I do too. I don’t get the critical consensus that seems to have grown up that this album is somehow a completely different animal from the predecessors where she tries and fails to ‘go commercial’ and ‘do hip hop’. There are a few touches that don’t work (that guest rap) but to me over all it’s just a subtle development of what she was doing before.
She’s an artist with a strong identity that shines through everything she does - that bruised, passionate yearning feel - and that is definitely still at the heart of this record even when it is occasionally (a little) more up tempo and commercial sounding. At the end it’s hits that ‘sad disco’ sweet spot more often than it misses. Glad I’m not the only one that loves it.
Given the Lykke Li album a good listen over the weekend - it’s fabulous. Really got under my skin - probably one of the only albums to really do that so far this year.
So, from this weekend’s listening I have the following albums that tweaked something such that I want to give them another spin, to see whether they stick. Some interesting releases this week, I think, including:
Hilary Woods - Colt
Matt Maltese - Bad Contestant
Kadhja Boney - Childqueen
Jonathan Bree - Sleepwalking
100% agree with that. It’s a beaut. Shows what reviewers know - it isn’t getting much in terms of ‘scores’ from the reviewers. Another nail in the scores’ coffin.
Weird isn’t it? Two albums released this week that I think are brilliant- Hilary Woods and Lykke Li - are both averaging in the mid 60s on AOTY, but Snail Mail, which seems to me (and others in this thread) to be very mediocre, is in the 80s. What do I know?
I’ve been really enjoying Hilary Woods and Jonathan Bree also. Will check out your other two. Definitely have a listen to Get Well Soon’s The Horror if you haven’t already. I think that’s my favourite from this particular week’s releases.