Ariana Grande - 'My Everything' album review
Background
I never really got into Ariana Grande until I heard "Problem". After loving it, I gave
Yours Truly a spin and thought it was a pretty solid album. Going into
My Everything I was excited and the album did please me. In the end, I thought it was much better and mature but also more commerical in contrast. As a whole, it is a more solid piece of work but not very cohesive at all. Please read my track-by-track review below for more details.
Track-by-track review
1.
Intro - Although I feel like this ia not necessary for the album, it is a calming intro. It really sets the mood for some of the tracks to follow but certainly not "Problem". This should have been a full track but overall a 7/10.
2.
Problem feat. Iggy Azalea - The transition from the intro to this is a bit jarring but as I said, this album is not very cohesive. I atill adore this track as it is absolute perfection with a big 10/10.
3.
One Last Time - This is the one track I could have done without on the album. It's too generic for my taste despite not being Guetta's typical style and should have been a deluxe track. But it's have decent do to the lyrics and vocals so a 5/10.
4.
Why Try - There is something that is so striking about this tack to me. It has a infectious chorus and is for sure my favorite ballad on the album. I can imagine a huge performance for this on tour. Another 10/10.
5.
Break Free feat. Zedd - Following the massive success of lead single "Problem" they would of course follow with a commerical song. But in my opinion, this sounds like it belongs in 2012 and not 2014 though the beat outro knocks. I give it an 6/10.
6.
Best Mistake feat. Big Sean - Although Big Sean does not add much to the track, this is a fantastic slow R&B groove and could be a official single in the future. The second part of the pre-chorus is brilliant and rises it to a 9/10.
7.
Be My Baby feat. Cashmere Cat - "Be my, be my baby/Be my, be my, be my baby/And drive me crazy" Ariana sings on this track and you will damn believe her. Cashmere Cat is more of a background rapper for me as Ariana shines bright on her own with a 10/10.
8.
Break Your Heart Right Back feat. Childish Gambino A very unique concept and my favorite feature on the album. Unlike the other track, I really feel like Childish Gambino adds something here and this has inspired me to listen to him. One of my favorites with a 10/10.
9.
Love Me Harder feat. The Weekend - Whenever I listen to this track I barely notice The Weekend because Ariana is so damn overpowering and commands the dancefloor. If this is not a single sometime, huge opportunity will be thrown out the window. For sure a perfect 10/10.
10.
Just a Little Bit of Your Heart - I am very impressed by the lyrics on the track as Harry Styles wrote them. The first time I heard "I know I'm not your only/But at least I'm one/I heard a little love/Is better than none" for the first time I teared up. Ariana delievers stunning emotion here and deseves a 9/10.
11.
Hands On Me feat. A$AP Ferg - This one gives me early 2000's vibes but in a good way. Here Ariana sings "Skirt off keep the high heels on/Might be a little thing but I like that long yeah/Don't let these eyes fool ya/I can take it, hold nothing back, give it to me" letting listeners know she is not that Disney girl anymore at 21. Being a highlight for me, I give it a 10/10.
12.
My Everything - Closing off the standard edition of the album, we have the title track here. While many may consider this a generic ballad, I consider it a beautiful heartfelt song. A strong way to close one edition with a capital 10/10.
13.
Bang Bang feat. Jessie J and Nicki Mina- I love all three artist featured on this track and love it as well but why did this make the album? I mean it didn't need to be placed on it and feels very out-of-place but regardless a 9/10.
14.
Only 1 - This is defintely my favorite out of all the bonus tracks and features one of my favoeute choruses of the album ( "I can't, be your, only one/No I can't, be your only one/'Cause you look twice as good as anyone I ever met/And your love is three time better, how could anyone forget/No I can't"). The world play is awesome here and overall a 8/10.
15.
You Don't Know Me - The beat sometimes can be pretty annoying on this but overall the lyrics are great and it's a perfect way to close the deluxe edition. The message is clear and among the scene, Ariana is here. I give this a 7/10.
16.
Cadillac Song - The first of the two Target exclusive tracks is this laid back song. This perfect for driving but I have to be in a specific mood to listen to it rating it at 6/10.
17.
Too Close - Lyrically another fantastic song and defintely the better of the two Target tracks. Ariana voice here is so smooth and fanastic at a rating of 8/10.
Verdict
One of my favorite things about
Yours Truly was the cohesion so to say the least I was disappointed as this album does not flow well. As some of the songs are more commerical, I feel it is more grown up and shows different sides of Ariana.
Final score: 8.3/10
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