(no subject)
Inspired bycollectingbees, here are my reviews of the 3 most recent albums I've acquired:
I'm not going to go into song-by-song detail simply because I've only listened to it a few times. So here are the Pros and Cons.
Pros: Has a good chunk of great songs. The better ones are My Mom, Insane, Bagpipes From Baghdad, and Must Be the Ganja. Has skits tossed in like his albums typically do, so no surprise there. Overall some really good tracks with some slightly new sounds.
Cons: WTF is up with his voice?? Suddenly he sounds like a 5 year old from Brooklyn or something, I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's definitely odd and at times annoying. Dr Dre and 50 Cent guest on a track that is probably the worst on the album.
Overall thumbs to the side. A lot of hits but a lot of misses as well.
Devour: Thumbs up. One of the mellower tracks on the album, and one of my favorites. Sounds like a partially acoutsic version of The Last Day on Earth.
Pretty as a Swastika: Thumbs up. Sounds like classic MM, loud, angry and hard.
Leave a Scar: Thumbs up. Warning: will get stuck in your head but you won't mind a bit. Would make a great single, I hope he releases this one.
Four Rusted Horses: Thumbs way up. My favorite track on the album. Has kind of a mellow western-y feel without being corny. Not for the masses, but fans will dig it.
Arma-goddamn-motherfuckin-geddon: Thumbs down. Sounds like he tried too hard on this one. A mashing up of The Beautiful People and Rock is Dead. Given how those are some of his better songs, I'm not sure how this one ended up such a turn-off.
Blank and White: Thumbs down. Nothing special here, move along.
Running to the Edge of the World: Thumbs to the side. I really want to like it more than I do.
I Want to Kill You Like They Do in the Movies: Thumbs up. Decent track, but nothing amazing.
WOW: Thumbs up. Angry and passive-aggressive. Love it.
Wight Spider: Thumbs to the side. Nothing particularly memorable.
Unkillable Monster: Thumbs up. Lyrics are better than the music though.
We're From America: Thumbs up. The token social commentary track on every MM album, but it is pulled off well.
I Have to Look Up Just to See Hell: Thumbs to the side. Would have been a lot better without the cliche phrases about falling from grace.
Into the Fire: Thumbs up. I wish he had ended the album with this one.
15: Thumbs up. Decent track, but would fit better in the middle instead of the end of the album.
Give: Thumbs way up. I can't stop listening to this one. Sounds like Spark mashed with Cruel, only creepier. I think if someone suck up on me while listening to this I'd jump out of my pants.
Welcome to England: Thumbs up. It took me listening to this one several times before I actually liked it. I wish my DVR hadn't cut off half her performance of this on Leno :[
Strong Black Vine: Thumbs up. Powerful and hard.
Flavor: Thumbs way up. My favorite on the album. Her voice is absolutely perfect, I think the decision to not use vibrato on this one was really smart.
Not Dying Today: Thumbs down. Corny and immature and totally out of place.
Maybe California: Thumbs to the side. Doesn't have the hook that her better songs have. Case where the lyrics are better than the music.
Curtain Call: Thumbs down. Nothing memorable.
Fire to Your Plain: Thumbs up. I can't put my finger on why I like this one unfortunately.
Police Me: Thumbs down. Again with the corniness, Tori? Feels like it was written over a bowl of cereal.
That Guy: Thumbs down. Not digging the cabaret thing going on here.
Abnormally Attracted to Sin: Thumbs up. Took a few listens to really get it. Reminds me a lot of The Beekeeper, very ethereal and sweeping.
500 Miles: Thumbs down. I can't help but hear The Proclaimers, and I doubt that was the intended effect.
Mary Jane: Thumbs up. Playful and catchy, though a bit out of place.
Starling: Thumbs way up. The birdlike sound effects, madrigal style, and beautiful lyrics, I absolutely love it. I can see this as becoming a classic for her.
Fast Horse: Thumbs up. Lyrics make me think it should have been on Scarlet's Walk.
Ophelia: Thumbs down. I know everyone loves this song but I just can't get into it. Sounds like something off Little Earthquakes gone wrong.
