5 hours ago, Album Leak said:

Well well well, looks like Florence didn't release two consecutive flops in a row! This really feels like a great autumn album, definitely released at the right time of the year and it really enhanced the experience. I also enjoyed the more grim, dark atmosphere that permeates through some of this album. I also loved the more slow tempo songs overall, and that has kind of been my vibe with Florence as of late where I generally latch onto her more slower, somber songs. It's usually where her songwriting, vocals and dramatics (if there are any) really shine these days. I can't really say if this album reminds me of any of her previous albums, but I think you could take most of these songs and sprinkle them around her already existing albums and it'd make perfect sense. 

 

The first half to me is much less impressive than the second half. I think the more straightforward alternative rock angle doesn't really work for her, except in You Can Have It All which feels like a good blend of alternative rock and the signature intense dramatic flair of her earlier work. I also found the overuse of guitars throughout the album a bit offputting and disappointing, I would've like to hear more diverse selection of instruments. Give me piano, give me harps, give me violins... guitar-heavy songs like Perfume and Milk, Buckle and Music by Men could've been elevated with different instrumentations.

 

Anyway, I'd rate the songs as follows. 

 

GODLIKE DISCOGRAPHY HIGHLIGHT

The Old Religion

Drink Deep

 

AMAZING

You Can Have It All

And Love

 

GOOD

Perfume and Milk

Everybody Scream

 

GOOD CHORUS  BUT STILL A SKIP

Kraken

Buckle

 

SKIP

One of the Greats

Witch Dance

Sympathy Magic

Music by Men

Im so sorry but your opinion is invalid when you place Sympathy Magic under 'SKIP'. Like it's literally one of her best recent works. 

2 minutes ago, 1000 forms of queer said:

Im so sorry but your opinion is invalid when you place Sympathy Magic under 'SKIP'. Like it's literally one of her best recent works. 

I'm warming up to it... it's just not an instant hit like some other songs on the album.

the Old Religion is doing something to me, it starts and it brings me to tears. What the hell, I love this album desperately.

Just now, AnitaFalafel said:

the Old Religion is doing something to me, it starts and it brings me to tears. What the hell, I love this album desperately.

Same, also have that with Drink Deep & You Can Have It All.

Initial ranking before I go to sleep and obsess about this album for the foreseeable future - 

 

1. The Old Religion 

2. One of the Greats 

3. Sympathy Magic

4. Perfume and Milk

5. You can Have it All

6. Buckle

7. Witch Dance

8. Music by Men 

9. Everybody Scream

10. Drink Deep

11. Kraken

12. And Love 

 

But there is not a single skip, even the last few I adore... Holy hell this might be my favorite album of hers

I've listened a couple more times and it's growing on me a bit, specifically The Old Religion and You Can Have It All. Kraken is the song I think had the most potential to be more, it would be so much better for me if it had a proper chorus or something. I do still wish the melodies and hooks were a bit stronger (I don't really understand those saying we shouldn't be expecting "pop" hooks from Florence considering her early albums are full of them). It's probably above Dance Fever for me but I don't think I can really rank it higher than that atm.

I don't think this is an album that you can appreciate on first listen. I've had one listen and enjoyed it but know I need more time with it to fully appreciate and absorb it. "One of the Greats" really didn't hit me until a few weeks after release so just shows how that this album is probably one that needs multiple listens and time to sit with.

 

Already on first listen, it feels so full of emotion and grief that I haven't even touched yet within one listen. This album definitely feels like a lyrical album, rather than a production album. The only song that I really didn't gel with on first listen was "Drink Deep" as I couldn't get on board with the elongated "deeeeeep" melody. I really like "The Old Religion" and "You Can Have It All" too. 

 

On first listen though, and this is just an immediate thought, I do just wish some songs hit a little harder. My thoughts may change once I have had time to sit with the songs but, for example, she teased the instrumental for "Perfume and Milk" a few weeks back online and it sounds absolutely heavenly. But that doesn't seem to translate into the song. It feels a little flat on first listen. And some other songs just feel a little too restrained. I'll see if I change my mind though. 

