MOOPY ALBUM CLUB WEEK #1 | Tove Lo - Lady Wood

Rate this album out of ten

  • Total voters
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Well with the art work in mind I have taken advantage of the 'change your vote' function.
 
She caused a bit of a controversy here a month or so ago because of how (little) she was dressed during a live show performance.
 
Interim thoughts: I downloaded the album and put it on shuffle as the soundtrack to clearing up the dog poo from the back garden. Not sure how many songs I listened to, it was five or six, and I didn't hate them but they were a bit samey and weren't quite to my taste enough to take my mind off the task in hand. That being said I didn't hate them and none of them were skipped (a couple only because I didn't want to risk taking off the marigolds and getting dog muck on my hands) but I will reserve judgement until I've listened to the whole thing properly.
 
I already knew the album quite well- it's easily my favorite of 2016 (not that it was a standout year for albums). I actually like the dark, almost industrial-pop production (see "True Disaster") in parts, but I see why it can come off as a little repetitive. I think that has more to do with her singing style, though- while I don't expect much from my female pop artists (clearly), her tone isn't very expressive at all and she just sounds angry in a lot of places.

I'd rate it as follows:

09 Influence
08 Lady Wood
10 True Disaster
10 Cool Girl
09 Vibes
06 Don't Talk About It
07 Imaginary Friend
06 Keep it Simple
09 Flashes
07 WTF Love Is
 
I agree with Ag entirely around the production. It's all so limp and lacklustre - I like my pop music with some sense of urgency, and there's no evidence of it here. I appreciate it's a style I'm clearly not getting, but it reeks to me of 'is this good enough?', and quite frankly the answer is no.

There are a few tracks where I felt there was a good song crying out for a different approach (True Disaster being the only one I can recall individually), but for the most part, they merged into a tepid, unsatisfying whole.
 
I'm going to save my review until the end of the week to avoid feeling like I'm trying to guide people's responses too much.

I will say that this album definitely took a few listens to get its hooks into me, and I was initially quite underwhelmed after the more aggressive 'Queen of the Clouds', but at this point I'd say it's by far the stronger and more cohesive of the two albums.
 
This is a record I wouldn't have given my time to had it not been for this thread/project. I never really bought into her first album - I completely missed "Habits" and then the immature and throwaway "Timebomb" was released and followed me around everywhere like a whiny child.

When the marmite "Cool Girl" dropped it took a long time for me to de-thaw the icy heartless detached repetition and find any joy from it, and I suspect this is an album where similar faith and time investment is needed. Having played it twice through today, the main problem for me is the lack of heart. I actually love the production and think it makes the listening experience sonically interesting, but there's a real discord here between trying to create a "mood" piece and then not actually letting the listener in on any of your real emotions. There are so many one-liner lyrics scattered across these songs that feel like attempts at Twitter retweets than actual sentiment. In that way, I suppose "Cool Girl" really was the perfect first single for the album. The stand-out track for me is "Imaginary Friend", which feels like one of the only times she truly wears her heart on her sleeve, resulting in a wonderfully pretentious and sweet spoken-worded outro. That the production makes it sound a bit like Tove @ Eurovision doesn't harm it either.

I wanted to like this more than I currently do, but ultimately I feel like when you scratch beneath the production, soundbite lyrics and fancy album concept, she isn't willing to give enough of her actual self to hook the listener in, even if she does a damn good job of pretending to on the surface. A SIX.
 
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With true dedication to the cause, I've just given this a first listen using a USB DAC and some reasonably decent Sennheisers with a blackout eye mask on, which resulted in my feeling stoned (without smoking anything) in that OH MY GOD WHAT'S THAT CLONKING sort of way and plagued with the constant thought that the flat might be on fire :wired:
 
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Lady Could've But Didn't.

A relatively new name to me, Tove Lo was familiar through being bigged up by Charli XCX and wearing a dress that depicted her/a vagina - imagine taking that one to the meeting "yeah, I want it to look like this...".

