MUNA - About U (sync listen tonight @ 8.30)

[RJN]

Is that what it's about? I feel bad for my lowly 7 now

I did suspect you were pro shooting people

“I Know A Place” is the lead single from LA-based group MUNA’s debut album About U. It premiered on December 2, 2016.

The song was released a few months after the 2016 Orlando shooting at a gay club. “I Know A Place” celebrates peace, love, and equality. In an interview with iHeartRadio, the members of the all-female band said:

We wrote ‘I Know a Place’ to be like a contemporary anthem for the queer community. The LGBT community. We started writing it in 2015 after the Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage, and it was a really celebratory song, but we also knew that there were a lot of people in our community who still don’t feel safe. So we wrote it also as a message of safety and nonviolence. And then it took on a new meaning after the Orlando shooting.

The song instantly became an anthem for the safety of the LGBTQ community, as declared by TIME Magazine.

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Is that what it's about? I feel bad for my lowly 7 now

AS YOU WELL SHOULD.

 

[RJN]

once again I do not recognise the gay clubs @RJN romanticises

I have never heard Muna in a gay club (or anywhere at all)! Come to Atlanta and you can experience the two places I'm talking about mostly

 

[Tisch]

I would like to revoke my 7 for I Know a Place. Thanks.

 

[Tisch]

Around U - what an ELEVEN! The same euphoria as Say Something seems to surround this one.

 

[Jark]

I love Winterbreak so much. This whole album is really a heartbreak record that exists in this kind of bitter space after a relationship has gone bad but before there is closure or peace. but it explores that territory beautifully, their lyrics are so stun.

but the last time
that we made love you left in tears
so this time
you're wondering how to leave it here


08 So Special
11 Loudspeaker
09 I Know a Place
10 Winterbreak

 

[RJN]

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak

This whole album is very so far, but I am enjoying the melancholy vibes. I need to get high and listen with the lyrics in front of me

 

[Tisch]

09 So Special
10 Loudspeaker
10 I Know a Place
07 Winterbreak
11 Around U

 

[RJN]

The synth in the chorus of Around U reminds me of something, but I can't place it

 

[Jark]

Around U is indeed BOTTLED EUPHORIA (BY CALVIN KLEIN).

how can I try to be civilised
when inside there is a shift in paradigm?
and everything we built, we built on our love
everything is spinning on that one assumption
how can I try to say sorry
when my words don't carry the same gravity?
and everything I say, I say it knowing
full well you still don't want to believe...

I mean... IT'S ART. such a gorgeous, gorgeous marriage of songwriting and music.

08 So Special
11 Loudspeaker
09 I Know a Place
10 Winterbreak
11 Around U

 

[Tisch]

The long outro of Around U followed by the long intro of After and the way they almost merge into each other makes me feel like we're onto the next 'act' of the album

 

[RJN]

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak
10 Around U

"I no longer revolve around U"

My favorite new discovery so far. Sounds perfect for my workout playlist. Empowering!

 

[Jark]

After is such a BROODING DRUGGY ANTHEM. I think it's generally considered the least great song on this album but I love that GRUNGY VIBE.

the live instrumentation across this record is divine and makes it all feel very ALIVE.

08 So Special
11 Loudspeaker
09 I Know a Place
10 Winterbreak
11 Around U
09 After

 

[RJN]

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak
10 Around U
08 After

It feels like a dream, what happened last night
In the morning I am waiting in a long, long line
I felt so connected, I felt so high
I am going to be lonely for a long, long time

Well those lyrics really hit. A very different kind of melody (hard to describe) but really enjoyable

 

[Jark]

Promise should be right up my avenue but it's the first filler on this album. nice production, but the songwriting is just firing at 70%

08 So Special
11 Loudspeaker
09 I Know a Place
10 Winterbreak
11 Around U
09 After
07 Promise

 

[Tisch]

Maybe just cos I had this Act 1 / Act 2 transition in my head but After did seem like a (rather long) interlude to me. Nice enough, but my mind wandered.

Promise sounds a bit Katy Perry if she'd been given more grown up songs to be doing now and I mean that as a compliment!

09 So Special
10 Loudspeaker
10 I Know a Place
07 Winterbreak
11 Around U
05 After
07 Promise

 

[RJN]

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak
10 Around U
08 After
06 Promise

Meh. I'm usually able to relate to most songs, but I'm struggling with just one. The imaginary Act 2 does seem a little rougher than the imaginary Act 1 so far

 

[RJN]

The chorus of If U Love Me Now is gorgeous and so so sad

 

[Jark]

I love If U Love Me Now. it's such a delicate song. I love the way they write about these topics of hating yourself and thinking you're not worthy of anything. it's very sad when you really break it down, but delivered with great beauty.

it's this hypothesis I test, that I should not exist
don't you love me now?

08 So Special
11 Loudspeaker
09 I Know a Place
10 Winterbreak
11 Around U
09 After
07 Promise
09 If U Love Me Now

 

[Tisch]

Hmm. If U Love Me Now... Nice ballad, beautiful ballad. But my excited-ness I got from the first act just hasn't rekindled. Bathroom Floor is the most up there for me so far but still not quite. Maybe this is how my previous listens went and that's why I've never beenassicely desperate to continue listening...

