tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64796851157503069672024-03-19T01:47:09.351-07:00AoM: MusicTimothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.comBlogger425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-43342953970963209142024-01-02T22:57:00.000-08:002024-01-02T23:04:51.155-08:00Taylor Swift - 1989 (Taylor's Version) (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
#1 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20231230). Weeks on Chart greater than 4x the rank.<br /><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 2 | Peak: 1 | Week at No. 1: 4 | Weeks on Chart: 8<br />
Billboard Listing: 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift - [below album cover]
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Released 20231027.<br />
21 songs. 77:49. <i>1989 (Taylor's Version)</i> (Standard Edition) (2023)<br />
21+1 songs. 77:49+03:54. <i>1989 (Taylor's Version)</i> (Tangerine Edition) (2023)<br />
21+1 songs. 77:49+03:20. <i>1989 (Taylor's Version)</i> (Deluxe Edition) (2023)<br />
21+1+1 songs. 77:49+03:20+03:00. <i>1989 (Taylor's Version)</i> (Deluxe + Edition) (2023)<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_%28Taylor%27s_Version%29">Wikipedia</a>
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20231230--</i><br />
First listen. Deluxe.<br />
As I'm listening, I'm thinking about familiarity. I've often noted that I like music more easily or better (e.g., I would rate a song better) if it's similar to what I already like or if I've heard the track before. Furthermore, I'll like a track or album better the more I listen to it. This would be opposed to the focus on the typical assumption that a person is listening to something more because they like it, which I'm sure is part of the feedback loop, but my emphasis is on a different aspect of why we have a tendency to like something. However, I'm curious if, for Taylor Swift, it's not only that she is familiar, but her distinct voice is also pleasing to listen to (but then I would defer back to whether this is an effect of familiarity) ("All You Had to Do Was Stay")<br />
I suppose in some sense, these re-recordings behave kind of like "Greatest Hits" ("Wildest Dreams")<br />
<i>--20240102--</i><br />
Finished listening to the album: "From the Vault" tracks.<br />
<br />
All songs have "(Taylor's Version)" appended. Songs in bold additionally have "(From the Vault)" appended. The song in italics is the bonus track on the deluxe edition.<br />
4: "Shake It Off";
3: "Blank Space"; "Wildest Dreams";<br />
2: "Style"; "Bad Blood"; <b>"Now That We Don't Talk"</b>; <b>"Is It Over Now"</b>; <i>"Bad Blood" (ft. Kendrick Lamar)</i>;<br />
1: "Out of the Woods"; "All You Had to Do Was Stay"; "Clean"; <b>"Say Don't Go"</b>; <b>"Suburban Legends"</b>;<br />
0: "Welcome to New York"; "I Wish You Would"; "How You Get the Girl"; "This Love"; "I Know Places"; "Wonderland"; "New Romantics"; <b>"Slut!"</b>;<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
This album carries my interest up to and including track 9, "Wildest Dreams". The album dips and then picks up with the "From the Vault" tracks. Overall, I think I'm feeling the album at about a 4.0. Looking up my review of the Deluxe version of her original recording, I found that I had given the Deluxe version a 4.0 and rated the Standard version (composed of the first nine tracks) a lower 3.8! Based on my recent listening experience, I would certainly have rated the Standard edition higher than the Deluxe edition. In any case, with all that considered, I will adjust gut rating of 4.0 to 4.6.<br />
<br />
I would note that while "Shake It Off" is my favorite track, it is not one of the more played tracks from the album. The top four most played tracks (not including "From the Vault Tracks") are, from most played to less played, "Wildest Dreams" (604 K) , "This Love" (206 K), "Style" (107 K), "Blank Space" (89 K), and "Out of the Woods" (75 K). It is, however, one of the top five played tracks from the original recording: "Blank Space" (1.7 M), "Shake It Off" (1.3 M), "Style" (1.1 M), "Wildest Dreams" (0.9 M), and "Bad Blood" (0.6 M). Looking at the album's singles, I discovered "Shake It Off" was the first of seven singles released, and the only single that preceded the release of the album itself. The aforementioned top five played tracks align with the first five singles released. Finally, as of 20240102, "Shake It Off" was on the Billboard Hot 100 for 50 weeks, tying second for most weeks on the chart out of 232 songs, and one out of eleven songs to peak at number 1.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating (Deluxe Edition):</b> 4.6/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Shake It Off"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/1o59UpKw81iHR0HPiSkJR0?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-51942197623193700782023-12-30T21:35:00.000-08:002024-01-02T22:59:35.485-08:00Chuck Berry - Berry Christmas (2017)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
#134 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20231230). From the top. Holiday album.<br/><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 187 | Peak: 60 | Weeks on Chart: 16<br>
Billboard Listing: Berry Christmas (EP) - Chuck Berry - [photo of the artist]
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<br/>
Released 20171215.<br/>
4 songs. 11:27. <i>Berry Christmas</i> (2017)<br/>
Wikipedia (No article at the time of this post)
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<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20231230--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
Second listen.<br>
Ah. A line of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" plays in the middle of the song<br>
<br/>
3: "Run Rudolph Run";<br/>
2: "Merry Christmas Baby" (Single Version);<br>
1: <i>None</i><br/>
0: "Spending Christmas"; "Christmas";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
<i>None</i><br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Run Rudolph Run"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/6O6GTgE8aHOdomlggVZhus?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-45894795900756476392023-12-30T19:34:00.000-08:002024-01-02T22:58:30.315-08:00Stevie Wonder - Someday at Christmas (1967)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
#143 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20231223).<br /><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 163 | Peak: 74 | Weeks on Chart: 15<br />
Billboard Listing: The Best Of Stevie Wonder: 20th Century Masters The Christmas Collection - Stevie Wonder - [below album cover]
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<br />
Released 19671127.<br />
12 songs. 35:45. <i>Someday at Christmas</i> (1967)<br />
12+2 songs. 35:45+05:10. <i>The Best Of Stevie Wonder: 20th Century Masters The Christmas Collection</i> (2003)<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Someday_at_Christmas">Wikipedia</a><br />
<a href="https://www.discogs.com/master/139848-Stevie-Wonder-Someday-At-Christmas">Discogs</a>
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20231224--</i><br />
First listen.<br />
<i>--20231229--</i><br />
Resume at track 8.<br />
<i>--20231230--</i><br />
Resume at track 11<br />
<br />
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the additional tracks on the 20th Century Masters reissue.<br />
3: "Someday at Christmas"; "What Christmas Means To Me";<br />
2: "The Little Drummer Boy"; "The Christmas Song";<br />
1: "Silver Bells";<br />
0: "Ave Maria"; "One Little Christmas Tree"; "The Day That Love Began"; "Bedtime for Toys"; "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me"; "A Warm Little Home On A Hill"; <b>"The Miracles of Christmas"</b>; <b>"Everyone's A Kid at Christmas"</b>;<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
This album shines with two hit singles: "Someday at Christmas" and "What Christmas Means to Me". And in fact, I think I'd be fine with those two tracks in a playlist and not listen to the entire album.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 3.0/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "What Christmas Means To Me"<br />
<b>Honorable Mention:</b> "Someday at Christmas"<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/734TT1LYLvM5gAAYvG0DSw?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-6887786673457266842023-12-24T11:51:00.000-08:002024-01-02T23:05:14.006-08:00Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas (1960)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
#141 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20231223).<br /><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 190 | Peak: 95 | Weeks on Chart: 8
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<br />
Released 1960.<br />
12 songs. 34:00. <i>Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas</i> (1960)<br />
12 + 6 songs. 34:00 + 18:14. <i>Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas</i> (Expanded Edition) (2002)<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Wishes_You_a_Swinging_Christmas">Wikipedia</a>
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20231223--</i><br />
First listen. Expanded Edition.<br />
<br />
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the expanded edition.<br />
3: "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"; "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"; "Frosty the Snowman";<br />
