[Anvarie]

Love Me Harder whispered Louis into my ear as I laid next to him in our queen bed. This request was made every night when we embraced each other, his past lover Dylan was a chump who couldn't handle this ***flawless man. Just like the song our intimacy was a delicate, tender, chart-topping smash. As Louis bit his lip and squirmed his hips I knew it was real.

Ariana knocks another single out of the park. Her vocals stand out beautifully over the max martin crafted instrumental, drawing the listener into a vivid story of bedroom adventures. The Weekend adds a very nice touch to the song, the chemistry is natural and takes the track to another level. I haven't been able to stop listening to it all week!

5/5

[holyground]

Trying to compete with Queen Vespertine and her flawless fanfics.

[Jackson]

Thats 2.5 for Selena since Superpower didnt really request it

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by GotSkill

Thats 2.5 for Selena since Superpower didnt really request it

I concur

[alexanderao]

I won't be able to get an LMH review up tonight (studying for midterms tomorrow), but I'll get one up tomorrow. Maybe I can get a Motion review up tomorrow as well.

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by bluth

Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd - Love Me Harder

To many, this entire idea may seem bizarre: a collaboration between a former Disney star and an artist whose raison d'être remains to be that of exposing the dark, carnal corruption which others are too proper to admit. The notion of dropping these in the context of a mid-tempo, R&B sex anthem may seem uneasy at the very least, however the third single from Grande's My Everything survives the traps of being contrived or awkward, and succeeds in every way to being one of the aforementioned album's highlights.

The juxtaposition between the saccharine, lolita image of Grande with the almost predatory The Weeknd is something which, in theory, is odd, and yet it works perfectly on the track. Between the delicate imagery of Grande biting her lip "in the moment" with The Weeknd's pressure-inducing, the sexual tension on the track is all the more heightened. The listener is presented with the sexual vacuum between pleasure and pain, something which wills to be filled, thus inviting the audience into this pulsing, dark world of lip-biting, hip-pressuring and sex. It remains both enthralling in sex and authentic in tension.

Some may find Grande's ostensible leaps between different genres too convenient to be genuine, however Love Me Harder undeniably works. Given her background as an actress, it's an ironic habit of Grande's to remain aloof - emotionless even - on her work, however the deeper irony is how this iciness existing on a slow-burning sex jam is fundamentally what makes it so great. While the velvet texture of each vocalist's contribution melts slowly over the pounding mid-tempo beat, the back and forth drama between the personae intensifies: thus inspiring and realising the darker - and yet remaining a Disney-certified authentic - microcosm of sexual tension, with Grande now willing for someone else's "everything".

4 out of 5

Review archive
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

You'll be a Top Critic soon if you keep this up.

[holyground]

alex, is the Top Critic circle a rotating one or a fixed one? Coz I think I agree with what Cupid said earlier, that it would seem very clique-y and it could turn off people from reviewing.

[Superpower]

Originally posted by GotSkill

Thats 2.5 for Selena since Superpower didnt really request it

-
I'm officially requesting The Heart Wants What It Wants.
I will also review Love Me Harder since I didn't have time to review My Everything.

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by holyground

alex, is the Top Critic circle a rotating one or a fixed one? Coz I think I agree with what Cupid said earlier, that it would seem very clique-y and it could turn off people from reviewing.

I hope it doesn't rub people the wrong way. I'm not trying to make it clique-y. Is it transpiring that way?

To answer your question, the set is flexible for sure. Anyone can become a Top Critic. I don't want to singlehandedly admit someone into the Top Critic "circle", so I may poll the current Top Critics about a potential new Top Critic to seek their opinions.

[alexanderao]

Here's the updated review schedule:

Calvin Harris - 'Motion' [November 3rd - November 9th]
Ariana Grande f/The Weeknd - 'Love Me Harder' [November 6th - November 10th]
Selena Gomez - 'The Heart Wants What It Wants' [November 10th - November 13th]
Azealia Banks - 'Broke With Expensive Taste' [November 9th - November 15th]
iamamiwhoami - 'BLUE' [November 7th - November 13th]

Remember, it can always be found in the OP.

[Jackson]

3 for Selena now

I may not have the most perfect reviews but I review like 3/4 of the stuff here so that should be a criteria

[holyground]

Originally posted by alexanderao

I hope it doesn't rub people the wrong way. I'm not trying to make it clique-y. Is it transpiring that way?

To answer your question, the set is flexible for sure. Anyone can become a Top Critic. I don't want to singlehandedly admit someone into the Top Critic "circle", so I may poll the current Top Critics about a potential new Top Critic to seek their opinions.

I don't know, but thinking about what Cupid said, it might.

I was thinking that a limited number of "Top Critics" (like 5 or so) are chosen for each different review based on some criteria like, the reviewer isn't a stan etc.

[alexanderao]

I've definitely been considering several more people for the Top Critic circle, but I'm afraid that if I choose too many, then 70-80% of the reviews might be written by Top Critics, rendering the member score not all that different from the T.C. score. The 7-person panel I have right now is just the beginning.

In a Top Critic, I think people are looking for someone who consistently reviews, writes well and gets their point across (justifying their review scores), and does not display bias. Am I right?

[holyground]

Originally posted by alexanderao

I've definitely been considering several more people for the Top Critic circle, but I'm afraid that if I choose too many, then 70-80% of the reviews might be written by Top Critics, rendering the member score not all that different from the T.C. score. The 7-person panel I have right now is just the beginning.

In a Top Critic, I think people are looking for someone who consistently reviews, writes well and gets their point across (justifying their review scores), and does not display bias. Am I right?

Yeah okay, I guess you could start it from there and see how it goes.

