I’m thinking this is an “album track” for me but that’s not a bad thing assuming the album ends up being good
Both songs released so far are good imo, but this one is definitely the stronger one to me. Basically took all the background vibes that made the lead single work for me, and pushed them to the forefront. Very excited for the full album.
I really like how sparse the production has been on these two songs, wondering if that will carry through the album or if it will be a pump fake for some more lush songs yet to come. I like “What Was That” more than this one, but it feels very personal. Very interested to hear how everything comes together.
This is what she posted about the song on her website MAN OF THE YEAR WRITTEN BY ME & JIM-E STACK PRODUCED BY ME & JIM-E STACK CELLO BY DEVONTÉ HYNES ASSISTED BY KOBY BERMAN, JACK MANNING, BAILEY KISLAK & IAN GOLD MIXED BY TOM ELMHIRST MASTERED BY CHRIS GEHRINGER BIKING. SMOKING. SWIMMING. NEW STRENGTH IN MY SHOULDERS. FEELING SOMETHING AWAKENING. FIRST TAPING MY CHEST. SO SCARED TO BE HIM. THE GQ PARTY. LAYING BACK ON THE WHITE COUCH W THE MIC IN MY HAND AND LETTING IT HAPPEN. SUN. PERSIMMONS AND WALNUTS. VOCALS WITH AMS. TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A FONTANA, LIKE PAINTING BITTEN BY A MAN, LIKE THE NEW YORK EARTH ROOM. THE SOUND OF MY REBIRTH.
Hammer is probably the best of the three, I’ll agree with that, but I’m mostly unimpressed by it. I feel like it doesn’t really go anywhere.
I’m pretty sure “Man of the Year” is still my favorite of the prerelease tracks, but this one is pretty close. Also, listening to it into “What Was That,” this feels like a strong opening to a pop album I’ll really love. The whole tone, vibe, whatever, is just spot on for me.
These songs are floating somewhere between Pure Heroine/Melodrama and Solar Power quality wise for me. Maybe closer to Solar Power. They're all solid but nothing is blowing me away like the first two records. I hope the rest changes that. I had so much confidence in her after Melodrama that it's surreal to be coming up on a decade since I've really loved a Lorde song.
I do wish the mix was less compressed feeling because these songs feel like they're shooting for huge anthemia and there's a lot more restraint to these near explosive moments. I'm wondering if it's intentional and maybe we're being edged for some huge moment at the end of this record. Maybe not, but I do still think the songs are great.
Yea she's still 3/3 for me too, it doesn't seem like it'll hit Melodrama levels but that would be a big ask. Very happy with how it's turning out so far regardless
“Man of the Year” is absolutely one of her best ever songs. No doubt. Are people who keep asking for a release or a cathartic moment listening to this song?
She’s performing at Baby’s All Right (capacity 280) in NYC tonight apparently. People are already lined up (without confirmation but she has been teasing something in NYC for a bit today) and security is putting wristbands on people. Edit: She’s live on TikTok now from the Baby’s green room (and was videoing fans waiting outside the venue too).
She is playing (via recording) the entire album right now, but whoever from her team is filming the TikTok keeps muting it so only snippets are playing, but I’m sure some fan there is recording the whole thing anyways haha.
I’m not too familiar with her music but everything she’s played (last 4 songs is all I’ve heard) sounds extremely good