40 minutes, 10 songs and 2 mini interludes - a perfect sample size so listen 1 was popped on in the background while I did my washing and stuff to see what jumped out. Perhaps worryingly, nothing did until over half-way through. Further listens followed with a bit more attentiveness, particular to the lyrical content. My core problem with this record is this - at no point does it give any reason why it exists. Almost all the tracks favour minor key brooding, set against fairly standard electronic soundsets. If you're going to get away with that, the vocalist/lyricist needs to be distinctive and compelling. And she just isn't, at least not consistently. Standout track "Don't Talk About It" accidentally demonstrates what's wrong elsewhere - a tense portrait of a relationship on the verge of collapse, the song stutters and staggers convincingly into the darkness. It is then followed by "Imaginary Friend", thematically linked to its predecessor but sounding like it was written by some sort of generative programme, like that creepy Google AI thingy, complete with irritating voice samples, unconvincing angst ("reality sucks" indeed) and limp modish sad-rave beats. It's a wet lettuce of a song compared to the crisp salad and falafel wrap we'd just enjoyed.

In the absence of a musical edge, she can be quite the potty mouth. I'm no prude but it is - here's that word again - unconvincing. Maybe I've missed sweary words becoming genuinely submerged into the language but it jars from what is a fairly soft voice and a fairly soft backing. It's a shame because "Flashes" - an alluring, fluffy thing with teardrop cloud keyboards and a keening, well-felt vocal - could have been the equal of "Don't Talk About It" before the distraction of the unnecessary swearing which more than anything else, almost contradicts the shyness and fragility of the the song itself. "Mess" would have been fine instead of "fuck". Really.

As I say, not a write off but nor do I see anything other than "Don't Talk About It" staying on my hard drive.

I'm a bit sore this morning so a grumpy 4/10.
 
Ah, I bought this one last year so am quite familiar with it already. It's a good choice because it deserves more recognition than it's had. It's quite strange actually - Queen of the Clouds ended up being far more successful than I'd have guessed it would be and then this one has ended up almost immediately falling off the face of the earth.

Like others have said, it took me a while to really get Cool Girl. At first, I thought it was OK but lacking the urgency of the earlier singles - some of those choruses on the 1st album were absolutely huge whereas this is far more subtle. It slowly revealed its charms though and I'd actually say it's one of the best pop singles of 2016.

The debut had some stronger, or more instant, individual tracks but this works far better as a cohesive album. For that reason, the tracks do seem to 'merge' a bit on the first few listens but, like with the lead single, repeated listens definitely pays off.

If you have 30 minutes to sit through the mini film then I would recommend it as, if nothing else, it brings some of the songs to life individually.

It's probably a 7/10 for me as it's in need of a 'wow' moment or two but it shows some real potential for her to become a very exciting pop star if she's given the chance to develop further and let loose a bit.
 
Isn't Christian a Tove apologist? Perhaps this thread will bring him back.

Influence is my favourite song of 2016. The way the Fairy Dust intro starts the song in a slow tempo with that ominous bassline , then stops completely and then starts again is genius. There's so much I love about this song: the ticking clock at the beginning, the layered production with so much going on in the background and the rap that leaves the listening gasping for air. The drop in volume after the first chorus is annoying though.

The consistent production doesn't bother me at all. Unlike for example Rebel Heart, which is all over the place because of different styles and producers, this album flows really well, and I still hear a clear difference between part 1 and part 2.

The highlights: Influence, True Disaster, Vibes, Imaginary Friend
The weakest song on the album: Cool Girl

I got tickets for the tour in March, is anyone else going?
 
I listened to it this morning while cleaning the house. The album title is awful and conjurs up horrible images!

It's cohesive, if a little samey, so I feel it's lacking a big moment. I've always listened to production more than lyrics, so from that perspective I enjoyed it. The only songs that grabbed me lyrically were True Disaster and Don't Talk About It, two of the album's highlights.

I was familiar with Cool Girl and I've always really liked it, so the fact a lot of the album is in the same vein was good. Although as I said earlier, there was no huge standout. I enjoyed WTF Love Is but feel it belongs in the first half of the album, with Flashes feeling like a more natural close.

7/10
 
Interesting that in spite of the complaint of sameyness, lots of people citing different standout tracks.

