theweekend Posted August 22 Posted August 22 6 minutes ago, Riverbank said: This album is a hard listen to say the least. I find the themes she explored very interesting, but the execution kind of detracts from the overall experience. I understand this album amassed a bit of a cult following that will defend it no matter what, but it's definitely overpowered by its flaws. You get literal noise like I'm So Stupid, but on the other hand, you have genuinely great highlights like X-Static Process and Intervention. I wish she had fully embraced the personal, folksy acoustic direction of the latter. I don't think the album really sells the political aspect except for the title track either way. And it felt rather half-hearted Other great songs like Hollywood are let down by their production, I prefer the remix by far. I know the production quirks are done intentionally, but Mirwais and his antics can literally be headache inducing at times to be honest if American life the song didn't exist, this album could've smashed if promoted like HAC era in the vein of Bedtime Stories like she fumbled her bag so hard with AL even though it's a fantastic song and video but overall the album has got dragged and overlooked which is sad because it's a great album. Nobody Knows Me, Nothing Fails, Intervention, Love Profusion, Mother and Father and Die Another Day are career highlights.
Kimi Posted August 22 Posted August 22 yeah i wonder cause it was panned back then and critics are still panning it. it being noisy is no longer an argument, not after how noisy 2010s pop music and hyperpop is. maybe it needs to be seriously re-reviewed
reymiu Posted August 22 Posted August 22 4 hours ago, Polgg48 said: until this day, her team is surprisingly obtuse let 'nothing fail' sitting in dungeon with no promo, not in slightest of trainwreckord inclusive either when she mad as hell really went there on the album. at the end of the day, i was happy bought physical with whole happy heart of her then new album. Agree Nothing Fails should have been the 2nd single
reymiu Posted August 22 Posted August 22 3 hours ago, STMG23 said: I was there and it deserved better in the US but not worldwide imo. I always liked the album but she was kind of standing still sonically. Speaking of early 00s flops by divas, Charmbracelet was underrated too 1
Rihinvention Posted August 22 Posted August 22 At the risk of playing devil's advocate…I don't think it did. I love her, but I think it got the response it deserved. The production sounds cheap, like it was made on GarageBand, which hasn't aged well. The lyrics don't help either. The "soy latte" rap goes viral fairly often on TikTok because Gen Z find it so funny. As for the branding/imagery…even though she was correct for criticising the War in Iraq and the War in Afghanistan, support for the American military was so high after 9/11. It probably hadn't been that strong since WW2. Again, she was right to criticise the wars. I just don't know if it was a smart business decision at the time. Looking back, it's more like, "well…duh. No wonder it flopped so hard in America." After 9/11, most people would've been like "oh ffs. Now is not the time Madonna." Even though it was a genuine expression of her artistry, I think a lot of people saw it as controversy-seeking. 'Hollywood' definitely deserved better though. She should've leaned more heavily into that aspect of criticising American Life, particularly with the visuals. I remember 'nip/tuck' and 'Extreme Makeover' had just started. That could have been a much more digestible visual/aesthetic for the masses. But yeah…I think it got the response it deserved. I don't think I've ever listen to folk music and hyperpop and thought "You know what? These two would go great together."
mike_int Posted August 22 Posted August 22 (edited) I always loved American Life album, I was just 12 when it was released and I was immediately captured by it. Loved Mirwais production choices and creativity. It is an album of no skips for me. Edited August 22 by mike_int
HardBambi Posted August 22 Posted August 22 1 hour ago, LOTF said: Baby you strike as a very conservative listener to be stanning the queen of pop. Have you tried some more safe choices? Nah I'm a real fan, from Physical Attraction to Angel to Promise to try to Cherish to Words to both of Forbidden Love's … but yeah American Life is a massive no no and the world reacted accordingly Should I lose some weight? Should I change my name? No TV nor magazines! She was deeply uninspired for this to say the least, if I would talk to her about this album I would be like Girl, what were you thinking? I hope you can at least laugh about it because it was that bad
HardBambi Posted August 22 Posted August 22 1 hour ago, LOTF said: Baby you strike as a very conservative listener to be stanning the queen of pop. Have you tried some more safe choices? Nah I'm a real fan, from Physical Attraction to Angel to Promise to try to Cherish to Words to both of Forbidden Love's … but yeah American Life is a massive no no and the world reacted accordingly Should I lose some weight? Should I change my name? No TV nor magazines! She was deeply uninspired for this to say the least, if I would talk to her about this album I would be like Girl, what were you thinking? I hope you can at least laugh about it because it was that bad
HardBambi Posted August 22 Posted August 22 1 hour ago, LOTF said: Baby you strike as a very conservative listener to be stanning the queen of pop. Have you tried some more safe choices? Nah I'm a real fan, from Physical Attraction to Angel to Promise to try to Cherish to Words to both of Forbidden Love's … but yeah American Life is a massive no no and the world reacted accordingly Should I lose some weight? Should I change my name? No TV nor magazines! She was deeply uninspired for this to say the least, if I would talk to her about this album I would be like Girl, what were you thinking? I hope you can at least laugh about it because it was that bad
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