" I think that's mostly due to the fact that the Heads didn't write from the perspective of the main character"

Not to be "that guy" especially when you're backing me up but Talking Heads actually DID in the chorus. "The winddddddd in my heeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaart, The winnnnnnnnnnnnd in my heaaaaaaaaaart, the duuuuuuuuuuust in my haiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir"

It's one of my favorite chorus's ever. I agree that what they did made it better by talking in third person, however, I don't think the problem is necessarily that ANOHNI didn't talk in third person. I think the real problem is : so little thought is put behind it. While you could make an argument that dramatization is worse than being on the nose, it's all down to execution and context. Talking Heads cared enough about the subject to put it on one of their most thought provoking music pieces (Remain in Light), the instrumentals provoke an emotion I barely feel from any song, and it's one of the few instances that's truely timeless : It got me to think about islamic terrorism in a light i rarely thought about .

But Anohni is so upfront about it, and not in a way to shock you. Shock value CAN be good, just look at albums like Manic Street Preacher's Holy Bible. Sure that's an over the top album, but the shock value gets the point across very well. Here the shock value is completely desensitized, it's just used to convey an overwrought message in a mediocre album that really has nothing going for it but some absurd lyrics. Do you really think that most of what Anohni says in this album are serious concerns, and not just bandwagon jumping or "holier than thou" mentalities? Well, whether you say "yes" or "no" doesn't matter : Because if you gave me just this album and told me to listen to it, I'd say that she cares about pollution about as much as a computer does. It's just so desensitized there doesn't seem to be any reality behind her supposed "emotion".

I'd rather here 23 tracks in a row about her personal struggles with gender identity than something like "I don't care about me / I feel the animals and the trees / They got nowhere to go / They got nowhere to go" because AT LEAST TO ME Anohni has proved she is not artistic enough to deal with these subjects on a level that seems both personal and respectful and not totally contrived and fake.

But...that's just my thoughts. I'm probably just really fucking dumb tbh.

Album Rating: 2.0

Nah, you're spot on. You put my problems with her shock value into words better than I ever could, thanks man.



Also heavily agree with your last paragraph. The reason she was a better lyricist in her previous band also was that more songs seemed to focus on her and her personal struggles, be it with some weird imagery/metaphors thrown in. She cared more about what she sang about as a result of that as well, at least in my opinion. Yeah, she sings well on this album, but if you compare this to her earlier work, there is this certain disconnect in the tone of her voice.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I love the production on this and I love her voice

Album Rating: 3.5

smae tbh

Album Rating: 2.0

I literally just said that she sings well on this album. Very well. And i myself haven't said anything about the production on this, although I do think that OPN didn't really bring his a-game. It's still pretty decent though.

Thanks Hurrican man : ) You're a cool dude! I feel kind of dumb writing that much but if it was spot on and let others communicate what they felt well then i'm glad to write it!

And yeah, I've been thinking about checking her previous band

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I was mostly going at what ALA wrote

Oh but I don't think I ever criticized the production and vocals? I don't think at least?

I like the vocals a lot on this and the production ... well some of the songs at the end had really bad or lazy instrumentals but besides that everything is fine aesthetically.

Album Rating: 2.0

Hey man, you shouldn't feel bad about that. Even if you said something "wrong", you can always learn from that!^^



And yeah, you should, they were absolutely fantastic! I Am A Bird Now is one of the most powerful and beautiful albums I ever listened to in my entire life. I promise you won't regret checking that out.^^

that one song about shit burning has a sick beat

Also yeah, Anohni's work on Antony and the Johnsons is amazing. Their debut is one of my favorite albums.

Haha well as long as you promise then i'll take you up on the offer and check out her band. Thanks for the rec hurricane : )

Album Rating: 3.5

check I Am A Bird Now certified CLASSICK

this album is a load of shit, and i actually quite enjoy the artist. some of the songs here are great and give merit to their messages, but overall it's contrived nonsense

Album Rating: 2.5

Musically most of the songs are just lyrical backdrops, just there to accompany the vocals, so when you have lyrics this bad being showcased it really hurts the album as a whole.

Literally could not guess which songs you guys would consensus pick as the bad track or a "lyrical backdrop." Even "Eugene" is produced to an inch of its life. Why are y'all so boring fuck

Album Rating: 2.0

@plane: I already cared about all of these problems before listening to this album. But she obviously wanted to make people care. A lot, actually. But if she then can't reach the people not thinking about these problems and/or not seeing them as legit, then it's a failure in political art, in my opinion at least. And the people who think they are the choir don't really learn anything new by listening to this album. the concepts behind the lyrics are all relatively commonplace in her political circle. All she accomplished then was making her audience feel bad. Big whoop. that will do a lot for the better I'm sure.

Album Rating: 2.5

Plane I'd argue that every track is a lyrical backdrop. Even my favorite cut 4 Degrees is very much focused on the vocals. That's pop music for you, but most pop music where the music is sparse and serves to enhance the vocals at least has decent lyricism.

Album Rating: 2.5

Agree to disagree I guess. I find this rather heavy-handed.

Just pulling your leg plane.