allmybirdsofparadise

Is this the part where I'm supposed to pretend the album cover is horrible because she's become a pop punching bag as of late?

"French Exit" is beginning to click in all the right places

I'm crossing my fingers and toes for a Kacey duet. Their "I'll Be Home for Christmas" performance is already a classic in this household rental flat.

I like this album a lot more than I thought I would (and it seems many who expected to love it really don't). Listened on the way to work and it genuinely put me in a great mood. I’m a sentimental sap so of course my favourite is “Happy for You.” I really like “These Walls” too. “Anything for Love” would’ve been a standout had they not halted it after 2 minutes. Absolutely baffling decision. It switches gears, ready to take you on a glorious odyssey, only for it to just abruptly end. I'm so frustrated with this trend. No trial, straight to the electric chair for that one! “Houdini” only gets more excellent with time and it deserved a massive video. The ~ lethargically rehearsing with my dancers ~ treatment is such an insult to its potential. EDIT: "Falling Forever" has me by the neck. How loooooooooooooooooooooooooong

The Seth Meyers interview was cute

The Alchemy is so good. I can't get enough of that chorus. Clara Bow is another favourite and I love that she closed the album with this: "You look like Taylor Swift In this light We're loving it You've got edge she never did The future's bright ... Dazzling"

I will never understand the obsession with that bald tosser. Us dinosaur Lana fans remember the rampant misogyny he was piling on her in the early days. He's also just a shit reviewer. You've watched one video, you've watched them all.

I double featured yesterday with The First Omen/Abigail and they were both excellent. The First Omen really surprised me. I had little excitement for it but walked out in awe. A brilliant slow burn that is genuinely unsettling and excels in all areas. The homage to the subway scene in Possession (1981) was the cherry on the cake. Abigail was a blast from start to finish -- campy vampire flicks are finally back!

I find it hilariously sad that people who claim to hate her/her music sought out the album leak immediately. Like even a casual fan like myself can't be arsed with that nonsense, it can wait until tomorrow. They're all foaming at the mouth trying to come up with the wittiest tweet for likes but it's giving stan behaviour. They're obsessed with talking about her.

Courtney always sounds so goddamn bitter. I don't care how long she's been in the industry and how revered she is. A bitter loser is a bitter loser.

CH: I love when artists make things that are gimmicky and earnest at the same time, and I think you do that really well. There’s an ironic remove but it still feels confessional. I’m also wondering what you think about Lana Del Rey, I’m sure I’m not the first to draw this comparison. EC: I feel so… I just get these comparisons a lot, and I cannot deny them. I just tweeted today that Born To Die was the first CD that I ever bought. I love Lana, I love her older music. Her newer stuff doesn’t really resonate with me, but I’d be a liar to say I never loved Lana. Musically, I’m not super inspired by her, but I see where comparisons could be drawn. The music is deeper, sultrier, smokier. It’s lazy and sexy while still having viper-like femininity. But here’s the line between Lana and me. Lana is all facade, she is glamour, she is old Hollywood, she is the peak opulence of the American Dream. And for me, I’m like, that’s just not what America is to me. I think America is the bottom line – it’s the poor people, the people who have been the most affected by the government, by the system. People who are constantly spat on. For me, the American Dream is not real – and if it is it’s built on the backs of all the people who never see any profit. America, when you peel away the Lana American Dream of Marilyn Monroe, the American flag, and all of that… Look, I have an American flag hanging up by my bed, and it’s tattered and torn. I found it in the dirt of an abandoned place, and that’s what America is to me, it’s scraps of a country. There’s a lot of people in this country who are suffering and getting the short end of the stick, and no one ever talks about it. When I grew up there were a lot of poor people, it was a poor town, and there was a poverty cycle that no one ever addressed. People love to distract themselves with the glitz, the glamour, and the money. But you’re not doing anyone any favours by pretending this shit isn’t happening. And I want to write about it – the people I see who are suffering while no one pays them any mind because it hurts too much to think about. That’s what America is to me, the people who never get a break. https://hero-magazine.com/article/189013/ethel-cains-music-is-an-unforgiving-portrait-of-southern-baptist-america

I've never seen someone so beautiful have the charisma of a half chewed Mars Bar.

Just read about the recent shitshow on Twitter. It's beyond stale watching the few fans she has left continuously try to excuse her unprofessionalism. It's always someone else's fault. Anyone but Sky's.

Protector is gorgeous and has me writing out the will to my nonexistent children.

I'm quite surprised by the lukewarm response to Club Classics in most places. Granted it's familiar territory for her but it's done well and a sweet nod to Product Sophie.

Pop is BACK. None of this no bridge, no second verse, 2 minute streaming pandering crap. Chappell said let me show you how it's done.

I dragged her a few weeks ago for her lack of artistic identity/plagiarising ways, and it's all still true, but the obnoxious dog piling she's been receiving is making me root for her. This girl farts and every annoying hyperpop gay on Twitter rushes for the mic. Rise up, Plagiariser! I believe in you.

You're quoting me saying trashy when I never once uttered the word lol? It's a problem when you put out a rancid cover and then act shocked that majority of your fanbase thinks it's rancid -- so rancid that they don't want to buy the physicals until an additional cover is revealed. She made it ugly on purpose, great -- and that's why it's repelling fans from purchasing the physical.

The discourse around this cover is just hilarious to me. - It’s ugly. - Yeah, but it’s intentionally ugly. - OK, but it’s still ugly. Bravo to Charli for sticking to her artistic vision, truly. But if you’re expecting fans to cough up £40 for a physical, they’re gonna have something to say about it. I don't care that she isn't on the cover. I don't need her to be. I care that's it's rancid, and no amount of condescending essays explaining why it's rancid will make it any less rancid.

Oh, I forgot, enjoying the brat cover is for deep intellectuals. The vision behind the cover is understood, the references are clear. It's still ugly as all hell and you'd need to hold me at gunpoint to order a physical.

The brat cover really doesn't grow on you. It's actually getting worse and more repulsive every time I see it.

Living for the Camila shade. I remember Charli being a pretty vocal supporter of Camila's around her debut but she's proven herself to be such a hack. Completely devoid of any artistic identity. The blatant copying of Caroline's art direction for Pang was embarrassing. I just know two of them have laughed about it in private.

https://www.billboard.com/photos/charli-xcx-photos-billboard-women-in-music-shoot-1235616867/

I'm forever fascinated by Pitchfork's grip over pop fans. I've watched people on Reddit rave about an album only to suddenly go lukewarm if Pitchfork scores it low.

Video is an absolute triumph. The nerve of her to serve like this. I wish the song were better but maybe it'll grow on me and I'll eat my words for dinner.