IYD - A thread for the underwhelmed

chriskisn · #1 05-01-2011, 06:51 AM

Hmm...well having now had a listen through the album, all I can say is that personally it doesn't really do anything for me.

There are loads of people posting in other threads about how excited they are, how wonderful the album is, etc. I wonder how they will feel in 6 months once the gloss has worn off?

A lot of people don't like TISL, but I really thought that was one of her best albums of her solo career, and I can listen to that album on repeat quite happily. However IYD just doesn't have that appeal.

The songs sound unfinished, like we are listening to demos and her voice is flat and emotionless on most songs.

I do quite like Ghost Are Gone, although it does need a bit of work to make it flow better and the best song on the album I feel is In Your Dreams, possibly the only one that might have single appeal. Secret Love isn't all that bad either, although we have been exposed to that one.

So yeah, I'm underwhelmed, I was expecting so much more. I can't see this album getting mainstream success. Any initial chart success will be mainly because the hard-core fans are buying up more than one copy, but that will drop off after the first week or two.

Anyone else feel this way?

*barricades door and waits for onslaught of abuse*

JohnL · #2 05-01-2011, 06:54 AM

In a word...NO! This album is such a storytelling mantra in my eyes. I think Stevie has poured out the last 10 years of her life in this CD and I am totally impressed. Her voice is full of emotion. I guess we have to agree to disagree.

Tellurium · #3 05-01-2011, 07:04 AM

Great thread. I agree with you that generally core fanbases can be quick to label something they like as the best thing evAr, and that their opinions often mellow (and sometimes reverse) over time. I guess only time will tell, and we'll see in about a year how the album holds up.

However, regarding the songs sounding demo-ish and her voice falling flat... All I can say is I think we must be listening to different albums.

I know that I really like this album. How it will ultimately hold up to my other favourites by her, it's definitely too soon to tell.

melacine · #4 05-01-2011, 07:18 AM

I can see where you're coming from. I have to say, at first I was a bit underwhelmed too...like I was expecting more from it. I liked the overall feel and especially the sound of her voice , but couldn't really pick out favorite individual songs (except for Moonlight, that one won me over instantly).

Compared to TISL, I really like the flow of the songs better here. Now, let me say I enjoy TISL, but to me, the songs on it sound kind of disjointed. To me it was like, ok when Lindsey always just knew exactly what to do with Stevie's songs......like compare the Tom Petty Gypsy demos and then listen to what Lindsey did to it on Mirage. Amazing. TISL to me was like someone didn't know exactly what to do with her songs . This album sounds more "Stevie" to me. I hope that made sense

But really the more I listened to it, especially when listening to the lyrics, I just adore the album now. I hope it grows on you too!

--Shel

chriskisn · #5 05-01-2011, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melacine

Compared to TISL, I really like the flow of the songs better here. Now, let me say I enjoy TISL, but to me, the songs on it sound kind of disjointed.
--Shel

I have to admit I listen to everything on my iPod, and it plays the tracks in alphabetical order rather than in track number order. I guess that doesn't help the flow of the tracks at all. I've only ever found that to be a problem in concept albums though that are meant to have a particular order to the tracks.

I really do hope this album grows on me, I hated Lindsey's songs on SYW until I had listened half a dozen times. So you never know, my mind might change?

Sanne2 · #6 05-01-2011, 07:52 AM

"her voice is flat and emotionless on most songs"

I guess I can understand being underwhelmed by the songs but I really don't understand this ^^^.
Her voice on TISL and SYW makes me cringe at times, its a monotone, nasal mess compared to her voice on IYD, atleast to me.

carrie721 · #7 05-01-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriskisn

I have to admit I listen to everything on my iPod, and it plays the tracks in alphabetical order rather than in track number order. I guess that doesn't help the flow of the tracks at all. I've only ever found that to be a problem in concept albums though that are meant to have a particular order to the tracks.

I really do hope this album grows on me, I hated Lindsey's songs on SYW until I had listened half a dozen times. So you never know, my mind might change?

i've never heard of anyone who listens to an album alphabetically instead of in the track order.

even albums that aren't "concept albums" are often painstakingly sequenced to tell a story, influence the mood, keep the flow going, etc. IMO the album is one unit.

Jondalar · #8 05-01-2011, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriskisn

Hmm...well having now had a listen through the album, all I can say is that personally it doesn't really do anything for me.

