I feel the exact opposite to unremarkable! I’m really impressed. It’s a strong set of well-written/produced pop songs, exactly what I was hoping for... she’s far exceeded my initial expectations. Louise could have so easily gone down the Emma Bunton or Alexandra Burke route (covers / MOR) [Edit: just seen that diamondtooth mentioned them as well, ha], but she’s gone above and beyond their laziness. It’s clear (to me, at least) that a lot of effort and passion went into the making of Heavy Love. :heart:

 

Of the songs I hadn’t heard pre-album release, Straight to My Heart is my top pick! :wub: Really feel-good & although it clearly has modern production, it has a vibe to it that means it could comfortably sit alongside Let’s Go Round Again from 1997. Hurt is shaping up to be my favourite overall though, it’s glorious!

 

I’m impressed by her vocal performance on the album too, she’s improved since her hey day! There’s an emotional quality to her vocals on some of these tracks that wasn’t as present on her prior albums.

Well received my deluxe CD from online store today. Very impressed with service!

Need to listen to the album tracks a few more times to make an impression on me. I do however love Wrong (always a sucker for a piano ballad)

Not streamed the album in full yet - 15 songs in 2020 on an album feels faaaaar too many.

Not streamed the album in full yet - 15 songs in 2020 on an album feels faaaaar too many.

This is a bit of an odd statement - it's only 50:41 in total. Chris Brown's Indigo, released last June, clocks in at 30 tracks, lasting a total of 1:53:25....! And that's not including three bonus tracks, or an extra ten on the re-issue :mellow: D-Block Europe's PTSD, which charted as high as #4 in the UK after its release last September, is 28 tracks and 1:28:29 in length. Heck, Sam Fender's album, which you love, has only two less songs and clocks in at 48:20 - just two minutes shorter than Louise's album! 15 songs is just fine, and I say this also without hearing it in full. I'd understand the suggestion if you'd heard it all and thought it could be a tighter project with a few less songs, I think this about loads of albums, but otherwise I don't really get where you're coming from.

The album definitely didn’t feel like a time consuming listen to me! I would have been a bit disappointed with less tracks/shorter time lengths, given that it’s been so long since her last music. I think she hit a sweet spot with 15 tracks for a deluxe. I don’t think 50 minutes really comes close to reaching “outstays its welcome” territory.

 

It really depends on the album I suppose... like Taylor’s Lover is 18 tracks & an hour long and I find that more than manageable. But on the other hand Ellie Goulding’s 25 track / 1 hour 30 minute long opus Delirium was pretty overwhelming.

To be fair, her fans have waited 20 years so I think 15 tracks is welcomed :lol:

This is actually a cute little album when we played it at work earlier!

 

I shall definitely be checking it out in my own time at some point, so I'll give my faves then, but from what I heard, a lot of it was solid, little pop songs. Her lyrics leave a bit more to the imagination than people would probably want/expect, but I can ignore cringe lyrics for the most part. :lol:

Not streamed the album in full yet - 15 songs in 2020 on an album feels faaaaar too many.

 

15 songs is probably close to average for the number of tracks on a deluxe album. Celine Dixon’s latest album is 20 tracks.

This is a bit of an odd statement - it's only 50:41 in total. Chris Brown's Indigo, released last June, clocks in at 30 tracks, lasting a total of 1:53:25....! And that's not including three bonus tracks, or an extra ten on the re-issue :mellow: D-Block Europe's PTSD, which charted as high as #4 in the UK after its release last September, is 28 tracks and 1:28:29 in length. Heck, Sam Fender's album, which you love, has only two less songs and clocks in at 48:20 - just two minutes shorter than Louise's album! 15 songs is just fine, and I say this also without hearing it in full. I'd understand the suggestion if you'd heard it all and thought it could be a tighter project with a few less songs, I think this about loads of albums, but otherwise I don't really get where you're coming from.

 

Not really an odd statement? I found the album too long for me or maybe it just wasn’t engaging enough? Either way I’ve still yet to listen to it in full.

Not really an odd statement? I found the album too long for me or maybe it just wasn’t engaging enough? Either way I’ve still yet to listen to it in full.

How can you say the album is too long when you've not listened in full though? Your comment wasn't specifically about this album either, I was simply pointing out that 15 tracks being considered too long is an unusual take.

This is a nice enough album, but I can't see myself returning to it again anytime soon after my initial listen-through today. Lead Me On and Hurt are my highlights.

This is a nice enough album, but I can't see myself returning to it again anytime soon after my initial listen-through today. Lead Me On and Hurt are my highlights.

 

I think that's roughly what I was trying to say earlier when I used the term "unremarkable", it's not a bad album at all and I can tell she has put a lot of effort into making it - it's just there's not a lot here that will compel me to return for future listening.

 

'Hammer' is fairly good though! That proved to be a highlight.

It's a nice listen and I really love her as a person but that's it, it's nice. It's good as background music and there are a few standouts, but I can't see myself returning it to also.

 

'Stretch' remains one of the best things she has ever done, if Little Mix had recorded it, I'm sure it would've been a hit!

My Top 5:

 

1. Stretch

2. Hurt

3. Straight to My Heart

4. Lead Me On

5. Not the Same

 

:heart:

Surprised at the lukewarm response, I was surprised at just how strong the album was when I listened earlier!! Stretch remains as brilliant as it was when it first came out, and other favourites right now are Hurt, Lead Me On and Straight to My Heart, but I think there's going to be some growers too.

 

Would love a top 10 album but I don't really care either way because I'm just pleased we got this album in the first place!

I'm really pleased you enjoyed it Joseph, and we share the same favourites :wub:

 

According to Popjustice members, Heavy Love was midweek #4 on Saturday and midweek #5 today ("300 [sales] behind Halsey").

 

A positive start! I hope she'll do enough to hold onto the Top 10 by Friday. Louise has a record signing in hmv Liverpool tomorrow, not sure what other promo there'll be though.

I'm really enjoying the album, glad to finally have a new Louise one after 20 years as Ive always been a big fan of her and Eternal they was the soundtrack to my teen years.

 

'Wrong' is a highlight for me , still love Stretch and other faves are Villain, Give You Up, Hurt and Breaking Back Together but its a good poppy album

Signings should definitively help her as I imagine that it'll be close in the top 15.

 

Though the fall next week will be nightmarish.

Great show last Friday in Kingston. The church was 80% to 90% full.

I was in front of the stage in the 3rd row.

I was at the signing session the next day at the hmv of city white, she signed all the CDs and tapes for me.