[louder]

Originally Posted by Severian

Nah, I've listened to it more now and I'm digging the shit out of it. What I wrote before (about "Don't Hurt Yourself") was a snap judgement after only hearing it once and not paying full attention.

DAMN though, this is one hell of an album. I'm honestly, truly and completely, amazed.

I've loved Beyoncé forever, even argued in favor of Destiny's Child back in the day, when shot started to get twisted and weird on "Bills Bills Bills" and "Say My Name," but I have I admit that I've always been more of an individual song fan than an album fan.

Her self titled album -- the first to really go for that "complete album" sound, without relying on pre-release singles -- is great, but I've listened to it much less than I've listened to 4, which is filled with those crazy high points like "Schoolin Life" scattered throughout, and feels like it's made with singles and individual tracks in mind.

Lemonade is the first Beyoncé album that I've blown through from start to finish repeated times as soon as it was released, and there's a damn good reason why I've done that: it's absolutely transcendent, and while it's hard to say (for me, anyway) if it's "better" or of a higher quality than 4 or s/t, it definitely feels like a monumental leap forward that makes her previous progressions seems minor by comparison.

In a year characterized by a handful of big releases from big names -- pretty much all of whom are, or were, above Bey in my opinion -- this album is making a hell of an impression on me, and I'd have to say that it's probably sitting at the #3 spot, just behind Kanye and PJ, but astonishingly ahead of Kendrick, in my albums of the year list so far.

Wow. Seriously, wow.

And Pitchfork actually wrote a pretty goddamn good review of the album. I can't say how accurately they write about the "visual" element of the album, since I've only heard the record itself.

But... yes, this is a corker.

And it makes me look a little differently at Jay, who's long been (as you all know) one of my hip-hop heroes. I want their relationship to be fair and balanced and faithful, even though I have no earthly reason to give a shit. I just want them to succeed where the others have failed. To be the anti-Kurt and Courtney, and to have a healthy and happy marriage that works and doesn't result in any suicides or lawsuits or investigations. So, some of the obviously biographical content of Lemonade is a little unnerving for me. But still... fucking amazing album.

Fuck yes! I'm glad you like Don't Hurt Yourself now. One of Bey's best songs ever, definitely. S/t was a slow burner for me.. Lemonade blew me away immediately. It's definitely in my top 3 of the year right now. Pitchfork rated it lower than s/t but ah well.. it is her best album in my eyes!

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Severian

Sorry for talking about Kanye. It's not something I have a ton of control over at this point, and I just hope you guys understand that I understand that my love of this manic weirdo is definitely strange, if not outright unhealthy.

Thanks for putting up with me to the extent that you do.

 

[Severian]

Originally Posted by louder

Fuck yes! I'm glad you like Don't Hurt Yourself now. One of Bey's best songs ever, definitely. S/t was a slow burner for me.. Lemonade blew me away immediately. It's definitely in my top 3 of the year right now. Pitchfork rated it lower than s/t but ah well.. it is her best album in my eyes!

At this point almost all the songs on the album have a 5-star rating on my iPod. But I think "Hold up" is the early favorite.

I also heard what I took to be a references or two to (ahem) you know who... talking about the "good life" was one... I forget the other now.

Man I just worked ten straight hours without even getting up to piss or eat or anything. I feel positively wretched. Like I just stayed up all night drinking and doing acid and now I'm experiencing the come down at dawn. Ugh. I hate it when life gets in the way of my ability to listen to and talk about music.

[Severian]

"I don't wanna lose my pride but Ima fuck me up a bitch"

I think this is my favorite Beyoncé lyric ever.

[Severian]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

 

This is hypnotic. My TNG knowledge is pretty limited. I've seen every episode half a million times, but not since the '90s.

I can't tell if he's mad, and clapping, like, AT someone... or if he's genuinely just super enthused about something that's happened. One thing's for sure.. he's a serious clapper, man.

With a shirt that's always riding up. Hah. Nerd stuff

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Yall were sleeping on that post Doc Doom Black Knights...

Medieval Chambers was a SICK westcoast throwback like Doctor's Advocate from Game but WAAAAY more underground (as should be expected from black knights) sounds like some peak 90s Compton Swapmeet shit

I finally picked up The Almighty from 2014 its a similar sound and progression, not as good as Medieval Chambers but still a superb westcoast throwback like an 83 Raiders Superbowl snapback

[louder]

D'Angelo performing "Sometimes It Snows in April" on Fallon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uzBHhPEWpE

[louder]

Views tracklist (without the features):

 

[louder]

I still need to listen to Ferg's new album. I checked out Azealia Banks' "SLAY Z" tape yesterday and it was horrible..