There are loads of people posting in other threads about how excited they are, how wonderful the album is, etc. I wonder how they will feel in 6 months once the gloss has worn off?

A lot of people don't like TISL, but I really thought that was one of her best albums of her solo career, and I can listen to that album on repeat quite happily. However IYD just doesn't have that appeal.

The songs sound unfinished, like we are listening to demos and her voice is flat and emotionless on most songs.

I do quite like Ghost Are Gone, although it does need a bit of work to make it flow better and the best song on the album I feel is In Your Dreams, possibly the only one that might have single appeal. Secret Love isn't all that bad either, although we have been exposed to that one.

So yeah, I'm underwhelmed, I was expecting so much more. I can't see this album getting mainstream success. Any initial chart success will be mainly because the hard-core fans are buying up more than one copy, but that will drop off after the first week or two.

Anyone else feel this way?

*barricades door and waits for onslaught of abuse*

What exactly were you expecting? What did you like about TISL exactly? I know that I tried to force myself to like TISL and couldn't do it. There were too many producers in that pot and the album fell apart. I instantly liked this album. Lot of it has to do with the production and the details. I have read posts on other sites were people are slamming this album, yet, holding up TISL and I really don't get it all. I think some people fought so hard for TISL that they feel all the love for this album is a slap in the face. The only reason I'm saying this is because usually when people say they don't like this album, they mention TISL. I wonder if you want to like this album.

Also, In Your Dreams is a definite single. When I heard that song, I knew it was a radio hit. However, I'm wondering where it will get played.

saintvox · #9 05-01-2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrie721

i've never heard of anyone who listens to an album alphabetically instead of in the track order.

even albums that aren't "concept albums" are often painstakingly sequenced to tell a story, influence the mood, keep the flow going, etc. IMO the album is one unit.

I have to agree with this. Albums have a set tracklist for a reason. A song may flow better with another song, and they may even strengthen each other.

And if the flow is a problem, you can't honestly complain unless you listen to it in the order it was mean to be listened to in.

I think Stevie's vocals are good, however, I don't see the difference from TISL too strongly, as others seem to. She does sound more into the songs though.

bluefox4000 · #10 05-01-2011, 08:30 AM

I kinda expected to be included in this thread....but as of now I can't. Hmmmmm....Being a bit of a cynic. I will say, maybe I'll be underwhelmed once the excitement of a new album wears off. Give me a little time

.

Mick

Bryan · #11 05-01-2011, 08:34 AM

Glad this was brought up.
As it stands the album has *still* not been released, yet it feels like everyone has listened to it endlessly already and are fairly familiar with it to the point of declaring it her all time greatest.
I personally love it,and took to it immediately and like it.But I believe many got swept up in the buzz of 'newness' after years of waiting for fresh Stevie tunes.Be interesting to see how it goes after it sits proudly on our shelves in hard copy form and enough time passes to allow for being objective.

BombaySapphire3 · #12 05-01-2011, 08:46 AM

And the mainstream citics some of them who are calling it her best album ever or coming 'remarkably close"to her classic work with Fleetwood Mac are really hardcore fan plants enchanted by the newness?

Bryan · #13 05-01-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

And the mainstream citics some of them who are calling it her best album ever or coming 'remarkably close"to her classic work with Fleetwood Mac are really hardcore fan plants enchanted by the newness?

Nah those critics got a fat cheque from Warner Reprise

saintvox · #14 05-01-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

And the mainstream citics some of them who are calling it her best album ever or coming 'remarkably close"to her classic work with Fleetwood Mac are really hardcore fan plants enchanted by the newness?

No they're critics.

The same people who praise Gaga and give her albums the same rating as Stevie's.

I swear I can't respect most critics when they gave The Fame four stars and above, and their reviews of Stevie are like 3.

chriskisn · #15 05-01-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrie721

i've never heard of anyone who listens to an album alphabetically instead of in the track order.

even albums that aren't "concept albums" are often painstakingly sequenced to tell a story, influence the mood, keep the flow going, etc. IMO the album is one unit.

Well if you know how to change an Ipod Classic to play songs in track order rather than in alphabetical order then please let me know. As it doesn't record the track numbers there is no other way that I know of to play the songs...

EDIT: You know what I think I've just discovered how to do it - if you use the search function (as I alway do when searching) it gives me alphabetical order which has always annoyed me. However if I spend five minutes scrolling manually through album search, it actually plays in track order. How cool is that.