LISTEN V. RATE: The Official GRIMES Rate (WINNER REVEALED!)
- Thread starter Raichu
- Start date
#7
PIN
9.416666667
My Score: 10
(@HappyBirthday, @constantino: 11, @Raichu, @japanbonustrack, @Untouchable Ace, @caladan, @enjoy, @happiestgirl, @Posh Spears: 10) HIGHEST V. LOWEST (@Xanax: 7)
For me, "Pin's" #7 placement is probably the biggest surprise of the rate. I expected Top 20, but I didn't think it had any chance at Top 10. But it certainly deserves it. "Pin" is one of those songs that don't necessarily seem like a lot at first, especially compared to the likes of "Kill V Main" or "Flesh Without Blood" or any of Art Angel's other epic tracks, but it slowly unveiled itself to me, eventually becoming one of my absolute favorites. It's such a concentrated blast of energy, with some killer drum patterns after the first "It was too good to be true." There's something kinda punky and gothy about it, but only in a superficial way. It's a song for punk rockers and goths who secretly love the most sugary pop music. Despite some of its rock elements, this is fucking cotton candy for the ear, boasting some of Art Angel's sweetest and most delicious melodies. In true Grimes fashion, the song's bright and poppy surface hides some complicated and darker emotions: in this case, a relationship that's both thrilling and toxic and ultimately unsustainable. So there's some emotional complexity here, but I mostly go to this song for sonic reasons. The second "it was too good too be true" doesn't catapult my wig as far as the chorus of "Artangels" does, but it's close.
happiestgirl (10) is perhaps hearing that banshee Grimes sings about because she says, ""This is shrieking done RIGHT." Meanwhile, Trouble in Paradise (9.5) relates to the lyrics on a personal level: "One of my favorite songs of Grimes lyrically with a some killer production as well. This song always makes me think of one of my best friends who I’ve recently lost contact with. We were the only two gay guys in our friend group and it always felt like we’d have each other to go through life with in a completely platonic sort of way. Now that he has a fiancee, I barely see him and get the whole “it was too good to be true” bit a little too well." For somebody who leans so much into weirdness, Grimes does show quite a bit of insight when it comes to human relationships. Cutlery (9) also relates to it on a personal level: "In a similar fashion than Sagrad, Pin just clicked with me during summer last year (after a bad experience with a close friend, nonetheless). It’s got the same pop-rock feeling of Flesh, but adding much more fleshed out (pun intended) lyrical content that makes it a lot more evocative of the feelings related to breaking up a friendship, particularly due to drug abuse. The second verse is one of the best things in the album honestly; kiss me with a big knife killing me instantly a bit." So does Xanax (7): "So sweet, yet somehow sad song? I don’t know… this really makes me feel so many things. Always have to smile when the safety-pin-part starts because thats exactly what I did with a friend ages ago." That's why I'm glad to be a Pokemon. Our relationships are simple! Like good friends, songs like "Pin" don't come around often. So says caladan (10): ""It was too good to be true". Indeed. You can't find songs like "Pin" on every corner. A real gem." Something else you don't see every day? Posh Spears (10) commentary, so listen up, girls: "Adorable, immaculately produced, heartfelt pop. I know that sentence describes most of Art Angels, but this is easily one of the best songs here and one of my all-time favorite Grimes songs in general. My second 11, no doubt. I wish it weren’t overlooked so often." We certainly didn't overlook it in this rate. Pin truly did that.
Now let's turn our attention to those two voters who deemed Pin worthy of their 11s:
"The break just makes everything feel so wonderful doesn’t it? The production is so light and yet it still carries bite, especially in the middle 8. And then the CHORUS, hunty, I lose it every time. This carries such a warmth and nostalgic quality for me, despite this album coming out at one of my lowest points, so my 11 it gets."---constantino (11).
"My first paying DJ gig I arrived very early so I could set up the speakers and blast this as I ran around the room in triumph."---HappyBirthday (11).
YouTube Comments Section
Aleyna Thrift: I've been listening to every song on this album, every single day, sometimes 5x in one day, for almost a year
Jo Pearson: I've been sitting here, planning my life with a notepad and pen, with this album playing in the background. I'm having a lovely day. I hope yours has been lovely too!
