It would be impossible to pan Up! worse than this

[froush]

The Women of Country website is notorious for being anti-Shania, which may explain why 18 days after Up! was released, it will now be impossible for anyone else to have a worse review of Up! than it has.

WARNING: THIS REVIEW IS ALMOST GUARANTEED TO REALLY MAKE YOU MAD!!!!

5 years worth of waiting has finally come to an end and Shania Twain has released her follow-up to the unbelievably successful Come On Over album. The concept is unique; take one batch of 19 songs and remix it as both a country version and a pop version and then sell them both for the price of one record. The problem is the songs on this album aren’t worth listening to the first time, much less a second time through with a different mix.

“I’m Gonna Get You Good!”, the debut single off Up!, held promise for the rest of the album. It’s catchy sing-a-long music and that’s really what Shania Twain does best. She’s got an ear for melody and can write songs that get stuck in your head so bad you’re singing them hours after you last heard the track. Had the album contained 19 songs like “I’m Gonna Get You Good!” the results would have been much, much better.

Instead we’re treated to some of the most painfully bad songwriting I’ve seen in years. Shania and her husband write like a rhyming dictionary. They take the easiest rhyme they can find and force the song to fit around it, even if it makes no sense. The album opens with “Up!” where Shania sings, “Even my skin is acting weird/I wish that I could grow a beard/Then I could cover up my spots/Not play connect the dots”. Then you have completely ridiculous songs like “C’est La Vie”, “Ka-Ching”, “What A Way To Wanna Be!” and “In My Car (I’ll Be The Driver)” where you almost find yourself laughing at what you’re hearing (in fact one or two bursts of laugher have been heard by people around the area while this disc was being played, so I'm not really making that up). On some of these songs Shania attempts to protest wrongs in the way we all live our lives, spending too much money or women who feel they need to spend all their time striving to achieve an certain look, but in the end the way she writes them makes you roll your eyes and quickly switch tracks. You also get the pleasure of Shania wailing away on some sub par ballads like “Forever And For Always”.

Then you have the slap in the face that is the country and pop versions of this album. I tried listening to the pop album first and then switching back to the country version of the same song. Here’s a newsflash, none of this record is even remotely country. The country mix is nothing but the pop version with some fiddles or steel guitar tracks mixed in there where additional electric guitars and studio glitz would have been. I hate to break it to you, that doesn’t make a record country. That alone isn’t a problem; there is nothing wrong with pop music if it’s good. This isn’t. These albums should have been called “The Pop Album” and “The 80’s Pop Album.”

By the time I got done subjecting myself to this record I almost couldn’t believe it. I also couldn’t believe I was ready to give my first one star rating in over 5 years without even a hesitation. I had to go share the album and see the response I got, maybe I was just missing something. I gathered a group of friends with wide musical tastes (everything from rap to rock to country to pop) into the room and we played through the album. It got laugher, a lot of strange looks, and a number of skipped tracks. In the end of this little experiment they had skipped 18 of the 19 tracks before the song had made it to completion.

I even listened to the album a couple more times hoping that it would suddenly click and all make sense. It never happened. Songs like “Nah!” seem to ramble on and on. I have no idea what the hell they were trying to do with “Waiter! Bring Me Some Water!” but whatever it was an attempt at, it doesn’t work either.

This is a sad day in music (not just country music). Shania Twain has the talent to write and perform some really catchy songs. Her music is always kind of a guilty pleasure. However, Up! just leaves you completely stunned. It’s hard to comprehend that an artist of Shania’s caliber and talent could release something this weak. The songs are very poorly written, the production makes you feel that you’re back in the worst of 80’s pop music, and nothing really holds your interest. Sure there are 32 total songs on this record but when you only want to listen to the two mixes of one song the artist has completely missed their mark. Up! will sell millions of copies off of Shania’s star power. The real test will be if people fall for this again next time around. Up! has got to the be the worst album I’ve heard in a long, long time and is easily the biggest disappointment of the year (yes Faith fans, this album redeems Cry just a little bit).

