52. "RE: New Foreign Exchange album for those wondering" In response to Reply # 1
FE's albums usually take a little time to grow on me and this one is no different. At first, it didn't really stand out, nothing remarkable...but after a while, the tunes and melodies are super infectious like "On A Day Like Today". It seems like the least varied of their albums but more just like a smooth ride through and through.
My one criticism...and I love ya, Phonte...but I feel like the lyrics are less creative than they used to be. Phonte has written amazing raps, R&B songs....has a GREAT sense of humor...but not much of that comes through on this album for some reason. The lyrics kinda fall into this "Baby...I love you..." category that just lacks his personality and character...Dude used to write love songs mentioning chicken in the chorus!!! It would've been great to hear more of that....But....the album is good and definitely worth a listen, as with all their releases.
11. "stole the CD today, sounds great to me" In response to Reply # 0
I never thought I'd say this, but I could do without the rap on the one song he did it on sounds really uninspired to me, like he didn't really want to do it or didn't try that hard
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
13. "opposite for me, was hoping he'd rap as soon as I heard the beat" In response to Reply # 11
was pleasantly surprised when that verse came in
>I never thought I'd say this, but I could do without the rap >on the one song he did it on >sounds really uninspired to me, like he didn't really want to >do it or didn't try that hard
no Kaney production or Drake verses, besides Lo inspired both of them so there can't be any of talk of that without bursting someone's bubble
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
22. "dissapointed" In response to Reply # 0 Fri Sep-27-13 12:04 PM by adg87
Am I the only one? While I like it, I don't love it. Granted im only 2 listens in, but not one song gave me that classic FE chill. You know the one that you get the first couple bars of Take Off The Blues? Good songs but not a complete piece that I feel great about right now. Especially considering I ran to purchasea physical copy, something I only do for my clutch few, no doubt artists. Maybe my thoughts will change over the weekend.
26. "let me tell you how this happens" In response to Reply # 22
-like it but aren't as hyped about it as you thought you would be -take a few more listens, you like it a little more -few more listens and you love it now whether or not this is because you understand it more or because you convinced yourself to like it is another matter entirely ( I liked it a whole lot myself, but I usually don't have an album 'grow on me' like these guys say)
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
27. "RE: let me tell you how this happens" In response to Reply # 26
>-like it but aren't as hyped about it as you thought you >would be >-take a few more listens, you like it a little more >-few more listens and you love it >now whether or not this is because you understand it more or >because you convinced yourself to like it is another matter >entirely ( I liked it a whole lot myself, but I usually don't >have an album 'grow on me' like these guys say) > ^this has been the case for me with all FE post-Connected albums.
28. "I've heard that more and more around here lately" In response to Reply # 27
about albums growing on people; seems like it's either that or an 'instant classic' (like there's such a thing) but with all of these FE albums I think people expect a continuation of the last record and they don't get it, so it turns them off BUT once they find the hook they need it's over
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
30. "RE: Love in Flying Colors" In response to Reply # 0
cd came in the mail 2 days ago. played it last night. sounded good but the trick with FE is repeated spins. It took me about a year to come to love 'Authenticity'.
32. "you listened to an album for a year before you decided to like it?" In response to Reply # 30
that must've been hell trying to convince yourself to like something for a year
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
33. "RE: you listened to an album for a year before you decided to like it?" In response to Reply # 32
oh no, it was more like i played it for like a few weeks and then shelved it....fell into a DEEP r&b mode where i was breaking out EVERYTHING with sangin' on it and began to play the hell out of 'Authenticity'...i even fuck with the sappy country joint. I'd alwya loved like 4 songs off Leave It All Behind so that's an album i stay reachin' for when rap gives me the blues...
35. "okay, thanks for clearing that up" In response to Reply # 33
I was getting ready to say that's one helluva chance to give an album LOL
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
36. "RE: okay, thanks for clearing that up" In response to Reply # 35
lol. trust, when an album ain't for me i don't force the issue. like Magna Carter got 3 spins. Shelved. no interest in ever hearing it again.
but sometimes i am aware of dope artists' albums getting swallowed up in the sea of new music so i make little mental notes to come back to them. Undun was an album like that.
