Your thoughts about SUN? / Que pensez-vous de l'album?

Nicolaoua wrote: L'intro fait en effet un peu penser à ça.

Oui, c'est simplement l'intro qui m'y a fait penser. Heureusement, la comparaison s'arrête là!

Nicolaoua wrote:Dans un genre différent, Manhattan m'a beaucoup rappelé Florence & The Machine et son "Dog Days are over":



Je n'échange pas mon baril de Manhattan contre 2 de "Dog Days" mais il y a clairement une ressemblance par endroits.

Ca ne m'avait pas sauté aux oreilles, mais j'avais lu ce commentaire qqpart et en effet, c'est ressemblant. Je préfère ce genre de ressemblance-là (j'aime bien Florence and the Machine) plutôt que celle avec Babylon Zoo.

Sab wrote:Cokelike, I was wondering what's your opinion about the two bonus tracks. Do you like them?

I like "Fire" more than "Back In The Days", but neither one of them are as interesting and exciting as the tracks on the album. I'm glad they are bonus tracks and didnt go on the album. They just dont sound as finished as the other new songs, more like sketches. I like the "King Rides By" remake more than these 2 songs. But I'm glad that one didnt go on the album as well. There is already the long "Nothin But Time" and having "King Rides By" on there might've dragged down the pace of the album. The order of the tracks on "Sun" is really good. I'll write some of my thoughts on the album later this weekend.

Just some random thoughts about the album.

I'll go ahead and admit that I downloaded the album when it leaked. I really couldnt wait after I knew it was out there (but I do have 2 LPs and the CD now).

This is a great and inventive album from front to back. Its feels like a produced album but also very homemade at the same time. What is most striking to me is her vocals. I love the way she has layered her vocal parts. On some songs there is almost a choir of Chans. The instrumentation is also distinct. The synths add a lot to her sound, especially producing an eerie effect on "Always On My Own".

A lot has been said about "Nothin But Time" being a "tribute/homage" to David Bowie's "Heroes". And she may have intended it this way, but really to me this is a standard two chord Cat Power song, its not that dissimliar from "Colors And The Kids". And like that song there are some incredible lyrics. "I know this life seems never-ending". Stuff like that and "Sometimes you dont want to live", from "Real Life" are to me part of the core message of the album: Hang on, it gets better. Just like every cloud has a silver lining. And nearby there is a Sun. A Sun is energy and maybe Chan is saying its positive energy.

I love the confidence that is heard in these songs. "You've got your own voice, so sing". And even though the sound may be the most contemporary Chan has ever sounded, there is still that familiar undercurrent of uncertainty at times in her lyrics. Like when she sings, "When I say I know the way, I am only trying."

Overall I really do hear a determined sound on this record. Songs like "Ruin", "Human Being", "Real Life" and "Peace And Love", these are all about struggle but also optimisism.

The instrumentation is creative. I love the live drums Chan added to "Manhattan", they really kick the song up a notch. Her vocal arrangements on every song are just awesome. I especially love that lower vocal part on "Real Life" where she sings "To live your day long". Her vocals are so unique.

Probably my main disagreement with the album is the way "Nothin But Time" came out. I love Iggy Pop and the Stooges but, I just dont like Iggy Pops vocal. When he comes in (multi-tracked) yelling "They wanna live!", its jarring. And then he switches to crooning like David Bowie and to me he is too loud in the mix. But even if he was lower, it would still be odd to me. He just doesnt add anything to the song that Chan isnt already accomplishing, its superfluous. And then when you think the song is over it comes back, but no one sings. If it were up to me I would've added Iggy Pop into the song at this point. So people would be like "Oh the song is over... no wait, is that Iggy Pop singing the chorus?". But it just pointlessly comes back with no vocals for 2 minutes. Okay whatever.

I think one of my favorite songs on the album is "Peace And Love". Chan sounds so engaged on this. This song is like a Stooges riff mixed with a Hip-Hop beat.

I was really excitied to hear "Real Life" when the track list was announced after knowing the old solo guitar version. And the new version of the song did not disappoint. In the 2002 live version, she talks about "This is the part where everyones dancing", and you can really hear that in the song now. When I hear it now, I see Chan dancing like in the "Cross Bones Style" music video, which was inspired by one of her favorites, Madonna. Seeing her blonde hair and what looked like some dance moves in the "Cherokee" music video trailer also makes me think of Madonna.

