I can see the appeal but it’s just really not my type of music tbh.
37/100
You definitely have to be in a specific kind of mood for this album I feel, as a lot of it is very chilled. I really like the vocals, his tone is very satisfying. I do think that depending on the day I could either rate this album higher or lower, as I said have to be in the mood for it but I do think it has the potential to grow on me. So on first listen this is my rating but I definitely will revisit some of the songs if not all and it could change!. I listened to the majority of this while studying and it wasn’t distracting which is good, but it meant I didn’t pay too much attention to the lyrics, just the overall vibe, so as I said my opinion could likely change drastically after a while with this one.
66/100
Definitely my favourite so far. Similarly to the previous album (REM) I listened to it while studying so I didn’t pay as much attention as I would normally, therefore my first listening opinions probably aren’t fully accurate. I really like the vibe of the whole album and although my score might not seem to reflect it, I think that again, over time my score will increase. Definitely something I see myself revisiting. So for now,
74/100
Seen them live before so it was nice to familiarise myself with the whole album and not just the two popular songs I’ve already heard. I liked it. Again, not really my type of music. I’m very much a lyrics person and I feel like just with the volume of the instruments it didn’t give me a chance to get into it. But I still liked the overall sound of the album.
62/100
Pleasantly surprised by this !! I of course knew Mr. Blue Sky and thought that the rest of the album was probably going to be bad in comparison but it didn’t let me down. I really liked the sound ! And I think the songs have potential to grow on me even more with future listens and looking into the lyrics more. It was a very long album though and a lot of the songs were kind of the same vibe so unsure if I would listen to it again start to finish but you never know !
I feel like I’m being maybe too harsh with the scoring but it’s possibly because I know there are so many more albums to go and I haven’t had any song so far that I’ve wanted to add to my ‘Songs I wish I wrote’ playlist yet
72/100
Started off strong with two songs I was very familiar with and absolutely love ! Unfortunately for me, the rest of the album didn’t really live up to expectations based on the first two tracks. Don’t get me wrong it was still good and I still very much enjoyed it. I do feel that there’s a reason why those two songs were the only ones I’d heard from the album!
73/100
This was my first experience listening to Fiona Apple. To be honest I just don’t think she’s really my vibe. She gives off a kind of eccentric energy that I don’t think is my style. I liked some of the songs quite a lot but the majority of them made me feel weirdly unsettled. I don’t know if it was her voice or just the way she was singing the songs but idk. Still not terrible but I can’t see myself revisiting or being too excited to listen to her other albums in the future.
56/100
I had high hopes going into this one. I already know The Scientist and Clocks and I’m very fond of those songs. I’ve also seen Coldplay live and considering the fact that I wouldn’t call myself a big fan, the concert was amazing and I really do enjoy their music. I was unfamiliar with the rest of the songs on this album but after first listen I really liked almost all of them. This album didn’t disappoint. Very chill though, not many upbeat tracks but still very enjoyable. I think it’s possible that I may either rate this slightly or higher in the future, as I again didn’t properly digest, I just went off of kinda my subconscious vibes.
80/100
Just not my vibe tbh
57/100
It was grand, could’ve rated it higher but like 3 of the songs were basically just instrumentals, and as I said big lyrics gal. Still overall liked the sound.
61/100
I love the title track so much, it makes me want to cry for no good reason. I’m a big fan of Dolly Parton’s storytelling, I think it’s her best quality as an artist, I don’t always love her vocal choices in some songs or even the theme of the songs but 9 times out of ten you can guarantee that her songs tell a good story. Traveling Man made me giggle honestly, the end with her just rambling is too much. The harmonies in some of these songs are stunning also. I liked it, I am confused about her stance on her mother though, one second she loves her and the next she’s sad cause her mums ran off with her man (so should I like her mum or no.. unsure). I also see how she’s one of the blueprints of the country genre because I swear all of her songs sound like the could be current Irish country songs lol. Also they clearly based Lucy Grey Bird or whatever the characters called songs from the Hunger Games prequel cause again same vibes, could hear Rachel Zegler singing these in that dusty looking dress ahah, particularly Early Morning Breeze. The Way I See You is an underrated ballad, if Whitney Houston covered that one too it definitely would’ve popped off also cause the build and the lil high note in the chorus or pre-chorus bit was so pretty and then followed by Here I Am.. ugh so wholesome. And I’m here for the gospel vibes in the chorus, give her a choir for every song cause it would slap.
70/100
already listened to this one last year and hated it to be honest lol. I’ve genuinely never felt scared or creeped out when listening to music until this. Like maybe I don’t get it but it freaked me out.
