Posted January 23Jan 23 Self Esteem has announced that 'A Complicated Woman', the follow up to 2021's acclaimed 'Prioritise Pleasure', will be released on 25th April. Lead single 'Focus Is Power' released a few days ago, not a huge fan of it though unfortunately - feels a bit X Factor winner's single to me. Hope there's some more alternative stuff on the album.
January 23Jan 23 It's surprisingly poppy, verging on naff, and definitely one you could imagine soundtracking big TV moments like Heather Small's Proud or Brave by Sara Bareilles. I like it, but didn't expect her to go in this direction.
January 24Jan 24 Hugely disappointing, utterly trite and I agree I am really baffled as to why she has gone in this direction. It doesn’t even sound like something that is meant to appreciate pop music or whatever, I wouldn’t mind her just writing good pop music because I know she’d do thst justice. This is giving me X Factor New Zealand winners single that went unreleased when the contestant didn’t win. I can’t fathom how she has gone from such a unique sonic landscape and clear vision with Prioritise Pleasure, one of the best and most striking albums of recent years, to… this. If the rest of the album is like this or on this level, it will be one of the biggest fall offs in music for me.
January 24Jan 24 I really like this actually - but I can appreciate why some people wouldn’t, because it’s very different to her last album. At least she hasn’t followed the same sound as the awful ‘Big Man’ from last year!
January 24Jan 24 Yeah I quite like this too, it's just a big old pop song! As surprised as everyone else at the change of direction though.
February 11Feb 11 That sounds much more like it. Fingers crossed Focus Is Power is just some of fluke and like an ironic jibe at those kind of songs :lol:
February 11Feb 11 Oh thank god the new one sounds like a big improvement again, was getting worried for a moment there
February 14Feb 14 This… isn’t what I expected (or wanted really!). I think I prefer ‘Focus is Power’. The best part of the song is the preview posted before! Edited February 14Feb 14 by Dan17F1
February 14Feb 14 Lol I hate this. Not a fan of Focus is Power either, and can’t really see how they’ll work on an album together…
February 14Feb 14 Not what I expected, this is giving me like… a Drag Race song :lol: Which is fine, I don’t hate that in its own place, but how has she done a gospel tinged X Factor’s winner’s song Heart FM fodder and then listing sex positions over a RuPaul beat… for the same era?! The whole appeal of her last era was she was doing music you’d only get from her, she was doing whatever the f*** she wanted and pushing things sonically, both of these songs are not at all inspiring or intriguing. I suppose she is still doing whatever she wants but it’s not really what I want from her at all.
February 14Feb 14 The beauty of Prioritise Pleasure is that its genius wasn't (outwardly) knowing or hitting you over the head with a sledgehammer to make a point, there were multiple layers to it that the listener had to uncover. For me this is a bit like what a Self Esteem parody act might come up with for a comedy sketch skit and I doubt I'll ever play this song again. I do prefer Focus Is Power myself, I have listened to that a few times, as corny as it is. Fingers crossed Focus Is Power is just some of fluke and like an ironic jibe at those kind of songs :lol: I'm starting to wonder if this album is supposed to be subversive like Jewel's 0304. As both singles now feel very ironic to me, despite being different styles. If they are being played down the line without any irony then I don't get it. Edited February 14Feb 14 by gooddelta
February 14Feb 14 The beauty of Prioritise Pleasure is that its genius wasn't (outwardly) knowing or hitting you over the head with a sledgehammer to make a point, there were multiple layers to it that the listener had to uncover. For me this is a bit like what a Self Esteem parody act might come up with for a comedy sketch skit and I doubt I'll ever play this song again. I do prefer Focus Is Power myself, I have listened to that a few times, as corny as it is. I'm starting to wonder if this album is supposed to be subversive like Jewel's 0304. As both singles now feel very ironic to me, despite being different styles. If they are being played down the line without any irony then I don't get it. It could very well be, with the Handmaids Tale album cover as well I’m wondering if it’s kind of an ironic album title and it’s poking fun at the kind of music women are expected to make, from the corny inspirational radio pop to this Kim Petras style ode to sex positions :lol: That’s something I feel she would do and is clever in itself but not what I expected or wanted.
February 14Feb 14 I love Focus is Power and can’t say I was expecting something like 69 to come next? Where is she going with this.
February 14Feb 14 Yeah agreed that the new one isn’t great either. I’m really disappointed as her last album was my favourite of the year
February 14Feb 14 Focus Is Power is fine, if might not be exactly what I'd have hoped for but as long as it's not completely indicative of what her direction is, certainly a lot better than Big Man was. Can't disagree with any of the comments on 69 though :|
February 17Feb 17 I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this will all make perfect sense when the album gets here.
February 18Feb 18 If 69 is your favourite new release this week, make sure to vote for it in the Indie Track of the Week poll.
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