September 19, 200915 yr I've never seen such anticipation for an album leak across the internet, it's getting crazy. Everday a new source claims they have the leak, only to show their lying. It's killing me!
September 20, 200915 yr I cant wait for this to leak, the line "Laughin out of anger but it doesn't strike me as funny" is beyond amazing.
September 21, 200915 yr I LOVE THE FULL VERSION OF HATE U OMG. Even though I keep expecting The-dream to start singing at any moment. Listening to Candy Bling now xD
September 21, 200915 yr Its good so far, not feeling Ribbon or Its A wrap, but still no where near finished. H.A.T.E.U and Betcha Gon Know are amazing.
September 21, 200915 yr I'm doing a track-by-track review which I'll post at the end. Betcha is a GREAT start to the album.
September 21, 200915 yr Nearly done listening, is ti worht havin a seperate thread for reviews or not?
September 21, 200915 yr Bear in mind songs are still growing but just a rough idea of first impressions: Betcha Gon Know - 8/10 - Love the lyrics in this Obsessed - 8/10 - Great song, bad choice to launch the album on H.A.T.E.U - 9/10 - prefer some of the demo lyrics but still an amazing song Candy Bling - 8/10 - Amazing Ribbon - 6/10 - Not really feeling this, bit messy Inseperable - 7/10 Good...just above average Standing O - 8/10 Pretty good, nice to see a more uptempo song Its A Wrap - 6/10 - Bit boring and goes on too long Up Out My Face - 7/10 - Again just pretty good nothing special More than Just Friends - 7/10 - Growing on me Impossible - 5/10 - boring Angels Cry - 8/10 - Prett good so far is still growing I want to know what love is - 9/10 - Almost perfect Overall 7/10 Its ok but not enough upbeat songs, not as good as E=MC2, but better than Emancipation for me.
September 21, 200915 yr Betcha Gon' Know ∙ 'Oprah whole segment for real' is one brilliant lyric. One of many. I love her serious songs when they incorporate silly shit like that. Dark, moody, memorable. 08.5 ∙ Obsessed ∙ Still my song of the year to date. 10.0 ∙ H.A.T.E. U. ∙ Pretty sensational on first listen! Kind of uplifting and very old school. It's like something from one of her mid-to-late 90s albums injected with a bit of '09 Mimi. 09.5 ∙ Candy Bling ∙ A bit of a bore. I don't like the backing track, it's too bittersweet, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to recall any part of the song. I do like her vocals though. Very sensual. 06.5 ∙ Ribbon ∙ What the crapola is that intro? So this is a definite case of verses beat chorus. The-Dream's robo vocals (if it is him) kill it! Ugh. Otherwise it's faintly ridiculous and I like it muchly. 08.0 Inseperable ∙ I spy a hot mess whistle note thrown clumsily in the middle of a verse! Fabulous. I'm predicting as a future fave. Other than the chorus being a bit bittersweet I love. 08.5 ∙ Standing O ∙ Seems messily produced and it kind of meanders all over the place. It's nice to hear something with heavier beats though and I do like the bridge. Grower I reckon. 07.5 ∙ It's A Wrap ∙ Operatic whistle intro right here. Very old-school. 'Aint no donuts' indeed. No obvious chorus. This is hazy Spring afternoon easy listening. 07.5 ∙ Up Out My Face ∙ I lived for the demo and this doesn't disappointment. Huge hook. It really screams single. Look who's CRYING NOW. BOO HOO HOO. Amazing! 09.5 ∙ Up Out My Face (THE REPRISE) ∙ Really interesting. Nothing special obviously but it's an interesting little take and provokes thought about how a full song with the band would sound. More Than Just Friends ∙ Rather forgettable ultimately but perfectly easy-listening. If this was the '90s it would definitely be the fans' FAVOURITE 'UPTEMPO' EVER. But alas. 07.5 ∙ The Impossible ∙ This is RUBBISH. It just goes ON. It's not even got a chorus, it's just a never-ending chant. Future remedy for sleep right here. 05.0 ∙ The Impossible (THE REPRISE) ∙ MC just provided a new definition for 'pointless'. This is being booted off my itunes ASS-AP. Angel (PRELUDE) ∙ Utterly ridiculous! A whole minute of whistle notes. Angels Cry ∙ A little too E=MC2 for me. It's just I Stay In Love again (if a bit stronger). 06.5 ∙ Languishing (INTERLUDE) ∙ It sounds like something from a musical! I do like it a lot though and it suits being so short. Seemless transition at the end. I Want To Know What Love Is ∙ Weirdly, given that the album is so throwback, this doesn't really feel like it belongs with the rest of the songs on here. Great rendition anyway. 9.5 ∙ Really impressed on first listen. I've remove The Impossible and its reprise, Angel (Prelude) and perhaps Angels Cry and Candy Bling from the tracklist, but otherwise it's strong. Even the songs without obvious hooks are so pretty that it barely matters. Give me an album like this over the personality-free, ready-made hits of E=MC2 any day.
September 21, 200915 yr I knew this would happen while I'm stuck at work. ARGH! That's it, I'm coming home just to listen to this bad boy!
September 21, 200915 yr Well, I'm in love with the album, especially "H.A.T.E.U.". It's such a laid-back, near orgasmic track that screams smash to me. "Up Out My Face" is another track that needs to be released, with a great hook and typical crazy MC lyrics (which is a positive thing, people). I'm really digging "Candy Bling", too. I know she says "back in the day" and "throwback" a lot, but it really feels like a throwback to 90's R&B Mariah. That's probably why I love this one. Maybe go into more detail later, but I'm really feeling this effort. I don't think it'll surpass "Emancipation" in quality (or success) but it's certainly more cohesive than "E=MC2". All of tracks are fitted perfectly, and fit the sound she was aiming for. Really strong album.
September 21, 200915 yr I really like the album, but I feel it's tracklisting should be altered. In what way, Dan? I think all of the tracks are positioned really well, gradually leading to the big climax (so to speak) with "I Want to Know What Love Is". I'd like to add that her vocals are really great on this album. Loving the background whispering (reminiscent of "Daydream" & "Buttefly").
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