album Rina Sawayama - 'Hold the Girl'

[mathekr]

Yeah there's very little to salvage from this album.

 

I don't even think the sound she's going for is the problem, it's fine in that aspect. Nothing groundbreaking or awe-inspiring like the past two projects but it's serviceable at best. But melodically this album is just so bland, and all that blandness cannot mask the corny and cringe of some of those lyrics that are supposed to be deep.

 

This album feels like there was pressure for the label for her to deliver another album and she had to put something together quick. Nothing feels fully realized.

[AnonnonA]

Holy the best song on the album, Frankenstein and Hurricanes probably make up my top 3 too. The melodies on this album are amazing

[Tasty]

How was Holy or Frankenstein not the lead single?

Edited September 9, 2022 by Tasty

[smoore95GAGA]

20 minutes ago, mathekr said:

But melodically this album is just so bland

 

8 minutes ago, AnonnonA said:

The melodies on this album are amazing

[ahauntingnearu]

14 minutes ago, AnonnonA said:

Holy the best song on the album, Frankenstein and Hurricanes probably make up my top 3 too. The melodies on this album are amazing

What a top 3 .. probably mine too

[Poker Face]

omg frankenstein 

[smoore95GAGA]

Listening now, still on CMITA and I’m nervous  Minor Feelings was a cute intro, nothing more nothing less. Haven’t seen anyone talking about To Be Alive. Is it good?

 

Also, This Hell still slaps! I will never understand people that think it’s bad.

Edited September 9, 2022 by smoore95GAGA

[smoore95GAGA]

HOLY WTFVCK 

[Jagger]

5 hours ago, KatyPrismSpirit said:

I see Hold The Girl as an improvement simply because she made a much more cohesive record than her debut. Although Sawayama was an immaculate debut, the album low key lacked cohesiveness in my opinion. From nu-metal to dance pop and cinematic pop all with a Y2K style production (which was out of this world btw).. i mean its understandable for a debut because she wanted to showcase to everyone what she's capable of. But with this record, it feels like she truly found the sound that suits her the best. Thus all with sharing a side of herself that feels personal and organic. Sawayama was amazing but it had this forced urgency sometimes. Especially on songs like Chosen Family and STFU. With this album it just flows and it sounds more like HER. In my opinion debut actually was the record that had a lot of Christina Aguilera, Britney and Kelly moments. Not really this one. This album's sound is truly something she created for herself. 

In what world is this album cohesive? It's dark dance tracks and corny Disney ballads mixed together. Two sounds that just do not go together at all 

[Tyrion_LMG]

Melodically wise, this album stomps on SAWAYAMA.

 

The problem is that you actually believe the more alternative an album is, the better it is.

[Jagger]

13 minutes ago, Tyrion_LMG said:

Melodically wise, this album stomps on SAWAYAMA.

 

The problem is that you actually believe the more alternative an album is, the better it is.

Well yeah. Some of us prefer alternative music to disney ballads 

 

and SAWAYAMA had way more interesting and catchy melodies  

[Tyrion_LMG]

14 minutes ago, Jagger said:

Well yeah. Some of us prefer alternative music to disney ballads 

 

and SAWAYAMA had way more interesting and catchy melodies  

And some of us not. Bye.

[Harrier]

Pretty disappointed after the classic that was Sawayama. This album feels... generic. It's like someone picked a bunch of unused radio friendly demos from the 00s/10s and made an album out of them 

[JoanneActII]

i like this album a lot more than sawayama 

[Ice Cream Skies]

Those who get it, get it. Not sure what else to say, and I still think This Hell is corny. But the album as a whole is *chef's kiss*. It's all about overcoming childhood and religious trauma from growing up in the church. Musically, it travels back to her teenage years (early-mid '00s sound) and even uses the Christian pop music she probably grew up with as a sonic reference.

 

I don't think it's for everyone, honestly.  It can be a little niche, in that respect. And I get how pretentious that sounds. But if you can relate... this is one hell of an album.

Edited September 9, 2022 by Ice Cream Skies

[ahauntingnearu]

3 hours ago, Ice Cream Skies said:

Those who get it, get it. Not sure what else to say, and I still think This Hell is corny. But the album as a whole is *chef's kiss*. It's all about overcoming childhood and religious trauma from growing up in the church. Musically, it travels back to her teenage years (early-mid '00s sound) and even uses the Christian pop music she probably grew up with as a sonic reference.

 

I don't think it's for everyone, honestly.  It can be a little niche, in that respect. And I get how pretentious that sounds. But if you can relate... this is one hell of an album.

As is Rina in general tbh

 

But totally agree with you .. this album's cheesiness was always obvious to me and I don't think it wins against SAWAYAMA in literally any way ... but it's still so fun and quality and one of my favorite releases this year. An artist doesn't have to top themselves every single time. 

[Unknown_boy_PT]

If anyone wants a personally signed copy, you can buy one here ?

[Unoriginal]

beyond disappointing

[Supervillain]

Happy to see this masterpiece getting acclaim 

[smoore95GAGA]

Look, if you like the album, great. If you don’t like it, that’s also fine. For those that like it, let’s stop with the whole “if you don’t like it then you just don’t get it” bs. Just accept that not everyone is going to like the things you like and move on 

[Verge of Obscene]

if you don’t like it, you just don’t get it

[Supervillain]

I took a months old break from listening to this album and I came back to it this week and it's still so fresh  Hurricanes  

[Rider]

put me togetheeeer

threeAaaaAd a needle

 

 

 

SHOOKETH

[Rider]

I need to hear HOLY already, I didnt yet

I only found Frankenstein and Imagining

[TakeYouToHell]

Holy is the best song she ever did