Matthew Funke: we've all been here girls.. amirite
PIN
9.416666667
My Score: 10
(@HappyBirthday, @constantino: 11, @Raichu, @japanbonustrack, @Untouchable Ace, @caladan, @enjoy, @happiestgirl, @Posh Spears: 10) HIGHEST V. LOWEST (@Xanax: 7)
For me, "Pin's" #7 placement is probably the biggest surprise of the rate. I expected Top 20, but I didn't think it had any chance at Top 10. But it certainly deserves it. "Pin" is one of those songs that don't necessarily seem like a lot at first, especially compared to the likes of "Kill V Main" or "Flesh Without Blood" or any of Art Angel's other epic tracks, but it slowly unveiled itself to me, eventually becoming one of my absolute favorites. It's such a concentrated blast of energy, with some killer drum patterns after the first "It was too good to be true." There's something kinda punky and gothy about it, but only in a superficial way. It's a song for punk rockers and goths who secretly love the most sugary pop music. Despite some of its rock elements, this is fucking cotton candy for the ear, boasting some of Art Angel's sweetest and most delicious melodies. In true Grimes fashion, the song's bright and poppy surface hides some complicated and darker emotions: in this case, a relationship that's both thrilling and toxic and ultimately unsustainable. So there's some emotional complexity here, but I mostly go to this song for sonic reasons. The second "it was too good too be true" doesn't catapult my wig as far as the chorus of "Artangels" does, but it's close.
happiestgirl (10) is perhaps hearing that banshee Grimes sings about because she says, ""This is shrieking done RIGHT." Meanwhile, Trouble in Paradise (9.5) relates to the lyrics on a personal level: "One of my favorite songs of Grimes lyrically with a some killer production as well. This song always makes me think of one of my best friends who I’ve recently lost contact with. We were the only two gay guys in our friend group and it always felt like we’d have each other to go through life with in a completely platonic sort of way. Now that he has a fiancee, I barely see him and get the whole “it was too good to be true” bit a little too well." For somebody who leans so much into weirdness, Grimes does show quite a bit of insight when it comes to human relationships. Cutlery (9) also relates to it on a personal level: "In a similar fashion than Sagrad, Pin just clicked with me during summer last year (after a bad experience with a close friend, nonetheless). It’s got the same pop-rock feeling of Flesh, but adding much more fleshed out (pun intended) lyrical content that makes it a lot more evocative of the feelings related to breaking up a friendship, particularly due to drug abuse. The second verse is one of the best things in the album honestly; kiss me with a big knife killing me instantly a bit." So does Xanax (7): "So sweet, yet somehow sad song? I don’t know… this really makes me feel so many things. Always have to smile when the safety-pin-part starts because thats exactly what I did with a friend ages ago." That's why I'm glad to be a Pokemon. Our relationships are simple! Like good friends, songs like "Pin" don't come around often. So says caladan (10): ""It was too good to be true". Indeed. You can't find songs like "Pin" on every corner. A real gem." Something else you don't see every day? Posh Spears (10) commentary, so listen up, girls: "Adorable, immaculately produced, heartfelt pop. I know that sentence describes most of Art Angels, but this is easily one of the best songs here and one of my all-time favorite Grimes songs in general. My second 11, no doubt. I wish it weren’t overlooked so often." We certainly didn't overlook it in this rate. Pin truly did that.
Now let's turn our attention to those two voters who deemed Pin worthy of their 11s:
"The break just makes everything feel so wonderful doesn’t it? The production is so light and yet it still carries bite, especially in the middle 8. And then the CHORUS, hunty, I lose it every time. This carries such a warmth and nostalgic quality for me, despite this album coming out at one of my lowest points, so my 11 it gets."---constantino (11).
"My first paying DJ gig I arrived very early so I could set up the speakers and blast this as I ran around the room in triumph."---HappyBirthday (11).
YouTube Comments Section
Aleyna Thrift: I've been listening to every song on this album, every single day, sometimes 5x in one day, for almost a year
Jo Pearson: I've been sitting here, planning my life with a notepad and pen, with this album playing in the background. I'm having a lovely day. I hope yours has been lovely too!
