Jessie Ware's Devotion lOTl - Spreading #aWAREness, Running Wildly to be 110% Devoted

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JCtheMC said:
For a mass market pop album it's good, but if you don't look at it in that context, it's a 7/10.
What on Earth does this even mean?

JCtheMC said:
It is fairly diverse, but to me that makes it feel like a collection of singles instead of a well-produced cohesive album.
I can understand your saying it feels like a collection singles and I don't really see that as a fault personally(I'm mostly in to electronic music so an LP being "cohesive" isn't a big deal to me at all considering how most of the stuff I listen to is distributed. Overall though, I think despite its diversity it all seems to maintain the same vibe or sound throughout. It's a pop album, that's what it sounds like. It sounds like a Jessie Ware record, about what you'd expect following her singles.

JCtheMC said:
The 8.5 from Pitchfork seems more a rating of how hyped the album is than a judgment of how good the music is (this coming from someone who likes PF when they review things that aren't necessarily interesting for their core audience).
No shit, it's a Pitchfork review. BNMs are predictable. Who knew? I don't even want to touch what you have written between the parentheses.
 
What on Earth does this even mean?.

That most mass market pop music is garbage, and compared to that, this album is pretty good. If looked at in a broader perspective, it's just above mediocre.

No shit, it's a Pitchfork review. BNMs are predictable.

True. That Frank Ocean album was a great example of that.

I don't even want to touch what you have written between the parentheses.

To clarify: i don't care for their writing about a dime a dozen indie rock bands (these days they all seem to play shoegaze or dreampop), which is seemingly what their core audience looks for. However, I love their coverage of various electronica, hiphop or metal... especially Stosuy and Kelly are great reviewers (despite their tastes not always overlapping with mine).
 
No shit, it's a Pitchfork review. BNMs are predictable. Who knew? I don't even want to touch what you have written between the parentheses.

Yup, they've always been like that. You can almost always tell when an album/track is going to get BNM or panned on P4K. They always hype up the artist with best new tracks, rising, features, interviews and start reporting every little small thing they do right before the review hits. A lot of times the singles end up being way better than the rest of the album, so they still get best new album but dial down the score. The reviews very rarely have anything relevant to say either. You can always tell as soon as they jump off the hype train as well.

You can already see how any small bit of news related to Animal Collective, The xx and Flying Lotus are being showcased like no tomorrow. Though I don't mean that as an insult to those acts, as I'm a fan of the latter two... but I would be genuinely surprised to see any of those not get Best New Music or even less than a 9.0.
 
That most mass market pop music is garbage, and compared to that, this album is pretty good. If looked at in a broader perspective, it's just above mediocre.

How do you define "mass market pop music"?

There has never been a bad era for pop music, whether a particular artist or song hits the radio or not.


To clarify: i don't care for their writing about a dime a dozen indie rock bands (these days they all seem to play shoegaze or dreampop), which is seemingly what their core audience looks for. However, I love their coverage of various electronica, hiphop or metal... especially Stosuy and Kelly are great reviewers (despite their tastes not always overlapping with mine).
...you aren't listening to enough music.

And Pitchfork's coverage of electronic music is spotty at best. They have been late - sometimes by years - to every major trend, and rarely hype an artist that hasn't already been tipped by everyone else. Pitchfork is useful in that it can occasionally amplify Stateside hype for a deserving artist—which is the only reason their review of Devotion has significance.
 
How do you define "mass market pop music"?

if you want definitions consult google or wikipedia.

The good era for pop music discussion.. i'm not even going to get into.

...you aren't listening to enough music.

There's no need to make baseless assumptions. I just skip over 95% of all what is now labeled "indie rock", because my interests in other genres don't leave me with enough time to go over that kind of stuff with a fine tooth comb. I do listen to the bands that play that kind of stuff and get a lot of attention, and they kinda reenforce the idea that most of those bands sound too much alike to me, and thus rarely have something to offer that is unique enough for me to come back to years from now. I'm done buying records that last as long as a carton of milk.

And Pitchfork's coverage of electronic music is spotty at best.

Totally agreed. Still, i like seeing a guy like Jacques Greene popping up on their site - he deserves the exposure. I prefer Resident Advisor because most of their reviews have track previews.
 
Taking In Water...

It feels so otherworldly to me. Like this:

tumblr_m8k1hfoRwX1qg39ewo1_500.gif
tumblr_m8k1hfoRwX1qg39ewo1_500.gif


;_______________________________________________;

Know what I mean?
 
I pretty much dislike Pitchfork and have never given them any authoritative command over the music I hear. Typically, I find myself at odds with their choices and ratings.


On the album, I have to agree that it feels like a set of songs instead of an album; it sounds like three EPs in one. Overall, I do like it.
 
Just finished the album, my initial rankings:

Wildest Moments(Song of Forever)
Sweet Talk
Something Inside(the overlapping vocals is pretty damn good)
Taking In Water
Running
110%
Night Light
No To Love(the guy's vocals were a nice change of pace)
Still Love Me
Devotion
Swan Song(the music on this track isn't interesting at all)

Hope the 2 extra tracks drop on youtube. The bottom two will take some time to grow on me, especially Swan Song...wasn't feeling that one at all.

