Defaze

Yeah, I'm really confused what their intention is with this. It's not formally been announced as the second single, has it? I wonder if they're reconsidering and going for something more universal. Edit: Apparently Kiss have played 'Wasabi' but not 'Strip'?

Did you forget that 'Strip' is confirmed for single 2? :lol: Solid list though! I'd probably opt for: [1) Woman Like Me] [2) Strip] 3) Forget You Not/Think About Us (I'd love both, but truthfully I can't see it happening since they're pretty similar) 4) Wasabi 'Monster In Me' is gorgeous and it'd be my next in line, but Wasabi, FYN and TAU are all smashes in the waiting and it'd be criminal to see any of them being denied a single spot.

Surely I’m not witnessing actual, hearing people pretend that ‘Gentleman’ is anything other than hot garbage. There’s a reason it torpedoed all momentum the band had built up with WAU. ‘Strip’ isn’t my favourite song on the album, but lord the hyperbole in here. The video is gorgeous. I’m slightly obsessed with Sharaya J.

Yeah... I'm aware. I don't think it's a flawless album by any means; the lyrics are still somewhat clunky and the production definitely lags in places, but claiming 'there's barely a melody' on the album when most of the songs are packed to the brim with hooks just seems absurd. Most of the tracks wouldn't even sound that out of place on their previous offerings, particularly 'Salute', so the 'budget Beyonce' angle seems like a bit of a hot take.

Christ. Takes cues from 'Get Weird' i.e. the album that houses absolute monstrosities like 'Clued Up' and 'Weird People' (and the terminally dull acapellas)? It's legit their worst album and the exact direction they should steer clear from 7 years into their career. The 'lack of melodies' criticism is so lazy and just plain... unfounded. I can see why it would sort of apply to 'Joan of Arc', 'Strip' and 'Wasabi', but are we really going to pretend the likes of 'American Boy', 'Forget You Not', 'Think About Us', 'More Than Words', hell even 'Woman Like Me' don't have the memorable, sing-a-long choruses LM are known for? It really just feels like people are clutching at the slightest reasoning to discredit this album. See also: 'lack of cohesion' and 'too American'. They're all such flimsy criticisms.

Do you reckon? For me, 'Wasabi', 'Forget You Not', 'Motivate', and 'Think About Us' are all on par with, if not better than the holy trinity of 'Touch'/NMSS/'Power'.

You're kidding, right? .. of all the criticisms. There's literally about 8 potential singles they could opt for here.

Usual brigade out in force then. :rolleyes: 'Strip' to smash. Actually quite shocked this is performing as strongly it is. I'm glad though, it's a cute bop.

Ooft, they're really spoiling us. :cheer: Thanks!

Has it been confirmed that the video for this is coming at midnight?

I pre-ordered this game and f***ing loathe myself for it. Like, it seems objectively terrible and I do truly hope it flops so none of its influence creeps into the gen 8 games, but I'm an absolute sucker for nostalgia and RBY was the first ever games I played. Having said that, I'm still beyond pissed at the amount of potential they squandered on this; a Kanto sequel with revamped routes/towns and a new Pokedex could've been incredible. Limiting it to the first 151 (plus the jizz pile and its evo I suppose) and replicating 20+ year old maps originally conceived for the Gameboy just seems so mind-boggling to me. Oh well. Guess I'll be using the likes of Persian, Sandslash and Dewgong for 150000th playthrough. Edit: Okay the party sprites are triggering my OCD. Seems as if they created new ones for anything over 4 feet yet left the others as they were. Gamefreak half-assing yet another feature of this game. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dr4SqqUXQAE2Oim.png:large

Why on Earth does the drop sound like puppies being trampled on? Horrific. Even 'Let Me' was superior to this.

I'm so unbelievably happy with this album. The highs are still incredible and yet there's not a single song that I don't like (unlike GD that had similar highs). Tentative ranking for me: Career highlights: 1) Forget You Not 2) Wasabi 3) Think About Us 4) American Boy 5) Motivate 6) Monster In Me Great: 7) Love a Girl Right 8) Notice 9) Joan of Arc Good: 10) More Than Words 11) Strip 12) Woman Like Me Cute, if unspectacular: 13) The Cure 14) Woman's World 15) Told You So

Yeah, I do agree that it won't harm them if it flops and it's nice to see them straying from the obvious bops. My only issue is that it's denying another song on the album the single treatment, and there's so many that deserve it. I can't see them releasing, say, 'Wasabi' after 'Strip' since it's similarly a bit 'out there'. Having now heard the whole album, WLM was already a bit of a misfire.

I really wish I enjoyed this more than I do. I loved the live version, but it doesn't really stand out in the context of the album. There's about 7 or 8 superior single choices imo. Maybe the video will sell it.

I'm really not sold on 'Strip' as a single. It's a good song and I love the message, but it and WLM are definitely in the bottom half of the album. 'Wasabi' would've been a much better choice.

Clara Amfo did not lie, this album really is f***ing great. Not a single track (bar possibly 'Told You So', as cute as it is) below an 8/10 for me. Whew. 'Forget You Not' is THE one.

Absolutely. I often find their slower songs a little overwrought, but 'Monster in Me' is gorgeous. The production. :heart: The chorus melody. :heart: 'Towers' is my favourite LM ballad, but I can see this easily overtaking after a few more listens. Edit: 'American Boy' is very similar to 'Woman Like Me', isn't it? (Except much better oops).

Out in NZ! I'm at 'Think About Us' and already gagged. I was NOT expecting it to be such a bop.

+5 Little Mix - Woman Like Me (feat. Nicki Minaj) +4 Halsey - Without Me +3 Post Malone & Swae Lee - Sunflower +2 Rita Ora - Let You Love Me +1 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - Shallow -1 Dave - Funky Friday (feat. Fredo) -2 Ariana Grande - thank u, next -3 Calvin Harris & Sam Smith - Promises -4 Jess Glynne - Thursday -5 Kodak Black - ZEZE (feat. Travis Scott & Offset)

I actually love the song, it just doesn't scream 'single choice' to me. It's clear to see that girls adore it though, which certainly helps sell it (and makes the fact that WLM was forced upon them all the more frustrating).

LOVE the video preview. I'm not sure the song seems the best single choice based on the live performance, but I'll reserve judgment until I hear the studio version.

R2 never keep tracks on the playlist for long, do they? In fact, I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.

This is literally based on... nothing. Let's wait till at least the first set of midweeks before writing this era off as an underperformance.

These 'streaming parties' give me so much second-hand embarrassment. They've never had an impact. Like, ever.