Keep the reviews coming! I'm glad it's trending a bit more positive now after a slightly dodgy start.
 
VoR said:
Interesting that in spite of the complaint of sameyness, lots of people citing different standout tracks.
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Well obviously the generalisation of sameyness doesn't stop there being better parts. The hills of the Peak District more of less look the same when compared to the Amazon or Newcastle, but there are highlights in spite of that.

I have added Influence and Imaginary Friend to my main Spotify playlist.
 
Ag said:
Well obviously the generalisation of sameyness doesn't stop there being better parts. The hills of the Peak District more of less look the same when compared to the Amazon or Newcastle, but there are highlights in spite of that.

I have added Influence and Imaginary Friend to my main Spotify playlist.
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My point was that it's interesting that so far people have *different* highlights, rather than everyone honing in on one or two saving graces.
 
Sharla mentioned moving this thread out of hidden moopy and into a googleable forum in the other thread.

I think it's a good idea, but was it decided against?
 
I think it's a good idea too but I didn't want people to lose the thread if I moved it midweek. I suppose I could tag everybody again though...
 
When do we find out who chooses next? Surely they require a couple of days to prepare, if you want continuity.
 
I think I'd credit the majority of posters with the gumption to be able to find it.
 
Ag said:
When do we find out who chooses next? Surely they require a couple of days to prepare, if you want continuity.
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Well the idea was that we'd choose randomly from everyone who successfully rates/reviews the album by the Friday deadline. I'd encourage everybody to have an idea in mind if they're playing, but if it takes a day or two to start the next one I don't think it's a dealbreaker.

Is everyone happy that having chosen an album, they don't get put back into the mix until everyone else has had a turn? If anyone wants to review but doesn't want to nominate an album, they're free to opt out obviously.
 
I'm fine with that, but I'd also think that we don't even have to choose randomly; if there's someone that already has an album ready let them do it.
 
I LIKE this, but after 3-4 plays, it's still washing over me a bit. "True Disaster" is the standout, but a lot of the rest seems to just meld into one. I will keep persevering but it isn't the Robyn-esque wonder I'd hoped...
 
I'm enjoying this a lot more than I had expected. I like that it's the same sound and pace throughout the whole album, hate albums with different sounds and lots of ups and downs.
 
I quite like the album. I love the production throughout. I actually think the first half is the strongest: Influence through to Vibes is GREAT, moody pop! I love Don't Talk About It as well, but its in the second half that I find the album loses ground for me. Her vocals don't work as well for me in that half, maybe cos it seems there's less clarity in them, and the BVs are pumped up, and shes a bit screechy too.

My rank:
09 Influence
08 Lady Wood
10 True Disaster
10 Cool Girl
08 Vibes
08 Don't Talk About It
6.5 Imaginary Friend
6.5 Keep it Simple
07 Flashes
07 WTF Love Is

I have to acknowledge, that as I continue to listen to it, the second half is also growing on me FAST. So I'm going to give the album a 7.5/10, with potential for GROWTH. :disco:
 
I have seen people rave about this record before, but was always put-off by the sense that Tove Lo was some faceless hook girl. That the album cover is literally faceless doesn't help. It's an unashamed appeal to the male gaze, which is odd because the album itself is an unashamed appeal to the male gays.

On the whole, I think it's pretty enjoyable, and I feel like it's something I'll enjoy more after a few more listens. Nothing beyond 'Influence' leaped out at me as a highlight, but I will say that's probably because I've heard it before, and that the album is at least pretty cohesive and consistent in its sound. It seems like the sort of record to put on in the background while getting ketty.

Outside of that context, I'd like Tove Lo to have a bit more personality as a vocalist. I like my popstars to be a little more present.
 
I've had my first listen and have done my initial comments, but will have a couple more listens over the next few days to let it bed in. First impressions though, it's pretty decent, but not outstanding.
 
I kind of like her vocal blankness. It does mean you have to work a bit harder to get a grip on the hooks, but it suits the whole nihilist vibe she projects with her lyrics.