2: "Jingle Bells"; "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"; "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"; "Sleigh Ride"; "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"; "Winter Wonderland"; "White Christmas"; <b>"The Christmas Song" (Alternate Take)</b>; <b>"White Christmas" (Alternate Take)</b>;<br />
1: "The Christmas Song"; <b>"Medley: We Three Kings of Orient Are/O Little Town of Bethlehem"</b>; <b>"Christmas Island"</b>;<br />
0: "Good Morning Blues"; <b>"The Secret of Christmas"</b>; <b>"Frosty the Snowman" (Alternate Take)</b>;<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
I'd say that although no particular song stands out, the entire album is a solid listen. I like the shorter feel of the first twelve tracks (original release). I feel like the extra six tracks of the expanded edition don't appeal to me.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating (original):</b> 5.0/5<br />
<b>Overall Rating (expanded edition):</b> 4.6/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Frosty the Snowman"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/2UhPCUgK2IGUrg7lIvMYfb?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-50784980557641870552023-12-23T17:35:00.000-08:002024-01-02T23:58:23.546-08:00Sabrina Carpenter - fruitcake (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
#121 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20231223). From the top. Holiday.<br /><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: - | Peak: 121 | Weeks on Chart: 2
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Released 20231117.<br />
6 songs. 15:46. <i>fruitcake </i> (2023)<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruitcake_%28Sabrina_Carpenter_EP%29">Wikipedia</a>
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20231223--</i><br />
First listen.<br />
Wow. This is great. A holiday remix of her hit song "Nonsense". It's genius [apparently she released this track last year]<br />
Wow I really like this version of "white xmas"<br />
Second listen.<br />
"fruitcake makes me sick" ("is it new years yet?")<br />
Moved "is it new years yet?" to a "3" and moved "white xmas" down to a "2"<br />
<br />
4: "A Nonsense Christmas";<br />
3: "is it new years yet?";<br />
2: "buy me presents"; "white xmas";<br />
1: "santa doesn't know you like i do";<br />
0: "cindy lou who";<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
While this album is an EP, it's filled with six originals which are immediately enjoyable.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 5.4/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "A Nonsense Christmas"<i>None</i>
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<i>20240102 Comment:</i><br>
I've since partially listened to the album three more times, which is an indication that I like it, and so I've decided to bump it up from a 5.4 to a 5.6. However, I would mention that this album has the benefit of being an EP. As such, while it has the same rating as Carrie Underwood's <a href="https://music.supertran.net/2020/12/carrie-underwood-my-gift-2020.html"><i>My Gift</i></a>, the rating of 5.6 for <i>My Gift</i> is much more impressive. Actually, that album is such a go-to album for me that I'm tempted to bump its rating up from a 5.6 to a 5.8 (remark: I've yet to assign a rating higher than 5.6 to an album)!<br>
<br>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 5.6/5<br />Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-17921514235002737252023-12-23T14:34:00.000-08:002024-01-02T23:05:38.908-08:00Cher - Christmas (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
#59 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20231223). From the top. Holiday.<br /><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 43 | Peak: 32 | Weeks on Chart: 6
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<br />
Released 20231020.<br />
13 songs. 39:13. <i>Christmas</i> (2023)<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_%28Cher_album%29">Wikipedia</a>
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20231223--</i><br />
First listen.<br />
I love this track by Michael Buble, and this duet version is a good alternative. I would say at times Cher's voice is so powerful compared to Buble's voice and if I were mastering the track I'd consider balancing that out a bit. [the later portions of the track feel more balanced in the match in power between Cher adn Buble]<br />
<br />
3: "Home" (with Michael Buble);<br />
2: "What Christmas Means to Me" (with Stevie Wonder); "Angels in the Snow"; "Drop Top Sleigh Ride" (with Tyga); "Please Come Home for Christmas"; "I Like Christmas"; "Put A Little Holiday in Your Heart" (with Cyndi Lauper);<br />
1: "DJ Play A Christmas Song"; "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" (with Darlene Love); "Santa Baby";<br />
0: "Run Rudolph Run"; "Christmas Ain't Christmas Without You"; "This Will Be Our Year";<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
Overall, this album was solid, especially for a first listen.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.4/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Home" (with Michael Buble)
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/4Eeeg4yMb5qtMEm0lk6lDM?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-21595126994040589922023-12-23T12:57:00.000-08:002024-01-02T23:05:50.235-08:00Pentatonix - The Greatest Christmas Hits (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
#13 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20231223). Holiday album.<br /><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 96 | Peak: 13 | Weeks on Chart: 6
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSBYl6zQtJAM75u5cHpLzvasavTxJgsnfm4cCq_mSeZuaPkO-wKh6qlqVjXJR_AH4Y7R5QcwIcFswE3TNX2Of69KJWRty5jRnbNAhmOCgFEiXtf9B1Cie-RaUXYt7B2mzn81Pi_XVjZMf43cuQN6RKTDP_1cOWSIVf6nmRpvlE3qZ5CaP8rVF5Q6aJyc/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSBYl6zQtJAM75u5cHpLzvasavTxJgsnfm4cCq_mSeZuaPkO-wKh6qlqVjXJR_AH4Y7R5QcwIcFswE3TNX2Of69KJWRty5jRnbNAhmOCgFEiXtf9B1Cie-RaUXYt7B2mzn81Pi_XVjZMf43cuQN6RKTDP_1cOWSIVf6nmRpvlE3qZ5CaP8rVF5Q6aJyc/w400-h400/Folder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Released 20231020.<br />
31 songs. 101:##. <i>The Greatest Christmas Hits</i> (2023)<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greatest_Christmas_Hits">Wikipedia</a>
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20231202--</i><br />
I tried listening to this album today but only got through the first three tracks.<br />
<i>--20231223--</i><br />
First listen.<br />
Today I started the album from the beginning.<br />
Hmm. That's an abrupt switch from slow and calm to upbeat. ("Hark! The Herald Angels Sing")<br />
Not gonna lie, I don't like a good portion of Pentatonix tracks. But I really like this one. If I recall, it's from their most recent release (maybe 2021?) ("That's Christmas to Me") [I was totally off, it's from their <a href="https://music.supertran.net/2019/12/pentatonix-thats-christmas-to-me-2014.html">2014 album of the same name</a>]<br />
I love the pop and/or hip-hop feel that's infused with this classic ("Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy")<br />
<br />
4: "That's Christmas to Me";<br />
3: "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"; "Frosty The Snowman" (ft. Alessia Cara); "Grown-Up Christmas List" (ft. Kelly Clarkson);<br />
2: "Hallelujah"; "White Winter Hymnal" (Fleet Foxes Cover); "Deck the Halls"; "Kid On Christmas" (ft. Meghan Trainor); "Thank You"; "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"; "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"; "How Great Thou Art" (ft. Jennifer Hudson); "Joyful, Joyful" (with Jasmine Sullivan); "Pure Imagination / Christmas Time Is Here"; "Please Santa Please"; "Children, Go Where I Send Thee"; "Little Toy Trains";<br />
1: "Mary, Did You Know?"; "Carol of the Bells"; "O Come, All Ye Faithful"; "Winter Wonderland / Don't Worry Be Happy" (ft. Tori Kelly); "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"; "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)";<br />
0: "12 Days of Christmas"; "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"; "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"; "Little Drummer Boy"; "Up On the Housetop"; "O Holy Night"; "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (with Elvis Presley); "Kiss From A Rose" (Seal cover);<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
Overall, this is a great collection of songs from Pentatonix if you're a fan of Pentatonix. Personally I like the songs which are either modern (original track) or traditional (straightforward a cappela with no extreme bells and whistles), and I'm less a fan of the traditional songs that are sung with a strange a cappella twist (e.g., singing extra fast or excessive modifications to the original). As such, I would give the entire album a lower 4.0 rating out of 5. I would rather pick out and listen to a subset of the songs on the album.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.0/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "That's Christmas to Me"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/4tRcSRjaE98LsBVOm6cSJT?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-81432068305372016972023-11-19T22:35:00.000-08:002024-01-02T23:08:36.073-08:00Norah Jones - Come Away with Me (2002)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
I recently listened to <i>Genius Loves Company</i> and the first track reminded me to listen to more Norah Jones.
