Annie (From Norway)

I haven't decided how I feel about the album cover art yet.

I feel as though she is very cute on the album cover.

(OTOH, she looks as though she is weighlifting and/or sweeping the floor in those pictures).

I listened to Anniemal again the other day and past the first four tracks or so it doesn't really stand up. Not particularly psyched for this one.

I've listened to the sampler mix about a million times now and boy is it awesome! I'm worried that when I finally get to listen to each song separately I'm gonna start missing the parts where the clips are mixed.

I have to say "Bad Times" is probably my fav since its got best chorus Xenomania has come up with since Biology (or maybe ever). "My Love is Better" is also amazing and impossible not to tap your feet to.

is this album actually coming out in the u.s.?

I'm sure it will, but probably around the end of the year or later.

I listened to Anniemal again the other day and past the first four tracks or so it doesn't really stand up. Not particularly psyched for this one.

I actually think it holds up really well, Matt. In fact, I think Anniemal is notable for being one of the few recent discs that -- if not backloaded -- has songs towards the end that compare favorably to the songs toward the beginning (Obv., Chewing Gum stands above the others, but what disc these days doesn't have one or two towering songs, and a bunch of good-but-lesser-songs?).

I've always thought Anniemal was a bit overrated/overhyped. I remember listening to it quite a few more times than I actually felt like just because it sounded like the kind of thing I should love ...but to be honest the only tracks I really liked were (still are) "Chewing Gum" and "Me Plus One". I like that the new album sounds a lot more pop. Hopefully, it'll disappoint her hipster fanbase.

does SONGS REMIND ME OF YOU actually exist or is it a prank by Popjustice?

-- pisces (piscesx), Thursday, September 7, 2006 10:19 AM (1 year ago) Bookmark Link

Popjustice song of the day!

And "Loco" is floating around since it got sent to iTunes by accident.

The new single is awesome, but when is the album release date?

October :(

When did it get pushed back? I thought it was the first week of August.

It was September but I think Island are incompetent / waiting to drop her. My fear is it'll be shelved and that'll be that…

Not with the positive pre-release buzz it's generated (mild as it may be). And if she was released from her contract and the record shelved, I'd bet some enterprising label would sign her and buy the rights to the disc. So never fear.

damnit, my hacking "skillz" only got me to an mp3 of the 30 sec. sample :(

Well, it hasn't leaked to my knowledge.

BTW I think "Loco" is also amazing, even if it sounds too Xenomania, as some people say. It's got a million things going on.

"Loco" really isn't as good as it should/could be. But I do like the production/instrumental track. There's a lot going on, many disparate elements, and it works. Who needs a Girl Talk album when you have Xenomania? (This probably doesn't make much sense, but anyway,)

Popjustice + Annie's MySpace have clips of "Songs Remind Me Of You" and MY GOD that chorus is the most beautiful thing I've heard in a while.

loco is yawn

Xenomania are past it. If Brian Higgins is Trevor Horn, then Gabriela Climi is his Seal.

Gabriella Cilmi's album isn't the usual Xenomania business, but it's a good one and has at least 2 excellent songs.

I'll agree that the latest Xenomania rock-ier direction has been a bit dull, but I think they still have a lot to offer. Well, they better have, considering they're working with the Pet Shop Boys and all that.

To me, the stuff we've heard from Annie so far is more than enough proof that Xenomania are still on top of their game.

everytime the boyfriend puts her on, i ask what it is.

This is retarded. Literally, this could be a perfect summer soundtrack.

I'm seeing suddenly how it could work for Autumn though.

Annie's music has always felt really chilly to me, it has something to do with the flimsiness of her voice. Eye dee kay though, give it to Rachel Stevens and I'd be screaming "put it out now so I can have it in August!" and her voice is almost as flimsy as Annie's so it could very well be just my association of Annie with Scandinavia in general.

Xenomania are past it. If Brian Higgins is Trevor Horn, then Gabriela Climi is his Seal.

Awesome, we've got his Fundamental and his Seduction Of Claude Debussy to look forward to!

Ooh. A five-track promo of the album has leaked.

I really like "My Love is Better" - I wonder how it will sound with the Girls Aloud vocals stripped out though.

They'll probably just add extra layers of Annie to it and ask Miranda Cooper to join in. It'll be fine.

Poor Moonbaby, always a bridesmaid etc.

Hah. Yeah, but in her defense she is one of the best female songwriters out there.

"Loco" is still my favorite!

I don't know how many people know about this blog but it looks pretty essential for Xenomania fans.

So... "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me" has been released.

How badly will it flop?

?!

How badly will it flop?

BADLY. I think it's currently #90-something in the midweeks.

There's already a heated debate at Popjustice on the reasons it's flopping: "Not being good enough", "Bad promotion", etc. LOL

I don't care if it commercially flops. It's a very good song.

It's a very good song.

I predict the whole Don't Stop (album/singles) combo will be a major flop, though. And not for the reasons people are thinking.

major commercial flop that is.

Why do you think it will flop commercially?

(I don't disagree, by the way, but I probably think it will fail for "the reasons people are thinking").

It's not even in the top 75 yet? Eek.

I actually want her to do well. I don't usually care about chart placement, not even with my favourite artists, but I like this woman. This was actually the first song I've downloaded "legally". And I don't even like it that much. I mean, the ring-a-ding-a-ding part cracks me up every time, but "Chewing Gum" is 10x times better than this.

I always have to lol at UKers discussing the commercial prospects of people like Annie and M.I.A. or Robyn, who are basically just hipster Internet phenomena in the US without a chance in hell at making any kind of chart.

I just want the album to be released. I keep fearing that for some reason (i.e. singles flopping badly) it might be shelved... Knock on wood, etc.

I never thought Annie's disc would do well commercially. Why would it? What I've heard is very catchy, but -- at least for the US market -- I think it lacks that bottom-heavy bass/drum sound (and a hip-hop edge, maybe) that's captured the public's imagination/dominates the pop charts.

The only way it'll be a hit in the UK is if someone either gives it a ubiquitous Ibiza remix or puts it on an advert. Especially the former - Wiley and Robyn have already shown that the way to make the British public actually listen to you is to whack girly rising trancey chords under your song.

yeah, Matt's right. the remixes simply aren't as good as they were for the first record so presumably (although I haven't been out for a while) it's not getting played in the clubs. Mylo did one for Chewing Gum, as did (I think) Rex The Dog for Me Plus One but there's no-one of any decent profile showing this album some love.

Isn't there still time? Album's not released for a while yet, no?