In other news BRIGHTON JUST SCORED

 

[RJN]

Go Fulham!!

 

[Jark]

Bathroom Floor is my second and final FILLER MOMENT. it's very nice but it doesn't hit as hard.

08 So Special
11 Loudspeaker
09 I Know a Place
10 Winterbreak
11 Around U
09 After
07 Promise
09 If U Love Me Now
07 Crying on the Bathroom Floor

 

[RJN]

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak
10 Around U
08 After
06 Promise
10 If U Love Me Now
07 Crying on the Bathroom Floor

I did have high expectations because of the name. This kind of sounds like if all the previous songs were combined into one. Still love the name

 

[Tisch]

Are we allowed two 11's? End of Desire might just deserve one...

 

[RJN]

Are we allowed two 11's? End of Desire might just deserve one...

Only 1 11 is allowed, but a 13 is permissible as well

 

[Tisch]

Go Fulham!!

they're goal was disallowed and I'm blaming this post.

 

[Tisch]

Only 1 11 is allowed, but a 13 is permissible as well

Oh fine! Updated scores #soon!

 

[Tisch]

09 So Special
10 Loudspeaker
10 I Know a Place
07 Winterbreak
13 Around U
05 After
07 Promise
06 If U Love Me Now
11 End of Desire
09 Everything

 

[RJN]

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak
10 Around U
08 After
06 Promise
10 If U Love Me Now
07 Crying on the Bathroom Floor
09 End of Desire

I'm a sucker for these kind of lyrics and this chorus once again explodes. Probably a grower

The guitar at the beginning of Everything sounds like the beginning of Lose Yourself by Eminem

 

[Jark]

End of Desire is the lightest moment on the album. Everything, by contrast, is pure overwrought melodrama and gay hysteria.

the only song I've ever heard that poses the question: if 400 people died in a terrorist attack, would you be worried that one was me?

god, lesbians.

08 So Special
11 Loudspeaker
09 I Know a Place
10 Winterbreak
11 Around U
10 After
07 Promise
09 If U Love Me Now
07 Crying on the Bathroom Floor
08 End of Desire
10 Everything

 

[Jark]

the Outro is an actual song btw so I EXPECT A SCORE. no escaping just yet Tischy.

 

[RJN]

if 400 people died in a terrorist attack, would you be worried that one was me?

And at the bar, on TV
They were talking about the casualties
Four hundred and counting
And my only question
Was, how would you feel if one was me?


Maybe I'm just a bleeding heart, but I wouldn't have to be in love with someone to be sad if they were killed

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak
10 Around U
08 After
06 Promise
10 If U Love Me Now
07 Crying on the Bathroom Floor
09 End of Desire
07 Everything

 

[Jark]

And at the bar, on TV
They were talking about the casualties
Four hundred and counting
And my only question
Was, how would you feel if one was me?


Maybe I'm just a bleeding heart, but I wouldn't have to be in love with someone to be sad if they were killed

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak
10 Around U
08 After
06 Promise
10 If U Love Me Now
07 Crying on the Bathroom Floor
09 End of Desire
07 Everything

you also just told us thirty minutes ago you're pro abuse. I'm getting mixed signals.

 

[Tisch]

BONUS TRACK

The MUNA remix of Alanis Morissette Ablaze. She could probably do with the streams and it's genuinely very good.



Thanks for organising @Jark The Herald Angels Sing once again, very very much enjoyed. And thanks also for the company @RJN

 

[Jark]

Outro is very much an extended mid album interlude and Everything is a classic closer so the sequencing there is odd, but I do love it.

08 So Special
11 Loudspeaker
09 I Know a Place
10 Winterbreak
11 Around U
10 After
07 Promise
09 If U Love Me Now
07 Crying on the Bathroom Floor
08 End of Desire
10 Everything
08 Outro

 

[Jark]

they really brought Alanis into their sonic world with Ablaze it's really great. excellent vocal treatment.

 

[RJN]

you also just told us thirty minutes ago you're pro abuse. I'm getting mixed signals.

Well one of the two was a joke, you decide which

07 So Special
09 Loudspeaker
11 I Know A Place
08 Winterbreak
10 Around U
08 After
06 Promise
10 If U Love Me Now
07 Crying on the Bathroom Floor
09 End of Desire
07 Everything
09 Outro

Thanks again @Jark The Herald Angels Sing

And @Christmas Tisches I hope Brighton wins your game

I'm listening to the Ablaze remix now. Its interesting to hear Alanis's voice over this music but I like it!

 

[Tisch]

09 So Special
10 Loudspeaker
10 I Know a Place
07 Winterbreak
13 Around U
05 After
07 Promise
06 If U Love Me Now
09 Crying on the Bathroom Floor
11 End of Desire
09 Everything
06 Outro

Giving the album a @joanne average of 8.5

 

[Jark]

high score considering your middle album loss of faith love seeing these girls get a bit of love. let's do the second album soon.

MERCI GIRLIES

 

[Tisch]

I will certainly look out for them when gigs are a thing again. I have one particular friend who seems to just about be on the cusp on keeping up with new acts (he's the one who introduced me to Shura) so I'm just about clinging onto that world...