mike_int Posted April 25 Posted April 25 21 minutes ago, Cain said: This sounds like she should've just shut her mouth hyping up this 'drastic soundscape switch' 'psychedelic influences' '90s UK band inspiration' bs I think people needs to understand the word "inspiration" , you can be inspired by a song and create a song which will not sound nothing alike the song you were inspired by, you just took some creative element and made it yours, like the layering of repeating vocals with heavy tremolo on background vocals in Illusion or the organ keys in Houdini and TS. Dua is a commercial pop singer and this is just her third album, I wonder what would her fans say if she went all underground, she would be crucified for it. You can never satisfy everyone, there is group of people saying RO so far sounds like FN, there is another group who is saying it doesn't sound commercial enough for US etc. Just enjoy the music, if you dont like it move to another artist which satisfy your current musical taste. 2
DoubleRainbow! Posted April 25 Posted April 25 7 hours ago, NostalgiawithDua said: Popjustice insider gave some tea on the album… Reveal hidden contents Was able to hear a bit of the record recently and have a few initial thoughts to spread some ~optimism~ to kick off the week. To start, what I heard sounds good! Some of it great even. If you've enjoyed the singles, you'll most likely enjoy the record as a whole. If you've felt a bit 'meh' thus far, well...it may not be for you. I think some of her pre-release descriptions have been a bit misleading/set herself up for some of the criticisms that have been shared in this thread. Did I get "leaning towards psychedelic-pop influenced by UK rave culture" from what I heard? No. Is it straight-up Future Nostalgia vibes? Also no! It's, simply put, an upbeat pop album dd. In my mind, she's the 2020s Rihanna - the bops are bopping, the albums have enough to them that create their own individual sound, but at the end of the day, she's here to be a hitmaker. I know Training Season was widely well-received here, but I don't think it should've been one of the pre-album singles. There's punchier material here that, while still may not be as instant as Don't Start Now or Levitating, has a bit more kick to them that I think could've fared better commercially, especially here in the US. Prefacing that while I've not heard the entire record, there were a lot of interesting production flourishes that dominate the choruses of these tracks. Really fun synths that add nice dimension to otherwise straightforward pop tracks. I don't think the goal was to re-invent the wheel by any means, and having come off such a huge era, it must have been challenging to create a soundscape that diverges enough from her core sound to differentiate itself, but also keeps her GP-friendly and accessible. Did she succeed? Jury is a bit out based on first impressions. Very much looking forward to hearing the full thing, but already claiming Whatcha Doing as a forum favorite. Well, at least it doesn't sound like FN in full
mike_int Posted April 25 Posted April 25 2 minutes ago, Relampago. said: The tea sounds like I'll love the album but it also sounds like this era is done and those who keep criticizing it won't be convinced by the full thing at all We'll keep this album as a fan fave but I hope she plans to release again no later than early 2026 with a cleaner rollout. No descriptions that will haunt the era from the beginning, make it a quicker pre-album release so there isn't time to give misleading descriptions. I don't think we will get album sooner than Q4 of 2026 if she will be on tour all 2025
Cain Posted April 25 Posted April 25 3 minutes ago, Relampago. said: The tea sounds like I'll love the album but it also sounds like this era is done and those who keep criticizing it won't be convinced by the full thing at all We'll keep this album as a fan fave but I hope she plans to release again no later than early 2026 with a cleaner rollout. No descriptions that will haunt the era from the beginning, make it a quicker pre-album release so there isn't time to give misleading descriptions. We'll be lucky to get another album in the 2020s tbh
Relampago. Posted April 25 Posted April 25 1 minute ago, mike_int said: I don't think we will get album sooner than Q4 of 2026 if she will be on tour all 2025 She needs to embrace the 2020s Rihanna moniker and record an album on tour like Rih did for TTT 1 minute ago, Cain said: We'll be lucky to get another album in the 2020s tbh No one's waiting around for years for a Dua Lipa album after this anyways so she might as well just release a fashion brand and go full 2020s Rih
