Finally, time to eat! I've been a fan of Carly Rae Jepsen since the album cycle of the Loneliest Time. That was the first album I properly listened to and loved, and it probably remains my favourite Carly album. Controversially, while I like Emotion, I don't think it's her best work ever. Anyway, for the most part, Carly repeatedly puts out music that I am happy with, even if certain songs don't quite hit me at first listen. It's also fun that now she's in love (no more Longing TM songs, RIP), so am I, so maybe I can relate to these love songs a bit more. Anyway, I'm excited. The singles were probably mixed overall for me but maybe I'll appreciate the ones I didn't like as much in this listen though.
Day:
After All: It's a light start! It's kinda different to what I've heard from Carly before, honestly. It's never going to be my absolute favourite song but I do like it. I do like the vocal effects going on, it makes it feel more dreamy. The singing on the pre-chorus is nice with dragging out the words. I also like the chorus vocals in the uh...chorus. Really makes it feel like...I don't know, a positive mantra or something? Does that make sense? It's a nice, breezy, 'day' song. The end is maybe a bit messy with the overlapping vocals but it's not too long so I can look past it. 7/10
Habits of Creatures: Again, not really something I'd expect of Carly. The vocals are kinda...sexy? The chorus is maybe a bit repetitive in a way that doesn't quite work for me. Not your lemon tree, Carly! I think my opinion is that this song is decent, but I'm not blown away from it. It's nice to listen to, but yeah. I think I prefer the verses in this one. 6/10
Versailles: Okay instruments? Crazy stuff. I like it! It's funky! I like it! Like it's a bop but also low key. The chorus switchup too! Carly Rae Jepsen...what are you doing? I like it! The vocal echo effects and all are nice too. I could definitely see this one growing more on me. 7/10
On Wires: Lead single, and this was kinda surprising for me. Took me a bit to get into it, but I do like it now! The chorus especially is explosive and I like it. It's definitely lower key overall too but I really do like that chorus, with the vocals and drums and everything. The verses are nice too. The instruments are just nice throughout. 7/10
Blue Skies: Hmm, I think I'll like this? Okay high vocals? I like the way it's sung (mostly). That chorus is really nice! I love it! Okay, maybe the vocals in places are annoying me and that does knock my enjoyment down, sadly. Arghhhh. Damn high vocals. But it was catchy still! 7/10
Burning Heart: Anyway, back to vocals I can jam with. I do like this. I think it's maybe too 'loud' in places (maybe that's some of the problem I've had with the album so far that knocked my enjoyment down a bit?). But I do like the chorus, the way it's sung especially. Nice use of instruments too. The chorus is one of my favourites so far! Favourite song so far? 8/10
Wild Child: Most folk like track so far. I'm never a huge fan of these but it's perfectly pleasant. Nice vocals here that are highlighted here. It's fine. Doesn't really stick out too much to be but it's nice. Oh it's one of those talking parts at the end. Fine? 6/10
Good Fine Alright: This title is me when I'm totally not mad. Not sure how to feel about the...distant start? Oh okay now that we've properly started it... YES! That prechorus was amazing. Same for the chorus. This is what I wanted! I LOVE IT! It's really emotionally touching too. This is going to be one of my favourite songs from Carly altogether. The guitar stuff at the end too, fantastic! 10/10
Something Tragic: Leave him in the gutter! Carly swearing is always fun, it feels like it has extra effect considering she never used to in her music. I fucking hate you! This is not anywhere near as good as the previous track but I still like it quite a lot. The vocals are nice as ever. 8/10
Soft: Well, it's...soft, I guess? It's nice enough. The chorus is nice and pleasant especially. The guitar is nice and everything. Some high vocals which I'm not a major fan of, especially that ending section. But overall, good! 7/10
Lonely Side of the Bed: Okay? Nice! This is a nice song. Sexy? Anyway, this is just a nice song. I like its energy. Not really much more to say than that, I think. 7/10
Just a Little Walk on the Moon: Distant start with the...sea or something? It's nice. Certainly not what I'm used to from Carly. Is t all going to be distant and...oh, okay, maybe not. The switchup is fun! It's a unique song from her. I think I like it? I also think it's a good closer to the Day side? Am I feeling something semi-close to some Laufey songs or something? I'm not sure. I don't know. 7/10
Overall Verdict: This is something completely new for Carly. I feel like there's been hints at it throughout her career, and through her last few works especially, she's been gradually getting towards this album. Personally, it's never really going to be my absolute favourite type of music, which I know other people like a lot. I've never really been a major fan of sorta...alt, folk, lighter pop like this. However, that doesn't mean that it isn't good. I like all songs to at least some extent. Some of them are stunning. But most of it was just a nice listen. It's not the best music I've ever heard, but not everything has to be. It's a pleasant, pretty listen, and that is fine.