1 hour ago, Album Leak said:

I'm warming up to it... it's just not an instant hit like some other songs on the album.

That's interesting cause ES and One of the Greats took so long to grow on me, but I loved Sympathy Magic on my first listen 

51 minutes ago, AnitaFalafel said:

Initial ranking before I go to sleep and obsess about this album for the foreseeable future - 

 

1. The Old Religion 

2. One of the Greats 

3. Sympathy Magic

4. Perfume and Milk

5. You can Have it All

6. Buckle

7. Witch Dance

8. Music by Men 

9. Everybody Scream

10. Drink Deep

11. Kraken

12. And Love 

 

But there is not a single skip, even the last few I adore... Holy hell this might be my favorite album of hers

Thank you for placing God Magic on top 3, this song is so underrated 

2 hours ago, Curaga said:

Chamber Edition has shipped!!  

It's a gift for my husband, but I wanna see that photo book 

!! So has my signed copy i think

 

I'm so excited to listen

oh my godddd The Old Religion is giving old Flo  i'm shaking this is so megical

And I am changing, becoming something else
A creature of longing, tending only to myself
Licking my wounds, burrowing down
In a house in the woods on the edge of town
Well, healing is slow, it comes and it goes
A glimpse of the sun then a flurry of snow
The first green shoots in a sudden frost
Oh, something's gained when something's lost
The rot and the ruin, the earth and the worms
The seasons change, the world turns
The world turns
 

This is DEEPLY SERIOUS  

On first listen, this is defnitely her least immediate album, given the lack of her usual stronger melodies. It's very intimate and reflective, but at the same time strangely imposing, without the need to go for the often put-on grandeur of Dance Fever (which remains my least favorite record.) I also found it very emotional and bittersweet in a way other albums of hers didn't make me feel, and it made for a very unique experience. And while it's true that she doesn't explore particularly adventurous sounds here, as a body of work it feels completely new and separate from the previous ones. Will be a grower for sure.

 

Having said that, And Love sent shivers down my spine, holy **** what a beauty

My first listen was extremely positive, there's so much to unpack here from the lyrics to the details in the production. It sounds very unique in her discography, there's a sense of discovery in most songs that I didn't really feel with the last two albums and the more uncommon structures and melodies definitely help with that.

 

I kinda loved the experience of not getting exactly what I expected, it's such an intriguing, beautifully weird album. No song left a weak impression on me and I can't wait to dive deep into this over the next few days 

Kraken might be my early standout 

The way yall tried to scare me by saying she worked with Dua Lipa and Carly Rae producers, but every song is actually coproduced by Aaron Dessner. I love it here.
 

Edited October 31, 2025Oct 31 by Achilles.

Buckle 

The Old Religion instant classic. Top 5 in her discography.

I'm just now starting my listen but Everybody Scream is great so far. It hasn't been mentioned as a standout here much, so I can only assume the album is a lot better than people are saying? 

 

Again, only one song in now so we'll see.

On first listen I think this is better produced, more cohesive, and more interesting than High As Hope and Dance Fever, and the songwriting is beautiful and seems like it will reward repeat listens and being thoroughly read through. There's a lot of emotional and thematic maturity and complexity here that we'll really have to sit with and come to fully appreciate over time. 
 

I'm very pleased. I'm not sure she can ever top the first three records for me, but I think that this is definitely the closest she's come to matching them.

Breaking my bones, getting four out of five
Listening to a song by The 1975
I thought, '**** it, I might as well give music by men a try'
 

 

 

I see you Taywarrior. 

Edited October 31, 2025Oct 31 by Achilles.

For me, it's HBx3 > Everybody Scream > Lungs > Ceremonials > Dance Fever > HAH (it's NOT bad, just minimal, which is fine, just not what I go to Flo for)

Buckle-Kraken-The Old Religion

 

what a punch! 

 

i love everything she does, i even defended high as hope when people were dragging it

but im not conecting with this one, maybe it will be a grower.

old religion is beautiful