Years & Years

I had been wondering about that

#PSEN 0005 - We have received word that the audio sounds of // SANCTIFY --- will be aired on pirate radio station @bbcr1 at 7:30PM GMT by non-sanctioned human @anniemac //.. this is NOT an authorised station in Palo Santo -- report to authorities if you hear this using #SANCTIFY pic.twitter.com/sy5LIYhxOe

— Years & Years (@yearsandyears) March 7, 2018

new song today it seems

not sure how i feel about it http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p060dx8y

Olly's hair has not improved.

sounded dece but not like a Hit Single

it's an all right song!

sounded dece but not like a Hit Single

― Listen to my homeboy Fantano (D-40), Wednesday, March 7, 2018 4:02 PM (three hours ago) Bookmark

yeah i agree. it's an interesting little twist on their sound but i'm surprised it's the first single.

it can be like one of those singles they made videos for on their first album before "king" that were arresting in some way but obviously not going to be hits

I fuck with it, sounds like a very 2000s pop take on a communion album track

on replay, not super into this

i still kinda like it but it feels to me like a song that could have been on album 1 just w/ slightly different production that doesn't quite do it much favors

it's a little underwhelming, definitely not the same level than some of their best work...though it's better than "meteorite"

I know it's the way it is, but this strategy of testing and teasing the market with dribs and drabs has the effect of dampening my enthusiasm but idk that's mem.

*me

july 6th

put it in my veins

also curiously totally medieval. good soundtrack for wooden planet spec script alien3 probably

― r|t|c, Wednesday, January 4, 2017 2:08 PM (one year ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

god bless rtc

already freebasing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psn18d-4hBI

not feeling this new single, feels way too twee and like it was written as a commercial jingle?

co-written/produced by Steve Mac so that explains that

yeeeeeeah... i think the songwriting is great but it almost sounds like a sigala song

*cough*

oh boy

I was underwhelmed by the singles but this actually turned out alright I think. “Karma” and “Hallelujah” both slap and “All For You” especially. It’s a bit les Kitsuné than the first one production-wise.

It's gotten surprisingly positive reviews (my take goes up on Monday). "Surprisingly" because while Alexander is more confident he's also turned the act into Maroon 5 with himself as Adam Levine. The other two are barely involved. Far less angst.

The leaked tracks are awful, but look at the credits (Julia Michaels, Thomas Hull).

what are leaked tracks? the album is out

ok listening now

what u think deej

The album is a lot stronger than I was expecting based on the two singles. Not sure what they were thinking with those choices when they had Hallelujah, Karma, Rendezvous and Up In Flames right there.

what are leaked tracks? the album is out

― Listen to my homeboy Fantano (D-40), S

"Sanctify" and "Hallelujah."

They were mad to leave "UP in Flames" off the album: an excellent freestyle-soaked banger w/the record's most confident Olly performance.

It's on the deluxe edition, that is (you can stream it on Spotify).

Yeah, Up In Flames is so great. It screams lead single, not bonus track.

listened to this a couple of nights ago but was doing other things at the time...there wasn't much that grabbed me but I need to give it a closer listen

this feels like their Urban Legend

this doesn't have the frisson of the debut but that's not surprising at all.. what could really? accepting that fact i feel pretty good about how this turned out actually. the singles sound better in context.

I've made my peace with Sanctify as it works as a decent introduction, I still can't stand If You're Over Me. I really like the rest of it. Karma is the one. I keep getting it stuck in my head.

i like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuIrr-qJ_UQ

^^

Been listening to the bonus tracks on Palo Santo a lot. Damn -- "Howl."

New track out now (video premieres on Monday)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGfaYTIYh40

this is not surprising whatsoever but how did i not know that Y&Y is an Olly Alexander solo project now (announced last month that the other two members left although one of them will continue as part of the live band)

"now"

I mean the last album had a couple token band songwriting credits. He's it.

i can't tell if i like this song or not. i think i do the more i listen to it... it really wallops you in the face from the jump in a way that feels a bit off but halfway thru it clicks into place a bit.

I went to see Years & Years live around the time of the first album and really enjoyed it - the music was good, he was a great performer despite his obvious limitations as a singer, and it really did feel like a celebration of queer identity.

What we saw of the BBC New Years & Years special was rubbish and I was surprised at how much I didn't enjoy it. The actual sound was terrible which didn't help, but it feels like all the things that made them so exciting and interesting to begin with have been lost at the expense of trying to make Olly Alexander into a superstar.

i suspect that it becoming a defacto olly solo project with the second album (and officially with the third) didn't really do anyone any favours at all

i hardly watch any TV but every time i do he seems to be on. it really seems he is well on his way to being a household name in the uk.

I'm not sure it's working with the music though. Apparently his new single has been one of the most played songs on radio over the last few weeks yet it's still not been able to get any higher than 94. It will be interesting to see if it jumps up the charts now the Christmas songs are all disappearing, somehow I doubt it. The lead single, Starstruck got a massive push too and didn't reach the top 30. I'm not sure why these songs aren't connecting with the public. They're not great, but seem like the kind of songs that would do well right now.

Totally agree with Boxedjoy about the BBC special. Very disappointing. They really won me round on the Christmas TOTP performances back in 2015, but this didn't have any of that charm or warmth.

yup, i don't think he is becoming a household name for his music. i'm guessing the majority of people who know of him now have never even heard of years & years.