If you want to hear her putting a bit more eyes, tits & teeth into it, Timebomb from her first album is a total banger.

 
I enjoyed her first album and various features on random shit over the last couple of years so I had fairly decent expectations. Hedonistic Robyn is a clever niche.

The writing definitely does get a bit samey, which makes the parts where she steps away from the persona slightly more interesting. While I'm glad we don't have another fucking album about glamour and heartbreak to the backdrop of fading Americana, it still feels rather calculating in places looking for that killer quotable line and I can easily imagine faking a half-smile at her at a party when she starts being all FUCK REALITY or whatever.

True Disaster is really good (a little derivative, if I'm being uber-critical). It sticks to the tracing lines of Style by Taylor Swift very, very closely but that's a winning route to take. The lyrics are forever destined to be quoted on edgy hipster teenage girls' Tumblr accounts.

Not keen on Vibes, which falls into the trap of mashing two of the most annoying current production quirks together and doesn't really hang together properly. The second half of the album does pale in comparison, although Flashes is well-produced amid the increasingly irritating lyrical conceits. What the Flip Love Is is slightly teeth-grating.

Overall, I think a 6/10. I do feel like that score would have been much higher about four years ago. I would have been far more on board with her cursing the world and randomly saying fuck every thirty seconds. If I haven't emotionally matured at all, maybe my tastes slightly have at least.

I'm also still struggling to get past that god-awful "you give me LADY WOOD" line, which just makes me think of Tove pulling down her tight denim shorts to show off her throbbing monster cock.
 
07 Influence
06 Lady Wood
09 True Disaster
06 Cool Girl
07 Vibes
07 Don’t Talk About It
08 Imaginary Friend
08 Keep It Simple
08 Flashes
08 WTF Love Is

TOTAL SCORE 74/100

With this being a pop album by a female singer, of course I am going to like it, and a 7 is probably a fairly standard score for me, and anything less than a 5 is something I REALLY don't like.

I agree with many of the reviews here about some of the language in the songs, it sometimes feels that she is swearing just for the sake of it rather than to make a point, though I do love the ‘zero fucks’ line in ‘True Disaster’. Talking of that song, it is the clear highlight of the album and is definitely something I would put on my Spotify playlist. Another highlight for me is ‘Imaginary Friend’ so I guess I’m more of a fan of the more contemporary pop songs on the album. The low points of the album are ‘Lady Wood’ (what a HORRIFIC title of a song and album) which is just kinda average, and ‘Cool Girl’ which is the ‘hit’ from the album but just not that great a song really, it’s a shame they chose that as the first single. Nothing to me is terrible but these two were the ones I liked the least. The rest of the album is very cohesive, if a little samey. Her voice is fine, if a little detached and at times I wasn’t sure if I actually believed what she was singing about. While the album is only 40 minutes or so long, it is a LOT to listen to in one sitting, and the running order of the album is a bit strange, with most of the stronger songs towards the end. One thing I did feel about the album was that it was definitely more about the production than the melodies for many of the ssongs, there was a distinct lack of killer choruses throughout I’d definitely give the album another spin now and then though. Overall, a decent, if not outstanding, and if some of you think it's TOO poppy, CHRIST, you'd hate most of my favourites!

FINAL SCORE: 7/10
 
I was quite fond of Tove Lo when she featured on other people's songs, ('Heroes' by Alesso, 'Close' by Nick Jonas, and the 'Desire' remix by Years and Years), which prompted me to download 'Queen of the Clouds' first, which, admittedly, took several listens to appreciate. I was hoping the same would be true for 'Lady Wood' but it just did nothing for me.

Like everyone else, I found the swearing unnecessary and added nothing to improve the listening experience. The standout tracks, 'Cool Girl', and 'Influence' which feature a phoned-in, mercifully short vocal segment from Wiz Khalifa is the best thing he's lent his vocals too, that isn't a compliment.

08 Influence
05 Lady Wood
06 True Disaster
09 Cool Girl
05 Vibes
06 Don't Talk About It
07 Imaginary Friend
05 Keep it Simple
05 Flashes
05 WTF Love Is

For the purposes of the poll, 5/10.
 
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