ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 MALE FANTASY Average score: 6.43 High score: 10 (@ultraviolence.xx, @Born to Run) Low score: 1 (@Insanity, @creativity.) The final track on Happier Than Ever is a minimalist curio, opening with a dissection of the inherent flaws of pornography before shifting into a more conventional ballad about the stasis of heartbreak. Ultimately ending the album on a hopeful note (“I know I should, but I could never hate you”), its wispy acoustic aura makes for a gorgeous listen, even if the message doesn’t entirely hold together. “Male Fantasy” was released as the seventh single of the era, but made minimal impact, peaking at #2 on the bubbling under chart. Best bit: the exquisite falsetto of “‘Cause I loved you then and I love you now” ATRL says...: “Not really needed musically, but I appreciate the message of the song,” @madonnas said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewan Chaos Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 27 minutes ago, supaspaz said: What do you hate so much about it? I don't really know, I wouldn't say I feel that it's a 1 honestly but it is my least favorite standard edition track. I just thought it was really not compelling enough compared to other longer songs and was bored. Did not expect Easy on Me to be out so early tbh... not too mad about it but it is odd. Thank **** Traitor is already out and didn't really smash in America either (I was worried it would). I assumed so many people loved it and wanted to keep it. CIGI, kinda assumed it'd score poorly. Stand by my comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewan Chaos Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 Quote Not really needed musically, but I appreciate the message of the song, This is my opinion too really. Fine for this to be out. Also I don't really agree with the (I think) common opinion people have that the title track should have ended. The structure of that into Male Fantasy, with the latter closing, feels like the best narrative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 It's funny to me how seemingly every time @ultraviolence.xx is the high score then @Insanity is the low score, and vice versa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 WOMAN LIKE ME Average score: 6.58 High score: 10 (@supaspaz, @ultraviolence.xx, @Ewan Chaos, @BnPac) Low score: 3 (@MP2K, @creativity.) One of the new producers that Adele worked with for 30 is Inflo, a North London R&B musician who is also a member of the collective Sault and Little Simz’s primarily creative collaborator. On their handful of tracks together, he pushes Adele firmly back into the Black music traditions she has drifted away from since her debut, particularly on this moody takedown of an ex. Directed at an unknown paramour whom she dated after her separation, the searing lyrics drag him for blowing his opportunity to be with a “Woman Like Me” by never fully committing to their relationship. Best bit: “Don’t think you quite understand who you have on your hands/How can you not see just how good for you I am?” ATRL says...: “It is good, god, it is so good,” @BnPac raved. “The deliberate refusal to follow the melody's time in the back when she sings during the first verse. The haunting feeling. It just works!” @Ewan Chaos agreed that “this ‘cup of coffee in the morning on your porch guitar strumming’ Emily King-style song is TOTALLY my shit and suits her.” But @madonnas thought “she would have been better off making this song a cover of Little Mix featuring Nicki Minaj.” And @creativity. complained that “every song is 2 minutes too long because she just HAS to stretch out every note.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 5 minutes ago, Ewan Chaos said: This is my opinion too really. Fine for this to be out. Also I don't really agree with the (I think) common opinion people have that the title track should have ended. The structure of that into Male Fantasy, with the latter closing, feels like the best narrative. Because it's sort of a comedown and then resolution from the title track's rage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddy Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 1 minute ago, supaspaz said: WOMAN LIKE ME Average score: 6.58 High score: 10 (@supaspaz, @ultraviolence.xx, @Ewan Chaos, @BnPac) Low score: 3 (@MP2K, @creativity.) One of the new producers that Adele worked with for 30 is Inflo, a North London R&B musician who is also a member of the collective Sault and Little Simz’s primarily creative collaborator. On their handful of tracks together, he pushes Adele firmly back into the Black music traditions she has drifted away from since her debut, particularly on this moody takedown of an ex. Directed at an unknown paramour whom she dated after her separation, the searing lyrics drag him for blowing his opportunity to be with a “Woman Like Me” by never fully committing to their relationship. Best bit: “Don’t think you quite understand who you have on your hands/How can you not see just how good for you I am?” ATRL says...: “It is good, god, it is so good,” @BnPac raved. “The deliberate refusal to follow the melody's time in the back when she sings during the first verse. The haunting feeling. It just works!” @Ewan Chaos agreed that “this ‘cup of coffee in the morning on your porch guitar strumming’ Emily King-style song is TOTALLY my **** and suits her.” But @madonnas thought “she would have been better off making this song a cover of Little Mix featuring Nicki Minaj.” And @creativity. complained that “every song is 2 minutes too long because she just HAS to stretch out every note.” No way, this masterpiece should be at least in the top 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted July 21, 2022 ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 3 minutes ago, supaspaz said: Because it's sort of a comedown and then resolution from the title track's rage? I usually prefer there to be no comedown and albums to end on an explosive note! That’s probably why I don’t really vibe with the song that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 2 minutes ago, Saddy said: No way, this masterpiece should be at least in the top 20 EXACTLY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 GOLDWING Average score: 6.68 High score: 9 (@Ewan Chaos, @Ace Reject, @Born to Run) Low score: 2 (@Insanity) With its ominous drum machine loop, this is one of the Happier Than Ever tracks that most feels like it could have appeared on Billie Eilish’s first album. But its preoccupations are firmly of her sophomore era: “Goldwing” evokes the imagery of an angel for a metaphor about her protectiveness toward innocent young women in the music industry. The intro is a choral hymn, based on an ancient Hindu poem, that Billie sang in choir as a kid. Best bit: “Gonna claim you like a souvenir/Just to sell you in a year” ATRL says...: “That change halfway through,” @Ewan Chaos marveled. “WHEW.