Note: The site does have a message board for all of those who want to vent.


http://www.womenofcountry.com/reviews/index.shtml

[Jealous]

Yeah, I read that a few days ago, and I think it is an unfair review. It's okay if he doesn't like the album, but he seems to exaggerrate and is again judging the album because it's not country. Reviewers are not supposed to judge an album on how country it is, they are supposed to judge how good it is-the music you know? :) In any case, thanks for sharing :)

[Korenchkin]

In a way, funny to read :uhh:

[ka-ching]

:furious: :devil: They're so stupid!! It's no use to get angry. But anyway. People always have something to diss about. That doesn't matter. Lot's of people like the music and buy the CD:) :) LUCKILY

[aFinn]

Yeah, just earlier today I read this interview and I was like... what? If reviews are done by skipping songs.... :rolleyes:


anyways, there is no name of the reviewer but you might want to check out the editorial too: (if you´re lazy, just read the first 3 paragraphs ;) )

The Editorials

The Year In Review 2002

By Jeff Krasky, Senior Editor

Towards the end of the year I like to take time and reflect back on some of the changes I’ve seen in the country music industry, some of the artists you should be listening to if you aren’t already, some of the disappointments and anything else that comes to mind. It’s been an interesting year to put it lightly.

The big stars have pretty much across the board done nothing but disappoint. New music from the likes of Shania Twain, Faith Hill, and Lee Ann Womack have all been weak. The pop influence in country music is getting to the point where it’s ruining all of the positive aspects of the music form. Pop music isn’t a bad thing. I listen to it myself. Country artists just don’t make good pop superstars. There are countless other pop vocalists out there that do it better. The end result is bland, lifeless albums. These artists are still managing to sell huge amounts of records off of their star power. It makes you wonder how long they can keep doing that before people grow tired of it and start to keep their money instead of purchasing these types of albums.

The Dixie Chicks on the other hand have again proven how utterly talented they are. They fought their record label and won the battle. Shortly after the dust settled they released Home, an acoustic/bluegrass gem that rivals anything they’ve done in the past. However, a change like this could only result in poor sales and no airplay right? Wrong. The Dixie Chicks have sold millions of copies of the record already, scored their highest first week record sales ever, and placed a couple of singles high up on the Billboard chart. It’s great to know that this kind of music can sell and sell well. There is no excuse for not allowing this style of music to coexist on the airwaves with modern country. Maybe the radio stations will wake up sooner or later.

There have also been some exceptional albums by smaller artists. These people deserve to be mainstream and deserve to be bringing in the number one hits. Kelly Willis continued her string of excellent albums with Easy. She managed to follow-up her incredible What I Deserve release with another worthy record. It’s amazing how consistently great her music is. If you haven’t heard of Kelly Willis you really need to pick up one of her records. You’ll never go back. Tift Merritt also burst onto the scene with an excellent album. If she can capitalize on the promise of Bramble Rose she’s going to be in this business for a long, long time. Allison Moorer also returned this year with Miss Fortune, which is hands down her most versatile and impressive album to date. Lets hope that Universal South sticks with her. She’s got an amazing voice and is a great songwriter. No one is doing the kind of thing she is right now. Then you have Patty Griffin. Her ATO Records release 1000 Kisses is stunning. This stripped down record is a winner in every sense of the word. She’s a great writer, an unbelievable acoustic guitarist, and has a hell of a voice to back it up. It was great to see her on CMT. We can only hope that they continue to support these kinds of artists. It will be good for the industry in the long run.

The awards shows really need to do something fast. They’ve become boring, routine and meaningless in the long run. I’m not sure what the answer is to this problem but the last few years worth of shows haven’t been entertaining except for a good performance here and there. This year was no different.

Radio still hasn’t learned and I don’t think they’re going to. Another one of the stations in the Bay Area went under leaving us with really nothing. This trend is going to continue in other areas if they don’t stop forcing the same 10 song play lists down listener’s throats. I’m not sure why they are having such a hard time figuring this out. Maybe we can get some relief from this all with satellite radio. Then again, a commercial free station filled with the same songs could be even duller. Time will tell but radio isn’t going to learn.

Is anyone other than me sick of listening to the industry blame all their problems on music downloads? I know it couldn’t possibly be because you’re putting out weak albums. That would just be too simple. All that record labels are doing is hurting their image with their stream of lawsuits and that's going to end up hurting album sales in the long run as well.

It’s been an interesting year in country music. It seems that we’re all struggling with our identity. The artists are trying new things. You have to respect that but most of it isn’t working. Lets hope that next year shows us a more consistent quality of music and maybe a few surprises. We could use them.

http://www.womenofcountry.com/editorials/index.shtml

[Logan]

Originally posted by froush


(yes Faith fans, this album redeems Cry just a little bit).



I think this particular sentence says alot. Yet another tradiotionalists who hate anything that tries being a bit innovative.

Bah...

[SHANIANUTS!]