I was just thinking if it was possible if everyone got a chance to be a Top Critic for different reviews.

[Jackson]

Calvin Harris - Motion

____________________________________________

After a whirlwind era of monster smashes and A-list collaborations, Calvin Harris comes back with his second mainstream album, Motion. 18 Months was an album deeply rooted in its time; it was a kind of state of the union for popular dance music. And it served its purpose extremely well as Harris lived vicariously through pop divas such as Rihanna and Florence Welch. On first listen one will immediately notice that Motion is the exact same kind of album.

And that's where the album falls short. Almost every song on Motion would fit perfectly on its 2012 predecessor. The pop melodies rarely rise above the "generic" status. Even star power from such huge names as Gwen Stefani can't save the fact that almost every song on Motion sounds tired, yet true. Where Harris does succeed, it is often because of his collaborator more than himself. Such is the case with Outside, a collaboration with frequent cohort and ex girlfriend Ellie Goulding. Goulding's pleading vocals melodically wrap around the earnest hook of the song, creating an easy ear worm. Harris, on the other hand, simply tries to keep up.

The album does feature a host of unlikely successes, however. When Tinashe was originally announced as part of the track list many wondered how well the European DJ and American cult R&B star would work together. The product, a polished club-ready track called "Dollar Signs" hints at the extraordinary capabilities Harris possesses under his recent pop leanings. Another song, Slow Acid, combines the best elements of acid music with Harris' modern sensibilities to create the best wordless song on the album.

In the end, Motion vacillates in quality between extraordinary and bittersweet. Even if Harris continues to sell his soul to the pop devils of last year, at least a few redeeming tracks will keep his juggernaut vessel buoyant.

6/10

___________________________

Other Reviews
SINGLES
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang 9/10
Carrie Underwood - Something In the Water 10/10
One Direction - Steal My Girl 4/10
Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie 6/10
Iggy Azalea feat. MØ - Beg For It 9/10
Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life 10/10

ALBUMS
Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds 8.5/10
Tinashe - Aquarius 9.5/10
Hozier - Hozier 6.8/10
Jessie Ware - Tough Love 8.7/10
Taylord Swift - 1989 6.3/10

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by holyground

Yeah okay, I guess you could start it from there and see how it goes.

I was just thinking if it was possible if everyone got a chance to be a Top Critic for different reviews.

I think this discussion we've been having is the reason why I have labeled it the "Experimental Top Critic Score" for now. I'll work with people here to improve it over time.

As for your idea, it makes sense when there is an artist that a lot of people stan for. 1989 is a good example. I don't think it would help as much on an album like Motion. Nevertheless it is an interesting thought and as the number of Top Critics grows bigger it could become a viable option.

[holyground]

Originally posted by alexanderao

I think this discussion we've been having is the reason why I have labeled it the "Experimental Top Critic Score" for now. I'll work with people here to improve it over time.

As for your idea, it makes sense when there is an artist that a lot of people stan for. 1989 is a good example. I don't think it would help as much on an album like Motion. Nevertheless it is an interesting thought and as the number of Top Critics grows bigger it could become a viable option.

We'll see how it goes then.

[alexanderao]

Originally posted by holyground

We'll see how it goes then.

Just hop along for the ride!

The way I see it, if I don't try new things as the leader of this thread, participation will just continue to decrease and eventually flatline at a very low level. I'm trying to add new features and make it more exciting here.

[holyground]

Originally posted by alexanderao

Just hop along for the ride!

The way I see it, if I don't try new things as the leader of this thread, participation will just continue to decrease and eventually flatline at a very low level. I'm trying to add new features and make it more exciting here.

Yeah I know, but idk if this would do the trick coz at the moment it just seems like it's the same few people who are reviewing and a Top Critics section might not necessarily get people to join.

Only if the mods could do that new section thing

[Jackson]

Ariana Grande feat the Weeknd - Love Me Harder

_____________________________________

Turn on the radio and you'll likely hear Ariana Grande within 5 songs. This is simply the state of pop music. It would be extremely difficult to escape the 1-2-3 punch of Problem, Break Free, and Bang Bang since Ariana started her reign as princess of pop earlier this year. However, all three of those songs lacked a similar quality. They were huge pop smashes made for the masses; to be consumed like candy and tossed aside as soon as the next sugary single came along. And the public fell for Grande's venomous hooks. Of course, the guest verses by Iggy, Jessie, and Nicki didn't hurt her sales either. They were simply Grande's vehicle down the long, winding road to success. The road that started rocky as Ariana was dismissed as a sonic clone to Mariah Carey on arrival. And ended with her simply sounding like anyone but herself.

And at the end of the road we find Ariana with a new collaborator. The difference this time is that the young songstress sounds more at home now than ever before. Sure, this next single is nothing innovative by any right, but it sounds like something Ariana was meant to sing. Her vocals swoop and coo alongside The Weeknd's as he guides Ariana into this new world we all hope she stays in. His part itself only adds angst and integrity to the song.

Whether Love Me Harder proves to be a 4th smash for Grande in her young and still growing career is yet to be seen. Still, it should be remembered as the single that finally allowed Ariana Grande to finally find her voice in era so dominated with so many other voices.

8/10
___________________________

Other Reviews
SINGLES
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang 9/10
Carrie Underwood - Something In the Water 10/10
One Direction - Steal My Girl 4/10
Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie 6/10
Iggy Azalea feat. MØ - Beg For It 9/10
Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life 10/10

ALBUMS
Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds 8.5/10
Tinashe - Aquarius 9.5/10
Hozier - Hozier 6.8/10
Jessie Ware - Tough Love 8.7/10
Taylord Swift - 1989 6.3/10
Calvin Harris - Motion 6.0/10