February 23, 201114 yr Studio versions of I Surrender and The Sword And The Shield: I Surrender http://jordizzle.tumblr.com/post/3440837562 Sword & The Shield: http://jordizzle.tumblr.com/post/3460591012
February 25, 201114 yr This album is brilliant. No one is agreeing with me of course, since this album is being maulled by the critics at the moment. I'm drawn to the conclusion that it would be quite the love/hate album, the production is very heavy on most of the tracks which is something a weaker vocalist would be very drowned out by and very, very OTT at times. Highlights alongside the singles would be 'The Sword and Shield', 'Happiest Pretender' and 'Bullet.
February 25, 201114 yr Loving 'Break These Chains'. 'Bullet', 'The Sword And The Shield', 'The Last Dance' and 'Freedom' are also worth a nod.
February 26, 201114 yr I'm loving this album, it's sad that the critics are giving it such a hard time. Her voice is SO powerful, I'm completely drawn in by it. Early highlights for me would be 'The Sword and the Shield', 'The Happiest Pretender' and 'I Surrender' but the whole album is brilliant imo.
February 26, 201114 yr my friend sent me the last dance the other day and i love this girls voice! it reminds me a bit of the woman from texas'
February 26, 201114 yr 'The last dance' failed to get me excited for this album, but after a first listen, I have to say the whole thing sounds really good ! I really have to dig into it more ! 'Bullet' is an instant gem, it has to be the next single surely :o
February 27, 201114 yr Gonna wait till tommorow for it :D It got a terrible review from NME - 2/10! :o But seeing as you guys like it I'll go with you instead! I'm sure it'll be a fantastic album! :)
March 1, 201114 yr I bought this and I think it's the worst album I've heard in a very long time. It's like being subjected to Heather Small all over again. Every track is hugely over produced and Clare appears to have precious little control over her vocals, Freedom is especially painful in that respect. I got as far as You're Electric before I turned it off, really really really terrible.
March 2, 201114 yr I've got mixed feelings about this album. Her constant bellowing voice never lets up and the production is ridiculously OTT on every track - that said, I like the two singles as well as I Surrender and Shield & Sword, but I doubt I'll be revisiting anything else on here much...
March 2, 201114 yr Oh thank the lord for some common sense... yours is the only other opinion I've read online that even vaguely matches my own.
March 2, 201114 yr Oh thank the lord for some common sense... yours is the only other opinion I've read online that even vaguely matches my own. I don't think I dislike it as much as you do, I probably like around half of the album! But sometimes 'less is more' and when you've got such a huge voice, to also have huge production - yet matched with sometimes weak melodies, makes the whole thing come across as very hollow in places. The two singles plus I Surrender and Shield & Sword get it more right because they have great melodies that stand up to her voice and are worthy of the huge production. But some of the melodically less stronger songs might have been a lot more tolerable in a more stripped down arrangement. I'd like to hear her do an acoustic track, I wonder if she could actually pull it off? She seems to want to give 110% vocally to every song when it's probably not needed for the most part. She gets it slightly wrong where Florence got it so very right - Lungs was only OTT when it needed to be, plus it was lyrically a hell of a lot stronger. Florence demonstrates restraint in her voice on certain tracks, but I'm just overwhelmed by Clare's album, it's so full on.
March 2, 201114 yr I don't think I dislike it as much as you do, I probably like around half of the album! But sometimes 'less is more' and when you've got such a huge voice, to also have huge production - yet matched with sometimes weak melodies, makes the whole thing come across as very hollow in places. The two singles plus I Surrender and Shield & Sword get it more right because they have great melodies that stand up to her voice and are worthy of the huge production. But some of the melodically less stronger songs might have been a lot more tolerable in a more stripped down arrangement. I'd like to hear her do an acoustic track, I wonder if she could actually pull it off? She seems to want to give 110% vocally to every song when it's probably not needed for the most part. She gets it slightly wrong where Florence got it so very right - Lungs was only OTT when it needed to be, plus it was lyrically a hell of a lot stronger. Florence demonstrates restraint in her voice on certain tracks, but I'm just overwhelmed by Clare's album, it's so full on. That's actually a really accurate description of the experience. I think I quite enjoyed the first couple of songs but then there was no let up, it felt like an attack rather than an album as it's very combative - akin to being charged at full pelt by a rhino! There are points where I remember thinking "Ooooo, that was quite Annie Lennox like" but they were only fleeting moments, she definitely needs to learn to put more emotion into her delivery style. I dunno... I listen to absolutely lots of albums that are reputed to be quite challenging but I just found that this one beat me! :D
March 2, 201114 yr She's awful. Desperately trying to be something epic but failing miserably. Her voice goes right through me too.
March 2, 201114 yr I probably won't be getting this album then - I did actually try and listen to it on Spotify but it's yet another exclusive (So much for 'try before you buy').. anyway I really liked "Ain't Nobody" and in particular the Breakage remix of that single. The new single "The Last Dance" just hasn't clicked - I like it when it comes on shuffle, but I wouldn't necessarily choose to listen to it. She does have a terrific voice, but I can imagine it becoming a bit overpowering, and the market is already flooded with talented artists that boast amazing voices, the trick here would have been to do something very different/innovative (eg in the vain of the Breakage mix of "Ain't Nobody"). Some of the reviews I've seen have also been less than favourable, I particularly like this review 'songs which are bellowed and wailed with all the subtlety of Florence Welch giving birth to a rhino.' Oh dear. :( I had high hopes too.. A great shame then that Lykke Li's far more impressive title is set to debut about 30 odd places below this.
March 3, 201114 yr I like the two singles and a few other tracks are great too but some of the others are nowhere near as good, she does OTT with her voice at times :( Surrender for next single! :wub:
March 4, 201114 yr Checked Clare out and i didn't think much really. Her voice reminded me of Sharleen Spirtari (women out of Texas) at times. She aint my thing. But i respect she is different. Oh well
Create an account or sign in to comment