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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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Jealous
Nick Jonas
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Review archive
Nicki Minaj - The PinkPrint
Beyoncé - 7/11
Kanye West - Yeezus
Azealia Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste
Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd - Love Me Harder
Taylor Swift - 1989
Tinashe - Aquarius
Calvin Harris ft. John Newman - Blame
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective |
With the resonance of Gollum tumbling into the fiery chasm of Mount Doom clutching a purity ring, Nick Jonas' foray into a song about sexual envy makes for an - if nothing else - odd experience. It's essentially his interpretation of a slow-rumbling, Miguel moment, donning the macho, chin up, chest-puffing persona which is a far cry from his days as thirty three percent of the value-for-money-buy-one-get-two-free disney act.
As much as one can rib an artist about their past as a child star, Nick Jonas' breakout hit is convincing and allows him to evolve organically as an artist without the need for foam fingers. It's a song about envy and yet it doesn't feel too objectifying, uncomfortably voyeuristic or possessive. The final admittance of 'Cause you know I get excited, yeah / When you get jealous too' in the bridge is a sincere and playful way of presenting this theme, actually seeming pretty convincing as an actual song with a motif rather than a soundbite churned out of a boardroom.
However the song essentially hinges on a couplet which is as forced as a man prostituting himself for sales: rhyming "hellish" with "jealous" is about as, well, hellish as it gets when it comes to forced rhymes, especially considering there's nothing particularly 'hellish' about admitting your own jealousy. It's points like this which make the song feel incomplete as a song, something which glosses over with a veneer of immaturity - a certain lack of song-writing elegance.
It's not only the song's failings in this department which cripple it from achieving something truly competent. The song's production is current and clean, but equally it doesn't complement the weak vocals - drowning them out at times and denying Nick's falsetto as becoming a true vocal climax. As such, the song manifests itself as a very monolithic listening experience, becoming almost as overbearingly saccharine as the vacant, red carpet smiles of three Disney child stars. The stab at reinvention is convincing and lyrically sound, but for now Nick Jonas is still hampered within artistic evolution limbo, needing a little more experience to round off his bids at mature songs; relative to Miguel, he still has room to be jealous.
5.0 out of 10 |
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Member Since: 9/16/2011
Posts: 50,981
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Nick Jonas - "Jealous"
I must confess that I'm conflicted about Nick Jonas's solo smash "Jealous." On the one hand, it represents an admirable and more mature direction for the former teen star. Also to its advantage is the fact that its production perfectly hits the sweet spot where contemporary pop and throwback R&B meet.
However, the song's lyrics suffer on a few different counts. Most noticeable is the lazy rhyming of "hellish" and "jealous," as well as the unfortunate line about turning your "chin, music up." More offending, though, is the fact that the song's subject matter is moderately misogynistic by nature, and Jonas easily falls into the trap of singing about a woman as though he possesses her. It's not as disgusting as the "Blurred Lines" of summers past, but it still comes off as distasteful.
All-in-all, "Jealous" is a somewhere-around-average single for Nick Jonas, but one hopes that its success has laid the path for the superior "Teacher" to be a full throttle hit as we enter the early months of 2015.
Score: 5/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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| Jealous - Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas | Island | Release Date: September 8, 2014 | Review Period: January 10, 2015 - January 16, 2015
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81 | Member Score
Universal Acclaim
based on 7 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
7.0 | Experimental Top Critic Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 4 Top Critics |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The lead single from Jonas' self-titled effort went on to become an unexpected hit, peaking at #2 on pop radio thus far. | Record Label: Island
Genre(s): Pop |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 5 | | d | ....iMixed: ██████ 2 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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| | Top Critic Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 3 | | d | ....iMixed: █████ 1 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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Jealous results.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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So far, I have been very pleased with how well the reviewing of the two current hits (Love Me Harder and Jealous) has gone. Each song received 11 reviews. 
After the 18th, we will again have nothing to review. Here is a short list of current or rising hit singles that could potentially be reviewed:
Taylor Swift - Style
Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do
Maroon 5 - Sugar
Meghan Trainor - Lips Are Movin
Ella Henderson - Ghost
Alesso - Heroes (We Could Be) f/Tove Lo
Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud
Lillywood & The Prick & Robin Schulz - Prayer In C
Pitbull - Time Of Our Lives f/Ne-Yo
OneRepublic - I Lived
Calvin Harris - Outside f/Ellie Goulding
Usher - I Don't Mind f/Juicy J
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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I'd reaIIy Iike to do Sugar and I Don't Mind 
Nick shouId have a sIightIy Iower score though.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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^ I think the top critic score is pretty good. I gave it a 65 and the T.C.'s overall gave it a 70.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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If I would've reviewed Jealous I probably would've given it a 5, and that's generous because I hated it like a month ago
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
^ I think the top critic score is pretty good. I gave it a 65 and the T.C.'s overall gave it a 70.
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You're right, I feeI Iike theTop critic score was pretty cIose, so I'II go by that one 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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I listened to a few album tracks off of Title tonight and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. If I have time on Sunday (because I'm quite busy tomorrow), I think I might review it! 
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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Can you extend Title until the 20th? I want to review it but I have finals in the next 2 days 
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Member Since: 2/20/2012
Posts: 24,225
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Love Me Like You Do and Sugar, please.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Almighty Gaga
Can you extend Title until the 20th? I want to review it but I have finals in the next 2 days |
Done! 
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
Done! |
Thank you 
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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I just listened to Title for the first time.
