my first pass only took out 3 songs from each... kind of solidifies this being my favorite iteration of hers. Next pass I'll probably take some songs out I like that I don't think fit the *vibe* completely. EDIT: I did the "merge" thing too, alternating from each album. Willow into Cardigan is way too good. EDIT 2: into Gold Rush. I think this is too front loaded.
Going Folklore -> Evermore right in order, Willow is such a good side 2 (er, 5) opener. Totally works as the tonal shift/reboot. Gotta say, in this context it's especially clear Cardigan is one of the worst songs of the whole bunch - sitting at track 2 on the whole thing is just preposterous, such a speed bump right out of the gate.
I love Cardigan so much, haha. I'm also confused how you dislike Cardigan so much but like Willow, they feel very much opposite sides of the same coin.
Imo, it's one of the most boring songs of the 35 or w/e it is. It's fine, but it's a leisurely walk sandwiched between two of the best songs on the whole shebang. I'd like it more if it came later in the record after that really upbeat stretch in the middle.
This is currently how I feel about Champagne Problems. Once that song hits the bridge I'm in, but up to that point I am usually disengaged.
Interesting - Willow largely because of the guitar feels to me most akin to Invisible String, like the oh shit it's winter now version of that song setting up the relative lyrical darkness to come (ironic because by the end I still think evermore is the poppier record).
Listened to the latest two National albums, "I Am Easy To Find" and "Sleep Well Beast" and I didn't care for either. We'll see about "Trouble Will Find Me" and "High Violet"
This is my 16 track single album (10 folklore, 6 evermore). Tried to preserve that amazing B Side run on folklore, the best run of tracks in her entire discography imo but cut seven. I wanted to include “Coney Island”, but was my last cut after “seven” 1. evermore 2. the last great american dynasty 3. ‘tis the damn season 4. gold rush 5. my tears ricochet 6. mirrorball 7. seven 8. august 9. this is me trying 10. ivy 11. happiness 12. invisible string 13. epiphany 14. marjorie 15. betty 16. peace
I tried ^^ I like it a lot. Tried to preserve the flow of folklore and inserting some songs from evermore I feel are superior. Added to the mid album Jack run (gold rush to ivy). I also wanted a back to back epiphany/marjorie. it’s hard to transition out of marjorie, but luckily betty comes in pretty quietly after a pretty long fade out from marjorie. I do wonder if evermore would work as a centerpiece (or even as an opener) after say “this is me trying” and then “peace” could close the record. EDIt: did it, I think an evermore>>last great american dynasty works really well as an opening salvo
The challenge comes down to: are we finding a way to resequence our favorite songs or are we making the best possible flow? Because "mirrorball" into "invisible string" is a really great 1-2 punch for the opener, but then where the heck does "the 1" go? also I don't like "invisible string" that much, but it works really good after "mirrorball"
poor ol' Paul got the dates all wrong, but it's still cute to read. I actually predicted this was the case in the Paul McCartney thread.
Interesting about Paul. I thought he maybe moved it because he didn't want to compete with Taylor, so it's interesting to hear that it's more Taylor moving hers after finding out his got pushed back.
I don’t know if this is true but apparently on Marjorie, on the last “you were singing to me now”, the high whistle note that comes after the line is a recording of her grandmother?
My typical one hour drive home from work turned into two due to the snowstorm. The second half of the drive was me listening to this album and have a moment with it.
I think "evermore" has to be a closer. I'm trying to do something more with a seasonal cycle, and I'm slowly coming to the realization that I just love too many songs on these albums to try to trim them down.
My hot take on a 15 track “everlore”. It just works. Trust me. 1. evermore 2. the 1 3. ‘tis the damn season 4. willow 5. illicit affairs 6. cardigan 7. august 8. my tears ricochet 9. champagne problems 10. long story short 11. the last great american dynasty 12. cowboy like me 13. invisible string 14. mirrorball 15. exile edit: I just saw that Craig said “evermore” has to be a closer- I think it works as this 2020 scene-setting song that gives us a feel of where the artist/focal character is- a place of turmoil but hopeful. Then the journey begins.