<a name='more'></a>
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I'm pretty sure I've listened to this album in full and have notes in a journal somewhere. On a related note, I must have listened to multiple albums by Jones, to assess purchase of one of her albums on vinyl, <i>The Fall</i>. But apparently since the start of this music blog, the only Norah Jones album I've listened to is her holiday album <a href="https://music.supertran.net/2021/12/norah-jones-i-dream-of-christmas-2021.html"><i>I Dream of Christmas</i></a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihODoFiC7_jQh1n3zMC8pKtObhm80uIl-SLxWq4EXsavtEMvulnXUqBwy5C04E3yZCQO_CwC0crPJVT2Qcog_GWJZcYsdGFwjkt5-xbQ4UQAHfNBDNawvPok2Afrhy7sa49gc4kuOguGyo2jX4UYLIP_IaEB8cXDqqJGz0kaVER8kYsBPm3kS9t5ThvyI/s1500/Folder%20%282%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihODoFiC7_jQh1n3zMC8pKtObhm80uIl-SLxWq4EXsavtEMvulnXUqBwy5C04E3yZCQO_CwC0crPJVT2Qcog_GWJZcYsdGFwjkt5-xbQ4UQAHfNBDNawvPok2Afrhy7sa49gc4kuOguGyo2jX4UYLIP_IaEB8cXDqqJGz0kaVER8kYsBPm3kS9t5ThvyI/s400/Folder%20%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Album cover (Standard Edition)</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br />
Released 20020226.<br />
14 songs. 44:58. <i>Come Away with Me</i> (2002)<br />
14 & 17 & 13 songs. 44:58 & ##:## & ##:##. <i>Come Away with Me</i> (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (2022)<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Away_with_Me">Wikipedia</a><br />
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20231006--</i><br />
First listen. Super Deluxe Edition (a.k.a., 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)<br />
I'm a little surprised to learn that "Feelin' The Same Way" has relatively low plays on Spotify, as to me it is on par with hits "Don't Know Why" and "Come Away with Me". Though... are those songs better or more popular? Does popularity associate itself with sounding better? I've reflected in the past that the more familiar I am with the sound of a song, the more likely I am to like it. And thinking about that notion today it makes sense. If you like an object, and then slightly tweak it, there is a high chance you will like the tweaked version - or at the least it has the opportunity to grow on you faster. In any case, I then learned on Wikipedia that "Feelin' the Same Way" was the second single from the album; the first was "Don't Know Why", the third was "Come Away with Me", and the fourth was "Turn Me On". [Looking back at the numbers, most songs on the album hover around 25M plays. In contrast, the singles, in order of release, have 440M, 58M ("Feelin' the Same Way"), 354M, and 192M plays. Other tracks with a high play count are "Seven Years" (74M) and "Shoot the Moon" (62M), but they also come after the two hit tracks, so I imagine there exists a spillover effect where a listener goes into the album, listens to the popular song, and happens to listen to the next song. One can see how the number of plays for tracks 8 to 13 have a tendency to decrease. The one exception to spillover would be the final track, "The Nearness of You" (49M). In any case, I would begin with assuming that 30.9M plays are from the beginning of the album up to track 3, 25.8M plays are from the beginning up to track 10, and finally 24.9M plays from beginning to end. Thus the differences between the singles and subsequent songs are approximately as follows: 409M to 43M, 325M to 34M (the 325M might be too high since it itself can be composed of spillover from track 4 - albeit a smaller spillover), and 166M to 2M. The first two suggest spillover might happen at a rate of 10% but that doesn't track with the third. At that rate, 166M plays would be a spillover of 16M plays...]<br />
Listened to Disc 2 and Disc 3 without rating them.<br />
Listened to Disc 2 and Disc 3 again.<br />
<br />
<i>~Disc 1 | Come Away with Me - 20th Anniversary Remaster~</i><br />
3: "Don't Know Why"; "Feelin' The Same Way"; "Come Away with Me";<br />
2: "Seven Year"; "Turn Me On"; "I've Got to See You Again"; "Painter Song";<br />
1: "Lonestar"; "The Long Day is Over"; "Nightingale";<br />
0: "Cold Cold Heart"; "One Flight Down"; "The Nearness of You";<br />
<br />
<i>--20231119--</i><br />
Continue with rating of Disc 2<br />
For some reason this track reminds me of the video game <a href="https://videogames.supertran.net/2022/09/shady-part-of-me-pc-2020.html"><i>Shady Part of Me</i></a>. Perhaps its vibe is similar to one of the tracks in the middle of the game ("Something Is Calling You" (First Sessions Demo))<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRtpTn1Od2zdYih9a10QzHFs2y-1RSL-LsBc5hE0t1uLqsjKHhODi1iG7Ko6wdgQdRrECRdNxikLc8qs9ESU6Vhu6ORJTiY3oa79cN_U3smaN69WeeEVWpxA14oGNqbHKhE3dwC5wVgCL2S9R_iAqOxjQiibBiYl0C9xFKcngJQlZbpW2soKBjBfAYzU/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRtpTn1Od2zdYih9a10QzHFs2y-1RSL-LsBc5hE0t1uLqsjKHhODi1iG7Ko6wdgQdRrECRdNxikLc8qs9ESU6Vhu6ORJTiY3oa79cN_U3smaN69WeeEVWpxA14oGNqbHKhE3dwC5wVgCL2S9R_iAqOxjQiibBiYl0C9xFKcngJQlZbpW2soKBjBfAYzU/w400-h400/Folder.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Album cover (Super Deluxe Edition)</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br />
<i>~Disc 2 | The Demos / First Sessions Outtakes / First Sessions EP~</i><br />
3: "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" (Demo); "Something Is Calling You" (First Sessions Outtakes / Tabla Version); "Hallelujah, I Love Him So" (First Sessions Outtake); "Don't Know Why" (First Sessions Demo); "Lonestar" (First Sessions Demo);<br />
2: "World of Trouble" (Demo); "Just Like A Dream Today" (First Sessions Outtake); "Turn Me On" (First Sessions Demo);<br />
1: "The Only Time" (First Sessions Outtake); "What Am I To You" (First Sessions Outtake); "Day Dream" (First Sessions Outtake); "Come Away with Me" (First Sessions Demo);<br />
0: "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" (Demo); "I Didn't Know About You" (First Sessions Outtake); "When Sunny Gets Blue" (First Sessions Outtake); "Something Is Calling You" (First Sessions Demo); "Peace" (First Sessions Demo);<br />
<br />
<i>--20231119--</i><br />
Continue with rating of Disc 3<br />
This disc was real calm. Most, if not all, alternate versions were more chill than their counterparts<br />
<br />
<i>~Disc 3 | The Allaire Sessions~</i><br />
3: "Painter Song" (Alternate Version);<br />
2: "I've Got to See You Again" (Alternate Version); "What Would I Do"; "One Flight Down" (Alternate Version);<br />
1: "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"; "What Am I To You" (Alternate Version); "Turn Me On" (Alternate Version); "A Little At A Time";<br />
0: "Nightingale" (Alternate Version); "Peace" (Alternate Version); "Fragile";<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
Overall, this is a great album.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating (Disc 1):</b> 5.6/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song (Disc 1):</b> "Feelin' The Same Way"<br />
<b>Favorite Song (Disc 2):</b> "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" or "Hallelujah, I Love Him So"<br />
<b>Favorite Song (Disc 3):</b> "Painter Song" (Alternate Version)<br />
<hr />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/3ArSFkv4OQOosOvYTrZNIl?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<hr />
Billboard 200<br />
Debut Date: 20020316 | Peak Date: 20030125 | Peak Position: 1 (4 WKS) | Weeks on Chart: 165<br />Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-13039255819379224082023-10-06T05:02:00.001-07:002023-10-06T05:02:22.374-07:00Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company (2004)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
Recently watched the movie <i>Ray</i>.
<a name='more'></a>
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I recently watched <i>Ray</i> and so I decided to listen to one of his albums. Although he has many hits worth listening to, I oddly decided to listen to this posthumously released album<br/>
<br/>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Kmr0bm9XKgiqyhSNE3Fq1hs8UER3sxd1JJVZOJOEx7AsfMJ5r6FPJXk1ggCpUFltiRpQc5OO7AYB6ID_kPrR1WdPrKNFo8dFysvprhCvi9AwVSSRhI7QdxGFq_f01sQr19xKaQYOoNFotLL9himwNK2WhY-TXke8xJJh-HtSZQ_vkkuO1lZX4VUkEo/s1428/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9Kmr0bm9XKgiqyhSNE3Fq1hs8UER3sxd1JJVZOJOEx7AsfMJ5r6FPJXk1ggCpUFltiRpQc5OO7AYB6ID_kPrR1WdPrKNFo8dFysvprhCvi9AwVSSRhI7QdxGFq_f01sQr19xKaQYOoNFotLL9himwNK2WhY-TXke8xJJh-HtSZQ_vkkuO1lZX4VUkEo/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20040831.<br/>
12 songs. 54:03. <i>Genius Loves Company</i> (2004)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genius_Loves_Company">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20231003--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
I should make a note to listen to more Norah Jones<br>
Has a nice sound, but very slow ("It Was a Very Good Year")<br>
<i>--20231006--</i><br/>
Resumed with track 8<br>
Nice, saxophone ("Hey Girl")<br>
Mmmhmm... that opening feels so good. I don't know why I don't listen to more music in this genre (jazz, guitar, blues) ("Sinner's Prayer")<br>
Hmm. This version is so drawn out, it's hard to focus on while multitasking ("Over the Rainbow")<br>
<br/>
4: "Here We Go Again" (with Norah Jones);<br>
3: "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" (with Bonnie Raitt);<br>
2: "You Don't Know Me" (with Diana Krall); "Fever" (with Natalie Cole); "Sinner's Prayer" (with B.B. King); "Heaven Help Us All" (with Gladys Knight); "Crazy Love" (Live) (with Van Morrison);<br/>
1: "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (with Elton John); "Hey Girl" (with Michael McDonald);<br/>
0: "Sweet Potato Pie" (with James Taylor); "It Was a Very Good Year" (with Willie Nelson); "Over the Rainbow" (with Johnny Mathis);<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
There are many well-known songs in this album and there's a good variety of genres and artists which are represented. I'm not sure why, but my gut feeling was to give the album a 4.8 or a 5.0 out of 5.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 5.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Here We Go Again"<br/>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/3CwGxaRLRyEw6OiSbVhdRE?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
<hr/>
Billboard 200<br/>
Debut Date: 20040918 | Peak Date: 20050305 | Peak Position: 1 (1 WKS) | Weeks on Chart: 61<br/>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-20567652121286780842023-08-12T20:53:00.001-07:002023-08-12T20:53:21.490-07:00NewJeans - Get Up (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
#6 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20230812). Interesing album cover (similar to Powerpuff Girls).<br/><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 1 | Peak: 1 | Weeks on Chart: 2<br>
Billboard Listing: 2nd EP 'Get Up' - NewJeans - [below album cover]<br>
Spotify and iTunes list the album as <i>NewJeans 2nd EP 'Get Up'</i>. I'm opting to name the album like Discogs and Wikipedia: <i>Get Up</i>.
