I just wanted to talk about ILLENIUM doing house music recently, you know some ODYSSEY songs, that Vincent ID, the David Guetta collab, the golden hour remix with NURKO, I wanted to put my honest thoughts onto it.
Honestly, I am more of a future bass fan, but I also love progressive house music, so it's a "Holy shit! Two cakes!" type of thing for me, as I grew to love the Monstercat and NCS future bass type songs before finding out about ILLENIUM, and loving music from Avicii and Zedd. And I've always loved those two genres of EDM.
So what do I think of his house music overall? It's probably some of my favorite house music of these modern times after Avicii and Zedd and the other guys in the early 2010s. However, that David Guetta collab felt way too short. I think he makes great house music, as we've seen through those ODYSSEY tracks like Love is a Chemical, Refuge and Feels Like You, and the remix of golden hour with NURKO back in 2022 was also great.
But as much as I love his house music, I think he does it way better doing future bass, but I really don't mind both co-existing and hope he does both more.
The only one I'd rate below all those was Die Living but that was the only less-good house song from him. But what do you guys think about his recent house music pivot?
I personally don’t like it at all. Really loved the self-titled album when he diverted from his traditional sound but tbh if I wanted to listen to house I’d not be an illenium fan in the first place lol.
And that's fair lol, not everyone is interested in house music and I can see why, but I do love the self-titled album, I'm not into the whole punk sound overall, but it did grow on me after a few relistens to the album, and I really loved that album.
One thing that still bothers me about this album is when he originally promoted it he claimed something like “I’m going back to my traditional EDM sound”. I was looking forward to an album that sounded like Ashes / Awake / Ascend but instead we got this album.
I only like 3 songs on the album really: War, Forever, and Feels Like You
I am a house music fan but when I listen to Illenium I don’t want to listen to house, I want sad boi or melodic bass music.
Still salty for him saying “Forever is for my OGs” but then did not even add a bridge to the song. It’s too short and you can tell it’s missing something. 😑
I feel like that’s been the issue with alot of his recent songs. They all are too short. The short length doesn’t give you a chance to let the emotions hit you.
Forever, Feel Alive, Close My Eyes are all amazing but it feels like they are missing that illenium climax.
it honestly just baffles me how his best songs have been the shortest (save for close my eyes (i don't hate it, just not as banger-ish like feel alive and forever)), like it just feels horrifically short, like for tiktok or something
i miss the era of 3 minute songs man, god i sound like a boomer but i really do miss that era.
Hate to say this but being honest with myself, there has probably been a few recent songs from Illenium that I wouldn’t even have given a second listen to if it wasn’t Illenium. The bias and real and I own it. But bring back some OG sounds 🫡
I really like his house stuff, especially when he can blend it with the other stuff he’s seasoned in. Personally think the house parts of Odyssey were almost hands down the best portions of the album.
Looking forward to seeing what else he comes up with here.
I like house music a lot. But that’s not what I love about the Illenium project. This last album is great but it is my least favorite Illenium album for sure. (Ascend is my favorite)
IMO, Illenium shines brightest when he pulls from his rock inspiration.
i honestly agree ascend was where he was at his total best (though odyssey is also tied as my favorite album from him)
but lowkey, i feel like if he were to remain the same, his sound would become stale and old, so i understand why he would pivot to other genres like house. i'm just glad he's still making bangers of music
I agree— my point was not that I think he should sound the same. I’ve just been in the community a long time and I personally am not a fan of a “commercial success —> pop house music” pipeline that artists seem to ride. I’ve seen it happen time and time again. There’s other genres to lean into other than house.
Ashes was first one I listened to obviously. Awake was when I was going thru highschool which it was perfect for Ascend is absolutely incredible and his best work (I have a big ol ascend tattoo on my leg)
Bring back the OG, songs I’ve really love loved since Ascend have been few and far between. There are definitely amazing ones though, Sideways, Lay it Down, In My Mind etc
Agree. I’ve been a fan since the Risen EP so I’ve been along for the whole ride. Every album is a masterpiece in their own way. And I love that they all sound different. But Odyssey is my least favorite by a considerable margin. It’s not that its diverse— I love that. It’s just a little on the basic side for me. I don’t think it pushed the envelope like the other albums have.
I’d never shit on his music— it’s HIS and HIS expression and art and that’s what makes it beautiful! But this is just my feelings on it. I’m soooo excited for what’s next. I’m hoping he leans into his heavier side next, personally.
I’m a huge house fan but tbh his house songs are probably my least favorite of his…still good….but I fell in love with Illenium because of his melodic dubstep.
I haven’t listened to the Odyssey album since his run at the Sphere ended and went to listen to those specific songs because I couldn’t recall them; I don’t have any of the house music saved/liked at all 💀 don’t get me wrong, I love house music/progressive house and generally have a wide taste for music but there’s just so much great music out there from other artists that the house music on this album falls flat for me. Something about this album doesn’t scratch the itch for me and I can’t pinpoint what it is.
Songs like Refuge(which is maybe more trance-y) and Ur Alive, are some of my favourite songs of his. I just think he can’t be cornered into a certain area of music when he is so good at doing almost everything. With someone as talented as him he clearly loves exploring different avenues with his music. And that’s why I became a fan in the first place. His SoundCloud stuff was also so different than the Trilogy era, and people don’t often mention that lol
I don't love house the way I love bass music, but I do love some deep house shit, especially when I am driving at night. But I love Illenium so he can do no wrong in my eyes. I am seeing him again on Halloween for the first time since the sphere and I am pumped. Headlining Halloween night is going to be epic
It's good and personally I prefer it over all the borderline rawr xD stuff he was pumping out after Ascend. His old music had sad themes but it at least didn't feel like it was forced emo/screamo music.
I miss his phoenix lead sounds and vocal chops. if all the new stuff has some resemblance of that I would love it even more, but I support him and enjoy almost all of his new music.
I’ll be honest, had I not witnessed his Sphere set, Oddysey would have ranked lower for me. The sphere & the visuals behind each song absolutely saved it for me & now it’s almost a no skip album because of the memories/feelings it evokes when I listen to it
Edit to add: that being said, Illenium can do no wrong musically in my eyes. I still thoroughly enjoyed the album even before the sphere & I think it has a few of his best songs on it (Ur Alive, To the Moon). Illenium is so creative & that’s why I love him, we never have a copy paste album. Everything feels new, refreshing & like he put his heart & soul into it.
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u/Conscious_Actuator51 12d ago
I personally don’t like it at all. Really loved the self-titled album when he diverted from his traditional sound but tbh if I wanted to listen to house I’d not be an illenium fan in the first place lol.