Matthew Funke: we've all been here girls.. amirite
Last edited:
#8, but yeah, it's still madness.
Thanks for pointing that out!
D
Deleted member 21339
HOO WOO!
FALLIN' OFF THE EDGE WITH YOU
HOO WOO!
IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUUUUHOOOOEUEFIEFHEIJAIW
Pin doing so well is the highlight of this rate so far for me.FALLIN' OFF THE EDGE WITH YOU
HOO WOO!
IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUUUUHOOOOEUEFIEFHEIJAIW
He/Him
Pin would have been my 11 if I voted. It's a pure sugar rush and it always bops along. Especially that second verse and middle 8. I'm so happy to see that it made it all the way to 7.
#6
FLESH WITHOUT BLOOD
9.527777778
My Score: 10
(@Xanax, @Remorque: 11, @Raichu, @japanbonustrack, @Untouchable Ace, @caladan, @Satyress, @Mirwais Ahmadzaï, @HappyBirthday, @enjoy, @happiestgirl, @constantino, @Sanctuary: 10) HIGHEST V. LOWEST (@Cutlery: 4)
WHAT.
THE.
ACTUAL.
FUCK?
Wow. I expected this to easily go Top 3 and it exits at #6? Absolute madness. What a fall from its flawless victory in the Alt Girls Rate. And it certainly doesn't deserve that. I sometimes refer to it as "Head Without Wig" because it snatches that fucking hard. The intro "aahh ahh aaahs" are a capital M MOMENT, warning the listener about the slayage that's about to go down. And then there's that addictive, omnipresent guitar riff that propels the listener through the song in pure style. I would argue that the greatest songs are built on a single distinctive sonic element and I think that riff is "Flesh Without Blood's" foundation. But there's so many amazing sonic elements that it's hard to pick one as the standout. For instance, the crazy ad-libs (uncontrollable!) that give so much character to the chorus that supposedly isn't a chorus. Or the belted layered harmonies at the end that ensure that the song goes out in a blaze of glory. Or the layers upon layers of drums that make you feel like you're flying through a vacuum or a wind tunnel. "Flesh Without Blood," IMO, is exemplary of what the Grimes Pop Project is all about. In somebody else's hands, "Flesh Without Blood" would be a good but ordinary surfer rock bop, but Grimes piles on the drums, layers the harmonies, pushes the melodies, and stretches it out to 4+ minutes of absolute bliss. She makes a sound we've heard before feel absolutely galactic, ethereal, and HUGE. And the while the video is lowkey iconic, with Grimes rocking the shit out of Marie Antoinette and punk rock MJ stylings, I love the song for its sonic mastery. It is a masterclass in sound design and y'all are a mess for letting it go before the Top 5.
I'm not even going to try to protect Cutlery, who gives this masterpiece a 4, and provides no other explanation but this GIF:
This is the kind of fuckery and hate that Grimes is talking about in this song. Why must you destroy everything that you know? Tanking "Head Without Wig" won't get you money or fame. It will just get you dragged. Speaking of people the song refers to, Sanctuary (10) spills the tea: "This is the only amazing thing Brooke Candy has ever inspired. There's a certain ability she has to make her vocals really effective emotionally. The yearning in her voice and the mile-a-minute production were so amazing and felt like an outer body experience when the song first leaked." It is an out of body experience, isn't it? By the time that I get to glorious middle eight, I'm fucking levitating. In contrast, Mirwais Ahmadzai (10) is swooning and fainting: "What a shock this song gave me. After I processed my bewilderment, I was really floored by this song. It’s a wonderful pop song." HappyBirthday (10) has an experience with his body, but it's quite different: "One time my baritone ass attempted to sing this a room over from my friend and they came in to see if I’d hurt myself." I guess you just didn't have the range, but at least you have good taste, unlike some people *cough*Cutlery*cough. Trouble in Paradise (9.5) didn't love the song inititally, but at least he came to the right conclusion in the end: "When this first came out I can honestly say it didn’t click. It really wasn’t till this rate and listening with the sun out and the windows down that I got this song. It gives me serious Ladytron vibes in the best way."
