God remember when I used to get three posts done a week? Now I'm reviewing albums like a month after they drop. Oh how the times have changed.
Unlike most artists I talk about here, Ariana Grande didn't have one specific break out hit. Instead, she got her name out there by playing a large role in the Nickelodeon show "Victorious". I've never watched the show, but I've heard good things about it. But then her first big hit came in 2013 from The Way with the late great Mac Miller (rest in peace man, you were awesome). But she really became a legitimate star instead of a fluke. In 2014, she was just getting hit after hit, from Love Me Harder to Problem to Bang Bang. She was still present in the next couple years, with songs like One Last Time being successful and some of the singles from her Dangerous Woman album getting big.
Her biggest era up to then came with Sweetener. She got two top 10 hits with no tears left to cry and God is a woman, as well as breathin becoming a sleeper hit. Sweetener also gave her a mini album bomb. But then things changed, as she broke up with her fiancee Pete Davidson. After that, she released the lead off single for this album, as well as 7 rings, both of which became #1 hits. And now here we are, with her massive album bomb and overall just massive album. Let's just get right into it.
Overview
Fun fact: this is the first album I'm reviewing on a re-listen. And it's even more to the album's credit how well it holds up on a re-listen. While I may not love every track here, the experience listening to the whole album gives is really solid, and that should not be overlooked. This is basically my ideal "vibe album" for lack of a better term. I like a majority of the songs, and when all listened to together the emotion and lyricism can click really well if I'm feeling down or something.
The other highlight of the album is Ariana herself. She shows off some really impressive vocals, as she has much better production to work with here than she did on Sweetener. That album felt much more like a Pharell album, where as this one genuinely feels like an Ariana Grande album. No guest features, just Ariana riding some really great production.
Individual Track Reviews
1. imagine: This was released as a promotional single before the album. I loved it then and I love it now. The beat doesn't change too much throughout the song, but it switches up just enough to keep things interesting. But its also simple enough to let Ariana show off some really damn great vocals. Especially those whistle notes she somehow manages to hit at the end. The lyrics also help the song out, as they show a desperate longing for a relationship, but Ariana knows that relationship will never come to be. 5/5
2. needy: Talk about vibey god damn. The production is very floaty. I think theres a piano or something over some nice backing vocals, which provides a very solid beat for Ariana to work with. And she doesn't really do much with it. There's a few good lines here and there, but I feel like Ariana played it very safe with this one, not showing off her range at all. Still a really solid track, but could be better. 4.5/5
3. NASA: This just does nothing for me. The production is really messy. I think its supposed to be sorta like that for the space vibe, but it doesn't really work. The hook isn't all that good, and Ariana doesn't do very much vocally. Also the space metaphors are pretty confusing. 2.5/5
4. bloodline: On first listen, I think this was the song that sold me on the fact that the album was gonna be pretty great. This is just a really well constructed pop song. It has some well done horns (take notes AJR) with a very catchy chorus. The beat also does Ariana tons of favors, as she sounds like she's have a legitimately good time singing over it, which is always nice. I do hope this becomes the next single AFTER some of her other singles have died off. 5/5
5. fake smile: The vocal sample that opens this song is just kinda weird and unnecessary. Then Ariana just sorta whispers over the surprisingly solid. That is until the pre-chorus and chorus, where she stays in a reserved tone, but sings out a little more. The lyrics are also pretty good. But this just isn't doing it for me. I like it, but I feel like I should like it a lot more. 4/5
6. bad idea: The verses here have a pretty decent groove going. The chorus is really fucking annoying though. The baseline is grating, the voices in the background are grating, this chorus was just SO GRATING. (I don't actually mind the chorus that much, its just kinda annoying). But despite that, the verses are pretty decent. But then theres this really unnecessary one minute outro. Not really feeling this. 2/5
7. make up: This is really bad. Its barely over two minutes, and that whole time the production is made up of an annoying melody mixed with a trap beat. Ariana doesn't sound good, the lyrics are pretty poorly written, and the backing vocals in the chorus are pretty annoying. After listening to this, I can believe that the album was pretty rushed. 0/5'
8. ghostin: Aww this is really sweet. The vocal tone Ariana uses really gives the feeling of a heat of the moment talk with Pete Davidson about what she was feeling. I think this has to do with Mac Miller and his death, which really only helps the song. And she sounds genuinely thankfully to Pete for helping her through it. While it is a little boring, its also really sweet, and overall I do like this a lot. 5/5
9. in my head: This is kinda forgettable. It's vibey enough, so thats good, but its also the one song from the album I completely forgot existed. So thats probably not good. I guess the lyrics are good. I really don't have much to say here. 3/5
10. 7 rings: I used to like this song at lot. I'm not totally sure why. The sample of My Favorite Things completely ruins the point of the original. I'm no "Sound of Music" expert. but I don't think Maria the nanny is flexing her wealth on the little kids. Theres also the whole cultural appropriation issue in this song but I don't want to open that can of worms. Instead I'll just leave it at this: Ariana Grande is a great pop artists. However, she should never rap again. 0/5
11. thank u, next: I'm somehow still not sick of this. I'll keep it quick as I've already talked about this song at length and I doubt this will the last time I'll talk about. It has a legitimate shot at my best list. Anyways, the bubbly production is great, Ariana shows off great vocals, the lyrics are well written. 5/5
12. break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored: So this is her like 20th current single huh. I mean I get why from a business stand point. Just based on the name this song was gonna debut high, why not add some radio and YouTube to it as well. I do like the song though. Its pretty obvious Ariana is taking any of this seriously, but the lyrics still bother me a bit. I do like the rest of the song enough to give it a 4/5 though. I could see this growing on me even more.
Final Thoughts
Rating: 8/10 (Great)
Best Songs: imagine, needy, bloodline, ghostin, thank u, next
Worst Songs: make up, 7 rings
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