Originally posted by aFinn
anyways, there is no name of the reviewer but you might want to check out the editorial too: (if you´re lazy, just read the first 3 paragraphs ;) )

The Editorials

The Year In Review 2002

By Jeff Krasky, Senior Editor



There have also been some exceptional albums by smaller artists. These people deserve to be mainstream and deserve to be bringing in the number one hits. Kelly Willis continued her string of excellent albums with Easy. She managed to follow-up her incredible What I Deserve release with another worthy record. It’s amazing how consistently great her music is. If you haven’t heard of Kelly Willis you really need to pick up one of her records. You’ll never go back. Tift Merritt also burst onto the scene with an excellent album. If she can capitalize on the promise of Bramble Rose she’s going to be in this business for a long, long time. Allison Moorer also returned this year with Miss Fortune, which is hands down her most versatile and impressive album to date. Lets hope that Universal South sticks with her. She’s got an amazing voice and is a great songwriter. No one is doing the kind of thing she is right now.
The awards shows really need to do something fast. They’ve become boring, routine and meaningless in the long run. I’m not sure what the answer is to this problem but the last few years worth of shows haven’t been entertaining except for a good performance here and there. This year was no different.

.

http://www.womenofcountry.com/editorials/index.shtml I do agree:

Kelly, Tift and Allison are fantastic singers and anyone who loves country might be ecstatic about them.

Right on as far award shows particularly the CMAs. Also radio is going out of business - they play trash mainly and it is an exercise in futility to listen to it.

[shaniajovi fan]

I don't agree about the review of Shania's album though I have to agree it really isn't country. But I love it no matter what they want to call it. But I am pleased to see a mention for Patty Griffin- 1000 Kisses is superb. A friend recommended it and it is wonderful. I do agree about the Chicks too- great CD. But I don't see why there can't be room for the pop end of country and the traditional music. Come On Over was the first country album I owned- I am a pure rock chick. If it were not for Shania I would not have listened to Faith, and then the Chicks. Now the country music station is on my dial and I like other artists as well. So she deserves her place in country music to me because she has brought to Nashville fans from other genres who have decided to also pick up on more traditional stuff. Seems like a win win to me.

[Annette]

:rolleyes: Guess someone doesn't like Shania...
At least they could have gotten their facts straight like the 2 discs are not remixes and there's no some in Waiter! Bring me water!:rolleyes: And what's wrong with laughing over lyrics? I mean you can have funny lyrics but that doesn't mean the the song is bad, does it?

[LaJolie]

Ok I have read the first 15 lines and I quit.....whatever man :uhh:

[blueeyedguy830]

Looks like its another person who's jealous of Shania. Up! has been #1 for the last 2 weeks so I guess that reveiwer and his friends dont know good music when they hear it.

[shaniafan_uk007]

Shania has said that she doesn't like award shows. She gives all her awards away to charities or museums.

Steve ;)

[Cheyenne55]

Originally posted by Annette
:rolleyes: Guess someone doesn't like Shania...
And what's wrong with laughing over lyrics? I mean you can have funny lyrics but that doesn't mean the the song is bad, does it?

Shania has always had fun with her lyrics and songs. The bottom line is, who cares? I mean if we, the fans love her music and lyrics, and Shania is happy with her effort, then we shouldn't give a hoot about some lame web site that doesn't like Shania. There have been enough positive reviews that they override the negitive anyway. :)

I for one, enjoy good music, what I perceive as good music, not what someone tells me is good music. :)

Just an opinion

[wonderstars]

Like Logan said, they're traditionalists and I guess they haven't accepted that country has come into a new era. Shania's album is still country, but it not hardcore. Neither are the Dixie Chicks, Leann Womack, Faith Hill....

These people are going to have a hard time finding albums they like because this is the way country is heading.


I have to agree with her about the lyrics, some of them are a bit elementary. But I like listening to the album for it's musicality more than the lyrics, I guess. Hey, it's still darn catchy, and that's good enough for me.

[twaintrain]

Where the heck did they get that line from "Up" doesn't make sense. He/she must be pretty darn stupid not to get that. Also, calling "Ka-Ching," "What A Way To Wanna Be," "C'est La Vie," and "In My Car," rediculous -- now that's rediculous. Excuse Shania for thinking that money isn't everything, women should not have to starve themselves to be perfect, life is pretty good, and that she thinks people should have control over certain things.

Boy, it guess you get put down for trying to be a good person and inspire other people!

[shaniafan26726]

Well you know, 800,000 people must of thought the album was pretty cool, because that was just in a week. And it seems like Faith is gonna get picked on too, just because her knew album is more pop. Why does people make such a big deal out of it!

