BBTM has a lot of great songs (and two duds) but it doesn't really work as an album in the sense that none of the songs really seem like they belong together. It almost feels like a greatest hits record or something. There's clearly been a greater effort to make Starboy more sonically cohesive, which makes it a far more pleasing listen from start to finish than BBTM. I love the transition from "False Alarm" into "Reminder" in particular.
I admire the variety and diversity in BBTM because of how long it is, it keeps it interesting and engaging the whole time at least. This album being so long and having mostly the same vibe throughout gets a bit tiring for me by the end
Starboy is great throughout and definitely doesn't feel like it lasts for over an hour. I've more or less been listening to it all day everyday since it was released. Whereas BBTM can be a bit of a drag to get through because of how hit and miss it is. That Ed Sheeran feature should've never happened.
According to my last.fm, I've already listened to this album more in the space of a few days than I have BBTM in over a year lol. It's the most infectious, addictive album I've heard in awhile, that's for sure.
there's diversity on this album, there's about three or four different vibes that all the songs fit into
It's not as brash or strikingly diverse at BBTM in my opinion, I've also spent way more time with that album vs two listens of this one. I probably will like this one more in time, but so far it blurs a lot for me
It's crazy how "Reminder" has one of the best lines and also one of the worst. I listen to it until after the fire teen choice line and then skip before the horrific lo mein lyric.
not album related but what OS do you/anyone that uses Last.fm run? I got a new computer and ever since haven't been able to scrobble and have tried a bunch of ways to fix it? I dig this so much. I had given up on anything surpassing any of the Trilogy tapes for me, but I think I probably like this more than Thursday.
what a fucking garbage review "Instead, we get a grab bag of difficult to reconcile contradictions: a “Party Monster,” on one track, a doe-eyed balladeer on another (“Die For You”)." they are literally on opposite ends of the album, why should they be remotely the same
honestly 2016 is the year that solidified album reviews are completely useless for me, i havent gotten anything from an album review in what feels like forever. largely why i stopped doing them myself
Pitchfork review is pretty spot on with how I feel. Most people I know seem to adore this album tho, so what do I know?
Weirdest thing about this album for me is that on first few listens nothing really jumps out at me as the next smash hit Weeknd single. The closer maybe? Like, I'm sure one or more of these songs is gonna blow up, but hell if I know which one. Imo, the Max Martin songs are among the weakest on here. It's a way better album than BBTM but to me none of these songs really touches CFMF or The Hills (or even Tell Your Friends really). Given that the whole thing is basically radio ready it's a mild indictment of the album that it doesn't really climb back to those heights. I think that's why despite every song being solid to great, it feels really long to me - it totally peaks with the very first song.
i wouldnt have guessed the title track would do as well as it has as a single either though so who knows. i think maybe party monster or the closer or love to lay.
i think this would be a stronger album if it was starboy party monster reminder secrets true colors sidewalks six feet under love to lay ordinary life i feel it coming ten tracks. nice and concise. if youre really wild about stargirl you could throw that in too but lana still does absolutely nothing for me in any context besides the cedric remix of summertime sadness
the lana/weeknd parallels are so interesting. both started as targeted to the pitchfork/"hipster" crowd but very quickly veered away from that and became huge pop stars