Shura - Nothing's Real (TONIGHT 8pm SYNC PLAY)

[Tisch]

I have to say while nothing's massively sinking in, I am absolutely loving the ambience.

 

[RJN]

I don't want to seem irrational about this, but Kidz 'N' Stuff is ALSO one of the best songs of the past 10 years (despite the terrible name).

 

[Jark]

I have to say while nothing's massively sinking in, I am absolutely loving the ambience.

it's the perfect album to listen to when you're feeling single, heartbroken and jaded, but with a seed of hope for the survival of your heart. maybe you're not the target audience.

 

[Iguana]

I have to say while nothing's massively sinking in, I am absolutely loving the ambience.

You said you weren't listening to it, are we really listening to the same thing on different floors?

 

[RJN]

08 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
11 Kidz 'N' Stuff

 

[Jark]

oh god I adore Kidz n' Stuff. It's SO fragile. her lyrics are absolutely spectacular and her delivery is exquisite.

wish I knew right from the start we'd never ever work things out
maybe I knew right from the start and that's exactly how I broke us down

...and then that TRANSITION. YES. consider the gunny ACTIVATED and ready to POP.

09 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
10 Kidz n' Stuff

 

[Iguana]

05 Nothing's Real
07 What's It Gonna Be
08 Touch
08 the kids one

 

[RJN]

...and then that TRANSITION

Chromatica WISHES it could transition like this

 

[Iguana]

Yes that transition was great!

 

[Iguana]

Ok Indecision is my jam

 

[POP!]

"Kidz N Stuff" is a bit to SUBDUED for me although I like the dreamy outro and segue into "Indecision"

09 Nothing's Real
10 What's it Gonna Be
10 Touch
07 Kidz 'N Stuff

 

[POP!]

"Indecision" reminds me a bit of "Lucky Star" by Madge, not sure WHY

I do love it though, so bouncy

 

[Iguana]

05 Nothing's Real
07 What's It Gonna Be
08 Touch
08 the kids one
11 The transition
09 Indecision

 

[Iguana]

"Indecision" reminds me a bit of "Lucky Star" by Madge, not sure WHY

I do love it though, so bouncy

Because it's the same, I heard it as soon as you said that

 

[Jark]

Indecision is so BOPPY AND FUN. it's definitely the most lightweight song on this record and I fucking love it.

I always wonder why she sings "you've got my love, boy" when she's been out as gay her whole career. maybe it's just what she called her girlfriend. a lesbian to confirm if that's a thing that happens please.

09 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
10 Kidz n' Stuff
10 Indecision

 

[RJN]

08 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
11 Kidz 'N' Stuff
10 Indecision

Bouncy is right; fun but also emotional

 

[POP!]

05 Nothing's Real
07 What's It Gonna Be
08 Touch
08 the kids one
11 The transition
09 Indecision

 

[POP!]

09 Nothing's Real
10 What's it Gonna Be
10 Touch
07 Kidz 'N Stuff
08 Indecision

 

[RJN]

I always wonder why she sings "you've got my love, boy" when she's been out as gay her whole career.

Its about her record label You would never know but she confirmed it

 

[Jark]

you had your back turned
reading your... magazine...

god she's SO good at wistful lyricism her imagery really takes you on that journey with her to the extent that all of these very specific, intimate references feel somehow universal and applicable to you. and that is the power of songwriting.

we're back on that 80s summer jam new wave thing here and I'm living. the way she gives the vocal 10% more on the final chorus is delightful.

09 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
10 Kidz n' Stuff
10 Indecision
10 What Happened to Us?

 

[Iguana]

05 Nothing's Real
07 What's It Gonna Be
08 Touch
08 the kids one
11 The transition
09 Indecision
07 What Happened To Us

 

[RJN]

08 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
11 Kidz 'N' Stuff
10 Indecision
10 What Happened To Us?

This used to be an 11, but it's not quite up to the standards of the two best ones. The best part for me is the pre-chorus:

"Funny how we remember things
How we hold on to the good
But throw out the bad stuff
What happened to us?"

This song is very pertinent because I've been texting my (kind of) ex today

 

[POP!]