The album is not the same sound Chan has made on her albums but her feelings are still there. To me she is still speaking her mind without any pretense. Real.

I enjoy Iggy Pop on "Nothin but Time". I feel that he appears exactly when the song could become boring, boosting it and helping it to reach new heights.

I think he fails at boosting the song. I'd rather hear it with just Chan's voices. Its weird because I really like Iggy, I think he is a great singer and so sporatic and expressive. But his part on the album just feels thrown in there. Its too bad Bowie didnt do the vocal part because I bet that would've been much better. But even then I am not sure the song really needed a second vocalist. Its such a personal song. But hey, its her album, cool beans. Still love the whole thing, only a minor disagreement.

Wow, it was crazy to hear the song "Sun" for the first time. That beginning synth comes in and its like "whoa, what?!". I love that the drums on "Sun" and also "Manhattan" as so low-key. It reminds me of her use of the Casio SK-5 on "Free". When I first heard "Free" and heard those drum beats, I thought, "I know those beats". It's the same keyboard I had years ago (and later bought again off ebay). The whole album is such a crazy mix of drums.

Hearing "Ruin" in the context of the whole album is interesting too. It's still a stand out track to me. In interviews it was said there are 9 keyboards parts. I only hear 3 (maybe 4) keyboard parts myself.

I've also thought about how Chan said she wanted Jack White to cover a song off the album. To me, that has to be "Silent Machine". I thought it was a White Stripes "stomp" from the first listen.

Cokelike wrote:
To me, that has to be "Silent Machine"

And it is confirmed by Chan in the "Magic RPM" interview.

Does anyone know by any chance who sings the background vocals on FIRE? There's this childish voice, that's so mesmerizing!

By the way does anybody found the lyrics of the two bonus tracks? I'm pretty obsessed with these two songs...

Thank you!

Sab wrote:Does anyone know by any chance who sings the background vocals on FIRE? There's this childish voice, that's so mesmerizing!

By the way does anybody found the lyrics of the two bonus tracks? I'm pretty obsessed with these two songs...

Thank you!

Maybe is it written somewhere on the japanese cd booklet?
This japanese cd id also the only way to get a numeric high def version of the bonus songs. If these 2 songs are as good as what i read here and there, it's a shame that we only have them in mp3... And i'm not ready yet to pay 30€ to get these 2 songs in high def!

Nicolaoua wrote:

Sab wrote:Does anyone know by any chance who sings the background vocals on FIRE? There's this childish voice, that's so mesmerizing!

By the way does anybody found the lyrics of the two bonus tracks? I'm pretty obsessed with these two songs...

Thank you!

Maybe is it written somewhere on the japanese cd booklet?
This japanese cd id also the only way to get a numeric high def version of the bonus songs. If these 2 songs are as good as what i read here and there, it's a shame that we only have them in mp3... And i'm not ready yet to pay 30€ to get these 2 songs in high def!

Yeah, me neither.

These two songs are sooooo beautiful. Can't stop listening.

FIRE m'émeut. Je ne sais pas quoi dire de plus. Ça remue un truc chez moi.

BACK IN THE DAYS est entêtant, dans la même veine que KINGS RIDES BY 2011, un peu hypnotique. Un rythme incroyable.

'tain, je suis épatée par cet album! Je suis épatée par cette artiste! Une p****n d'artiste de génie avec des tripes.

Pardon pour cet élan du cœur, mais je suis vraiment sciée.

C'est un peu la raison d'être du forum.

The bonus songs sound very nice. I've listened to them only a couple of times but i've good vibes.

Back in the Days sounds as if it's a lost outtake from "MoonPix" or "What Would...". I think that it is the way she sings on it that make me feel this. As Cokelike wrote somewhere, it sounds like a choir made of Chan's voice. It's beautiful.

Fire is OK, i must listen to it a bit more before writing anything interesting about it.

Yep, 2 beautiful songs but i understand why they were not included in the album: their mood is very different, almost atmospheric. I wonder if the next album will sound like that. I would enjoy listening a whole record with such songs.

