SOLANGE KNOWLES, omg the return of

Interesting interview here.

http://www.stereogum.com/1901721/solange-talks-black-joy-master-p-her-punk-album-a-seat-at-the-table/franchises/interview/

She lists Minnie Riperton, Tweet and Syreeta as some of her influences for this album. Sounds good to me.

no interludes > deletable interludes > neverending tracks

why on earth did that interview get taken down?

I presume because it contained details about the album that she didn't want people to know about until it was released. Would wager that it will go back up after tomorrow.

spoken word intro > hidden tracks > indistinct chatter before the song starts (the longer the worst) > interludes

this album is beautiful

Yeah, this is a gorgeous record. The production is so lush.

it's also boring as hell

hum. I'm 2/3 through the first listen of the album and so far it's very pleasant but no song really stands out.

I like this a lot, I like boring shit.

also the interludes are fine

first hook on this that i really responded to was of course completely dampened by sampha's voice

dampha

this reallllly feels like a sequel to the tweet record so if you like this idk listen to that one too imo

A track like "Cranes in the Sky" sounds a lot like the quiet mid '70s Minnie Ripperton vibe of Corinne Rae Bailey's last album (which I also like a lot). I don't think Solange is a melodist in her league though.

actually tihs album bores me

oh good i'm glad we're both picking up on minnie riperton vibes alfred

this is more compelling on second listen, and i really love "where do we go," but it also sorta overrelies on the arrangements and the general framing to lift up the v limited melodies

not mad at it though

F.U.B.U. is greaaaaat. when Terius comes in!!!! yes!!

I still really hate that cover! First listen nothing in particular stands out... it's very homogenic sounding... will give it another listen when I'm in the mood for this sort of music but not impressed so far.

Why do you hate the cover? Do you hate the cover or do you hate the way she looks, for some reason? I don't get the hate. She looks beautiful.

First listen felt like striking gold, this. Songs like Cranes in the Sky and Don't You Wait are so blissful. Indeed Riperton comes to mind. I love how homogenic it sounds. There's no 'Losing You' but it's just not the record for it. Nothing needs to stand out, it's all very good, impeccable lush singing, arrangements with great detail. I love this in all its "homogenic", subdued gloriousness.

great basslines on this record.

'cranes in the sky' sounds like a dirty projectors outtake, although dave longstreth is credited on 7 other tracks on the record but not cranes

Cranezzzz

Nah, this still sounds like much of the terrain that Corinne Rae Bailey's working only less interesting.

I suggest everyone forget this record and go to Fantasia's marvelous new one.

Fantasia's album seemed like a significant regression from the 2013 one imo but i guess i should try it again

this album also imo does interesting and beautiful things just like the CBR one

significant? really? I think at worst it's a notch below.

"where do we go" is so lovely

and "junie" is huge jam. idk the more time i spend with this the more i like it. i hate to be like post-frank ocean "songs are for olds man" but directing ppl to the fantasia record seems a misdirection bc she's doing something very different, exercise- and craft-oriented. this is v focused on details without many glimpses of a larger picture, all the songs kind of occupy the same space and seem to elaborate on each other laterally

There's no 'Losing You'

imo good

'losing you' is kind of bad imho

Losing You has diminished with time—I liked it a lot originally—but this album would be better served with a couple bold songs like that to break up the sleepy vibes.

Blood Orange did better with cool sad block synths on "St. Augustine" imo

upbeat songs would be antithetical to the point of the album

But they might help me stay awake when listening to it

i mean... okay

It doesn't necessarily need upbeat songs. It could use some memorable ones though

It doesn't necessarily need upbeat songs. It could use some memorable ones though

yeah, exactly what I think. I don't need another "Losing You" (since the EP was already a bit too much of Blood Orange) but some stronger melodies and hooks here and there wouldn't have hurt the album (which again, sounds good and is nice to listen to).

Less interludes/skits, more tunes !

the interludes are mostly just master p monologues though, i like them

why are people acting like they've been attacked by this album

i have a couple of ideas

i just feel so attacked right now

f you think the reaction in this thread, which might best be summed up as ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, equates to people acting like they've been attacked, boy have I got some threads for you…

apologies guys, i didn't have my morning coffee yet

I put this on midway through a two hour drive and enjoy it, probably the new release I've enjoyed the most this year.

I don't feel attacked by Solange or this album. I feel like it just walked past me without making eye contact.

what baffles me is "losing you" being upbeat. it's... not, at all? it's in fact quite depressing?

solange: "tell me the truth, boy, am I losing you for good?"
synths: *glum brooding pads*
listeners: "YAY HAPPY PARTY MUSIC"