<hr/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeViA3YLMyB5t9vfqSY7rY_uTnfYF8FqtcCmFJ39_nPGJvtLYzh0spMsDWulMrX8PEkBAcNxiNXYGxYTiKcwLIc287P9UxunP5JUKbl5_Ftav7aqaJK8yVKZRwht3EDushdHKGTDEdCdpDAopYCQJmkxN28xPmTgzd27rzwz4CASv39AI8x9H6YJo88Y/s1400/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeViA3YLMyB5t9vfqSY7rY_uTnfYF8FqtcCmFJ39_nPGJvtLYzh0spMsDWulMrX8PEkBAcNxiNXYGxYTiKcwLIc287P9UxunP5JUKbl5_Ftav7aqaJK8yVKZRwht3EDushdHKGTDEdCdpDAopYCQJmkxN28xPmTgzd27rzwz4CASv39AI8x9H6YJo88Y/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20230721.<br/>
6 songs. 12:10. <i>Get Up</i> (2023)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Up_%28EP%29">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230812--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
The line and repetition "What's your ETA? What's your ETA?" is catchy, but the song as a whole failed to impress me. ("ETA")<br>
<br/>
2: "Super Shy";<br/>
1: "New Jeans"; "Cool With You"; "ASAP";<br/>
0: "ETA"; "Get Up";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
I didn't know what to expect from this album as I simply judged it by its cover. Of course, I quickly realized it was a Korean group. In any case, for the most part I enjoyed the EP. It is short and despite having elements of pop, the EP also has an easy listening vibe.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.6/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Super Shy"
<hr/>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/4N1fROq2oeyLGAlQ1C1j18?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-28721525335979585972023-08-11T21:11:00.000-07:002023-08-11T21:11:57.254-07:00Various Artists - Barbie: The Album (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
#4 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20230812).<br /><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 2 | Peak: 2 | Weeks on Chart: 2<br>
Billboard Listing: Barbie: The Album - Soundtrack - [pink B album cover]
<hr />
I've heard some of these tracks on Spotify prior to listening to this album (e.g., "Dance the Night", "Barbie World", and "Speed Drive"), which have motivated me to listen to the entire album even without having seen the movie.
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTc_joDmFQBubMEE_nA1L6Yrpk-vdfy5iyVg2OL4zVJ2yIDFSBxp_fNqa1CRU6KA00mWUoS0Lk01iy0Yg5nU22kls_28X-BxpjUI3qhBe9nAP0pjgYS_Fi7nlum3uBb5yEykvmf7z87Tu9wnr1rxRF3rGc-VCHgReNaUC0x9XTMGMIXeZEd8GxC5PIV0/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTc_joDmFQBubMEE_nA1L6Yrpk-vdfy5iyVg2OL4zVJ2yIDFSBxp_fNqa1CRU6KA00mWUoS0Lk01iy0Yg5nU22kls_28X-BxpjUI3qhBe9nAP0pjgYS_Fi7nlum3uBb5yEykvmf7z87Tu9wnr1rxRF3rGc-VCHgReNaUC0x9XTMGMIXeZEd8GxC5PIV0/s400/Folder.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standard edition cover for the digital version</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br />
Released 20230721.<br />
17 songs. 44:05. <i>Barbie: The Album</i> (2023)<br />
17+2 songs. 44:05+9:15. <i>Barbie: The Album</i> (Best Weekend Ever Edition) (2023)<br />
Wikipedia
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20230811--</i><br />
First listen. Standard.<br />
I've heard "Barbie World" several times before and I'm still not impressed by it<br />
"Butterflies" by GAYLE samples Crazy Town's "Butterfly"; what a throwback ["Butterfly" was released in 2000]<br />
"Choose Your Fighter" sounds like a DDR song [I did not find any evidence that it sampled any DDR song]<br />
Huh. That sounds familiar (start of "Barbie Dreams")... "when I close my eyes..." "fantasy..." Oh I got it... "I know you are there staring back at me." These are lyrics from "Together Again" by Janet Jackson. Basically these two lyrics have the same exact sound: "When I close my eyes, it's a fantasy | Perfect plastic life from a magazine" and "Everywhere I go, every smile I see | I know you are there smilin' back at me." [okay, yes. I confirmed the track is an interpolation of "Together Again"]<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6mFepTJS05a5lbHgwXl_p5EU1H0fJxdeUpS44w7b8Xu1oGw8AEU15pTJXTsLEPZA3MzvWSNrWvAob_6muAh2mEjoFZXiz8FjJivJQoBZkDWMEzuFrT57H76HMdKOxOl_3HGZjLccGH48S5O30FDWBhww_yJ82pY6_Qwxt98MsZrxVTafkD56j5AmeTA/s3000/Folder%20%282%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6mFepTJS05a5lbHgwXl_p5EU1H0fJxdeUpS44w7b8Xu1oGw8AEU15pTJXTsLEPZA3MzvWSNrWvAob_6muAh2mEjoFZXiz8FjJivJQoBZkDWMEzuFrT57H76HMdKOxOl_3HGZjLccGH48S5O30FDWBhww_yJ82pY6_Qwxt98MsZrxVTafkD56j5AmeTA/s400/Folder%20%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deluxe edition cover</td></tr></tbody></table>
I listened to Ryan Gosling's cover of "Push" (it's on Spotify as a single). I think I heard this on Spotify the other day. In any case, I like it<br />
I listened to Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile's cover of "Closer to Fine" (it's also on Spotify as a single)<br />
<br />
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the Best Weekend Ever edition.<br />
3: "Dance the Night" by Dua Lipa; "Barbie Dreams" (ft. Kaliii) by FIFTY FIFTY;<br />
2: "Speed Drive" by Charli XCX; "Angel" by PinkPantheress; "butterflies" by GAYLE; "Choose Your Fighter" by Ava Max; <b>"Push"</b> (from Barbie the Album) (Matchbox Twenty cover) by Ryan Gosling;<br />
1: "WATATI" (ft. Aldo Ranks) by KAROL G; "Hey Blondie" by Dominic Fike; "Forever & Again" by The Kid LAROI; <b>"Closer to Fine"</b> (from Barbie The Album) (Indigo Girls cover) by Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile;<br />
0: "Pink" by Lizzo; "Barbie World" (with Aqua) by Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice; "Man I Am" by Sam Smith; "Journey to the Real World" by Tame Impala; "I'm Just Ken" by Ryan Gosling; "Home" by HAIM; "What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish; "Silver Platter" by Khalid;<br />
-1: <br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
Overall, <br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 5.0/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Dance the Night" by Dua Lipa
<hr />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/0BaIaHcyBXuOWeM4Aas4EW?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-55832735494458758172023-08-11T19:54:00.001-07:002023-08-11T19:54:40.119-07:00Frank Ocean - Blonde (2016)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
#98 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20230812).<br/><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 104 | Peak: 1 | Weeks on Chart: 341
<hr/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eRYJ2OmIe776mPZtSwtUo4B0sZePUPmRHh5P8AwTl7C13qlNPObTztVh6Nblo0aNCFPs1h0-7Po1QWqEPVMa90H4tHnJlDGkziF9b9D8Bv08vFi5d_RHl8gRNTJWvtj1gAx0m4V8p8Qmq2pdrCQ94Tqm_OB8KBYb-51OrbTh-cZLQ8DY0xJ8mMhjstA/s1500/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eRYJ2OmIe776mPZtSwtUo4B0sZePUPmRHh5P8AwTl7C13qlNPObTztVh6Nblo0aNCFPs1h0-7Po1QWqEPVMa90H4tHnJlDGkziF9b9D8Bv08vFi5d_RHl8gRNTJWvtj1gAx0m4V8p8Qmq2pdrCQ94Tqm_OB8KBYb-51OrbTh-cZLQ8DY0xJ8mMhjstA/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20160820.<br/>
17 songs. 60:08. <i>Blonde</i> (2016)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blonde_%28Frank_Ocean_album%29">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230809--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
I like the second half of this song ("Nikes")<br>
Hmm... Nice flow. ("Pink + White")<br>
Huh. This song reminds me of the <i>Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory</i> song "Pure Imagination". [searching the internet, I have found many people have also drawn a similarity between the songs; some people have done mashups, e.g., https://youtu.be/_XhYfNLM8G8; note, however, that the similarity is technically with "(They Long to Be) Close to You"; this song samples Stevie Wonder's cover of the song]<br>
<i>--20230811--</i><br>
Second listen.<br>
Moved "Nikes" from a "1" to a "2"<br>
Moved "Nights" from a "1" to a "0"<br>
The piano and rapping make such a powerful combination. In particular, the chords are punchy. Moved "Solo (Reprise)" from a "1" to a "2"<br>
I guess the tone of "Pretty Sweet" builds on "Solo (Reprise)" - darker, heavier, and yet due to the vocals, more upbeat<br>
<br/>
2: "Nikes"; "Pink + White"; "Be Yourself"; "Solo"; "Self Control"; "Solo (Reprise)"; "Facebook Story"; "Close To You";<br/>
1: "Skyline To"; "White Ferrari"; "Godspeed";<br/>
0: "Ivy"; "Good Guy"; "Nights"; "Pretty Sweet"; "Seigfried"; "Futura Free";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
