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Album: Ariana Grande - 'Yours Truly'
Member Since: 12/4/2010
Posts: 37,894
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Quote:
Originally posted by Taste of Honey
I swear the way her voice just OPENS UP on this song. Those backgrounds are like a choir of angels singing.
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!!! the absolute BEST. Tattooed Heart is easily my favorite track right now.
She killed those vocals. She didn't even need to through in a Mariah whistle to SLAY.
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Member Since: 4/28/2011
Posts: 26,425
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I could write a song by my new piano
I could sing about how love is a losing battle
Not hard, it's not hard,
It's not hard, it's not hard it's not hard
And I could sing about cupid and a shooting arrow
In the end, you found out that my heart was better
Real hard, it's not hard
It's so hard, so hard, real hard, it's that hard
woo ms. butera, SANG
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Member Since: 4/28/2011
Posts: 26,425
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Anyway, after a few days to digest, this is one of my favorite debut records ever. I just love a good vocal, and Ari offers that in abundance. Its like every generation, you will always have that female that just has it. I have no clue what it is, but she just offers something different than her peers, in the same way Christina, Mariah, Whitney all did with their debut albums.
Such a great body of work. Ari has a bright future ahead of her.
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Member Since: 7/16/2010
Posts: 43,593
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Quote:
Originally posted by SerpentineFire
I need another album in March. I'm officially an Ariana addict.  |
an other album would be an other strike of flawless epicness
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Member Since: 1/1/2011
Posts: 10,372
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I've listened to the album in full three times now, so I think I can kinda put my little review on here. 'Yours Truly' is a solid debut effort with flaw free vocal work on Ariana's part (one could argue just a tad bit too flaw free and, well, too "perfect"), high-calibre production values and a great set of songs that varies between (Bubblegum-)Pop and some really sleek R&B tunes. It's an impressive record that has great replay value, but it's not necessarily "outstanding" either. Only time will tell how the album will age in the future: On the one hand, will people go back to it in a year or two and fall in love with it all over again or be bored with the fact that there are no real "SMASHS" on it on the other hand?
1. Honeymoon Avenue: This is arguably one of the best album openers of the last few years, can't really think of any other song that had much of an impact on me when first listening to a new record from an Pop/R&B artist. It's kinda bittersweet in both lyrics and melody, setting the tone for how the whole album is constructed. It makes you go through a mix of emotions, but also being in awe with Ariana's angelic vocals, after the spanglish version of The Way kicks in all I felt was being in a very content state of mind. Listening to the songs was very pleasureful and there was never a moment when I was bored or negatively offended by a song. Honeymoon Avenue is like 5 minutes and a half long, but it soaks you instantly in its almost psychedelic charme. 10/10
2. Baby I: There's a bit of a rough transition from HA to this song, which serves as the second official single from the album. I feel like this song has a different vibe than most of the album's other songs, but it still meshes well with the record as a whole. The production is considerably turnt up and also gives it some sort of edge. I think an acoustic version/toned down edit wouldn't work, as the beat is predominately the main focus of it. Still, it's a jam and perfect the way that it is. 9/10
3. Right There: There is some single potential there, but I hope this song rather remains an album track, as there's nothing really wow-ing in it, like on The Way or Baby I. It manifestated my impression of the album being extremely consistent and also consequent in its sound, but this song is also the very first moment when you can really hear Ariana's R&B-heavy direction she went with this album. To put it short, nice jam yet nothing extraordinary either. 7/10
Tattooed Heart: GREAT vocals on Ariana's part on this one. Her vocal acrobatics basically make this song what it is. Sheer fantastic, even though it's also no single material. It's more one of those underrated album tracks like Mariah's Vanishing. Talking 'bout God, it should be common knowledge by now that Ariana takes a tad bit too much influence from our beloved vocal diva, but I still got the impression throughout the album that there's also something unique to Ariana that departs her from the blatant copying on The Way. I don't know when that happened, but I still feel there are very distinct parts that I now associate with Ariana and Ariana only. I also appreciate the old-school vibes of 'Yours Truly' for the most part too. Many fail to create that throwback feel of the 90's vocal-oriented albums of R&B gigants like Toni Braxton and Whitney Houston, but Ariana definitely managed to transport this vibe to this day and age. 8/10
