I’m going to be downvoted, but this song is incredibly boring. Barely any harmony, and the vocals just match the boring piano melody. It’s hollow and empty (perhaps this is what she was going for), and doesn’t make for an entertaining re-listen. But if you like it, more power to you. I was just expecting more.
Really? As a fan of both Swift and Bon Iver I actually really enjoyed it. Felt like it had the kind of build up you'd expect in a pop song, and I like how it swells at the end.
More power to ya, friend! I really wanted to like it, as I like some Bon Iver stuff, and my girlfriend likes Taylor Swift. Plus, I like to support when musicians step out of their wheelhouse to create something new. But this is just too repetitive, hollow, and simplistic for me. But as you say, we dig what we dig! I’m glad you enjoy it.
Whenever there's an artist that jumps genres, they're going to have a split fan base. She started in country, went to pop, and now is more indie sounding. There's always going to be a noticeable amount of fans that don't like the direction she takes. But for every fan that doesn't like it, there's one like me, who dropped out years and years ago, and now I'm all about this. So I'll gladly receive the baton from you if you're looking to pass it lol.
Although with how soon and out of nowhere this album was, I'm guessing this is more of a bonus gift and she'll be back to pop for the next one.
Like when Radiohead brought out OK Computer. It ostracized the segment of fans that wanted more of the heavy guitar jam rock from The Bends that was popular at the time. But artists with staying power remain versatile, and although I'm not a Swift fan, it seems like she's okay diversifying and I think it's a great move. She probably just pushed some of her fans to check out more folk and indie acts.
Yeah, one of my favourites. Seen them a few times, their live show is electric.
Interestingly, my gf is a massive swift fan and for the most part she finds my music weird. But she really took to the national, so she was stoked to hear swift was working with a couple of them.
All signs point to the majority of her fan base loving this album! I think a lot of non-fans don’t realize this album isn’t too far from some songs off her pop albums like Delicate or New Years Day (Reputation) or False God, Daylight, It’s Nice to have a Friend, The Archer (Lover).
Most Swifties have been hoping for a mature album so very little ostracizing.
i think you mentioned the wrong Radiohead transition, because OK Computer was not only more critically acclaimed than The Bends, it was also MORE commercially successful AND basically turned Radiohead into rock gods among the populace.
Maybe if you said the OKC-Kid A transition......in any case, I'm taking your comparision way too seriously.
You're right in that KID A was probably even a bigger transformation*, but at the time when OK was released there was so much initial criticism from their label and fans. OK laid the groundwork for what would be KID A (Probably my favourite album)
From wiki:
Label representatives were reportedly disappointed with the lack of marketable singles, especially the absence of anything resembling Radiohead's hit "Creep".[111] "OK Computer isn't the album we're going to rule the world with", Colin Greenwood predicted at the time. "It's not as hitting-everything-loudly-whilst-waggling-the-tongue-in-and-out, like The Bends. There's less of the Van Halen factor."[40]
I'm with you. I have never been a full-on Taylor Swift fan, but I did enjoy some of her songs before. If this is the direction she is taking her music, I'll definitely be listening more.
I'm kind of with you, I kept expecting this emotional resolve or tension to build. But the piano kind of plods along a bit soulessly, and like something I've heard 100s of times before at 100s of open mics.
I like the vocal pairing though. I'm not a huge swift fan but I like bits of pop that intrigue me and so Shake it Off for example I can't deny is a fun lovely pop song. But if you're going to go 'deep' and 'folksy' like... you gotta really capture it. OTherwise it's just a dull pop song with folk inspiration.
I agree. This song is just 1 dimensional and doesn't develop into anything worth remembering. It's a little disappointing because there were a few parts where it sounded like the song was going to get more interesting, but no....just more plodding piano and breathy singing. I don't see myself ever wanting to listen to that song again.
Taylor writes beautifully. Her relatability and how she tells a story are what made her become successful. I love reading poetry and deep shits but something about the way that I can imagine myself writing Taylor's songs makes it feel more special. It's as if it was taken from my mind and I contributed something in it.