Listened a few more times to the album last night. I'd bump Devotion up a couple of slots. Still Love Me is closer to Swan Song territory and No To Love doesn't really kick in until the male vocals. The last two tracks are really stellar.
 
Just turned it on, "Running" is slaying. Won't be able to watch for very long though, hope they have it available for later viewing.
 
global #aWAREness has truly been reached

I'm surprised they got through 110% without collapsing, that song must be a logistical nightmare to perform live.

And she's so cute when thanking her fans... *.*
 
Missed the first few songs and now it appears the video link doesn't work anymore. =( Could go back and watch it right after it finished. Was good from what I saw...No To Love til the end.

She's so damn cute when she smiles.
 
Yup, they've always been like that. You can almost always tell when an album/track is going to get BNM or panned on P4K. They always hype up the artist with best new tracks, rising, features, interviews and start reporting every little small thing they do right before the review hits. A lot of times the singles end up being way better than the rest of the album, so they still get best new album but dial down the score. The reviews very rarely have anything relevant to say either. You can always tell as soon as they jump off the hype train as well.

You can already see how any small bit of news related to Animal Collective, The xx and Flying Lotus are being showcased like no tomorrow. Though I don't mean that as an insult to those acts, as I'm a fan of the latter two... but I would be genuinely surprised to see any of those not get Best New Music or even less than a 9.0.

I don't think this is true at all. They have definitely given BNTs and Risings to artists and then shit all over the actual record at release. I remember Puro Instinct and 2:54 getting a lot of early praise and ending up with a negative reviews. They've also turned on artists that got glowing reviews for earlier records; just looked at how brutal the last two Yeasayer reviews were.
 
omg I didn't know there was a thread on GAF for this.

In love with this record. Deeply. Hits the right notes with me. Bought an import copy on Amazon.uk today because I was buying some blurays there too. Love ya'll.
 
Purchased the standard. No deluxe on US iTunes. I just want What You Won't Do For Love, but I think you can download it for free on her Facebook page or something.
 
May have been posted elsewhere on GAF (I don't keep up with the EDM or Pop threads), but Jessie worked with Joe Goddard of Hot Chip to remix "Night Light". I'm assuming the remix will be on the single.

Oh yeah, there's an extended teaser video with interviews and sound studio porn.
 
Am I the only one who's getting Aaliyah vibes from some of the tracks???

Devotion song is basically Aaliyah. I love it so much ;_;
 
It's over too quickly, meaning that I must listen to it once more before the night is over.

Putting the singles to the side, Devotion, No To Love, Night Light, Taking In Water present themselves as the standouts for me.
 
After a few listens, Night Light is definitely my favorite track. Is there a link to clips from the livestream she did the other day?
 
Girl better tour in the US sooner rather than later. I will do everything in my power to get her booked at the venue I work at.
 
The acoustic version of Running on the Deluxe Version...

EWEx1.gif


And the acoustic version of Wildest Moments...

1NtG2.gif



I can't stop listening...





Also, how are you guys feeling the remixes so far? I'm not super enthusiastic about the Star Slinger remix, honestly. The Zed Bias one oozes 90s house remix (obviously). And there's that skittish Disclosure remix of Running, which really requires a certain mood for me to get into.
 
The Disclosure remix of "Running" is one of my favorite things from this year, absolutely slays time after time. Really liked the Star Slinger remix, haven't listened to the other one yet. Haven't listened to any of the other Wildest Moments remixes yet.

Also, Jessie Ware was on BBC Radio 2 with Jo Whiley last night and performed two songs("Running" and "Widlest Moments"):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m0mr0

b01m0mr0.jpg
 
The acoustic version of Running on the Deluxe Version...

And the acoustic version of Wildest Moments...

I can't stop listening...
LORD YES, sis. I didn't even know there was going to be a Deluxe version with some bonus goodies; what a pleasant surprise that was.

EWEx1.gif
 
Love the Disclosure remix, but everything else... keep 'em away from me.

I'd be open to hearing a good mix of 110% though. That'd probably be the only way my mind's going to change about the tune.
 
I fucking loathe Gawker and everything it is and purports to represent, so I was happy to see that their review of Devotion is as delicious as I expected.

From the title ("Jessie Ware’s Devotion Makes ‘Adult Contemporary’ Cool") to comical ignorance about electronic music:
Some call her cohorts "post-dubstep" because it is poppier and less aggressive than dubstep typically is, while harnessing its lopsided approach to rhythm.

to Pitchfork-style phrasing:
...the yacht-rock lead guitar of "Running," the fuzzy peek-a-boo bassline of "Still Love Me," the typewriter polyrhythms of "Still Inside."

It really is a fun read. Check it out!
 
I really like Devotion, Night Light and Taking in Water. I think my wife is in love with this album. She plays Swan Song and Wildest Moments all the time.
 
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