Lovin' It: I'm like SO in two minds about this song. Is it now a filler...or not. There are some really awesome moments on this one, but especially the chorus stays rather cliché and totally the contrary of infectious for the most part. I kinda feel like I need to be a bit harsh on this one. 6/10
Piano: Next single. Sounds like Mariah Carey singing a Sara Bareilles for Disney. 10/10
Daydreamin': Love the melody, cute lyrics, immaculate vocals that hit all the right points, albeit being very polished. I can understand why she originally wanted to name her album after this song. I'm glad she went for 'Yours Truly' after all, but this song is just lovely til no ****ing end. I could literally play it a whole day through without getting tired of it. Obviously no single material though. 10/10
The Way: 9/10
You'll Never Know: Good, but for me it's the low point of the whole album. It's borderline boring tbqh, vocal slayage or not. 6/10
Almost Is Never Enough: This could be one of these awesome dreamy Walter Afanasieff-productions from Daydream or Music Box. Nathan Sykes has a good voice, but Ariana can pull off this song on her own and I would've prefered a solo version as the album version. It's still probably my most favorite ballad on the album, kinda. 10/10
Popular Song: 8/10
Better Left Unsaid: Sounds kinda like a leftover from J.Ho's Love? album with the difference of actual vocal talent being displayed here of course, but I like this song. I wouldn't have put it as the penultimate song of the album or better yet as the final track of the new songs, but it leaves you with a quite satisfied and content mood so I won't really argue about that. 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10
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Member Since: 7/16/2010
Posts: 43,593
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Great review, I have a different opinion on certain tracks, but good written Chunk
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Member Since: 4/28/2011
Posts: 26,425
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 20,070
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Quote:
Originally posted by TheVoiceXtina
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Get that PR Ariana 
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Member Since: 5/14/2009
Posts: 34,871
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Piano is so ****ing fun omg  Im seriously thinking about going to see her at her LA show on tha 9th which is 400 miles away from me since i stay in tha Bay Area 
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 239
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Member Since: 3/27/2012
Posts: 27,951
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Listening to "Piano" in the car is so flawless
This album gets better with each listen.
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 169
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One of the best albums I've heard in recent history
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Member Since: 6/14/2010
Posts: 4,187
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Honeymoon Avenue, Daydreamin' and Lovin' It
Hands down the best tracks on this album
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 239
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 11,764
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I'm honestly so slayed by this album I love every song on this album,but Honemoon Avenue, Better Left Unsaid, Lovin it and Tattooed Heart are my favorites at the moment. I always had faith in her so I'm happy she pulled through with this. I can't wait to buy the physical copy(which I almost never do tbh) on the 3rd!!!!
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 40,803
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 40,803
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Quote:
Originally posted by TheVoiceXtina
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You have to be kidding... 
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Member Since: 3/27/2009
Posts: 30,284
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The only songs I could do without are "You'll Never Know" and ironically "Baby I". The jury's still out on "Piano".
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Member Since: 12/3/2010
Posts: 19,759
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Quote:
Originally posted by Hooligan
The only songs I could do without are "You'll Never Know" and ironically "Baby I". The jury's still out on "Piano".
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I don't get "Piano" really. It sounds like something from Christina's debut, and I really love that album but meh.  I don't feel like it ever goes anywhere.
You'll Never Know is GODLY though. The end where she sings in unison with the synths.
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Member Since: 12/16/2008
Posts: 59,380
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I just don't care about other song in the album, Tattooed Heart has gotten the life needed,
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