April 25, 201213 yr Teen Idle has grown on me, even though I'm still iffy on the beat, the first minute and the bi-polar FEELING SUPER SUPER SUPER suicidal are wonderful, and the middle 8 is melancholy heaven too - I found the I wish I didn't really kiss the mirror on my own, oh God I'm going to die alone lyric to mix emotional acuity and pastiche pop-diva melodrama wonderfully (or is it an insight into how narcissistic she really is? The use of archetypes cloud the personal, which is why it isn't as raw a listen as TFJ). There are some stand out pop tracks on the album but listening to it all the way through, there is an inescapable whiff of cheapness. I would probably give it a 6.5/10 at the moment; her idiosyncrasies as a recording artist, whether ironically or not, have really been watered down and the album itself is going to age terribly. Edited January 4, 201411 yr by Daniel.
April 26, 201213 yr It's a real shame she went with so many Kurstin tracks. They don't highlight her idiosyncrasies in a positive way. Just flat and nothingy. I wonder what the tracks she did with Guy Sigsworth, Labrinth and other cuts by Stargate and Diplo sounded like... Edited April 26, 201213 yr by يعقوب
April 26, 201213 yr I'm really trying not to listen to any of the unreleased tracks until my copy of the album arrives. I like the sound of the clips and judging from the comments I think I'm going to enjoy 'lies'.
April 26, 201213 yr GJfpNTS-0Wg I love how she called Dr. Luke shit American pop and then has him produce her lead single. :lol: yeah - our Marina is as contradictory and insecure as Nicky Wire is. Their personal worth seems to be based on success rather than quality of output.
April 26, 201213 yr My first impression is that the production really lets down a lot of this album. There's something a little cheap and nasty about most songs and it's such a shame because there's some amazing songs underneath it all. I don't care that she's gone all electro-pop on this album, but it only works when she goes for that sound fully like on Primadonna, Radioactive and Lies. But on other songs like Bubblegum Bitch, Living Dead and Power & Control they just sound like Family Jewels songs but with a synth instead of a piano. Starring Role is an amazing song, but there is something quite dated about it... it always reminds me of Natasha Bedingfield - Angel. My favourite songs so far (in no particular order): Primadonna Teen Idle (mainly because it is in the same vein as Numb and The Family Jewels) Valley Of The Dolls (although this could do with a slick Lana Del Rey type production) Lies Starring Role Fear And Loathing Edited April 26, 201213 yr by Ashley
April 26, 201213 yr It was a massive error not putting "Radioactive" on the album, one of the best pop songs of 2011.
April 27, 201213 yr The album isn't half as bad as some people are making out, its a strong album, just not as strong as the brilliant 'Family Jewels' but I kind of expected that. Why 'Lies' was not released as the album lead is beyond me. Also, this album is solid proof that this really should be in the pop forum. You don't get much a popper album than this.
April 27, 201213 yr I agree completely with what you've just said. It's a pretty strong and respectable sophomore album from her. Obviously wasn't going to be anywhere near the heights of 'The Family Jewels' amazingness, but it's a very solid effort. (I agree about the pop forum comment too - although something like 'Fear & Loathing' couldn't be further away from pop if it tried :lol: - but that's one track)
April 27, 201213 yr I agree completely with what you've just said. It's a pretty strong and respectable sophomore album from her. Obviously wasn't going to be anywhere near the heights of 'The Family Jewels' amazingness, but it's a very solid effort. (I agree about the pop forum comment too - although something like 'Fear & Loathing' couldn't be further away from pop if it tried :lol: - but that's one track) + the only good track there. so so disappointed :(
April 27, 201213 yr I love 'Bubblegum Bitch', it reminds me of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 'Catch You'. :wub: This isn't just generic pop music, productionwise in places it can be but she's truly put her own stamp on it. She pulls it off with so much more sophistication than just about anybody else out there currently doing the same thing, I take my hat off to her.
April 27, 201213 yr 'Teen Idle' and the final version of 'Fear and Loathing' are the clear highlights for me - melancholy, cutting songs that wrap me up in a very particular world. That said, I really like the album overall, although I do think 'Valley of the Dolls' and 'Hypocrates' aren't anything special and so there's a weird lull before the majesty of 'Fear and Loathing'.
April 27, 201213 yr The album isn't half as bad as some people are making out, its a strong album, just not as strong as the brilliant 'Family Jewels' but I kind of expected that. Why 'Lies' was not released as the album lead is beyond me. Also, this album is solid proof that this really should be in the pop forum. You don't get much a popper album than this. I think the fact that this thread is 21 pages long speaks for itself. I'm not moving it (but of course Ben can do what he wants!)
April 28, 201213 yr IN LOVE with the backing track for 'Power & Control'! It's hard to love this album so far though. I'm close to never forgiving her for not including Radioactive in this. :(
April 28, 201213 yr Her voice is SOMETHING like. The album is nice enough so far. Still prefer Family Jewels hugely. Starring Role is probably my favourite bar RADIOACTIVE <3
April 28, 201213 yr It's hard to love this album so far though. I'm close to never forgiving her for not including Radioactive in this. :( Deluxe edition. It's still annoying that she chucked it off the standard but I don't think it would have fit in with the rest of the album anyway. I'm I know right?
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