I see a few songs being talked about on the board. But what about the album as a whole. I liked LAMB for the most part as it spoke to my pop sensibilities and it had more hooks than a tackle shop. I thought it was a decent effort.

When I heard about this album I was a little surprised as I thought that it was just going to be a solo venture for one album. Honestly, I'm not a No Doubt fan, but can respect what they have done etc. I thought LAMB would be a nice side thing. Also hearing these were "semi left over" from LAMB, and that the Neptunes would be helming most of it (assuming they are there because of the strange success of Hollaback) I had reservations instead of expectations.

Upon listening to it the first few times, I like some of it but not all. But perhaps like the last one, much of it will grow on me. Off the bat there is no Rich Girl, Luxurious, or the Real Thing..Nothing really solid in the same way the last one was. It is very similar to LAMB in that many of the songs all over the musical map.

So far I am digging: The Sweet Escape, Yummy and Don't get it Twisted.

What are your thoughts to this album? Especially those of you that liked the last one.

Oh and I don't care for Wind it up at all.

It's not an album. It's a pastiche of absolutely terrible tracks.

I'll let you know when I hear it. I, too, liked LAMB, but we'll see how this one pans out. I think I heard one of the songs in a store the other day and it sounded pretty nice.

"Wind It Up" is terrible, but I can't help but enjoy the synths.

i bought it yesterday but i need to hear it more before i can honestly speak on it. so far i think it sounds more mture than LAMB and with a little more hip hop and less new wave. the songs are not quite a catchy but it may grow more on me later.

dancerella said:

I stopped there. More mature than LAMB? She had at least a few songs (What You Waiting For, Long Way To Go) that were trying to make a lyrical point. Here there are none. Also, the foray into hip hop and Sound of Music samples means that musically she is devolving to the point of a pablum-eating two-year-old. Basically this entire album is either a straight boring new-age synth that sounds lifeless compared to LAMB (Wonderful Life) or the most watered-down hip hop you have EVER heard (Yummy, Wind It Up).

It's a mixed affair...

VoicesCarry said:

perhaps i'm thinking it's more mature because it's a bit slower. i haven't paid too much attention to lyrical content. i like wind it up and the yodeling doesn't bother me. she tried something new and sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.

VoicesCarry said:

From the tidbits I heard the only song that actually made me curious was U Started It (probably cos of Neptunes). The rest was really painful and it really proves to me that bad music only enhances bad vocals.

dancerella said:

Actually, a terrible sample plus a shit-hop beat is nothing new. It's OLD and TIRED, and nothing on this album works

The irony is that Fergie tried to be Gwen and now Gwen is trying to be Fergie being Gwen but sounds more like Brooke Hogan trying to be Fergie trying to be Gwen.

VoicesCarry said:

it's so funny that you said that because i also think she sounds abit like brooke hogan. what the hell is going on?

If she had made an album with remixes of LAMB and some selected songs of this album...it will b fine...like a "Remixes & outtakes" album...but as proper album it doesn't work...it has some good moments though

But I have 2 say that I like artists that take risks. when U're trying 2 create something new U can breakground or have ur face down...and I think she has credits 4 trying 2 innovate. It's better than artists that keep doing the same thing their whole life

go2theMax said:

What stuff that she has tried in her solo career do you consider new?

VoicesCarry said:

i think she was trying 2 do something new this time...I just think that she fails...like "wind it up" 4 example...I know it sounds like hollaback or fergie's song...but it's all deconstructed...I see like she was tryin' 2 give one step ahead with some stuff

go2theMax said:

Well it's all deconstructed because there's no melody. Are we now attributing shoddy songwriting to "trying to do something different"?
[Edited 12/6/06 16:27pm]

The problem with some people is that they like to intelectualize their music.
This is a clear barrier to enjoying pop music...

