memorable, standout tracks. The video is really well done and I love that she directed it. My favorite scene is in the forest, it just looks so calm, peaceful, and magical. It was really well done considering the restrictions they had to work under.
Now for the album. Honestly for me, at least on a first listen, it's not my favorite thing she's ever done. I wanted to like it so much but I just found a lot of of it to be underwhelming, too slow, too boring. It's definitely unlike anything she has ever done before. It's a very different kind of album from her. I don't really like the storytelling aspect of telling these stories from people we don't know. I miss the personal lyrics of her own life, I found it to be more relatable. Who is Betty and why should I care about her? Why should I be emotionally invested in this love triangle thing?
Lyrically, it's some of her strongest work, as it always is. The lyrics are impeccable. So much so that it's hard to grasp them all on a first listen, even when you have the lyrics right in front of you. But the melodies are really lacking on a lot of the songs and catchy, memorable hooks are one of the things she does best besides lyrics. I just found a lot of the songs to be forgettable with bland melodies, a lot of them sound the same and start to blend together after a while. That's pretty much my biggest hangup with this album.
However, that's not to say there weren't songs on here I really liked. Cardigan ended up being a standout, which is kind of disappointing when I was initially underwhelmed by it. Other highlights for me were Mirrorball, Seven, August, This is Me Trying, I guess Invisible String, Epiphany, Betty, and Peace. Hoax was just ok, I haven't been able to hear the bonus track yet. Illicit Affairs is probably my overall least favorite. I found The 1 to be boring and a poor choice for the album opener. The Last Great American Dynasty has an interesting story behind it, that it's about the previous owners of her Rhode Island home, but musically it didn't quite do it for me. Exile is ehhh I'm no Bon Iver fan so... I have to listen to Tears Ricochet again, I was a bit distracted while listening to it. Mad Woman is meh. Epiphany was the one that especially made an impression on me though, it sounds to me like it's about a soldier in WWII who witnesses someone dying. So powerful.
Overall, I'd probably give this album only a 3/5 and would say it's by far my least favorite of all her work. But that's only based on one listen and it was very late at night when I was kind of tired from waiting up all night to hear it. Did anyone else have a fluke with Apple Music or iTunes? It was giving everyone, at least in the US, an error saying the item was not available in the US store, even though it was well past midnight. I swear to God it probably took about 20 minutes for it finally show up on Apple Music and even then, track 9 didn't download immediately until I realized it and refreshed the page. Then we were all supposed to get emails from Taylor Nation with the code for the digital download for those of us who ordered a CD, but I still haven't gotten mine and I know others didn't either. The release was a bit of a mess.
I feel like with this album you have to be in a certain mood to listen to it. Like I can imagine curling up in a big comfy armchair with a blanket and mug of cocoa on a rainy day and listening to this album. But it's not an album you can really pop in your car while driving or running or something like say 1989, rep, or Lover. There aren't many happy sounding songs on it either, it's overall actually kind of a depressing, melancholy album that I don't see myself wanting to play too often. I have liked or loved all 7 of her albums so far but unfortunately I think this is the first one that I'm just truly meh on. I wish she had released it more as some kind of side project instead of an official studio album. I feel like it's just so far removed from her usual work that it's bizarre to think of it as being part of her discography. But we have also had so much thrown at us in the last 24 hours that we're still trying to process everything. It's hard to go from the happy-go-lucky, megapop rainbow album to this black and white, 1920s Great Depression era folk album full of dreary ballads with no warning.
I'm really hopeful that the songs will grow on me the more I listen. Everyone seems to love it and I wanted to like it so much but I think a lot of it just lacks for me. It isn't even so much that this type of music isn't my thing, but I think the album lacks variety and that can probably be blamed on the fact the same guy helped her write 11 of the 16 songs. Naturally a lot of them will probably share similarities. Ah well. I guess it's good that she experimented and maybe she will find a new audience that doesn't like her pop stuff but will like this. All I really want is for her to get the #1 album over Kayne lol
|
|
BogoGog24
Administrator
I'm off again in my world...
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 12:38:58 GMT
Posts: 14,700
Likes: 39,055
Last Online: Apr 25, 2024 1:11:41 GMT
|
Post by BogoGog24 on Jul 24, 2020 14:42:43 GMT
For those interested, there are also lyric videos on her channel for every song, if you want to be able to listen with the lyrics! I haven't watched them yet.
But damn, no matter what I might think about the album, she really served us and did her best to make up for the cancellation of Lover Fest. Brand new album of 17 tracks, 8 deluxe editions, new merch, new music video, 16 lyric videos. Taylor was hella productive in quarantine lmao
|
|
katy
Member
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 11:48:03 GMT
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 14,425
Last Online: Apr 24, 2024 21:21:38 GMT
|
Post by katy on Jul 24, 2020 15:13:05 GMT
Exile is up there with All Too Well for me, absolutely stunning
|
|
BogoGog24
Administrator
I'm off again in my world...
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 12:38:58 GMT
Posts: 14,700
Likes: 39,055
Last Online: Apr 25, 2024 1:11:41 GMT
|
Post by BogoGog24 on Jul 24, 2020 15:22:18 GMT
^ Hmm yeah I was listening to the 30s previews of all the songs again to refresh my memory and Exile was better than I remembered it being. Maybe I just don't like Bon Iver's parts.
|
|
biggerwow
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 18, 2017 21:37:25 GMT
Posts: 6,039
Likes: 11,526
Last Online: Dec 5, 2018 5:20:38 GMT
|
Post by biggerwow on Jul 24, 2020 18:27:45 GMT
This album has great lyrics and storytelling but it's boring. My hype died by track 3. To be fair, I listened after a long Zoom chat with friends and then I jumped into Folklore at 11:30. Once I heard Bon Iver's harsh strong voice I skipped and skimmed through the long tracklist. Nothing stood out so I clocked out.