Sab wrote:Does anyone know by any chance who sings the background vocals on FIRE? There's this childish voice, that's so mesmerizing!

By the way does anybody found the lyrics of the two bonus tracks? I'm pretty obsessed with these two songs...

Thank you!

Background vocals sound like Chan with a vocal effect to me.

"Back in the Days" is now one of my favourite songs from these SUN sessions.

Cokelike wrote:

Sab wrote:Does anyone know by any chance who sings the background vocals on FIRE? There's this childish voice, that's so mesmerizing!

By the way does anybody found the lyrics of the two bonus tracks? I'm pretty obsessed with these two songs...

Thank you!

Background vocals sound like Chan with a vocal effect to me.

Even the the childish voice? Around 1:22?

Sab wrote:Even the the childish voice? Around 1:22?

Hmmmm, it doesnt really sound like her, but all the other vocals are definitely her. And no one else was credited on the album/single for that song. I still think its her but with some pitch effect on her voice.

This album is awesome.

Today I realized that Cherokee is a great song and so is Human Being. Until now this two songs + Sun were the weakest for me but now, slowly I'm starting to really like them.

Are you still listening the album? I don't listen the entire album every day but I listen to a couple (or more) songs everyday.

Sab wrote:

Are you still listening the album? I don't listen the entire album every day but I listen to a couple (or more) songs everyday.

The last time i listened to it was 1 week ago. Since then i only listened to Cherokee and the bonus songs. I did that because i don't want to know it too well. I want to be able to be surprised when i listen to it.

Sab wrote:This album is awesome.

Heck yeah!

Sab wrote:Today I realized that Cherokee is a great song and so is Human Being. Until now this two songs + Sun were the weakest for me but now, slowly I'm starting to really like them.

I kind of felt that way about "Sun" as well. I dont think of any of them as weaker than others now. "Always On My Own" and "Human Being" both stuck out a bit because of their different production. But I really like the lyrics in those songs especially, "You've got your own voice, so sing / You've got two hands lets go and make anything". And then in "Always On My Own", "Look at my eyes and see the bomb". Chan is the bomb!!

Sab wrote:Are you still listening the album? I don't listen the entire album every day but I listen to a couple (or more) songs everyday.

I alternate the album with other stuff at home. But its always in the car so I hear at least 2 or 3 songs a day.

I've just listened the album three weeks after doing it for the last time.

First thing: i've had a longing for this record and listening to it was pure joy. Therefore i've decided to stop listening to it "casualy". I don't want it to become background music, it must remain special.

I clearly feel 2 magic moments on this record: Manhattan and Nothin but Time. There are other great songs on the album but these 2 are pure magic.
It is still difficult to rate it because it is so different from her other records but it is probably in my Cat Power Top 5. Time will tell it's real status.

Nicolaoua wrote:

It is still difficult to rate it because it is so different from her other records but it is probably in my Cat Power Top 5. Time will tell it's real status.

It could even be in my Top 3.
I keep listening to it on a seldom basis, and each time it gets better.

Sab wrote:

Nicolaoua wrote:Arf, je rajoute également Human Being quand même.

J'accroche pas avec Human Being. A la première écoute, je suis restée un peu dubitative face à ce titre, à Sun (qui curieusement m'a fait penser à ce titre tout pourri des années 90: et à Real Life.

Real Life a finalement fait son petit bonhomme de chemin jusqu'à moi et maintenant je l'écoute avec plaisir. En revanche, je suis toujours hermétique à Sun et Human Being.

Est ce que vous connaissez cette toute première version de Real Life qu'elle a fait au Café de la danse en 2002 :


Je la trouve infiniment magnifique, dommage que ça soit trop court...
Si l'un de vous l'a en mp3 je suis preneuse

kakismash wrote:Je la trouve infiniment magnifique, dommage que ça soit trop court...
Si l'un de vous l'a en mp3 je suis preneuse

It is indeed cool. I wish I had the whole concert, but all I have ever found is this song and "Sad, Sad Song". I love how she says "This is part where everyone starts dancing". Sure, enough it ended up as one her most dance-able tracks ever. Check your messages shortly.