09 Nothing's Real
10 What's it Gonna Be
10 Touch
07 Kidz 'N Stuff
08 Indecision
08 What Happened to Us

 

[POP!]

"What Happened to Us" feeels a bit Ladyhawke to me, which I like, but a bit 2008

 

[Jark]

ALL of these songs are absolutely DRENCHED in reverb as well, which gives the feeling of driving through a thick fog in the middle of the night with the car radio turned up loud. it's gloriously evocative.

 

[Jark]

This song is very pertinent because I've been texting my (kind of) ex today

don't know the backstory but girl DON'T GO BACK THERE

 

[POP!]

"Tongue Tied" is light as cotton candy, it's delicious

09 Nothing's Real
10 What's it Gonna Be
10 Touch
07 Kidz 'N Stuff
08 Indecision
08 What Happened to Us
10 Tongue Tied

 

[RJN]

don't know the backstory but girl DON'T GO BACK THERE

Oh you're VERY RIGHT

 

[Jark]

Tongue Tied is an utterly slinky delight. it's a total midnight drive kind of anthem. the album is basically day and night and now we're in the night part.

09 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
10 Kidz n' Stuff
10 Indecision
10 What Happened to Us?
10 Tongue Tied

 

[RJN]

08 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
11 Kidz 'N' Stuff
10 Indecision
10 What Happened To Us?
08 Tongue Tied

Good song but it just doesn't resonate with me as much as the rest

 

[Iguana]

05 Nothing's Real
07 What's It Gonna Be
08 Touch
08 the kids one
11 The transition
09 Indecision
07 What Happened To Us
09 Tongue Tied

 

[Jark]

Make It Up feels quite indebted to dance music. I feel like there's a 12" mix of this screaming to get out. She's also a remixer of other people's work (they're all amazing) and I love the way this one tempts you to the dancefloor while still feeling quite downbeat.

09 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
10 Kidz n' Stuff
10 Indecision
10 What Happened to Us?
10 Tongue Tied
09 Make It Up

 

[RJN]

08 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
11 Kidz 'N' Stuff
10 Indecision
10 What Happened To Us?
08 Tongue Tied
09 Make It Up

Another one that is bouncy. Not to repeat myself, but she does so well with writing about sad things in an upbeat way

 

[Iguana]

05 Nothing's Real
07 What's It Gonna Be
08 Touch
08 the kids one
11 The transition
09 Indecision
07 What Happened To Us
09 Tongue Tied
08 Make It Up

 

[RJN]

2Shy (I hate this title too) is a nice change of pace. Its kind of sexy and once again, so evocative. The lyrics are so specific but you know just how she feels

08 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
11 Kidz 'N' Stuff
10 Indecision
10 What Happened To Us?
08 Tongue Tied
09 Make It Up
10 2Shy

 

[Jark]

I have a nice memory about 2Shy which I think I've shared before but I might as well GO AGAIN while we're here.

She supported Chvrches on their Every Open Eye UK/Europe tour, which I saw in Berlin. I actually didn't know a thing about Shura at that time, and we got to the venue a little late thinking we'd just see Chvrches. I was at the bar waiting to buy a drink and I could hear this song starting in the actual venue so I wondered through. It was 2Shy and she was playing it at the keyboard and I kind of had shivers because it's just so beautiful and in a way I felt like this song just entered my heart before the performance was over. and so I started to stan there and then.

and yes @RJN, it is quite sexy.

09 Nothing's Real
09 What's It Gonna Be
11 Touch
10 Kidz n' Stuff
10 Indecision
10 What Happened to Us?
10 Tongue Tied
09 Make It Up
10 2Shy

 

[Iguana]

05 Nothing's Real
07 What's It Gonna Be
08 Touch
08 the kids one
11 The transition
09 Indecision
07 What Happened To Us
09 Tongue Tied
08 Make It Up
08 2Shy

 

[Jark]

I think we should do the secret track after White Light btw, but maybe not the Space Tapes which isn't really a song.

 

[RJN]

White Light is such an explosive 80s moment

 

[COB]

Just popping in to say that the extended version of White Light is TRULY TRANSCENDENT and should've been on the album.