Night:
Never Let a Good Thing Die: Okay, even from the start, I can tell this is probably going to be the side that's more up my street. Bop already. I think the vocals maybe don't quite majorly work for me (high...), but I do like the production. Fun post-chorus production especially. Okay, I'll wake up! Long song too, fun! It's a bop but it never quite manages to get to the next level for me. Maybe it'll grow on me though? I could see that maybe. Fun slow down towards the end too. 7/10
Amalfi Coast: Good start. There's a lot of 'distant' vocals on this album. I like this though! It's another boppy song. I'm not sure I'm majorly feeling parts of this, actually. It feels like it misses the mark and it doesn't really go anywhere I want it to. It's alright though, I still enjoyed listening to it. 6/10
Patience Power Passion: Fun production at the start. Do I like that chorus or not? Hard to tell. The rest of the song is definitely good though. The production is catchy, and the vocals work well with it. Good song overall! 7/10
Don't Leave Me on the Dance Floor: Nice vocals from the start. Could be a favourite of mine (was this a single? I think it may have been but I didn't really keep up). The chorus is good here! Nice synths. I do really like it. It's very boppy. 8/10
Motivation: Another single and well, don't really relate (#dad trauma), but hey. It's boppy! The chorus is very boppy! It's absolutely a bop, the production slays. More songs like this please! That was cute at the end! 9/10
You Don't Know How It Feels: I had to revisit this one because I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I like the verses. On reflection, I do like all of this. Originally I didn't like the chorus for some reason but now it's working for me. Not my favourite but the vocals and production are all good here. 7/10
Near or Far: Vocal effects again. Oh, this could be fun. I really like this! Dark and boppy! Oh this production is FUN! Space like or something. Fun! This is unique and I really like it. 8/10
Diver: Another good song! This is definitely a cohesive 'Night' album I think. Some fun echo vocals here in parts. Again, not a favourite, but a good song. 7/10
Hold Me to the Light: Hello? Oh, that's not quite where I expected things to go. Still a great song though, even if it didn't pop off in quite the way I expected and wanted! It's still boppy in a different sort of way. Vocals and production work really well here. 8/10
That's Just Me: I really like this too! It feels like it reminds me of a different Carly song that I really like. Can't quite place it though. I feel this one. This is just a stunning song. Probably the best on this side. 9/10
No Labels, I Love You: Another stunner I think. That chorus! Okay! This is what I want! Just pure boppery. The delivery of it all is really good. The vocals! Love it! 9/10
Super Sage: Last song of this experience! Nice vocals yet again. It's a nice ending. I like the production, it's really good, and kinda spacey and wacky again. Wait, is that a vocoder or something like that? i like it. 7/10
Overall Verdict: Well, this is not quite what I expected, but I still enjoyed it. It definitely fits well with the 'Day' album. A lot of it was lower key than I expected, but the songs were still boppy, and like I thought, this was my favourite of the two albums. I think I can categorically say neither is going to be my favourite Carly album, it definitely did not surpass The Loneliest Time for me, but this 'Night' album is still a very solid entry into her discography with lots of bops and really enjoyable songs.