barttttender

What I don't get with these pop stars sitting on 500 million dollars+ is: why not just hire songwriters to write you a record? Beyonce is very smart with that, with dozens of writers on board for every record. Lana does her own shit and is super productive so she doesn't need to. But Dua is not a great writer. "Dance the night", for example, is one big songwriting cliche that's been done a million times before, which is why it wasn't nominated for an Oscar. Compared it to "What was I made for" or "I'm just Ken" and the difference couldn't be more stark. So, if she had written five good ones, let's say, (the opening track, the three singles and, let's say, French Exit), why not hire songwriters for the other half of the album? Just look how well Padam Padam turned out for Kylie. I woulda literally hired the same Norwegian girl who wrote that track.

Not a fan of Katy Perry, but I'm sure a collab with her (or anyone) would have made this album better. Dua can't even carry those 11 songs (30 mins of running time) on her own. She shoulda done another Angele collab, especially if she was going for that European sound (which, I dunno, she was?).

The issue isn't that it's European. Everybody loves British pop, trip-hop, etc. In fact, European music nowadays is fab fab fab. Just check out Angele. It's that Radical Optimism lacks identity, has little personality, sounds like AI, and the worst cuts on it sound like Eastern European Eurovision entries, which is Europe's worst.

My god, when I remember how incredible "Be the one" was when it came out, I thought Dua will be the new Madonna. And then "New Rules". Nothing on DL3 came even close to those songs, or any of the songs on DL2. Houdini and Training Season came close to being great, thanks to Parker, but the songwriting itself is nowhere near as good. Falling Forever is probably the worst DL song I've ever heard. Like Pitchfork said, "it's not a song, it's an assault".

imagine how bad the discarded 80 songs sounded like

I got on board with this record because of Kevin Parker. In the end, I only heard his sound in Houdini and Training Season. Everything else coulda have been produced by anyone.

100%. Imagine spending money on it. Hopefully, Billie's new record doesn't disappoint in the same way. It's a bit suss that it's also very short (10 songs or so) and there are no singles. At that length, it needs to slap as much as "When we all fall asleep" and definitely more than "Happier than ever". Let's hope she didn't wing it like Dua Peep.

when you realise that Lana released OB, BB and Chemtrails in the same time that Dua was prepping this lame-ass glorified EP or that beyonce dropped both Cowboy Carter and Reneissance. starting to think dua's overreated

I do. Because it was packed with good songs. 37 mins with only 4-5 songs worth one's time, as it is the case with RO, is really taking the piss. You know, I really respect Beyonce for putting out 90 mins of good quality music. Radical Optimism is a great album to compare other albums too this year (because it's that bad).

". The bigger illusion here is an album that claims to mark a change in direction but instead does the same as before, only less notably"- The Financial Times

Lmao. Mid-off is right.

Ah, got it. Well, seems like 6.6 hits that sweet spot for muddled, all-over-the-shop records. But I don't think it's fair to give Lipa the same score. TTPD has a clearer concept, collabs that keep things more dynamic, and a more substantial running time. Plus, it's just more pleasant to listen to (my ears are bleeding when listening to some points of RO.) TTPD also has a bit of a narrative (breakups, fame, etc), whereas OR has zero ideas asides from "I'm contractually obligated to get into the studio, so let me think of some shit to sing about". So far, Cowboy Carter >>>>>> Eternal Sunshine >>>>>>>> TTPD >>>>>>> Radical Optimism. I wouldn't even call RO an album, tbh. It's more of an EP with half good songs, half throwaway ones. She shoulda worked on it for another year, and maybe it woulda been something. Definitely needed more experimentation and Kevin Parker on it too, and at least 6 more songs.

What's TTPD? These abbreviations are killing me.

Agreed. Barely 30 mins long, and can't even land on a consistent sound throughout? 🤦🏻‍♂️ Some tracks are solid, only the singles really slap, and most tracks are just mid. And then, some songs are a literal assault on the ears (Falling Forever, which sounds like a BAD Eurovision song) Major step down from FN. Cowboy Carter is a monumental achievement by comparison. That album could have easily been 3 individual albums that are longer and better than RO.

😂😂😂 Album of the year? Yeah, right.

I hear you. But OB came out last year, March. It's only been a little over a year. And she had the OB promo, rob grant collabs, CN video, other collabs, Coachella, etc. She works fast, but I'm not sure if she could wrap up a whole album that fast with all this other stuff happening. That being said, HM did come a year after UV, so who knows. not being dramatic - Just don't want to get disappointed if we get (yet) another delay. Nfr was excruciating. Worth it but excruciating.

Good to know. But I'll count that album as an album only when it's remastered and available on Spotify or iTunes.

I'd be happy with 13. Fun fact: she's never had an album with 13 songs on the record.

Okay, here we go! Who's the one genius behind Lana's records you'd pick to produce LDR11 and why? For me, I'm a huge fan of Jack, the man who has ushered Lana into her most critically acclaimed era with NFR and beyond. Songs like Venice Bitch, Ocean Boulevard, The greatest and others are top of her discography worthy, (by all accounts, not just mine). Kudos to Rick N., too, for contributing to her early success and producing some of her most iconic songs like Young and Beautiful, and later Summer Bummer, etc.. Special shoutout to R. Ruben, too, for producing one of my favorite songs ever (Ride). All that being said, my pick would still be Emile H. Basically, if you look at things with full transparency, this guy MADE Lana. BTD is the longest charting debut album by a female not just because of the great songwriting of BTD, but also the unique blend of hip-hop and 50s Americana that he's conjured that hasn't really been recaptured since, not just with Lana but elsewhere, too. By producing Born to Die, American, Gods and Monsters, Blue Jeans, Burning Desire, Off to the Races, National Anthem, Love and others, he's been the only producer who's successfully found a radio-friendly, pop framework for Lana's art. And, let's face it, most of her bops are his work. Now, of course, I wouldn't want Lana and Emile to go back to the studio and try to produce BTD 2. But I do think whatever they cook up, it would be far more interesting and fresh than some of Jack's recent output with Lana or Taylor. Yep, Emile is the one I reckon she should go back to. Who's your pick? I'm expecting a landslide of Dan A. votes here. 😂

september/october. Album out march. i personally think lana is nowhere near finishing the record. She prolly has about 8 songs including Henry Come on and Prettiest Girl. Then comes the mastering, artwork, merch, website upgrades, promo preparation etc.

I second this. Wondering how the fuck a song like, say, Peppers would sound like. And then it comes out, and it's nothing like you'd thought it'd sound lol.

I think Lasso is a great title, and it's here to stay. It's the second best out of her one-word titles, second only to Ultraviolence, and I 'm sure Lana loves it and isn't going to change it. For sure, there's a single with that name as well, and it's probably a song she loves.

that's true! Cowboy carter will hold me till september anyway. And i'm sure i'll fuck with dua lipa and billie too. The new future x metro boomin' isn't bad either, and there's still so much more music to come

that's why i said september is just not very realistic. It's just one of those lana statements. It means "we're working towards september but we'll see" if she's still not happy with the song selection or the mastering, it could easily be another 6 months. We'll probably get a video of her from Denny's in November, saying "hey guys, so we have an album release date for lasso, it's March 29th, 2025. So exited and hope you like it."

not manifesting bad thing at all. just being realistic. don't think that the september release date is realistic. She said these kind of things many times before and things are never on time. Hope she's right tho