that was me haha. I'd be shocked if it wasn't inspired by TMV. seeing how Kacey likes weed, maybe she's a fan? lol
Yeah, I love the title track. My biggest issue is that it almost feels like it’s setting up this big concept album arc that doesn’t ever really materialize. Kind of makes me wish she just went full rock opera here.
Yeah, I was expecting it to be a bit stronger thematically. The stretch from Easier Said – What Doesn't Kill Me also drags a little, but everything before that is great and I like the closer.
One million percent agree. I was so hyped when that song premiered, got so excited for what the album could have been
They also pitched it as this three-act play, basically, and…I could not tell you what the acts are supposed to be.
This is still one of my favorite 2021 albums and my second favorite from Kacey. A shame about the rollout overall. I hope she continues expanding on the trip-hop / William Orbit-y undertones that popped up here and there. The subdued, atmospheric touches are really where the album shines for me, and why I connected to it so much.
Revisited this album this week after the discussion and I just can’t vibe with it. Kacey sounds so bored on it.
I was just VERY interested to hear her unique take on divorce because the way she tells stories on her other albums is completely her and her only, but these songs are mostly faceless and don't offer anything you can't get from other artists.
I love Kacey, but felt this way too. It felt like this was her mainstream pop album, but it just didn't translate. Justified & There Is A Light are bangers, flat out.. but Breadwinner felt like a pale imitation of past Kacey. Simple Times was the ultimate "meh". I adore Kacey, so I was really disappointed it didn't grab me more. There are some good hooks all over the album, but the overall feel over a good tracks just washes over you. I think I said it around release, but there were flashes of Ariana for me, as if it was heading in a similar direction to some of the later Ariana albums, but slightly conflicted in its own identity, trying to keep some country touches, and Kacey's writing personality too. I hope the next album takes a change in direction either way, or at least the execution is a bit better.
I don’t think she sounds “bored” at all, though I think the way she sings can sometimes lead people to that conclusion. I do think people were expecting some performatively sad breakup album, though, which this obviously isn’t. There’s a lot of emotion in these songs, but it’s usually more subtle and understated than you would expect.
I come back to it every so often and hope it will be a sleeper/grower, but I still just find it really passionless and lacking so much of the sharpness and insight that makes me love her.
It also doesn’t help that the Lemonade movie was a pretty iconic, artistic vision that premiered on HBO and the Star Crossed movie thing kind of sucked ass and got dumped on Paramount+.
I usually agree with you on most things Craig, but 'If This Was a Movie" is a standout for me, mainly because it's one of the few songs that sonically could have fitted onto 'Golden Hour'
I think its still a decent observation. Compared to previous albums her delivery is certainly a bit more drab, which sounds like a criticism, but also just another way of saying its a bit more understated in comparison to previous. It's certainly not a bad album, but its safe to say it wasn't the album a good chunk of Kacey fans wanted.
I like Star-Crossed more than most of you, but I do think there was a lot of pressure on her coming into that album cycle and I don't think it resulted in her best work. Hoping she's feeling a little more free of expectations this time.