Ashley

She's not really abandoning Greg Kurstin, she only worked with him on one song which was recorded as a one off after the album was finished. The comments about the artwork are ridiculous in this thread. It's not meant to be some technical example of what people can do in photoshop, it's obviously trying to be reminiscent of those 70s American daytime tv programmes, hence the quality of the image, the crappy font and where it's placed. As for her working with Dr Luke and Stargate... it could be terrible but it could be pretty amazing too. I doubt she would go into recording with these types of producers without a clear idea of what she wanted to get out of them. And people are sort of making out like this is the Arctic Monkeys going to work with Dr Luke, but in reality ee're talking about Marina and she's so POP! She may be in the indie forum but IMO she's totally pop - her lyrics and melodies were especially pop. And she's someone who is obviously fascinated / obsessed with pop culture and pop stars - her old blog (which she deleted) included extensive ramblings about Shakira and Britney. It seems only natural that she would try out these producers, even as some sort of study of this culture, just as her lyrics study pop culture. And I was just listening to ET and the melody is something that I could totally imagine Marina singing. However, if this album turns into a Price Tag production, I will officially disown Marina.

I don't think anything is beating The Morning, Glass Table Girls, Wicked Games and The Party & The After Party, but I'd say The Birds 1 and Life Of The Party are up there with them. I'm really liking Rolling Stone as well, although there's part of me that just wants a massive beat to kick in half way through. The consistent quality across these two mixtapes/EPs/albums/whatever is unbelievable.

I'm actually more excited for this than Watch the Throne... Why is this download taking so long!!!

Just got back from seeing this and I loved it. The train crash was particularly brilliant. It reminded me of the opening scene of Lost with the plane crash.

Yeah, exactly. Lift Off is practically All Of The Lights Part 2.

Fear and Loathing is quite nice...it's kinda what I was expecting from Marina's second album though; more sophisticated production but the same pop sensibilities of TFJ. I'm more looking forward to the Stargate and Dr Luke tracks. There's quite a good chance they'll be terrible but no pre judgement.

Does anyone else feel like this album sounds more like Kanye feat. Jay Z? To me it sounds a lot like a Kanye album with Jay turning up here and there. Don't care though; it's amazing. I'm loving Murder to Excellence right now.

This album is just flawless.

I thought Hilary was great: Spoke sense, gave good advice and was pretty fearsome when she got angry.

The thing is; I thought the chorus was alright at first but then I realised it is one of those faux-epic choruses. You think it's a good chorus but then you realise there's no actual melody and it's just someone doing some long notes. Seriously, the best bit of this song is the Dario G pre chorus.

1.Bleeding Love 2.Take A Bow 3.Better In Time 4.I Got You 5.Forgive Me I think that is also an accurate portrayal of Leona's top 5 best songs.

I love the production of this song. It's such a nice balance of the current dance trend and Leona's organic balladry. However, the verses are pretty poor...the vocals sound like she's trying to enunciate because everyone knows she's really a mumbly and the melody is so monotonous. The melody of Fade Into Darkness is so much better than Collide. Leona should've sung Fade Into Darkness but added the pre chorus from Collide and that would've been the perfect song...because the prechorus in Collide is easily the best bit.

I'm looking forward to it even more now. I was worried that I was going to like a song with Bruno Mars in it.

Top 40... if it's lucky. It's too subtle for today's chart audience even though it's a nice song.

If they're releasing this then they should also release this gem: zMRzxPP8Hg0 The Spanish do bad so good.

I'm loving Hits Me Like A Rock. I guess I can't let Nu Rave go...wish it was 2006 again.

Yeah, I could see Jessie J, Adele, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jay-Z from where I was sitting...it was quite surreal. She wasn't really taking suggestions...it was more she was going with the feel of the audience. So, Best Thing I Never Had went down really well and everyone was singing along so she did Irreplaceable next to keep everyone singing. It was basically the same performances as Glastonbury, just less songs and a different order. It was a pretty amazing show. The majority of people there were proper fans but obviously concentrated into quite a small (for Beyoncé) venue and it felt quite special. The highlights were Run The World, End Of Time, Best Thing and Work It Out.

Just got back from the shepherds bush gig. It reinforced the absolute brilliance of End of Time. it's possibly one of those songs that should only exist in the live format.

End Of Time was unbelievably good. It needs to be a single. I think I have tickets to see her tomorrow at Shepherd's Bush...quite looking forward to it now!

Beyoncé - Radio Shakira - Men In This Town Ke$ha - Animal Black Eyed Peas - Electric City Ellie Goulding - This Love Will Be Your Downfall Keri Hilson - Alienated La Roux - Tigerlilly Marina And The Diamonds - Numb Timbaland - Undertow

Yeah, good album for the summer. I'm liking Houdini at the moment.

Does anyone know anything about the gig she's doing tomorrow night at Shepherd's Bush?

^ I love I Miss You. I love it's simplicity and minimalism and I think it stands out from the rest of the ballads on what is a pretty ballad heavy album.

I am a Cher sympathiser - I'm not a fan, just never understood the hate for her. But seriously, this is probably the worst song of the year. If it had been uploaded by Ark Music Factory it would be a viral sensation.

Is her album just going to be covers of hipster bands? I kind of like her but I feel a bit like she's a one trick pony.