COMPLETE - The Indie/Alt Pop/Not-quite-'Mainstream'-but-still-accessible Girls 2017 Rate!!1
- Thread starter constantino
- Start date
74. HAIM - Walking Away
I always gag at Miss Este in this photo - yas bitch!
I knew this would happen so I didn't participate.
She/her
In my personal list, Walking Away was number 3. A catasrophically low placement. I new it was doomed so I gave my 11 to something that hopefully has more of a chance.
Ready for the entire MUNA album to be out already.
F
Former member 21294
Oh wow. Guess it did a lot better than what i thought it would do. Honestly still, what a powerful song. I love how it ends up on a positive note as it literally takes the listener from the edge of that roof. Her pen is so fucking good that i shiver in awe and adoration every time i play some of her material, this being one of them.
And this is why comparing her with someone like Amanda Palmer who is a joke at the moment feels so unfair to Annie's material.
And this is juuust wrong.
Um, i think tf not. It is the perfect bookend for an album that mainly talks about the future being so dreary and fragile, a relationship that failed because of addiction, emotional abuse on top of that the narrator's feeling of self worth. I can't imagine a closer elevating a record so much that the record reaches a new high than Smoking Section does for masseduction (That is also another reason why sometimes i wish the record was called Fear the Future)
Anyway if you need me, i'm in my happy place.
And this is why comparing her with someone like Amanda Palmer who is a joke at the moment feels so unfair to Annie's material.
Annie i'm so sorry sweetie.
And this is juuust wrong.
Um, i think tf not. It is the perfect bookend for an album that mainly talks about the future being so dreary and fragile, a relationship that failed because of addiction, emotional abuse on top of that the narrator's feeling of self worth. I can't imagine a closer elevating a record so much that the record reaches a new high than Smoking Section does for masseduction (That is also another reason why sometimes i wish the record was called Fear the Future)
Anyway if you need me, i'm in my happy place.
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F
Former member 21294
People coming for Muna before we've even hit the top 40, get taste.
Morning! I've decided to break tradition by going forward with 2-cuts-a-day until the top 10, so we can arrive at the top 40 by Friday and give me some time to revise for my exams next week. Here's your first cut of the day:
44. Charli XCX - Dreamer (featuring Starrah and RAYE)
same.
Average: 7.640
High: 10 x 9 (@enjoy @Sanctuary @Petty Mayonnaise @haps @Hurricane Drunk @MiChiMadNesS @Jonathan27 @gagapourgaga @RUNAWAY)
Low: 3 x 2 (@LE0Night @Sprockrooster)
My score: 8
10 voters in: 39
20 voters in: 51
30 voters in: 43
40 voters in: 41
50 voters in: 43
60 voters in: 40
Anyone spot a trend? We’ve gone from big droppers and risers to songs that barely budged throughout the voting period, an indication of the gap in quality we’ve jumped now that we’re in the top 50. Indeed, this was teetering around the top 40 threshold but couldn’t quite sneak in there. I’m surprised this wasn’t more popular; when the album first dropped, I expected it to be the highest ranked track because of how strong the reactions were. Not quite sure what happened but I can't say I'm too mad about this missing the top 40...it hasn't aged as well as Lipgloss or ILY2 for me.
This is probably one of the most classically ‘pop’ songs in the entire rate with a HUGE chorus, hence my surprise at it missing the top 40. A lot of pop music fans get turned off by the seemingly shallow ‘look at how successful I am’ banger and it’s connotations with hip hop culture, but the fact that this is performed by 3 badass women makes it all work for me. Charli snapped. Starrah snapped. RAYE snapped (where’s the album, queen?). Despite the repetition of the chorus, the production repeatedly ups the anti and creates a clear progression by the time the track closes with the help of some clattering PC Music soundscapes joining the party.
As a man of taste, it is no surprise that A.G. Cook stans:
This wasn't the first track that Charli & I worked on for Number 1 Angel, but it was the first one that got us excited enough to really consider doing an entire mixtape. The instrumental was an old one that I'd made sometime in 2016, and it was always called 'Dreamer' (it actually had a twin called 'Screamer' - one was harsh and one was dreeeaaammy) and so Charli just rolled with the title and turned it into a whole song. The topline that Charli came up with is a perfect example of what she's so great at - it's feels super casual & effortless, but it's filled with all these nuances and angles that actually make it catchy.