happiestgirl (10) loves the song for not falling into a common cliche---"I love how she said this isn't a breakup song and none of the songs on Artangels are"---while caladan (10) calls it "Pop perfection. It's one of her poppiest songs but it's so well done. Solid production and cool beats." Like I said, it really has flawless sound design. Not so flawless is this prediction from constantino (10): "I’ve been stanning Grimes for years but the countless delays and misfires up until late 2015 were a God test if ever I knew one. However, this lil BOP came through at the perfect time and decimated every follicle on my scalp. What a rush. I’ve already given this an 11 before so I won’t this time, plus it’s probably gonna win either way." The moral of the story is that nothing is ever certain because sometimes people don't make responsible decisions *cough*Cutlery*cough*.
Although they may not feel up to it after this tragic event, I'm going to let those who gave "Flesh Without Flood" the highest honors say:
"It´s kind of ironic that this is my favorite track from Grimes since I love her for being experimental…yet this sounds very 2000s bubblegumpop at first listen. But honestly this song is just… perfect. The confident vocal delivery, the guitar-riff, the nonchorus (GENIUS)…the whispered bridge.. I think could go on forever. Also I love dancing around to this doing high kicks like she did in the video hahaha. Also the instrumental somehow manages to sound so familiar yet has these little touches that remind me of "classic“ Grimes. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHAAHHHHH."---Xanax (11).
We reached out to Remorque, who also gave it an 11, but he was too busy hunting down Cutlery (with Raichu's blessing) to comment.
YouTube Comments Section
Micah Buzzan: This song makes me want to dance like a dad
kingsotall: I'm gonna crank it n piss off my crybaby next door neighbor
Ananya Chadha: lol anyone else here because of Elon and Rococo's Basilisk :p?
FLESH WITHOUT BLOOD
9.527777778
My Score: 10
(@Xanax, @Remorque: 11, @Raichu, @japanbonustrack, @Untouchable Ace, @caladan, @Satyress, @Mirwais Ahmadzaï, @HappyBirthday, @enjoy, @happiestgirl, @constantino, @Sanctuary: 10) HIGHEST V. LOWEST (@Cutlery: 4)
WHAT.
THE.
ACTUAL.
FUCK?
Wow. I expected this to easily go Top 3 and it exits at #6? Absolute madness. What a fall from its flawless victory in the Alt Girls Rate. And it certainly doesn't deserve that. I sometimes refer to it as "Head Without Wig" because it snatches that fucking hard. The intro "aahh ahh aaahs" are a capital M MOMENT, warning the listener about the slayage that's about to go down. And then there's that addictive, omnipresent guitar riff that propels the listener through the song in pure style. I would argue that the greatest songs are built on a single distinctive sonic element and I think that riff is "Flesh Without Blood's" foundation. But there's so many amazing sonic elements that it's hard to pick one as the standout. For instance, the crazy ad-libs (uncontrollable!) that give so much character to the chorus that supposedly isn't a chorus. Or the belted layered harmonies at the end that ensure that the song goes out in a blaze of glory. Or the layers upon layers of drums that make you feel like you're flying through a vacuum or a wind tunnel. "Flesh Without Blood," IMO, is exemplary of what the Grimes Pop Project is all about. In somebody else's hands, "Flesh Without Blood" would be a good but ordinary surfer rock bop, but Grimes piles on the drums, layers the harmonies, pushes the melodies, and stretches it out to 4+ minutes of absolute bliss. She makes a sound we've heard before feel absolutely galactic, ethereal, and HUGE. And the while the video is lowkey iconic, with Grimes rocking the shit out of Marie Antoinette and punk rock MJ stylings, I love the song for its sonic mastery. It is a masterclass in sound design and y'all are a mess for letting it go before the Top 5.