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted July 21, 2022 ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 Aw that one was cute but I guess it was it’s time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 Fun (?) fact: That's the first of five tracks with 10's or 1's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultraviolence.xx Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 10 minutes ago, supaspaz said: It's funny to me how seemingly every time @ultraviolence.xx is the high score then @Insanity is the low score, and vice versa. @Insanity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultraviolence.xx Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 Just now, supaspaz said: Fun (?) fact: That's the first of five tracks with 10's or 1's. howling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 2 minutes ago, ultraviolence.xx said: howling Truly don't know if anyone other than me cares! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Into The Void Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 28 minutes ago, supaspaz said: CAN I GET IT Average score: 6.33 High score: 10 (@supaspaz, @Insanity, @Norte) Low score: 1 (@ultraviolence.xx, @Lucas32, @creativity.) If the big knock on “Easy On Me” was that it hewed too closely to the standard Adele formula, ATRL wasn’t much kinder to her efforts to push into new territory on 30, such as this Shellback- and Max Martin-produced bop about desperately wanting a serious relationship instead of a casual fling. Evolving from strummy folk lament to thumping come-on to neo-George Michael intrigue to whistling floor filler and back again, “Can I Get It” takes so many delicious left turns in three-and-a-half minutes that it ends up right back where it started with the listener still trying to catch their breath. A shame that it finished at least 50 spots lower than it should have on this countdown. If you get it, you get it, if you don’t, you don’t. If you know, you know. And if you don’t know, like, I honestly feel bad for you. Best bit: “When. Will. You. Ruuuuuunnnn with meeeee?/ Like I know you want to?” ATRL says...: Some people didn’t get the vibe. “I also hate whistling in songs,” @creativity. wrote. @Ewan Chaos “was gonna give this a 1, because it’s a kii that she decided to do what was mainstream in 2012 in 2021 with the whistles and production…but I respect her trying something a little new.” But some people did! “OK, OK, hear me out,” @BnPac wrote. “Now this is guilty level 'bad' (not even) turns good and no one does it better than Max Martin. The song is fun, bubbly, not try-hard. It's easy done good. ‘Easy On Me’ wishes! I deduct one point for losing steam before the last chorus.” Even @madonnas couldn’t hate it. “I guess I’ll take what I can get at this point…” he sighed. Oh yall did this bop dirty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted July 21, 2022 ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 3 minutes ago, supaspaz said: Fun (?) fact: That's the first of five tracks with 10's or 1's. I’m worried Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 STRANGERS BY NATURE Average score: 6.68 High score: 10 (@Quicksand) Low score: 3 (@MP2K) 30 opens with a track so utterly different from anything Adele had done before that she almost gave it away. A trippy torch song inspired by Judy Garland, “Strangers By Nature,” co-written and produced by the Oscar-winning Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson, takes listeners over the rainbow to the cemetery of Adele’s heart, where she lays flowers on the graves of all her past relationships. It sets the scene for the album to come: “Alright then, I'm ready,” she concludes. Best bit: “Now that all the dust has settled/I rebut all my rebuttals” ATRL says...: “Cute opener,” @madonnas said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Into The Void Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 4 minutes ago, ultraviolence.xx said: @Insanity Thats funny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 Just now, Insanity said: Oh yall did this bop dirty Thank you for being on the right side of history! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 1 minute ago, madonnas said: I’m worried Wait, three of the other four are Little Simz tracks. You all truly did not know what to make of that album! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted July 21, 2022 ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 Ehhh it could have been further. I’m kinda shocked at the 30 hatred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creativity. Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 Damn did I really give that many 1s?! I’m such a hater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator supaspaz Posted July 21, 2022 Author ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 Just now, madonnas said: I’m kinda shocked at the 30 hatred And you might think five Adele tracks would be enough for one update. But no! There is one more. Who will be the unlucky sixth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator Ace Reject Posted July 21, 2022 ATRL Moderator Share Posted July 21, 2022 1 minute ago, supaspaz said: And you might think five Adele tracks would be enough for one update. But no! There is one more. Who will be the unlucky sixth? Please let it be To Be Loved. Please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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