The feats...! Starrah has been responsible for so many amazing songs over the last couple of years, it's pretty mindblowing! Whenever I become aware of a new songwriter or topliner, I really enjoy tracing their work as it moves between different artists. Take some of the songs that Starrah has written: Needed Me, Pick Up The Phone, Pass Dat, Fake Love, 2 Phones, Regret In Your Tears...! Each one really embodies the artists involved, but you can always hear Starrah's voice & style coming through. Raye has a really different writing style, so it's really satisfying to hear how she take's Starrah's flow as a starting point, then just goes crazy with it. A really skilful balance between complex rhythms & IDGAF delivery. Dream vocals!
Now, onto some fairly scathing commentary:
Sprockrooster (3) recounts the sound of my chainsaw approaching him as he slept after I received his Charli scores: Jesus. Christ. What a fucking noise.
Trouble in Paradise (3.5) is fresh out the beammmaaaaaaahhhh with some shade: A totally inane song, the rappers are fine enough, but the only thing I remember after listening is how much the beamer line grated on me.
The usually openminded kalonite (5) likens this to 'a constant repetitive drone and I'm just not here for it.'
happiestgirl (5) calls it a bop...and then proceeds to read it: A bop, but the autotune and her voice (and RAYE’s whole verse) are very irritating. Make up your damn mind.
Stradiwhovius (6) does that 'I was expected this to be bad and so can't give it too much credit' shit that I HATE (and kinda did with the P!nk album oop): More of a bop and less annoying than I wanted it to be. Well done. *grumbles*
Cassava (6): This exemplifies a lot of this album for me. Solidly good in the background but nowhere near the great I know she can be. I mean, I disagree but POP2 is definitely a bit more of a front-and-centre kinda project.
mokitsu (6.5) agreed: ‘This was my favorite when this tape came out but it's kinda tired now lol. The rap verses are trash.’ The only thing about this that’s trash is your opinion of it, lol.
CorgICorgiCorgi (7) gives the good sis RAYE some praise: This is kind of a racket. But I love RAYE.
Michael17 (7) continues to be WRONG: Raye’s verse is really weak. I also think Charli’s performance is really soulless. Pretty weak, but it is quite fun to bop to.
Kuhleezi (7) highlights Charlotte's wonderful diction, an underrated faction of her artistry, I must say: I feel the verses drag this down a tad too much. Her overtly excessive British pronunciation will never not be amazing.
Bleedingheart80 (8): That chorus is amazing and sticks in my head long after the song is finished. FINALLY SOME CREDIT FOR THE CHORUS.
I wasn't totally there with Bangers&Bops (8) but I understand what you mean now: This song is what ultra pop would be if it were designed in the universe of Twin Peaks or Stranger Things. With a dark and ethereal background, the "Dreamer" title holds up. With a twinge of M.I.A., the album opener has a lose yourself, dance club vibe.
sfmartin (9) aptly calls it ‘a confident and catchy opener. Makes a clear statement of intent for the album from the outset.’
ufint (9) is another that highlights ‘that chorus and those delicious harmonies, [they’re] angelic and nearly perfect.’
Slaybellz (9) praises THE best part of the song: I love RAYE’s verse so much. She's got bars. Buy and stream ‘I, U, Us’ NOW!
Haps (10) gave me SO MUCH to work with by merely writing 'raw and really cool.' In keeping with my new year's resolution, I've decided to NOT be messy.
44. Charli XCX - Dreamer (featuring Starrah and RAYE)
same.
Average: 7.640
High: 10 x 9 (@enjoy @Sanctuary @Petty Mayonnaise @haps @Hurricane Drunk @MiChiMadNesS @Jonathan27 @gagapourgaga @RUNAWAY)
Low: 3 x 2 (@LE0Night @Sprockrooster)
My score: 8
10 voters in: 39
20 voters in: 51
30 voters in: 43
40 voters in: 41
50 voters in: 43
60 voters in: 40
Anyone spot a trend? We’ve gone from big droppers and risers to songs that barely budged throughout the voting period, an indication of the gap in quality we’ve jumped now that we’re in the top 50. Indeed, this was teetering around the top 40 threshold but couldn’t quite sneak in there. I’m surprised this wasn’t more popular; when the album first dropped, I expected it to be the highest ranked track because of how strong the reactions were. Not quite sure what happened but I can't say I'm too mad about this missing the top 40...it hasn't aged as well as Lipgloss or ILY2 for me.
This is probably one of the most classically ‘pop’ songs in the entire rate with a HUGE chorus, hence my surprise at it missing the top 40. A lot of pop music fans get turned off by the seemingly shallow ‘look at how successful I am’ banger and it’s connotations with hip hop culture, but the fact that this is performed by 3 badass women makes it all work for me. Charli snapped. Starrah snapped. RAYE snapped (where’s the album, queen?). Despite the repetition of the chorus, the production repeatedly ups the anti and creates a clear progression by the time the track closes with the help of some clattering PC Music soundscapes joining the party.