Lady in Blue: Thumbs up. Haunting and gorgeous, and a great ending.
I'm not going to go into song-by-song detail simply because I've only listened to it a few times. So here are the Pros and Cons.
Pros: Has a good chunk of great songs. The better ones are My Mom, Insane, Bagpipes From Baghdad, and Must Be the Ganja. Has skits tossed in like his albums typically do, so no surprise there. Overall some really good tracks with some slightly new sounds.
Cons: WTF is up with his voice?? Suddenly he sounds like a 5 year old from Brooklyn or something, I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's definitely odd and at times annoying. Dr Dre and 50 Cent guest on a track that is probably the worst on the album.
Overall thumbs to the side. A lot of hits but a lot of misses as well.
Devour: Thumbs up. One of the mellower tracks on the album, and one of my favorites. Sounds like a partially acoutsic version of The Last Day on Earth.
Pretty as a Swastika: Thumbs up. Sounds like classic MM, loud, angry and hard.
Leave a Scar: Thumbs up. Warning: will get stuck in your head but you won't mind a bit. Would make a great single, I hope he releases this one.
Four Rusted Horses: Thumbs way up. My favorite track on the album. Has kind of a mellow western-y feel without being corny. Not for the masses, but fans will dig it.
Arma-goddamn-motherfuckin-geddon: Thumbs down. Sounds like he tried too hard on this one. A mashing up of The Beautiful People and Rock is Dead. Given how those are some of his better songs, I'm not sure how this one ended up such a turn-off.
Blank and White: Thumbs down. Nothing special here, move along.
Running to the Edge of the World: Thumbs to the side. I really want to like it more than I do.
I Want to Kill You Like They Do in the Movies: Thumbs up. Decent track, but nothing amazing.
WOW: Thumbs up. Angry and passive-aggressive. Love it.
Wight Spider: Thumbs to the side. Nothing particularly memorable.
Unkillable Monster: Thumbs up. Lyrics are better than the music though.
We're From America: Thumbs up. The token social commentary track on every MM album, but it is pulled off well.
I Have to Look Up Just to See Hell: Thumbs to the side. Would have been a lot better without the cliche phrases about falling from grace.
Into the Fire: Thumbs up. I wish he had ended the album with this one.
15: Thumbs up. Decent track, but would fit better in the middle instead of the end of the album.
Give: Thumbs way up. I can't stop listening to this one. Sounds like Spark mashed with Cruel, only creepier. I think if someone suck up on me while listening to this I'd jump out of my pants.
Welcome to England: Thumbs up. It took me listening to this one several times before I actually liked it. I wish my DVR hadn't cut off half her performance of this on Leno :[
Strong Black Vine: Thumbs up. Powerful and hard.
Flavor: Thumbs way up. My favorite on the album. Her voice is absolutely perfect, I think the decision to not use vibrato on this one was really smart.
Not Dying Today: Thumbs down. Corny and immature and totally out of place.
Maybe California: Thumbs to the side. Doesn't have the hook that her better songs have. Case where the lyrics are better than the music.
Curtain Call: Thumbs down. Nothing memorable.
Fire to Your Plain: Thumbs up. I can't put my finger on why I like this one unfortunately.
Police Me: Thumbs down. Again with the corniness, Tori? Feels like it was written over a bowl of cereal.
That Guy: Thumbs down. Not digging the cabaret thing going on here.
Abnormally Attracted to Sin: Thumbs up. Took a few listens to really get it. Reminds me a lot of The Beekeeper, very ethereal and sweeping.
500 Miles: Thumbs down. I can't help but hear The Proclaimers, and I doubt that was the intended effect.
Mary Jane: Thumbs up. Playful and catchy, though a bit out of place.
Starling: Thumbs way up. The birdlike sound effects, madrigal style, and beautiful lyrics, I absolutely love it. I can see this as becoming a classic for her.
Fast Horse: Thumbs up. Lyrics make me think it should have been on Scarlet's Walk.
Ophelia: Thumbs down. I know everyone loves this song but I just can't get into it. Sounds like something off Little Earthquakes gone wrong.
Lady in Blue: Thumbs up. Haunting and gorgeous, and a great ending.