5/100
I already knew I would love this album just based off of River being the only song I knew before listening to it. Currently my highest rated album ever, according to AOTY.
91/100
The whole vibe of the album just gives me nostalgia even though it’s not one that came out when I was a child. The instrumentation just has a way of making you feel warm almost. I think this album will be a grower for me, I already knew a couple of songs before listening to the album the whole way through and I really like them I just don’t find myself gravitating towards them much but I do think there will come a time in my life when I will if that makes sense. So I expect this album could deserve a reevaluation when that day comes and maybe a higher ranking but for now I’m happy with where it’s sitting on my AOTY overall.
78/100
So she kind of sings in cursive and honestly that’s the biggest takeaway I got from this album. I’m not feeling it, she’s not my type of country singer, like she’s kind of like the female Blake Shelton or something, it’s all fine but it just feels like she’s reading from a page rather than singing something she resonates with, it just doesn’t feel deep at all. Lowkey she sound like what I’d imagine Chloe (Susan’s sister) in ER would sound like if she was a singer.
55/100
I’ve always said I’m more of a folklore girly but honestly there are some songs on evermore that I would rate higher than folklore. I actually think I gravitate towards folklore more often because the songs I love on this album are heartbreakingly sad (marjorie, tolerate it, champagne problems).
Anyways I love this album. I think it’s one of the few albums I would actually listen the whole way through if in the right mood because obviously it’s not one that’s perfect for any occasion but my point is that there isn’t a song I dislike at all.
Currently one of my top rated albums on AOTY and I don’t really see that changing any time soon!
88/100
The first song started and all I could think was why does this guy sound like he’s singing while trying to impersonate someone else but once I got over that I could appreciate the guitar playing. The transition from Waitin’ For The Bus into Jesus Just Left Chicago was chefs kiss. Idk why I’m getting Muppets vibes from their singing though lol. I just don’t think their style of music is for me like I like music that makes me feel something but I feel like ZZ Top is very much like beers with the boys, head banging type of music which isn’t my vibe in the slightest. Master of sparks was a tough listen. The instrumental saved it for me slightly. I don’t think it’s an album I’ll be revisiting nor do I think I’ll go back to any of the songs but hey it’s another artist listened to! And it’s nowhere near as bad as Suicide so that’s a plus!! Overall I think if the album was just instrumental I would’ve rated it higher because I really enjoyed the instrumentals on this album but in the majority of the songs the things that let them down for me were the lyrics and the singing style (lowkey creeped me out in La Grange at the start ahah). Also the voice screaming at the end of Have You Heard? sounds like the lil blue rat/mouse guy (can’t remember his name) from Bear in the Big Blue House
43/100
It’s weirdly soothing for an album I have never listened to. Now granted I was already familiar with a handful of songs but nonetheless it felt like being home. Is it bad though that I think I might prefer the vamps cover of Cecilia..
Anyways, the harmonies on this album are immaculate, there’s nothing I love more than a good harmony, and it just hits different when two men can harmonise well. I genuinely think this album is a grower for me, like it rated so highly by people so I’m thinking that after a deep dive on the lyrics I may eventually rate this album significantly higher but for now, on first listen it’s a solid score I think, for an album I have yet to fathom anyways.
78/100
One song in and I can just tell it’s not going to be something I enjoy too much. I can absolutely see why it’s got such a name for itself like the backing tracks are so good to be fair and I don’t actually mind his voice, it’s just not a genre of music I like. Although, the second track is sitting a lot better for me, I still don’t think I’d revisit but it’s not a bad listen. I feel like it doesn’t help that I already have a negative opinion about Kanye in general, so I’m not totally open minded to his music but I’m trying to be as open minded as possible. This album is giving such gym bro energy or like workout montage core. I am intrigued to listen to his earlier stuff at some point, cause he released a lot in the early 2000s, I’d be curious to see if it’s classic 2000s vibes or more like unique to him. Sorry the screaming in I Am A God is giving like Drew Barrymore in Scream it’s too funny. Okay so I didn’t even notice the transition into New Slaves, very smooth. The singing part in New Slaves honestly slaps. Lowkey some of the lyrics in Hold My Liquor make me uncomfy but the sound of the song overall I actually like, I just can’t get behind some of the stuff he’s saying and I’m such a lyrics gal. Who’s the old lady on Blood On The Leaves I can’t cope. Why did I forget the Bound 2 song was Kanye. Anyways overall, wasn’t as terrible as I’d thought it would be. I genuinely think if some of the lyrics weren’t so vulgar I’d actually like these songs more because I like the backing tracks and I quite like his voice surprisingly.
35/100