[louder]

Originally Posted by Severian

At this point almost all the songs on the album have a 5-star rating on my iPod. But I think "Hold up" is the early favorite.

I also heard what I took to be a references or two to (ahem) you know who... talking about the "good life" was one... I forget the other now.

Man I just worked ten straight hours without even getting up to piss or eat or anything. I feel positively wretched. Like I just stayed up all night drinking and doing acid and now I'm experiencing the come down at dawn. Ugh. I hate it when life gets in the way of my ability to listen to and talk about music.

That's awesome. My top 5 is: All Night, Don't Hurt Yourself, Hold Up, Sandcastles, Freedom. But just like you, I love every song.

Aww, that sucks.

Originally Posted by Severian

"I don't wanna lose my pride but Ima fuck me up a bitch"

I think this is my favorite Beyoncé lyric ever.

Great line!

[Severian]

Ok, "All Night" is the emotional highlight of the album. The other songs are fun, but I think "All Night" is THE one.

Holy fucking shit, this song!

[Severian]

Lemonade is my #2 album of the year (so far).

[louder]

Originally Posted by Severian

Ok, "All Night" is the emotional highlight of the album. The other songs are fun, but I think "All Night" is THE one.

Holy fucking shit, this song!

Agreed! Even though I would definitely consider Sandcastles and Forward emotional.

Originally Posted by Severian

Lemonade is my #2 album of the year (so far).

It's my #1, followed by Malibu and We Are KING.

[louder]

Beyoncé’s Lemonade isn’t a breakup album, it’s a black album

[Severian]

It's also kind of a breakup album, though. Like, for sure. Only it seems like things are gonna work out in the end.

Yeah, it's black and stuff. But... y'know.. DAMN is it pissed off. I haven't watched that video of Jay reacting "for the first time" to the album (frankly I find it extremely hard to believe that he was not in some way privy to the album in development, and that he didn't hear it until it was finished... That just seems really hard to swallow for me, unless they're really on the rocks and, like, not sharing a home or spending any time together.

I kind of wonder if this isn't a long-con marketing stunt. The album is all over the press, and people are, like, "wow, what did he DO to her?" I'm sure most dumb Americans would listen to the album just to get some tabloid gossip tidbits out of it, even if they're not fans of Beyoncé.

But then there's the point pitchfork made about Beyoncé having a firm grasp on what the public does and doesn't have access to regarding the details of her personal life. It's safe to assume that she knows how this album will be taken, and that she's made a deliberate decision to allow people to take it that way.

I don't want the album to get swallowed up by the backstory, as was almost the case with Pablo. But I wouldn't mind knowing what the fuck, exactly, is going on here.

[Severian]

Originally Posted by louder

Agreed! Even though I would definitely consider Sandcastles and Forward emotional.

Sure, yeah, but I'm saying "All Night" is the climax. "All Night" is the song. I have heard it so many times in the last few days, but I'm still stunned by it every time. The call and response bit, where she echoes herself... the horns... the vocals that glitch out ever so subtly in one of the refrains (between the words "all" and "night".. It's very mild, but it almost sounds like someone's dialing the record back for a microsecond in between syllables), and did I mention the Fucking HORNS? What the fuck? How is such a classy soul song with such a traditional vibe so goddamn enchanting in 2016?

I think it might be my favorite song of the year. But because its emotionally exhausting, it probably won't stay my favorite for long. I'll head back to something more fun, like "Fade" .. But at this point in time, "All Night" is it. I'm fuckin' calling it.

I really want to watch the videos, but for some reason I haven't done so.

Oh yeah... I haven't been NOT working for more than a single waking hour all week. Fuck!

[louder]

Yeah I feel you. Those horns were sampled from fucking SpottieOttieDopaliscious too! WOW.

[louder]

About the breakup thing, I heard Jay cheated on her like a year ago and she almost divorced him. So I'm pretty sure it's a real story. But it's not only about her relationship with Jay but also her dad, granddad and relationships in general.. this subject was always very common in her music (Irreplaceable, Single Ladies, Ring Alarm, etc..).

First and foremost it's art. And it's beautiful, even if it's ugly. I'm also sure that Jay was aware of it and approved it all (Bey most likely left him no choice but yeah).. Jay understands and appreciates art, sure he's a business man, but he's also a great artist himself, I feel like people are quick to forget that.

[louder]

So the new Drake is out, and apparently the official title is just "VIEWS" now. Gonna listen in a few.

[louder]

Terrible album. Lacks energy and innovation. Everything sounds samey and boring. Some watered down versions of things he already tried on previous projects. He didn't make any progression from If You're Reading This.. at all. The fact it's 1 hour and 22 mins doesn't help either. Man fuck Drake.