[dermqueen]

Reviewers need to remember, there are very few traditional country songs out there today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ie....Who's Your Daddy, I want to talk about me, Good Bye Earl, Cry, IGGG and so on. This is the way that country music is moving, and it doesn't make it right or wong, just different. If they want to catagorize it as country pop, so be it. Who Cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SHANIANUTS!]

Originally posted by shaniafan26726
Well you know, 800,000 people must of thought the album was pretty cool, because that was just in a week. And it seems like Faith is gonna get picked on too, just because her knew album is more pop. Why does people make such a big deal out of it! Lots of fans and critics are short-sighted and narrow-minded and are unbending in their preconceived notions of what music should be or sound like - one thing that draws me to Shania is that I love her voice and her sound and frankly I do not care what genre she is singing or alleged to be singing - I will follow her all the way. I had what I thought was respect for this WOC website til I read their above review of Shania. Now I feel like they have as much prejudice or more than the folks at CW and CMT message boards. I think they have been over critical and frankly have no idea of who or what Shania is and how much her fans are devoted to her and how much she is cared about the world over. Their loss.

[Cheyenne55]

Originally posted by SHANIANUTS!
Lots of fans and critics are short-sighted and narrow-minded and are unbending in their preconceived notions of what music should be or sound like - one thing that draws me to Shania is that I love her voice and her sound and frankly I do not care what genre she is singing or alleged to be singing - I will follow her all the way. I had what I thought was respect for this WOC website til I read their above review of Shania. Now I feel like they have as much prejudice or more than the folks at CW and CMT message boards. I think they have been over critical and frankly have no idea of who or what Shania is and how much her fans are devoted to her and how much she is cared about the world over. Their loss.

Well Stated;)

[tower]

That revue reminds me of the "wine expert" who will rubbish good wine on the grounds of price....

Humbug Sir, Eleatist Humbug... Enjoy your C & W as the format goes through a painful decline. It will come back, all things go round and end up back at the start sooner or later. You may have to wait a few years though.

I know good music when I hear it. I know when I am listening to lyrics that move me and have the power to alter my outlook in life, I am sorry you can not see that in Shania's songs too.

Your loss - I feel for you. I shudder to think what you would have written about the "Blue" World mix?

[froush]

A reviewer is entitled to his opinion, even if that means that he or she could be in a very small minority of those who don't like a particular piece of popular culture, whether it be a song, an album, a book, a movie or a play.

But when a reviewer is in the small minority (which from the general tenor of media reviews for Up! would put this Women of Country writer), the burden is on the naysayer to prove the majority is wrong.

In that respect, this piece falls woefully short and is devoid of any credibility.

The best way to make my case in regard to that last sentence is this: the reviewer says this is the worst CD he has reviewed in the last five years. The mere fact that Shania has set sales records already with Up! and other media reviewers like her new album makes this claim look silly. It's almost as if the Women of Country reviewer is saying: This album is lousy BECAUSE I SAID SO.

The second thing is that this reviewer criticizes an aspect of Up! that I have always thought is a plus (and has been mentioned in several posts in this thread): her lyrics sometimes make a listener laugh out loud. How is this a negative unless you already have a predisposition to see a bogeyman where one doesn't exist? Quick analogy: If a sports team is undefeated after say, 15 games, has won every game by a wide margin, how silly would it be to criticise it for not knowing how to play close games?

Then there is the sloppiness evident throughout this review. Since the burden of proof is on the reviewer, he should have been real careful to be meticulous. Otherwise, it leaves the reader wondering how careful his review process was. The biggest example of his sloppiness was saying there are 32 tracks on the double-disc Up! The last time I checked, two times 19 is 38. A reviewer that is this far off the reservation can't slough off something like that as an insiginifcant error because of the outrageousness of his claim.

A friend and I have an expression when somebody seemingly is this far out of step: It's almost as if at one time Shania told the reviewer to kiss her ***, which would be the only rational way to explain this screed. It's also one of the warning signs of being crazy when you opinion is totally out of step with the rest of the world and you insist you're right and the world is wrong.

[BARDOT]

Yeah, sure. I bet the group of people who listened to UP! have "wide musical tastes". Maybe so. But they're obviously Anti-Shania, so I'm not bothered by this person's biased review.

They do have one point though. Let's face it: Shania is NO LONGER country. Not that I mind - I prefer the pop versions. But adding fiddles and a bit of steel-guitar doesn't suddenly make a pop song country. They do the same for Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes.