The Album Review Club - Week #138 - (page 1790) - 1956 - Soul-Junk

[mrbelfry]

Don't get me going on Swift 'Eras'. I asked my fully indoctrinated niece to convince me that the whole era thing wasn't just a load of self aggrandising marketing bollocks. She failed miserably but outrageously didn't seem to care that she had palpbly failed. It's like she thinks I'm just a crazy old guy whose opinion doesn't matter anymore!!!!!!

She's perceptive

 

[Saddleworth2]

The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan

After two listens, I’m going to have to call it. Not because it’s bad or I’ve had enough, but I’m off to Spain today, and I don’t want to have to type all of this out on a phone next week.

Whilst I agree with Foggy that I’m not comfortable listening to young women singing sexually explicit lyrics, I’m not convinced it’s a great thing for men or artists in general to do either. Like the best directors who can provoke emotions and convey feeling by showing just enough and cutting away at the optimum point, I think the best songwriters and performers are capable of doing the same. Still, it’s her first album and she’s trying to make a name for herself, so what better way than being outrageous?

On its upbeat numbers, the sound of the album is straight out of the 80s, which is fine; it sits alongside many other albums in that regard. It’s nothing new and it’s no better or worse for it.

One thing that this album has in common with a lot of modern artists is that on many songs, you hear the voice and a sound – what sound? I don’t always know, but some sound – more than I hear the instruments. I mean, I’m sure there are individual instruments there, but the overall sound is a digital, sanitised slurry, which is ironic given some of the lyrics. Maybe if she combined those lyrics with a razor’s edge guitar and throbbing bass even more people would sit up and take notice (but probably not the young audience she is after). To be fair, there’s some nice piano on “Kaleidoscope” and a short-lived outbreak of acoustic picking on “Guilty Pleasure” but these moments are few and far between.

I notice that @BlueHammer85 said that he might listen to a Taylor Swift album at some point. Whilst her growing legion of fans would no doubt point you to her most recent efforts, I feel they also suffer from the “digital slurry” effect in parts and instead, I’d direct you backwards to when her sound was more basic, and she had a proper band sound that combined with her brilliant bridges and choruses. As for comparison between Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan, from a purely musical standpoint there really is no comparison; different lyrical approach, different production styles – go and listen to the Fearless album and tell me that Chappell Roan is in the same league.

I enjoyed the vocals in “After Midnight”, just kooky (is that an American word?) enough without being annoying. “Coffee”, with its strings, has a different feel and it shows that she can sing and adapt her voice to different styles. Considering Foggy was desperate for some BPM, I’m surprised at how many slower songs appear on this album. Is this really an album that you’d dance to? I’d say that for more than half its running time, it’s an album that you’d sit and listen to whilst sipping a cappuccino.

When all is said and done, it’s not a bad album but there’s nothing to make me want to listen again. I’ll go for a same-as-Radiohead 5.5/10.

re sexually explicit lyrics. I think it's about context and to coin a phrase, keeping it real. If it's used gratuitously I completely agree with you. If it's used in the context of a song which has a deep meaning for the artist and potentially creates a connection for those that have been through similar circumstances I think its totally valid. Take for instance my current favourite Raye's 'Ice Cream Man'



Or most of Alanis Morrisette's Jagged little pill. God that album was vicious.

in Mr Belfry's review he mentions feeling uneasy because of the age difference and an attraction to the artist. But you can be attracted to the (young female) artist for a whole heap of reasons - the quality of the music being the primary, the honesty and bravery of the performance, the messages communicated, the visual performance and yes how they look is part of that. I really don't think its something to feel creepy about.

Anyhow, I will listen to Midwest Princess today and form some opinions.

 

[mrbelfry]

re sexually explicit lyrics. I think it's about context and to coin a phrase, keeping it real. If it's used gratuitously I completely agree with you. If it's used in the context of a song which has a deep meaning for the artist and potentially creates a connection for those that have been through similar circumstances I think its totally valid. Take for instance my current favourite Raye's 'Ice Cream Man'



Or most of Alanis Morrisette's Jagged little pill. God that album was vicious.

in Mr Belfry's review he mentions feeling uneasy because of the age difference and an attraction to the artist. But you can be attracted to the (young female) artist for a whole heap of reasons - the quality of the music being the primary, the honesty and bravery of the performance, the messages communicated, the visual performance and yes how they look is part of that. I really don't think its something to feel creepy about.

Anyhow, I will listen to Midwest Princess today and form some opinions.

To clarify im not specifically attracted to Chappel Roan. Id personally feel creepy listening to any young woman detail her sexual exploits this explicitly. I was making the contrast between a dude doing it compared to a woman. I also wasn't saying it's creepy just that I feel like a creep

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

The daughter loves Chappell Roan so it’s a big hit from her!

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

There is a high chance that everything I wrote is complete nonsense.

All I’ll say before my second listen, is I’m glad I held off expressing my thoughts, before reading yours.
Well done you. A good read. As was Foggy’s reply to you.
I’ll have to choose my own words carefully.

 

[GornikDaze]

It’s safe to say that as a 60 something yo male this isn’t really music aimed at me. Randomly I saw Justin Hawkins reacting to her rant (or possibly one her rants) on TikTok at her fans who expect too much from her. She swore a lot and he seemed to respect her for that. Angry music has been done once or twice before, and I’m sure it will be done again.
Fog promised us BPM and he certainly delivered. Banal Pop Music is a no from me but I’m sure her schoolgirl audience love her for it. As we don’t do 0/10 I’ll reluctantly go 1/10. Off to listen to The Streets to cleanse my ears.
Ps - when she calms down and removes the sack of spuds off her shoulder she could just concentrate on having a half decent voice.

 

[Coatigan]

At first listen, I get the Taylor Swift comparison. The big difference for me, is the distinct lack of confidence here.

I know it actually aims to project the opposite. But I think that is a facade, to hide a vulnerability and hesitancy.

That's just my first impression, thought I'd say it now rather than later when I maybe change my mind.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

I tried to get a reaction out my kids to this and they are super indifferent so will be interesting to hear opinions. Not sure if Foggy wrote about his kids opinion?

My sons tastes are quite eclectic - he just refuses to like the same things I like

I told you my son’s reaction to hearing her in the car. His taste is quite eclectic too. He’s just back from Creamfields and I’d have no interest in that festival music.

He did however put on a playlist instead of CR that included Snow Patrol, Dusty Springfield, Simon & Garfunkel, basic stuff from the 60’s70’s 80s 90s 00s etc that he thinks is great.

He explained that his generation has easy access to all music that, perhaps we didn’t.
They pick and choose surprisingly good tunes, that on reflection perhaps are not that surprising, as quality endures.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Don't get me going on Swift 'Eras'. I asked my fully indoctrinated niece to convince me that the whole era thing wasn't just a load of self aggrandising marketing bollocks. She failed miserably but outrageously didn't seem to care that she had palpbly failed. It's like she thinks I'm just a crazy old guy whose opinion doesn't matter anymore!!!!!!

Sounds like my wife.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Sounds like my wife.

Sounds like my wife too, except that my opinion never mattered, so there’s no “anymore.”