Very good record I went through it once at work Can't wait to blast through my speakers at home It is warm and engaging and has strings which is nice as well I gotta admit, I had some issue with Authenticity This cd sounds more like the proper follow up to Leave It All Behind
I am loving these Best Buy cd sale prices This should have happened years ago If it did there would not have been such a dramatic drop in music sales
39. "not feeling it. didn't feel the last album. " In response to Reply # 0
i'm just not moved. i don't feel the connection like i did to earlier albums. Just sounds generic to me and I find myself not paying attention to the music. I'll give it some more spins to see if it grows on me.
I love a few joints from Authenticity (Maybe She'll Dream of Me, Make Me A Fool, Everything Must Go and Laughing At Your Plans) and even fewer from this album.
I understand the evolution, but kind of feel like the soul has been compromised along the way. Not just with the obvious production, but in Phonte's vocal arrangements over the production. "Better" is the exception (rhymes aside), but besides that, I agree that it's starting to sound generic and really don't see big gap between this record and Zo's latest project.
57. "Yeah unfortunately I'm with you" In response to Reply # 39
It doesn't hit with me and the last one only gave me a few songs that I really dug. It's wack because LIAB was such an amazing album to me. I like Connected also but the last two have been giving me less ROI. I hope they are album to tour big though and give it another shot.
40. "RE: Love in Flying Colors" In response to Reply # 0
alright, this joint has officially bumped Kiss Land off my top spot playlist. I'm really fucking with this album pretty much all the way thru. The last song, and that white chick in general, still don't move me. Is her album any good? it's on FE label ya?
44. "Anyone else feel this sounds like City Lights 2: Shibuya?" In response to Reply # 0
Just something I noticed. Not a bad thing, but it reminds me Shibuya a lot in sound and feel. Almost like some of these songs were created during that time.
50. "It's good, but just not hitting me like Connected and LIAB did" In response to Reply # 0
It's in rotation for now, I like it, very pleasant, don't regret the purchase, but like "Authenticity" I don't know if it's going to stay around with me that long. __ I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!
Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers.(c)Kno
Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization (NEBTO)
FE's albums usually take a little time to grow on me and this one is no different. At first, it didn't really stand out, nothing remarkable...but after a while, the tunes and melodies are super infectious like "On A Day Like Today". It seems like the least varied of their albums but more just like a smooth ride through and through.
My one criticism...and I love ya, Phonte...but I feel like the lyrics are less creative than they used to be. Phonte has written amazing raps, R&B songs....has a GREAT sense of humor...but not much of that comes through on this album for some reason. The lyrics kinda fall into this "Baby...I love you..." category that just lacks his personality and character...Dude used to write love songs mentioning chicken in the chorus!!! It would've been great to hear more of that....But....the album is good and definitely worth a listen, as with all their releases.
54. "about the vinyl-release..." In response to Reply # 0
date just got pushed back by hhv to the 22 Nov this makes it even harder for me to try to listen to the record as little as possible before holding the vinyl in my hands
58. "This is better than the last one." In response to Reply # 0
I didn't really love the last one. There was nothing to DISlike about it, to be sure, but it just didn't hit me like Leave It All Behind did. Connected was great but obviously was in another world compared to the last three.
I'm only one listen through this new one but I like the vibe of the production. The singing isn't bringing anything wildly new to the table but I still think it all blends well.
I dunno - like I said. LIAB was great, such a refreshing change the first time I heard it. Authenticity never really hit me. This one sounds good but I still don't know what kinda staying power it will have, yet to be seen. I think they may need to switch up again. They clearly have great chemistry together but I think maybe the style they've been on since LIAB is getting a bit stale...
Just my 2 cents. Always in support of these two and love them both together and individually.
59. "been waiting till i can take this in" In response to Reply # 0 Sat Oct-26-13 07:36 PM by dafriquan
listening right now. so far so good.
it has decidedly more "electronic" synthy vibe than previous albums. which is not surprising as FE has been tilting more and more in that direction almost from the first album.
stand out cuts so far: "Dreams are made for two" "Better" "Call it Home"
and nicolay's drum programming on "If I Knew Then"
this album is not as instant appeal as "authenticity" was for me but i might rank it on par with "leave it all behind"
i am also curious how this will send live with some live instruments replacing the synth lines.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
The Lesson
this makes it even harder for me to try to listen to the record as little as possible before holding the vinyl in my hands