I like the range and mix of tracks on this album. However, I did not build an affinity to any particular song. This is somewhat strange as four of the tracks on the album are on the artist's Spotify Top 10. As an aside, it's interesting to learn that Ocean has thus far only released two albums.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.2/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> <i>None</i>
<hr/>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/3mH6qwIy9crq0I9YQbOuDf?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-41149506899167714722023-08-01T22:44:00.011-07:002023-08-01T22:56:12.549-07:00Taylor Swift - Speak Now (Taylor's Version) (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
Saw this was a new release on Spotify<a name='more'></a>
<hr/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyOCF0x9RElovEevaXAoWq4CY-zhjC7R-jucF7FHnng87DI36T2btJpZhPJu10Fjr3l31kYl7X-Zg69n4B0CXZwmdkr0J8-RT8-wi9BRTzi1MDSZ_83oRmx7zwNrq34KQ1KD9miPKAC4KCtGz9xnXVE2jatHVi2PGa9A8UXs56aarSB91OA8MlydU1BU/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyOCF0x9RElovEevaXAoWq4CY-zhjC7R-jucF7FHnng87DI36T2btJpZhPJu10Fjr3l31kYl7X-Zg69n4B0CXZwmdkr0J8-RT8-wi9BRTzi1MDSZ_83oRmx7zwNrq34KQ1KD9miPKAC4KCtGz9xnXVE2jatHVi2PGa9A8UXs56aarSB91OA8MlydU1BU/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20230707.<br/>
22 songs. 104:33. <i>Speak Now (Taylor's Version)</i> (2023)<br/>
22+2 songs. 104:33+13:21. <i>Speak Now (Taylor's Version)</i> (Deluxe) (2023)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speak_Now_%28Taylor%27s_Version%29">Wikipedia</a><br/>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230719--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
<i>--20230722--</i><br/>
Continue with track 5.<br>
<i>--20230728--</i><br/>
Continue with track 14.<br>
<i>--20230730--</i><br/>
Second listen.<br>
Moved "Never Grow Up" from a "1" to a "2"<br>
<i>--20230801--</i><br/>
Continue with track 11.<br>
Moved "Haunted" from a "1" to a "0"<br>
Moved "Last Kiss" from a "1" to a "0"<br>
Moved "Foolish One" from a "1" to a "2"<br>
Huh. These lyrics sound familiar: "They ain't never gonna come. And thinkin' he's the one." ("Foolish One")<br>
<br/>
All songs have "(Taylor's Version)" appended. Songs in <b>bold</b> additionally have "(From the Vault)" appended.<br />
3: "Mean";<br/>
2: "Mine"; "Sparks Fly"; "Never Grow Up"; "Long Live"; <b>"Electric Touch"</b> (ft. Fall Out Boy); <b>"I Can See You"</b>; <b>"Foolish One"</b>; <b>"Timeless"</b>;<br>
1: "Speak Now"; "Enchanted"; "Innocent"; "Ours"; <b>"When Emma Falls in Love"</b>; <b>"Castles Crumbling"</b> (ft. Hayley Willaims);<br/>
0: "Back to December"; "Dear John"; "The Story of Us"; "Better Than Revenge"; "Haunted"; "Last Kiss"; "Superman";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
This is a re-recording of her third album and overall I don't like it as much as <a href="https://music.supertran.net/2021/04/taylor-swift-fearless-taylors-version.-2021.html"><i>Fearless (Taylor's Version)</i></a> (the re-recording of her sophomore album), <a href="https://music.supertran.net/2020/08/taylor-swift-folklore-2020.html"><i>folklore</i></a>, or <a href="https://music.supertran.net/2023/01/taylor-swift-midnights-2022.html"><i>Midnights</i></a>.*<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Mean"<br/>
<br>
*Looking at my ratings, I gave the original <i>Fearless</i> a 4.0, Taylor's Version of it a 5.0, <i>folklore</i> a 5.4, and <i>Midnights</i> a 4.2. While I originally thought to give this album a 4.4, I have changed it to a 4.0 to be more in line with my previous ratings. However, further corrective action would be to increase the rating for <i>Midnights</i> to perhaps a 4.4.
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/5AEDGbliTTfjOB8TSm1sxt?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
<hr/>
#1 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20230729).<br/>
Last Week: 1 | Peak: 1 | Weeks on Chart: 2Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-50824284858859578892023-07-18T21:18:00.000-07:002023-07-18T21:18:51.258-07:00MisterWives - Nosebleeds (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
I saw this as a new release on Spotify.<a name='more'></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgbmRIyHjDZRnoxlTkKi7d5w7hLwOqjDQ1OlTDqsKjV9aiY2xNMR_Y4jvXtUgFvxJU09xWoUjR1k3Bb3d-CPWsGskHZQJCuVcpw-eTV6uXtO4uDrdIJn8mvFXxStLRsvxvgG7wBWypF-DZP-ezO5uxif0zpIKfTn0D1ODN1h8AL-KhxRp24ZOVCaePbU/s5000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="5000" data-original-width="5000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgbmRIyHjDZRnoxlTkKi7d5w7hLwOqjDQ1OlTDqsKjV9aiY2xNMR_Y4jvXtUgFvxJU09xWoUjR1k3Bb3d-CPWsGskHZQJCuVcpw-eTV6uXtO4uDrdIJn8mvFXxStLRsvxvgG7wBWypF-DZP-ezO5uxif0zpIKfTn0D1ODN1h8AL-KhxRp24ZOVCaePbU/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20230714.<br/>
14 songs. 42:45. <i>Nosebleeds</i> (2023)<br/>
Wikipedia (No article at the time of this post)
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230716--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
<i>--20230718--</i><br/>
Second listen.<br/>
"Out of Your Mind" sounds better on second listen but I'm gonna leave it at 0<br>
Moved "Sideways" from a "1" to a "2"<br/>
Huh. This song, "End of My Rope", has a familiar sound to it.<br>
The lyrics "I'm not playing what you're trying to sell" has familiar sounding notes. I kept repeating to myself and searching for lyrics similar to first "I'm not trying I'm not trying"; followed by "and I'm trying and I'm trying to let you know"; and later "cause I'm tryin' cause i'm tryin' cause I'm tryin' to let you know." I would generally sing it in a falsetto. At one point I thought it might have been a Gorillaz song. After some thinking (approximately 10 solid minutes), I somehow realize that it's probably a song by Jack White. I initially think about "Steady, As She Goes" but I first navigate to The White Stripes page (on Spotify) and realize it's probably "Seven Nation Army". Sure enough, what I was singing in my head is likely the line "And I'm bleedin', and I'm bleedin', and I'm bleedin' | Right before the Lord."<br>
<br>
2: "Nosebleeds"; "Sideways"; "Trip Around the Sun"; "End of My Rope";<br/>
1: "Dagger"; "All the Same"; "Other Side";<br/>
0: "Out of Your Mind"; "Trigger Pull"; "Too Late"; "Silver Lining"; "Flower Moon"; "Broken Glass"; "Ultraviolet";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
While the album caught my interest enough to listen to it twice, I didn't feel like I would enjoy it more than the band's previous album, <a href="https://music.supertran.net/2020/08/misterwives-superbloom-2020.html"><i>SUPERBLOOM</i></a>.<br/>
<br/>
Out of the albums three singles released thus far, I only like "Nosebleeds". However, attempting to compare the four songs which I rated a "2", it was generally tough to pick which song I liked most. Ultimately I decided to choose "Sideways" which has a very upbeat feel to it. For whatever reason, I'm reminded of "Rollercoaster" by Bleachers.<br>
<br>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Sideways"
<hr/>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/7EQ6sixCqVYPCPqARdU1Ct?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-80768495807861135852023-07-15T22:27:00.002-07:002023-07-15T22:27:48.073-07:00TV Girl - Grapes Upon the Vine (2023)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
I previously listened to some tracks which I recall liking (e.g., "Shame")<a name='more'></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpszjXHSTo5Y4Y24biH1Qx3KHdZ4lC0k3gOOaoaR94d0zJC8KIKP-8Esp1awysJwE7pgAzPCmb9pvm_RL3aPjLewzYR4nekaHirwobmhpKXvcZ8pb0fJiIzlXwJwyY7AbHkDNtne1DvJWc5eZpNfNqL5nEFb94MLWWKacN_W-YxJuzQ9u3ogy4RIkLBo/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpszjXHSTo5Y4Y24biH1Qx3KHdZ4lC0k3gOOaoaR94d0zJC8KIKP-8Esp1awysJwE7pgAzPCmb9pvm_RL3aPjLewzYR4nekaHirwobmhpKXvcZ8pb0fJiIzlXwJwyY7AbHkDNtne1DvJWc5eZpNfNqL5nEFb94MLWWKacN_W-YxJuzQ9u3ogy4RIkLBo/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20230630.<br/>
12 songs. 41:06. <i>Grapes Upon the Vine</i> (2023)<br/>
Wikipedia (No article at the time of this post)<br/>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230715--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
Hmm. Interesting using of samples ("Higher Ground"); I have mixed feelings about it<br>
Peaceful sound (in part from the choir on loop) ("Heaven Over our Heads"); this use of the choir sound in this track is more pronounced compared to the use in "Grapes Upon the Vine"<br>
<br/>
3: "Shame";<br>
2: "Heaven Over our Heads";<br>
1: "The Night Time"; "Fire"; "99.5";<br/>