I'm not even going to try to protect Cutlery, who gives this masterpiece a 4, and provides no other explanation but this GIF:
This is the kind of fuckery and hate that Grimes is talking about in this song. Why must you destroy everything that you know? Tanking "Head Without Wig" won't get you money or fame. It will just get you dragged. Speaking of people the song refers to, Sanctuary (10) spills the tea: "This is the only amazing thing Brooke Candy has ever inspired. There's a certain ability she has to make her vocals really effective emotionally. The yearning in her voice and the mile-a-minute production were so amazing and felt like an outer body experience when the song first leaked." It is an out of body experience, isn't it? By the time that I get to glorious middle eight, I'm fucking levitating. In contrast, Mirwais Ahmadzai (10) is swooning and fainting: "What a shock this song gave me. After I processed my bewilderment, I was really floored by this song. It’s a wonderful pop song." HappyBirthday (10) has an experience with his body, but it's quite different: "One time my baritone ass attempted to sing this a room over from my friend and they came in to see if I’d hurt myself." I guess you just didn't have the range, but at least you have good taste, unlike some people *cough*Cutlery*cough. Trouble in Paradise (9.5) didn't love the song inititally, but at least he came to the right conclusion in the end: "When this first came out I can honestly say it didn’t click. It really wasn’t till this rate and listening with the sun out and the windows down that I got this song. It gives me serious Ladytron vibes in the best way."
happiestgirl (10) loves the song for not falling into a common cliche---"I love how she said this isn't a breakup song and none of the songs on Artangels are"---while caladan (10) calls it "Pop perfection. It's one of her poppiest songs but it's so well done. Solid production and cool beats." Like I said, it really has flawless sound design. Not so flawless is this prediction from constantino (10): "I’ve been stanning Grimes for years but the countless delays and misfires up until late 2015 were a God test if ever I knew one. However, this lil BOP came through at the perfect time and decimated every follicle on my scalp. What a rush. I’ve already given this an 11 before so I won’t this time, plus it’s probably gonna win either way." The moral of the story is that nothing is ever certain because sometimes people don't make responsible decisions *cough*Cutlery*cough*.
Although they may not feel up to it after this tragic event, I'm going to let those who gave "Flesh Without Flood" the highest honors say:
"It´s kind of ironic that this is my favorite track from Grimes since I love her for being experimental…yet this sounds very 2000s bubblegumpop at first listen. But honestly this song is just… perfect. The confident vocal delivery, the guitar-riff, the nonchorus (GENIUS)…the whispered bridge.. I think could go on forever. Also I love dancing around to this doing high kicks like she did in the video hahaha. Also the instrumental somehow manages to sound so familiar yet has these little touches that remind me of "classic“ Grimes. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHAAHHHHH."---Xanax (11).
We reached out to Remorque, who also gave it an 11, but he was too busy hunting down Cutlery (with Raichu's blessing) to comment.
YouTube Comments Section
Micah Buzzan: This song makes me want to dance like a dad
kingsotall: I'm gonna crank it n piss off my crybaby next door neighbor
Ananya Chadha: lol anyone else here because of Elon and Rococo's Basilisk :p?
Last edited:
D
Deleted member 21339
I guess I can't talk because I gave it a 9.5, but it definitely should've beaten WPPII.
Oh wow, I thought Flesh Without Blood was going to win.
Kill v Maim needs to take it now.
Kill v Maim needs to take it now.
she/her
As if anyone had any doubts that 6 is the most iconic position.
My first listen of Flesh Without Blood was with the video and it was absolutely transfixing. It's one of my favourite songs of the decade so far (hell, make it all time).
He/Him
Frankly, I stopped reading this thread when Godmusic flopped at #17 because it is my third fave song from her. Mainly though, AA having 11 songs in the top 16 was pretty stupid and laughable, but that's what we get when 2/3 of the voters were TASTELESS + only here for that album and trashed the rest of her discography (save for, like, Vanessa, Be a Body, Genesis and Oblivion)
Belly of the Crap is grating, musically incompetent, torture """music""". The worst thing in AA for sure
Vanessa deserved top 10, but it was only a couple of spots away from it so I guess I'll deal
Title track at #12? Overrated! Sorry not sorry sis @Raichu bc then again you trashed Weregild and some other faves of mine! Pin at #7 was also doing way too much but that was expected for the aforementioned reasons
Go got what she deserved. A BOP!
World Goddess Pt II is my 2nd absolutest fave, so seeing it perched at the top 5 while Trash without Talent's cheap pop-rock knockoff isn't, is true PopJustice! In fact, everything in the top 5 is a 10~