Matangi Posted April 25 Posted April 25 6 minutes ago, crazyncool said: Watcha Doing is giving Spiceworld, and I mean that in the best possible way. The way she took me back to the 90s. Phew! Falling Forever is her best vocal delivery in, well, forever. What, how have you heard the full album already? Can you give us track by track descriptions? Don't forget to put everything into spoilers. 3
DoubleRainbow! Posted April 25 Posted April 25 17 minutes ago, crazyncool said: Watcha Doing is giving Spiceworld, and I mean that in the best possible way. The way she took me back to the 90s. Phew! Falling Forever is her best vocal delivery in, well, forever. spill sis
Solaria Posted April 25 Posted April 25 I will love the album regardless but she needs to consider whether US success ultimately matters for her or not. If it does, then she needs to be smarter about who she picks for her next album. I'm certain synth-funk will truly be dead by 2026 so Warner better make an analysis about what's going to be trendy by the time Dua starts writing the album
AdrianNicki Posted April 25 Posted April 25 Based on that insider's tea, I guess this will be my AOTY. All three singles have been on repeat so far. 3
mike_int Posted April 25 Posted April 25 Just now, Solaria said: I will love the album regardless but she needs to consider whether US success ultimately matters for her or not. If it does, then she needs to be smarter about who she picks for her next album. I'm certain synth-funk will truly be dead by 2026 so Warner better make an analysis about what's going to be trendy by the time Dua starts writing the album Look at Kylie, she is an absolute pop/dance music icon and had hit 35 years in her career without major success in US (except CGYOFMH) Despite US being big market regarding sales and commercials it is still just 4% of world population 1
mike_int Posted April 25 Posted April 25 40 minutes ago, Matangi said: What, how have you heard the full album already? Can you give us track by track descriptions? Don't forget to put everything into spoilers. the user edited and remove the comment about the songs ... hmmmm
Mickie Posted April 25 Posted April 25 Insiders spilling there are bops on the album, like we didn't know after hearing Hoedini, TS and Illusion 1
Subversive Posted April 25 Posted April 25 My biggest worry is the lyrics. From the accidental booklet sneak peek, I wasn't wow'ed, so I am optimistic she'll pull them off well enough into bangers. Excited most for Happy for You and French Exit 1
V_E_N_U_S Posted April 25 Posted April 25 Do we know if the album will have transitions? I know the single versions don't exactly play like they do, but the way Houdini and Illusion open makes me think they could potentially? I hate the way Houdini opens
mike_int Posted April 25 Posted April 25 1 minute ago, V_E_N_U_S said: Do we know if the album will have transitions? I know the single versions don't exactly play like they do, but the way Houdini and Illusion open makes me think they could potentially? I hate the way Houdini opens I personally dont expect that, but I would love if we would get full album of extended versions mixed into one "confessions" style
sneakyishere Posted April 25 Posted April 25 12 minutes ago, V_E_N_U_S said: Do we know if the album will have transitions? I know the single versions don't exactly play like they do, but the way Houdini and Illusion open makes me think they could potentially? I hate the way Houdini opens Houdini kind of sounds muffled/underwater in its first two seconds..I would love for End Of An Era to end with some type of submergion sound effect and it then transitioning into Houdini
Cain Posted April 25 Posted April 25 29 minutes ago, V_E_N_U_S said: Do we know if the album will have transitions? I know the single versions don't exactly play like they do, but the way Houdini and Illusion open makes me think they could potentially? I hate the way Houdini opens I don't think so
mike_int Posted April 25 Posted April 25 24 minutes ago, sneakyishere said: Houdini kind of sounds muffled/underwater in its first two seconds..I would love for End Of An Era to end with some type of submergion sound effect and it then transitioning into Houdini Its called low pass filter (it basically cut the high frequencies and keep the low - bass ones, the opposite is high pass filter, that one create very sharp and dry sound, almost like listening trthrough old phone) used quite a lot in music, usually in transitions or intro/outro
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