MikeMatronik said:

Then why does jayaredee like Madonna but hate Gwen? Answer: There's good pop and then there's bad pop.
[Edited 12/6/06 16:29pm]

VoicesCarry said:

and think it's way better than things like this:

20 Y.O. Intro

Well there's something to...
Are you recording?
There's something to be said for not saying anything
I've talked about racism, spousal abuse, empowering women, children
I've talked about a lot of things
What do I talk about this time?
You know what...I guess I never talked about sex
Yeah...that's right I'm gonna talk about my sexual awakening
I'm gonnna moan...and whisper...people never seen me like this
Definitely, for the first time in 20 years
I'm gonna explore my sexuality
Yeah..that' s it
(what yo talkin 'bout shorty?)

when u're really trying 2 do something different u can make mistakes like what gwen did in this album

VoicesCarry said:

go2theMax said:

Yup, that's bullshit, too.

However, I definitely DO NOT think Gwen is trying to be different. She is merely trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator with her music. Her music is just like everything else out there today.

VoicesCarry said:

I didn't say she done something different from waht is out, I just say that it seems that she was tryin' 2

MikeMatronik said:

Look just because you happen to like Dannii but others find her repulsive doesn't mean they're intellectualizing things. You don't have to be stupid to appreciate pop music. Everyone has a limit to their tastes; mine does not extend to this album.

VoicesCarry said:

ok...you have your point!

Actually I never bought a Dannii album or single! I wonder why?

go2theMax said:

I agree with this. Aside from her being super famous and solo (which is half the bitching as she's no longer "cutting edge") I think she has brought to the table music she believes in, has a part in and it at least trying to maintain integrity throughout it all. Yeah, she's playing the game, but if you want to be successful, you have to play a little bit...unlike our Purple Friend who really doesn't play well with others and the fans suffer because of it.

I don't think anyone ever gave Gwen the AWESOME stick nor has hailed her as being outstanding, but in the face of what is out there and the lack of talent we hear now within the mainstream, she is a bit refreshing.

And for what it's worth the music has some originality to it. One can hear it in the details of the songs. Songs like What you waiting for, Yummy, Don't get it twisted, Harijuku Girls...hell even Bubble Pop Electric at least to me sound original as I haven't heard that much on the radio that sounds like any of those.

VoicesCarry said:

ANd you'll find some who feel the opposite. I like Madonna's music better (or at least the last one) but find Gwens a little more modern sounding. Certainly more bells and whistles to Gwen's music too. I think that much of the hate Gwen and Madonna get is the image mostly.

kookoo2U said:

IMHO you lose any integrity the moment you name-drop your clothing line in every second track. I consider her music to be a product to advertise her image. I'm not sure if her primary goal is to actually make music anymore as it is to maintain her status in the industry.



Prince clearly doesn't make music for commercial consumption, I would agree. Whether or not the fans suffer is another matter. If he was making shit music so it would go to #1 on the Hot 100, I'm sure the fans would be complaining, too.



With LAMB, I used to think this. But particularly with No Doubt and their ska influences which were cute if nothing special. However she has never really been able to sing live, and it has become especially clear with her last few performances.



Here's what I think happened. Gwen took the best solo song she could come up with (WYWF), made a killer video and released it as a single. And it went nowhere. And I think she was damn pissed. So she starts on the hip-hop influenced songs, with Rich Girl and finally with Hollaback, which is huge because the label bought hundreds of thousands of downloads.

So with this record she needs to come up with something ultra-fast so she goes with the Hollaback template because it worked last time, even though it was a novelty hit and should have stayed novelty. It's no coincidence that this record veers sharply away from new wave (the only new wave tracks are castoffs from LAMB sessions since she couldn't be bothered to wait long enough to cut a new album completely). I think she deliberately made a play for commercialism and nothing more here.

Cool...now that's a single that Madonna should have done

kookoo2U said:

I would agree with this. My point was actually that intellectualization doesn't preclude enjoyment of pop, as Mike was saying. Some people like Gwen, others like Madonna. I wasn't saying that one is better, but to jayaredee it is

Thanks god we sorted this out, VC!

MikeMatronik said:

You'd better hope jay doesn't see this thread, because THEN the bitching will begin