1001 Albums Summary

Money Changes Everything: I do NOT enjoy her voice. The music is mediocre- it feels very much of the time… simple beat, kind of nostalgic approach to harmony and instrumentalization. OMG the harmony is somehow worse. This makes me feel like I just don’t “get” what she’s doing as a vocalist. It sounds like her nose is stuffed. This might be the worst harmonica solo I’ve ever heard in my life. What is it with these people and harmonicas? … or is it a harmonica setting on a keyboard???? I’m just so confused by her voice. I’ve never been one to say “they’re just yelling” but she’s literally just yelling. Girls just want to have fun: The music is undeniably fun, but I know my opinion is influenced by nostalgia. Her vocals feel more gentle and nuanced than in the opening track. She is able to play with dynamics and there is a reverb on her voice that makes it feel less like screaming, especially when she goes to her head voice. When you were mine: There’s a pause between songs that is a little annoying. This song feels a little cyber punk- I think the combination of the electronic instrumentation and the weird harmony on vocals. I kind of like the sound of it- it’s different and not very pretty, but it feels a little punk as a result. The contrast between the dancy sound and the heartbroken lyrics is also kind of fun. It doesn’t sound GOOD, but I can see why people enjoy this. I also like that she backed off of yelling her vocals, but her singing is still very much not pleasant. I feel like this could get very old very quickly. Time after Time: I’ve never liked this song but it’s a nice break after all the screaming. My main issue is in how she enunciates and phrases her notes… it sounds a-tonal and pitchy when she uses her chest voice. Her softer high notes are actually pretty. The song is also somewhere between too fast to be a good ballad and too slow to be a good dance track. Musically it just feels like something is lacking, and the lyrics are so repetitive that it doesn’t help. The combination of her ugly vocals, the weird pacing, and the repetitive structure really make this a difficult listen. I do not enjoy it. She Bop: As an album so far there’s at least variety and pacing, but the logic and order of it feels jarring and incohesive. This is another song that feels like maybe it could be better with less ugly vocals. She does an interesting yodel thing when entering her head voice, but her chest voice is just always so unpleasant. I also do not understand what the song is about but it feels irrelevant- it’s a party song and could be very fun with a different singer. I know her voice is iconic- I wonder how much of the sound of the decade was influenced by male artists imitating her. I could also see how this might grow on you, especially if you grew up with it. All through the night: This is the worst so far. I hate the music that feels like a children’s cartoon, and her voice over it it’s so grating. The main melody is actually pretty but everything producing it is absolutely horrible. Her saying “a stray cat is crying” feels … on the nose. Omg this instrumental solo… wtfwtfwtf it’s horrible and grating. Witness: This just feels silly and bad. It’s another that I feel like if you grew up with it you’d love to sing it, but objectively it’s all over the place, goofy and not in a good way, and feels borderline like it’s supposed to be a take on reggae? It’s like a whitewashed version of a better song. With horrible vocals. I’ll kiss you: This also feels cyber punk influenced. It’s liek shes almost rapping instead of singing. And also is going back to screaming and is almost off beat. The dumb techno beat is a little fun but I hate everything she’s doing. She’s literally screeching. He’s so unusual: Oh wow I saw a review that called her vocals “Betty Boop” But now she’s literally just playing Betty boop… Is that her or the cartoon? Was that a song? Yeah Yeah: The keyboard is insanely annoying. Her voice is slightly less so by comparison. This is so weird… her voice is literally cartoony in a way I’ve never heard anyone do before. I’m confused but intrigued. I like the use of what sounds like real horns. The Boop vocals underneath are … very odd. Overall- some interesting and fun choices... very grating and straight up bad musical sounds for the majority.