0: "I'll Be Faithful"; "All the Way Through"; "Hang On"; "Higher Ground"; "One of these Mornings"; "Big Black Void"; "Grapes Upon the Vine";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
Judging by the distribution of the ratings, I appeared to have had a strong opinion about how the songs compare to each other. However, despite the relatively higher distribution of values, I believe the overall rating would be better established by subtracting one from all the ratings. As such, I've gone ahead and done this, dropping the ratings by one and consolidating all the 1's with the existing 0's ("Hang On" and "Higher Ground").<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Shame"
<hr/>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/0SXtNBEYPTc7sXyLF9N7TT?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
<hr/>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-42831144944998553662023-07-15T21:29:00.000-07:002023-07-15T21:29:03.783-07:00Carly Rae Jepsen - The Loneliest Time (2022)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
Saw this album on Spotify<a name='more'></a>
<hr/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JH2Di070oxjydng3hRVqJLpbX06XWN_zR0it2hRDanrrCX6Mq4742o6zT0UPpWYeJNjRiu9mlx7XSsOnbuylRvydqkOKjtXM-2PLLSEGcWevir5fYK_oQTxlXKiWYlVCq7ygUxn7wtw3slnFCcy8zp8B8b6BIb4zwkJdKEjCit8H76_nXTNaVrTUNYQ/s4500/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="4500" data-original-width="4500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JH2Di070oxjydng3hRVqJLpbX06XWN_zR0it2hRDanrrCX6Mq4742o6zT0UPpWYeJNjRiu9mlx7XSsOnbuylRvydqkOKjtXM-2PLLSEGcWevir5fYK_oQTxlXKiWYlVCq7ygUxn7wtw3slnFCcy8zp8B8b6BIb4zwkJdKEjCit8H76_nXTNaVrTUNYQ/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20221021.<br/>
13 songs. 42:23. <i>The Loneliest Time</i> (2022)<br/>
13+1 songs. 42:23+04:02. <i>The Loneliest Time</i> (Target & HMV editions) (2022)<br/>
13+2 songs. 42:23+07:39. <i>The Loneliest Time</i> (Japan edition) (2022)<br/>
13+2+1 songs. 42:23+07:39+04:02. <i>The Loneliest Time</i> (Streaming edition) (2022)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Loneliest_Time">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230715--</i><br/>
First listen. Streaming edition.<br/>
I love the beat of this track ("Bad Thing Twice")<br>
<br/>
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the streaming edition.<br/>
3: "Talking to Yourself";<br>
2: "Surrender My Heart"; "Beach House"; "Go Find Yourself or Whatever";<br/>
1: "Far Away"; "Sideways"; "Western Wind"; "Bad Thing Twice"; <b>"Anxious"</b>; <b>"No Thinking Over the Weekend"</b>;<br/>
0: "Joshua Tree"; "Bends"; "So Nice"; "Shooting Star"; "The Loneliest Time" (ft. Rufus Wainwright); <b>"Keep Away"</b>;<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
Overall, this album had some strong beats. In particular, most of the tracks have an upbeat feel to them - though it's possible that the lyrics themselves are not necessarily upbeat.<br/>
<br>
Interestingly, while "The Loneliest Time" had the most plays of all the tracks on the album (the fourth and last single from the album), I had rated it a zero. I did, however, rate "Talking to Yourself" a three, and that track happens to have the second most plays. Apparently it is the third single from the album.<br>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.4/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Talking to Yourself"
<hr/>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/3l2Gi0hMjZV2uvKoWlFkoQ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
<hr/>
Billboard 200<br/>
Debut Date: 20221105 | Peak Date: 20221105 | Peak Position: 19 | Weeks on Chart: 1<br/>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-25131219879923503712023-07-15T09:10:00.001-07:002023-07-15T09:10:15.426-07:00Tame Impala - Currents (2015)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
#134 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20230617). Recommendended by a friend.<br/><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 134 | Peak: 4 | Weeks on Chart: 111
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<br/>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcDK0UIrAo2Pjn05HFy2mFvpb9dztCYVsVHGo7MncSzBPzKac3H38_K-cW_6QEAtbh2QTv6bzM5xI0v1B3mnQ0o-_F4TruBJ2GfK48VyUl6U-eekeVmCdlbJiYlajNIEqg137wqWZ2_xvfS2OUAzRyWTXhfEvj3Lfy9z-hheusVi67--jsdeACfiKSW0/s1500/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcDK0UIrAo2Pjn05HFy2mFvpb9dztCYVsVHGo7MncSzBPzKac3H38_K-cW_6QEAtbh2QTv6bzM5xI0v1B3mnQ0o-_F4TruBJ2GfK48VyUl6U-eekeVmCdlbJiYlajNIEqg137wqWZ2_xvfS2OUAzRyWTXhfEvj3Lfy9z-hheusVi67--jsdeACfiKSW0/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20150715.<br/>
13 songs. 51:12. <i>Currents</i> (2015)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currents_%28Tame_Impala_album%29">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230616--</i><br/>
First listen.<br>
<i>--20230617--</i><br/>
Continue with track 5.<br>
<i>--20230620--</i><br/>
Continue with track 10.<br/>
<i>--20230715--</i><br/>
Listen to unrated tracks<br>
<br/>
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.<br/>
3: "Let It Happen";<br>
2: "The Less I Know the Better";<br/>
1: "Yes I'm Changing"; "Reality In Motion"; "Love/Paranoia"; "New Person, Same Old Mistakes";<br/>
0: "Nangs"; "The Moment"; "Eventually"; "Gossip"; "Past Life"; "Disciples"; "'Cause I'm A Man";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
Overall, the album is chill to listen to, but I suppose my own taste in music at the moment leans towards more lyrical albums.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 3.8/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Let It Happen"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/79dL7FLiJFOO0EoehUHQBv?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-35472504402079366392023-06-14T21:51:00.002-07:002023-07-18T21:20:29.410-07:00blink-182 - blink-182 (2003)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
Various music including blink-182 was playing at a climbing gym and got me feeling nostalgic. I decided to listen to the album that contained "I Miss You".<a name='more'></a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdoX00wxXoPom-YecZjFnGZuEmpwVQaNSmywYbszZ7uIHPxbpkQjPS9rgNoIcwgOOqRwA7p_-2pGPLnAqWU67WwGTpuJNf2hEooHEmehUzV3y_B-rxksj-b7K2enoVCwrX5Tyfns43AWB3oFVYQH12edDBcWAzVdLS-e0tUCsljIsIMfom0QFmFOF/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdoX00wxXoPom-YecZjFnGZuEmpwVQaNSmywYbszZ7uIHPxbpkQjPS9rgNoIcwgOOqRwA7p_-2pGPLnAqWU67WwGTpuJNf2hEooHEmehUzV3y_B-rxksj-b7K2enoVCwrX5Tyfns43AWB3oFVYQH12edDBcWAzVdLS-e0tUCsljIsIMfom0QFmFOF/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20031118.<br/>
16 songs. 53:06 <i>blink-182</i>* (2003)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blink-182_%28album%29">Wikipedia</a><br/><br>
*According to Wikipedia, this album is also known as "untitled"<br>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230609--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
I love the echo/delay/overlap at the end. I'm curious if I ever noticed it before ("Feeling This")<br>
I don't recognize this song, but it has a cool start ("Violence")<br>
<i>--20230614--</i><br/>
Resume with fifth track.<br>
Ends with an awesome drum solo ("I'm Lost Without You")<br>
<br/>
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.<br/>
4: "I Miss You";<br>
3: "Feeling This";<br>
2: "Down"; "Always";<br/>
1: "Obvious"; "Violence"; "All of This"; "I'm Lost Without You"; "Anthem Part Two - Live In Chicago";<br/>
0: "Stockholm Syndrome"; "The Fallen Interlude"; "Go"; "Asthenia"; "Easy Target"; "Here's Your Letter";<br/>
N: "Stockholm Syndrome Interlude";<br>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
This album had some good tracks, and often stays close to the general sound of <i>Enema of the State</i> - at least from what I recall. With that being said, my intuition is that <i>Enema of the State</i> would be the better album. Absent of listening to the album, indications of this can be found via Billboard 200 and the band's most popular songs on Spotify. For example, three tracks from <i>Enema of the State</i> currently occupy the first, second, and seventh positions, while only two tracks from this album occupy the third and eighth position ("I Miss You" and "Feeling This", respectively). Aside from the comparison, I feel like this album has less energy overall and I'd almost only want to listen to "I Miss You" and "Feeling This" - perhaps with "Always" thrown in every now and then.<br>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 3.8/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "I Miss You"<br/>
