Marina - Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land

[RMK]

Especially when the ballads are the best portion. She should've leaned less into the political arc, because the songs surrounding her breakup show a lot more talent. The lyrics aren't as try-hard, they're just vulnerable. You can tell listening that while claiming to be over it, the sentiment attached is still very real to her.

There's probably tons written about it in the vault. Marina doesn't seem like she'd want to give an ex the satisfaction of having an entire album about them, though. That's.. How I view this project.

 

[strictmachine79]

Love this. Sounds like a mix of the first 3 albums.

 

[CC3332]

Especially when the ballads are the best portion. She should've leaned less into the political arc, because the songs surrounding her breakup show a lot more talent. The lyrics aren't as try-hard, they're just vulnerable. You can tell listening that while claiming to be over it, the sentiment attached is still very real to her.

There's probably tons written about it in the vault. Marina doesn't seem like she'd want to give an ex the satisfaction of having an entire album about them, though. That's.. How I view this project.

Did she break up with the Clean Bandit man? And is that why the new album is so much more interesting?

 

[soratami]

Ancient Dreams and Venus Fly Trap are a hell of a one-two punch. Imagine kicking off the era with Man's World and Purge The Poison when those two were right there. I was really worried about how this album would turn out at first, but the more songs she releases, the more promising it seems.

 

[iRelate]

This is the Marina I fell in love with. I think this should've been the lead, although I do enjoy the other singles too.

 

[Gemini]

This song is growing on me. It's cute. It's brought the wood and kindling back to my Marina stan campfire. But she hasn't quite lit the flame yet. And i've listened to the whole album, so i'll say i'm not sure she's done it with this. But certainly this is leagues above her last album so i'll give her a mild round of applause in hopes she can get another standing ovation from me soon.
sheesh, gemini. tone it down on the analogies.

 

[drewsky]

Did she break up with the Clean Bandit man? And is that why the new album is so much more interesting?

She's addressed this a few times in the lead up to the release, yes. Songs (some not all) are about him.

 

[Veeis]

I enjoy this video very much and it's the first thing coming from this era that I want to play more that once.

 

[Stradiwhovius]

I kind of like whatever "I do it my way, baby/Nothing in this world can change me" is doing melodically, but where is the growth?

For me the growth is that this time I actually believe it. When previous songs have had themes and lyrics similar to that, they’ve always felt like parody, delusional, or ironic and a little tragic. Whereas this, if anything, is giving me “I’m done with pretending I’m not badass.”

 

[maverick_79]

Line of Best Fit - 8/10
Clash - 8/10
Gigwise - 10/10
The Arts Desk - 4/5

The album is getting decent reviews so far from some of the online music outlets, I’m interested in what the bigger newspapers make of it and Pitchfork will tank it obviously

 

[Vixen]

I listened to, erm, the train ticket and I found myself enjoying the melodies and the production quite a lot, honestly. On that front, I believe it's an upgrade over the last album instead of a continuation of any sort. It genuinely reminds me of her first two albums at times (but definitely the less quirky sides of TFJ).

The ballads at the end are hardly career standouts or anything, but they prove that whenever she keeps it introspective, her lyrics are far less insufferable than whenever she tries to tackle any social-political landscape.

 

[Pinky25]

I love Venus fly trap. I’m looking forward to the rest.

 

[eatyourself]

I'm baffled, shook and gagged that it's with Venus Fly Trap that people seem to find issue with. The first song this era where the lyrics are not trying to Teach An Important Lesson using all clichés possible... Literally the first thing I hear from her this era that doesn't make me want to smash the computer screen. And there's even a chorus and a hook this time around!

EDIT: people complaining this sounds like 'her old myspace demos'... when that's literally the group of songs that made me fall in love with her ffff. Do y'all prefer a collection of Spotify-playlist-ready bops?

 

[Mikal]

Purge isn't a "Spotify playlist ready bop". And Venus Fly Trap has gone down pretty well so what are you mad about. Ddd

 

[eatyourself]

Purge isn't a "Spotify playlist ready bop".

Do you realize I'm talking about Love + Fear or...

 

[Pinky25]

I like that it sounds « old ». It sounds like an updated more polished song that would have been on the family jewels.

 

[Mikal]

Do you realize I'm talking about Love + Fear or...

Nope, because you weirdly positioned your post as "MySpace demos or Spotify bops, you gotta pick a side!".

 

[Fertilizer]

I'm baffled, shook and gagged that it's with Venus Fly Trap that people seem to find issue with. The first song this era where the lyrics are not trying to Teach An Important Lesson using all clichés possible... Literally the first thing I hear from her this era that doesn't make me want to smash the computer screen. And there's even a chorus and a hook this time around!

Because at the end of the day the other songs just sound better to me, musically. I don’t care about the lyrics that much across any of the three so there’s not this huge gap for me dd

 

[Red Coat]

She really knows her way around a ballad. I think they’re the best tracks on the album.

The chaotic nature of the upbeat tracks is something I love about them. Especially Purge the Poison.

Overall, a great album. A much more worthy follow up to Froot than that other one was.

 

[maverick_79]

Not postage only being £2 when I ordered the green and clear vinyls from her webstore.