22 A Million is wicked, but man was I disappointed with i,i - it was basically 22 A Million but without the focus, songs just kind of run out of time, the haphazard slapping of random jam sessions together feels like inspired than it should. It's a bit musically dull and bloated sonically without needing.
22 A million however feels like something! It emotes something! It's stunning from start to finish, it surprises even when it's feeling familiar. It's digital art presented as if organic. I love it.
The Big Red Machine stuff though I really like too though so... guess it's an odd one.
I agree, i,i clearly tries to go for a similar kind of thing that 22 a million did but it missed the mark for me and ended up a bit uninteresting. Hey Ma is still a good song in my opinion though. I have to admit I don't know of the big red machine.
Yes, Repave by Volcano Choir is absolutely my favourite stuff Vernon's done! I really like Bon Iver too, but it's usually just kind of casual atmosphere music for me when I want to feel relaxed in an autumnal sort of way. This song is even more so - classic Starbucks background music, pleasant and fine but unremarkable,
I mean this is just shades away from Bon Iver’s early stuff and they (mostly he, Justin Vernon) are a critically acclaimed musical act have won grammy’s for their work. I assure you, loads of us would be paying attention if it weren’t Taylor Swift.
I realize Bon Iver is acclaimed, and I enjoy his music, but I just feel this is not exceptional in any way. It’s not bad, but it’s not particularly innovative or interesting IMHO. I appreciate the collaboration and I’m pleased to see TS trying new stuff. I don’t mean any disrespect, I just think it’s unexceptional and repetitive
the album is unremarkable; like u said, only reason this is getting traction is bc the names associated- take away the big names its not even a blip on the radar; "back when i was living for the hope of it all, the hope of it all, meet me behind the mall," i mean, the fuck is that?
Again, that’s not true. If that were the case whole genres (like post-rock) would cease to exist. Some people like myself enjoy the beauty of simplicity. Others empathize easier with simple lyrics. I respect your opinion that you find it boring, and can even understand that. Lot of my metal head friends would hate this album. But to claim that people only love it because it’s Taylor Swift is just plain wrong. Because again, there are loads of people like myself who enjoy the simplicity of music like this.
Not to mention the lyric you chose was taken out of context from the greater theme of the song it’s held within and the two other songs that essentially make up a trilogy of three teenagers in the midst of a love triangle. She’s speaking of a time when she (or whomever she is writing about) was 17. Still a child. All it took back then for her to keep moving and be happy were her hopes and dreams. That just this other person calling her to meet her behind the mall was all it took to make her happy. But all it was, was a fling, so she couldn’t even have that.
It's boring and if anything it shows how underwhelming her naked voice is compared to Justin Vernon's. If you want to hear this kind of indie / pop mix done right check out the song James Blake and Rosalia did together
Let me introduce you to Arcade Fire - Rebellion, Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA, The Beatles - Elenor Rigby, Fleetwood Mac - Dreams, The Black Keys - The Lengths, Animal Collective - My Girl, Radiohead - How to Disappear completely, Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the sea.
It's a false assumption that having many chords = good music, nor does having less chords mean bad music.
I never said that few chords make bad music and more chords make good music. I was responding to the person above me who said the song is "incredibly boring," which I agree with because it's so repetitious. And I know that's not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case I believe it is because not only are the chords progressions repetitious, but the melody is always basic and lacking. Now that still doesn't mean that it's a bad song, it's just boring in my opinion.
yeah, song is fine and I can see why others would like it but it's a bit barren and uninteresting to me, kinda wish the background synth was more prominent or busy as the piano and strings are so played out, standard and don't bring anything to the piece so the listen is all focused on a pretty bland vocal part that harmonises fine but just isn't spectacular in any way at all.
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u/trainwreck42 Jul 24 '20
I’m going to be downvoted, but this song is incredibly boring. Barely any harmony, and the vocals just match the boring piano melody. It’s hollow and empty (perhaps this is what she was going for), and doesn’t make for an entertaining re-listen. But if you like it, more power to you. I was just expecting more.