<hr/>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/4hBTxv4QRPePXCFcEI7Vjp?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
<hr/>
Billboard 200<br/>
Debut Date: 20031206 | Peak Date: 20031206 | Peak Position: 3 | Weeks on Chart: 47<br/>
Billboard Listing: Blink-182 - Blink-182 - [n/a]Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-54249882690054379482023-06-06T22:00:00.004-07:002023-06-09T20:03:49.618-07:00Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
Exploring led to me to Madonna's artist page where I decided to listen to this album<a name='more'></a>
<hr/>
I recognize the album cover and likely I listened to this in college.<br/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4X4XaWzzPG6WXW8lTfKJ1yzogx5UjItln2ielvhaUAG_7WLlplwsbNot1BJfe0OAKXGlQvH6nAUIu5EQyyLYsmtdQwKQQMzaGLp8ajdktNmfPfhuAxGNUPW7nyg3t3yVpLqIPgCfvWQaPL-MOg8u7PdPucQkLtd5OTtBCrn9dhWohRrFBj9ZEH3g/s1425/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4X4XaWzzPG6WXW8lTfKJ1yzogx5UjItln2ielvhaUAG_7WLlplwsbNot1BJfe0OAKXGlQvH6nAUIu5EQyyLYsmtdQwKQQMzaGLp8ajdktNmfPfhuAxGNUPW7nyg3t3yVpLqIPgCfvWQaPL-MOg8u7PdPucQkLtd5OTtBCrn9dhWohRrFBj9ZEH3g/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20051109.<br/>
12 songs. 56:28. <i>Confessions on a Dance Floor</i> (2005)<br/>
12 songs. 55:57. <i>Confessions on a Dance Floor</i> (Unmixed edition) (2005)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_on_a_Dance_Floor">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230606--</i><br/>
First listen. Standard edition.<br/>
Huh. This song sounds like a strange mash-up of many songs. And at first in a weird way, but it grew on me ("Push Me")<br>
<i>--20230608--</i><br>
Second listen. Standard edition.<br>
Moved "Hung Up" from 2 to 3.<br>
Moved "Sorry" from 1 to 2<br>
Moved "Jump" from a 1 to 2<br>
Moved "Isaac" from 0 to 1<br>
<i>--20230609--</i><br>
Continue with track 5, "I Love New York"<br><br>
<br/>
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.<br/>
3: "Hung Up";<br>
2: "Sorry"; "Future Lovers"; "Jump";<br/>
1: "Forbidden Love"; "Isaac"; "Push";<br/>
0: "Get Together"; "I Love New York"; "Let It Will Be"; "Like It or Not";<br/>
-1: "How High";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
This album had some good beats, and has a heavy focus on being a dance album. However, perhaps I was not in the mood for such an album and felt it was mostly an average listening experience.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 3.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Hung Up"<br/>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/1hg0pQJLE9dzfT1kgZtDPr?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
<hr/>
Billboard 200<br/>
Debut Date: 20051203 | Peak Date: 20051203 | Peak Position: 1 (1 weeks) | Weeks on Chart: 37<br/>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-30021093455350887572023-01-09T23:11:00.005-08:002023-01-09T23:32:24.495-08:00King Princess - Hold on Baby (2022)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
Listened to the first four singles, and I love the track "1950".<a name='more'></a>
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<br/>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNKUtUeW0f1ZcWzt8h6m6uchfT1VBejIanIlOr7UceaTKXw-vFHbnkyx9UlG-eqJyh1-3R1a400-DF3rlLTaMF3V5MOvuck06Q4l5fTWgdweAINRMHILBJSuGfAQBZbpnNcYRTOOiwXpSD-7Xbhx54XjsRiy_7f3N4CM4-TaZrmEoo_00Nqqg-zjn/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNKUtUeW0f1ZcWzt8h6m6uchfT1VBejIanIlOr7UceaTKXw-vFHbnkyx9UlG-eqJyh1-3R1a400-DF3rlLTaMF3V5MOvuck06Q4l5fTWgdweAINRMHILBJSuGfAQBZbpnNcYRTOOiwXpSD-7Xbhx54XjsRiy_7f3N4CM4-TaZrmEoo_00Nqqg-zjn/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20220729.<br/>
12 songs. 40:34. <i>Hold On Baby</i> (2020)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hold_On_Baby">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20220719--</i><br/>
Looking for something to listen to on the way home from work, I saw a recommendation for King Princess: <i>Change the Locks</i>. It turns out it was the first four singles for this album which is scheduled to be released on 20220729.* I decided to defer making a post at the time.<br/>
<i>--20230108--</i><br/>
First listen.<br>
That's a nice line: "Summer is cold, and winter is hopeful" ("Winter is Hopeful")<br>
<br/>
2: "Cursed"; "Winter is Hopeful"; "Little Brother" (ft. Foushee); "Change the Locks";<br/>
1: "I Hate Myself, I Want to Party"; "Crowbar"; "Too Bad";<br/>
0: "For My Friends"; "Dotted Lines"; "Sex Shop";<br/>
N: "Hold on Baby Interlude";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
Given how much I enjoyed "1950", my expectations were set high. Unfortunately, since the album generally doesn't sound like "1950", I was a little disappointed. Objectively, "1950" has been around for almost five years with over 500M plays on Spotify while "Little Brother" which is almost a year old only has a 5.8M plays. From a different point of view, "1950" is an exceptionally high-performing song.** However, taking a step back and considering the album separately, it was a solid set of songs which collectively carry a certain gravity, which is great for a specific mood.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 3.8/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Winter is Hopeful"<br>
<br>
*Note that the third single consists of two tracks, "Too Bad" and "Cursed". The other tracks are "Little Brother" (first single), "For My Friends" (second single), and "Change the Locks" (fourth single).<br>
**For an external comparison, Maggie Roger's most played track on Spotify, "Light On", has 194M plays and is 4.25 years old.
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/3Q998ztjKK3ybjToj0QL9c?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
<hr/>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-44657003437469044412023-01-08T21:55:00.001-08:002023-01-08T21:56:10.429-08:00Ari Lennox - age/sex/location (2022)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
Went to the new releases section on Spotify and spotted this album.<a name='more'></a>
<hr/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS_YCIVI4KYBj3ImignFM1Z1h_6FFVIMTWci279XLqPmdQCHfFWjiPNUyv6c14-QOULoQEiaerit-ZYM2PBg-x9mPDLVECIZ4u_0orgFHD0da41EKmjU1D7HJW10ypchS1Cr7ZCBxPFzkpoyTxMQViD46EcGNBQqBoyScW9fyR0cy2B3r8PsN0dbv/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS_YCIVI4KYBj3ImignFM1Z1h_6FFVIMTWci279XLqPmdQCHfFWjiPNUyv6c14-QOULoQEiaerit-ZYM2PBg-x9mPDLVECIZ4u_0orgFHD0da41EKmjU1D7HJW10ypchS1Cr7ZCBxPFzkpoyTxMQViD46EcGNBQqBoyScW9fyR0cy2B3r8PsN0dbv/s400/Folder.jpg"/></a></div>
<br/>
Released 20220909.<br/>
12 songs. 41:23. <i>age/sex/location</i> (2022)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age/Sex/Location_%28album%29">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20220913--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
Soothing background music ("Mean Mug")<br>
<i>--20230108--</i><br/>
Second listen.<br>
<br/>
2: "Pressure"; "Leak It" (ft. Chloe);<br/>
1: "POF"; "Waste My Time"; "Mean Mug"; "Boy Bye" (ft. Lucky Daye); "Queen Space" (with Summer Walker);<br/>
0: "Hoodie"; "Stop By"; "Outside"; "Blocking You";<br/>
N: "A/S/L - Interlude";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
In addition to being less familiar with R&B, I'm also not as accustomed to Ari Lennox's type of voice. I would describe it as having a bit of a "whine". With that being said, while the album wasn't my favorite, I found it a decent listening experience.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 3.6/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Songs:</b> "Pressure" and "Leak It" (ft. Chloe)
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/7dE9Pf7HRgMOCeVSWnA9ZC?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
<hr/>
Billboard 200<br/>
Peak Date: 20220924 | Peak Position: 69 | Weeks on Chart: 1 | Debut Date: 20220924<br/>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-65369827617118710482023-01-08T15:32:00.002-08:002023-01-08T15:36:53.701-08:00Taylor Swift - Midnights (2022)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br />
Taylor Swift releases great music.<a name='more'></a>
#2 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20230107).<br />
Last Week: 2 | Peak: 1 | Weeks on Chart: 10
<hr />
I'm a little surprised I didn't listen to this album closer to its release. Interestingly, the only track from the album I have scrobbled occurred one day before I first listened to the album ("Anti-Hero" was scrobbled on Jan 5th at 11:15am).