This morning, I played it again and put it on shuffle starting with Cardigan. Then I truly listened to The Last Great American Dynasty and that song is my favorite storytelling wise. Betty is also really nice, finally I hear real instruments! I like flawlessly produced music that sounds modern (Rep, Lover) but for a folk based album I expected less production and more real instruments. The ones that have them on this album stand out more and we're better received by me.
Her voice. I prefer Taylor's usual strong style of singing. I think the soft voice contributed to making the album sound boring.
Bon Iver has a very strong voice that threw me off. I've heard of him but I don't think I ever heard him sing. I enjoy strong voices but it came as a surprise since she was singing so softly. I love the piano on exile and it turned out to be a good duet. The song gets better as it plays. I think it would fit very well on Red.
Tracks I like (most are growers): -Cardigan -TLGAD (probs won't play much but I love the story) -Betty -the 1 -peace -august -exile -invisible string -hoax - illicit affairs (favorite) -this is me tryinng Most boring track: epiphany
Gotta listen to the bonus track next.
|
|
BogoGog24
Administrator
I'm off again in my world...
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 12:38:58 GMT
Posts: 14,700
Likes: 39,055
Last Online: Apr 25, 2024 1:11:41 GMT
|
Post by BogoGog24 on Jul 24, 2020 18:40:37 GMT
This album has great lyrics and storytelling but it's boring. My hype died by track 3. To be fair, I listened after a long Zoom chat with friends and then I jumped into Folklore at 11:30. Once I heard Bon Iver's harsh strong voice I skipped and skimmed through the long tracklist. Nothing stood out so I clocked out. This morning, I played it again and put it on shuffle starting with Cardigan. Then I truly listened to The Last Great American Dynasty and that song is my favorite storytelling wise. Betty is also really nice, finally I hear real instruments! I like flawlessly produced music that sounds modern (Rep, Lover) but for a folk based album I expected less production and more real instruments. The ones that have them on this album stand out more and we're better received by me. Her voice. I prefer Taylor's usual strong style of singing. I think the soft voice contributed to making the album sound boring. Bon Iver has a very strong voice that threw me off. I've heard of him but I don't think I ever heard him sing. I enjoy strong voices but it came as a surprise since she was singing so softly. I love the piano on exile and it turned out to be a good duet. The song gets better as it plays. I think it would fit very well on Red. Tracks I like (most are growers): -Cardigan -TLGAD (probs won't play much but I love the story) -Betty -the 1 -peace -august -exile -invisible string -hoax - illicit affairs (favorite) -this is me tryinng Most boring track: epiphany Gotta listen to the bonus track next. Unfortunately I don't think we can hear the bonus track until we get the CD. I tried accessing my digital download (it FINALLy showed up after NOON today!) but the bonus track isn't on there. It must only be on the CD and those aren't going to ship for a few weeks... Tbh considering how underwhelming most of the album is, it's probably not that great anyway. I'm not in a hurry to listen to it lol I agree with you about Bon Iver. I never listened to him before, I wasn't even aware until like yesterday that Bon Iver is the band, but the lead singer is named something else. I always thought Bon Iver was the name of a male singer lol But yeah his voice is kind of jarring and unexpected to open up the track, I feel like Taylor should have started singing first. But their duet is very good with them trading off parts. It reminds me of The Last Time from Red with Gary Lightbody.
|
|
biggerwow
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 18, 2017 21:37:25 GMT
Posts: 6,039
Likes: 11,526
Last Online: Dec 5, 2018 5:20:38 GMT
|
Post by biggerwow on Jul 24, 2020 19:05:39 GMT
^ that's exactly what I was thinking too. About the bonus track and the last time. And Bon Iver opening the track. Didn't know it was a band either.
Cardigan MV is very nice.
The lyric videos are aesthetically pleasing but I got so distracted by the repetition of the gif. I prefer what Miranda Lambert is doing with her lyric videos like Dark Bars. Avril should think about doing some for HAW. There's so many ways she can be creative with what she already has but nah 😴
|
|
katy
Member
Join Date: Mar 14, 2015 11:48:03 GMT
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 14,425
Last Online: Apr 24, 2024 21:21:38 GMT
|
Post by katy on Jul 24, 2020 19:28:08 GMT
I really want to hear the lakes cos I want to know if it’s about the Lake District lol. She references it in Invisible String too. My grandparents have a cottage there and we go all the time, I’d love if it was I really like the album. Could probably cut 4 or 5 songs, it’s very long, especially given the type of sound it is, but I don’t really mind. I like the story telling, I don’t mind that it’s not necessary about her life for once. I like the songs telling the same stories from different points of view. There’s definitely 6 or 7 stand outs for me. Her writing is just ridiculous. Gives me autumn vibes though. I can imagine listening to it on an autumn day when all the leaves have gone red and it’s a bit crisp outside....in the Lake District
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Join Date: Apr 25, 2024 4:45:55 GMT
Posts: 0
Likes:
Last Online: Apr 25, 2024 4:45:55 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 20:39:23 GMT
I kinda respect that while we’re cowering in our bungalows (figuratively speaking) T Swizzle is writing, producing, directing and recording. Girls gotz some work ethic. PS Bogo: ”it was very late at night when I was kind of tired from waiting up all night to hear it.” Ha, she has you wrapped around her finger!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Join Date: Apr 25, 2024 4:45:55 GMT
Posts: 0
Likes:
Last Online: Apr 25, 2024 4:45:55 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2020 20:53:15 GMT
Oh my god I can't wait to listen to this album in full! I'm so excited
|
|