As a man of taste, it is no surprise that A.G. Cook stans:
This wasn't the first track that Charli & I worked on for Number 1 Angel, but it was the first one that got us excited enough to really consider doing an entire mixtape. The instrumental was an old one that I'd made sometime in 2016, and it was always called 'Dreamer' (it actually had a twin called 'Screamer' - one was harsh and one was dreeeaaammy) and so Charli just rolled with the title and turned it into a whole song. The topline that Charli came up with is a perfect example of what she's so great at - it's feels super casual & effortless, but it's filled with all these nuances and angles that actually make it catchy.
The feats...! Starrah has been responsible for so many amazing songs over the last couple of years, it's pretty mindblowing! Whenever I become aware of a new songwriter or topliner, I really enjoy tracing their work as it moves between different artists. Take some of the songs that Starrah has written: Needed Me, Pick Up The Phone, Pass Dat, Fake Love, 2 Phones, Regret In Your Tears...! Each one really embodies the artists involved, but you can always hear Starrah's voice & style coming through. Raye has a really different writing style, so it's really satisfying to hear how she take's Starrah's flow as a starting point, then just goes crazy with it. A really skilful balance between complex rhythms & IDGAF delivery. Dream vocals!
Now, onto some fairly scathing commentary:
Sprockrooster (3) recounts the sound of my chainsaw approaching him as he slept after I received his Charli scores: Jesus. Christ. What a fucking noise.
Trouble in Paradise (3.5) is fresh out the beammmaaaaaaahhhh with some shade: A totally inane song, the rappers are fine enough, but the only thing I remember after listening is how much the beamer line grated on me.
The usually openminded kalonite (5) likens this to 'a constant repetitive drone and I'm just not here for it.'
happiestgirl (5) calls it a bop...and then proceeds to read it: A bop, but the autotune and her voice (and RAYE’s whole verse) are very irritating. Make up your damn mind.
Stradiwhovius (6) does that 'I was expected this to be bad and so can't give it too much credit' shit that I HATE (and kinda did with the P!nk album oop): More of a bop and less annoying than I wanted it to be. Well done. *grumbles*
Cassava (6): This exemplifies a lot of this album for me. Solidly good in the background but nowhere near the great I know she can be. I mean, I disagree but POP2 is definitely a bit more of a front-and-centre kinda project.
mokitsu (6.5) agreed: ‘This was my favorite when this tape came out but it's kinda tired now lol. The rap verses are trash.’ The only thing about this that’s trash is your opinion of it, lol.
CorgICorgiCorgi (7) gives the good sis RAYE some praise: This is kind of a racket. But I love RAYE.
Michael17 (7) continues to be WRONG: Raye’s verse is really weak. I also think Charli’s performance is really soulless. Pretty weak, but it is quite fun to bop to.
Kuhleezi (7) highlights Charlotte's wonderful diction, an underrated faction of her artistry, I must say: I feel the verses drag this down a tad too much. Her overtly excessive British pronunciation will never not be amazing.
Bleedingheart80 (8): That chorus is amazing and sticks in my head long after the song is finished. FINALLY SOME CREDIT FOR THE CHORUS.
I wasn't totally there with Bangers&Bops (8) but I understand what you mean now: This song is what ultra pop would be if it were designed in the universe of Twin Peaks or Stranger Things. With a dark and ethereal background, the "Dreamer" title holds up. With a twinge of M.I.A., the album opener has a lose yourself, dance club vibe.
sfmartin (9) aptly calls it ‘a confident and catchy opener. Makes a clear statement of intent for the album from the outset.’
ufint (9) is another that highlights ‘that chorus and those delicious harmonies, [they’re] angelic and nearly perfect.’
Slaybellz (9) praises THE best part of the song: I love RAYE’s verse so much. She's got bars. Buy and stream ‘I, U, Us’ NOW!
Haps (10) gave me SO MUCH to work with by merely writing 'raw and really cool.' In keeping with my new year's resolution, I've decided to NOT be messy.
Last edited:
F
Former member 21294
I’m too numb to post the “i’m disgusted” gif but yeah, i’m disgusted.
Honestly, Dreamer is top 5 in the entire rate for me. It fucking bangs. I wonder whether it's been done dirty by the dominant style of this rate being quite specifically indie-pop through and through - not many hip-hop leaning PJers will have voted I'd imagine.
F
Former member 21294
I reckon recency bias would've served it well, but Delicious would've been done wrong.