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduB9g6I3cyhOhzWoufCKGSTbsHn-LNAffEhEocPZQodgh8R66gw4SzGjASM9OSK2FSx6y5UyM3SRkDpGWhK6A5q9P1-xPcImm-pH-fx5PpzXcHKduVfXMxny0QkxhHvabxyuh_0femBudCqUiXgOjtayA7ojBM45kydAGxsOvYZn08C-zwmjPMpYn/s3000/Folder.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduB9g6I3cyhOhzWoufCKGSTbsHn-LNAffEhEocPZQodgh8R66gw4SzGjASM9OSK2FSx6y5UyM3SRkDpGWhK6A5q9P1-xPcImm-pH-fx5PpzXcHKduVfXMxny0QkxhHvabxyuh_0femBudCqUiXgOjtayA7ojBM45kydAGxsOvYZn08C-zwmjPMpYn/s400/Folder.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Album cover (Standard Edition)</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br />
Released 20221021.<br />
13 songs. 44:02. <i>Midnights</i> (2022)<br />
13+7 songs. 44:02+15:18. <i>Midnights</i> (3am Edition) (2022)<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnights">Wikipedia</a>
<hr />
<b>Notes:</b><br />
<i>--20230106--</i><br />
First listen.<br />
I'm on the fence about this song. At the least, it has elements I really like. In particular, I like the story and overall sound ("Vigilante Shit")<br />
Note that there was a small segment or two which reminded me of another song by Swift - though I can't put my finger on which<br />
The ups and downs of "Bejeweled" remind me of "The Man"<br />
Second listen. 3am Edition.<br />
Move "Lavendar Haze" from a "1" to a "2"<br />
<i>--20230108--</i><br />
Move "Maroon" from a "2" to a "1"<br />
After "Anti-Hero", I move "Maroon" back to a "2" and move "Lavender Haze" up to a "3".<br />
Listened to the additional tracks for a second time.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5mtFiLbpAYIVWb30BRmQRK2SVr-UR7DEkmBJ7c4CxZLo1MKHYGDkOUVX1wQVIzUnnuoQvlcCcQIYZUbJ_mkei8VNdxL5HXoZRQjAyGTpa_Ul527I7sjjHeqTG_xW3OIu4odC4fEUnsEHRT55lgOGwjy6mQJWAc464LtX0UBkiJ3bQ-Ga3lMnc1eK/s3000/Folder%20%282%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5mtFiLbpAYIVWb30BRmQRK2SVr-UR7DEkmBJ7c4CxZLo1MKHYGDkOUVX1wQVIzUnnuoQvlcCcQIYZUbJ_mkei8VNdxL5HXoZRQjAyGTpa_Ul527I7sjjHeqTG_xW3OIu4odC4fEUnsEHRT55lgOGwjy6mQJWAc464LtX0UBkiJ3bQ-Ga3lMnc1eK/s400/Folder%20%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Album cover (3am Edition)</td></tr></tbody></table>
<br />
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the 3am Edition.<br />
3: "Lavender Haze";<br />
2: "Maroon"; "Anti-Hero"; "Snow on the Beach" (ft. Lana Del Ray); "Question...?"; "Vigilante Shit"; "Karma"; "Sweet Nothing"; <b>"Glitch"</b>;<br />
1: "Midnight Rain"; <b>"The Great War"</b>; <b>"Bigger Than the Whole Sky"</b>; <b>"Paris"</b>; <b>"High Infidelity"</b>; <b>"Dear Reader"</b>;<br />
0: "You're On Your Own, Kid"; "Bejeweled"; "Labyrinth"; "Mastermind"; <b>"Would've, Could've, Should've"</b>;<br />
<br />
<b>Summary:</b><br />
As I was listening to this album, I was occasionally thought of Lorde's <i>Solar Power</i> (album). In particular, "Karma" had me thinking of Lorde's "Solar Power" (song). While the album does not feel like an album I would listen to frequently after the first listen, it felt very cohesive in sound. Furthermore, it's a relaxing vibe which has me leaning towards a somewhat high rating. As such, I feel the album hovers around a 4.4 out of 5.<br />
<br />
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.4/5<br />
<b>Overall Rating (3am Edition):</b> 4.2/5<br />
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Lavendar Haze"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="380" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/151w1FgRZfnKZA9FEcg9Z3?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius: 12px;" width="100%"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-70984867905829932982023-01-06T19:26:00.001-08:002023-01-06T19:30:58.788-08:00Post Malone - Twelve Carat Toothache (2022)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
Randomly came cross this release, and I've generally enjoyed his music.<a name='more'></a>
#141 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20220107).<br/>
Last Week: 143 | Peak: 2 | Weeks on Chart: 30
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Released 20220603.<br/>
14 songs. 43:18. <i>Twelve Carat Toothache</i> (2022)<br/>
14+2 songs. 43:18+06:14. <i>Twelve Carat Toothache</i> (Deluxe) (2022)<br/>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Carat_Toothache">Wikipedia</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20220922--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
Listened to the first seven tracks.<br>
<i>--20230106--</i><br/>
First complete listen. Deluxe edition.<br/>
Huh. Given the other tracks, it was a big surprise to get a track with a drastically different beat ("One Right Now")<br>
<br>
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.<br/>
3: "I Like You (A Happier Song)" (ft. Doja Cat)*; "One Right Now" (with The Weeknd);<br>
2: "Cooped Up" (ft. Roddy Ricch)*; "Lemon Tree"; <b>"Waiting for Never"</b>;<br/>
1: "Reputation"; "Wrapped Around Your Finger"; "I Cannot Be (A Sadder Song)" (ft. Gunna)*; "Love/Hate Letter To Alcohol" (ft. Fleet Foxes)*; "Wasting Angels" (ft. The Kid LAROI)*;<br/>
0: "Insane"; "Euthanasia"; "When I'm Alone"; "Waiting for a Miracle"; "new Recording 12, Jan 3, 2020"; <b>"Hateful"</b>;<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
This album is a departure from Post Malone's previous albums. Unfortunately, my expectation for both a similar sound and level of enjoyment results in a perceived experience of about 4.0 out of 5 stars.<br/>
<br/>
During my initial ratings, "One Right Now" was a "3" and "I Like You (Happier Song)" was only a "2". This didn't make sense as the latter is an enjoyable song, and one that I happen to like just a bit more than the former.<br>
<br>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "I Like You (Happier Song)" (ft. Doja Cat)<br>
<br>
*Wikipedia lists these tracks as "[song title] (featuring [artist name])" whereas Spotify lists them as "[song title] (with [artist name])". The only track where Wikipedia also uses "with" is "One Right Now".
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/50MzJhO0pMjTsfpeOmZ1so?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-31804325790554141092023-01-06T18:20:00.001-08:002023-01-06T19:27:27.920-08:00Perry Como - Greatest Christmas Songs (1999)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
#64 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20221231).<br/><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 44 | Peak: 44 | Weeks on Chart: 6
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Released 19990820.<br/>
21 songs. 60:04. <i>Greatest Christmas Songs</i> (1999)<br/>
Wikipedia (No article at the time of this post)<br>
<a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/12198015-Perry-Como-Greatest-Christmas-Songs">Discogs</a>
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230103--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
Whoa. I love the bells on this track. This version sounds so merry ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas")<br>
<i>--20230106--</i><br/>
Continued listening.<br>
<br/>
3: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"; "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" (1954 Version);<br/>
2: "White Christmas" (1959 Version); "Do You Hear What I Hear"; "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (with The Fontane Sisters and Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra); "Winter Wonderland" (1959 Version); "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"; "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (with Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra) (1953 Version); "Ave Maria";<br>
1: "Christmas Bells"; "Frosty the Snowman"; "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)"; "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1959 Version); "O Holy Night" (1968 Version); "The Twelve Days of Christmas";<br/>
0: "Christ Is Born"; "Silver Bells"; "There is No CHristmas Like a Home Christmas"; "Some Children See Him"; "Love is A Christmas Rose"; "The Little Drummer Boy";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
It's hard not to enjoy tracks sung by Perry Como (more generally, it's hard not to enjoy the broader intimate vocal style which was popular in the 1950s*). Overall, the album consists mainly of classic holiday songs (at least relative to today's music), but the nature of the genre makes it so that one doesn't always notice when one track ends and another begins. It's a particular kind of listening experience.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 4.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"<br>
<br>
*Apparently the "intimate singing style" was first started by Bing Crosby. The Wikipedia article for Crosby lists some artists influenced by the style: "Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Dick Haymes, Elvis Presley, and John Lennon."
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/4lculT3R9mxFqdmXOCLuY7?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6479685115750306967.post-1348121086748970542023-01-03T10:31:00.004-08:002023-01-03T11:02:43.011-08:00Andrea Bocelli, Matteo Bocelli, Virginia Bocelli - A Family Christmas (2022)<b>Reason for Listening:</b><br/>
#32 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20221231).<br/><a name='more'></a>
Last Week: 52 | Peak: 22 | Weeks on Chart: 4<br>
Billboard Listing: A Family Christmas - Matteo, Andrea & Virginia Bocelli - [below album cover]
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<br/>
Released 20221021.<br/>
13 songs. 42:SS. <i>A Family Christmas</i> (2022)<br/>
Wikipedia (No article at the time of this post)
<hr/>
<b>Notes:</b><br/>
<i>--20230103--</i><br/>
First listen.<br/>
I like this cover of "Feliz Navidad";<br>
<br/>
Songs in <b>bold</b> are the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.<br/>
3: "Feliz Navidad";<br>
2: "Do You Hear What I Hear?"; "The Greatest Gift"; "When Christmas Comes to Town";<br/>
1: "Away in a Manger"; "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"; "Over the Rainbow"; "Happy Xmas (War is Over)"; "I'll Be Home for Christmas";<br/>
0: "The First Noel"; "Buon Natale A Tutto Il Mondo"; "Joy to the World"; "Il Giorno Piu Speciale";<br/>
<br/>
<b>Summary:</b><br/>
This album has some good versions of holiday classics, but also some versions which I didn't improve on existing versions by other artists. As such, I think the overall album is an average listening experience - but I'd add some of the tracks to a holiday playlist.<br/>
<br/>
<b>Overall Rating:</b> 3.0/5<br/>
<b>Favorite Song:</b> "Feliz Navidad"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/5q3BRC7sphYO3vIhAsOTFc?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Timothy Cao Tranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18081889649195236668noreply@blogger.com0