I'm surprised 
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Member Since: 8/15/2012
Posts: 2,344
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I keep voting on these but never end up reviewing them  But I'll try this time - TOL and I Don't Mind are my top picks
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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2 more days for Title. I know I haven't done an album review in a while, but I'm going to try to sneak one in.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 68,548
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Meghan Trainor - Title (9/10)
A fresh, new album from a fresh, new artist. This is all we needed. Meghan is not just another tumblr alternative wannabe artist. Yes, she made something different, but in her own way. She managed to sound and to be different from everyone else, and she did it in the best way.
This album has all it takes for Meghan to become a pop star: catchy tunes, good vocals, and memorable lyrics. Even the sexual part is not missing, but you don't find it in the average, generic sexual songs. Meghan is sassy when she talks about sex (like in the album's title track), making her own vision of sex different and totally new.
We all thought this album was going to be filled with clones of "All About That Bass" -- we were all wrong. Meghan jumps from sharing positive messages in "Close Your Eyes" to missing someone in "3am" to getting romantic in "Like I'm Gonna Lose You" and "What If I", making the record diverse yet solid.
The album opens up with her declaration of love for music, which can only be appreciated: she's telling us she loves what she's doing. But now, let's see Title track-by-track.
"All About That Bass" (8.5/10)
Initially, I wasn't a huge fan of this song, especially because I thought Meghan was skinny-shaming (and I'm such a twig  ), but when she came clean about it I just started appreciating it. Overall, the song was a completely new sound on the charts at its release.
"Dear Future Husband" (9/10)
This is a song we all needed but we never had until now: when you're like me and you just can't find anyone because you're too demanding, just make a list of the things you want in your ideal lover!
"Close Your Eyes" (9.5/10)
I love this song's meaning, and vibe. Its sound is so calm, and the lyrics are really simple yet sincere. People better open their ears and show them what's beautiful about this album! 
"3am" (9/10)
I'd describe this song's rhythm as insistent, which perfectly fits the lyrics. Meghan did a great job expressing her feelings through the lyrics AND the music, which I don't find easy.
"Like I'm Gonna Lose You" (8/10)
Meghan gets romantic on this one, a carefree duet with John Legend that doesn't even come close to her own solo acoustic version.
"Bang Dem Sticks" (8.5/10)
This song is just fun. The double entendre couldn't have been played better. It's her own soft **** bop basically!
"Walkashame" (8/10)
Probably one of the weakest songs of the album. The production is not one of the best, but the lyrics are fun and well-written as usual.
"Title" (10/10)
Easily the best song of the album. Doo-woop at its finest. Complete sass. Destroying her lover like no one else would with that "be my boyfriend or gtfo" threat. I can't get tired of it!
"What If I" (9/10)
This is probably the most overlooked song of 'Title'. I find its sound relaxing, and its lyrics by far the cutest. A relaxing and needed pause between the title track and what's to come.
"Lips Are Movin" (9/10)
Despite many consider it a rip-off of "All About That Bass", I think it improved its predecessor. The song is more uptempo, Meghan gets even sassier, and shows her lover she's not one you should mess with.
"No Good for You" (9/10)
The awkward moment when the first deluxe edition song is better than most of the standard tracks. And here's another theme that we never find in music: your best friend ignoring you because they're dating! Meghan, you relatable genius!
"Mr. Almost" (7.5/10)
The idea for this song is really cute, but what ruins it is the unnecessary rap.
"My Selfish Heart" (7.5/10)
I find this one the weakest song of the album. It doesn't give me anything: no sass, no romanticism, no feeling in particular. The lyrics speak too vaguely, I guess.
"Credit" (9/10)
Meghan ends the album in the best way she can: with sass. Unlike her other sassiest songs ("Title", "Lips Are Movin"), "Credit" is not a song you're going to dance to... it's more like, meant to make you feel embittered.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 30,842
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TITLE
MEGHAN TRAINOR
Last summer, Meghan Trainor blew up from nowhere unexpectedly with her #1 smash single "All About That Bass". People were quick to write her off as a one-hit wonder due to the novelty factor of Bass, but I saw a lot of potential in this girl, and I'm glad I was not proven wrong.
Overall, Title is an extremely cohesive album from start to end. Meghan sure knows how to rock the 50s doo-wop sound. Although some might say her album sounds similar because of the repeated musical style in every song, I personally believe it's more of Meghan trying to find an artistic identity and signature sound.
Meghan proves she clearly knows how to reach out to her audience well with her cleverly-written lyrics. For example, 3am speaks about drunk texting in the early hours of the morning while Walkashame deals with a walk of shame after partying overnight - subjects that are easily understood and related by basically anyone out there.
Meghan Trainor is here to stay, like it or not. She has all it takes to be a pop star - catchy and infectious musc, fun and vibrant personality, great stage presence, stellar songwriting abilities, positive and relatable lyrics. You name it, Meghan has it.
PERSONAL FAVORITES: Like I'm Gonna Lose You, Title, No Good For You, Mr. Almost, My Selfish Heart, Credit
POTENTIAL SINGLES: Like I'm Gonna Lose You, Title, Dear Future Husband, Walkashame, Bang Dem Sticks, 3am
FINAL VERDICT: 90/100
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Member Since: 3/7/2012
Posts: 11,952
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Can Kelly Clarkson's new single Heartbeat Song be reviewed?
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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^ Sure, if it gets 3 requests.
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