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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/23/2008
Posts: 14,330
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Britney Spears
Make Me (featuring G-Eazy)
Britney Spears, the artist formerly known as Britney Spears, has spent nearly half of a decade in relative obscurity; emerging once every few years with a fresh musical venture, but (perhaps wisely) distancing herself from the dizzying publicity she once openly courted. Disillusioned by diminishing returns and the thanklessness of the profession she has chosen, she unceremoniously retreats to some guarded enclave and takes rest in the shadow of her own dimming star. It is to Britney’s credit that nearly twenty years into her illustrious (and often unsung) reign she even attempts – however half-heartedly – tricky career maneuvers; the sovereign princess’ short-lived, trend-fueled, alliance with persona non grata, Iggy Azalea, did not fly, but it gets a generous A, either for effort or desperation. Considering her contributions to the field and the enduring quality of her earlier work, any further attempts to enhance Spears’ legacy seem unnecessary, and so it is incredibly rewarding experience for connoisseurs of the genre when a past-her-prime Britney debuts something that recalls former glory.
“Make Me…” is a slinky, percussive, R&B-tinged, ode to la petite mort. If any of this seems familiar, it’s because we’ve been on this journey with Spears before; when she purred croaky come-ons atop a shuffling beat and repetitious guitar licks (“ Early Mornin’”), when she venerated at the altar of her own hand (“ Touch of My Hand”), when she asked to be “filled up with your love” (“ Ooh Ooh Baby”), when skillful digits (once again) provided much needed release for a now divorced, thirty-year-old, mother of two (“ I Wanna Go”). That’s not to suggest “Make Me…” is a bit-for-bit rehash of these earlier exercises. Whatever lessons were learned from the preceding sexual exploits are thoughtfully repurposed here, and “Make Me…” is, in fact, its own, fully-formed and horny horned beast. The sleek production varnish that overwhelmed Femme Fatale is present, but tastefully subdued and updated to fall in line with recent releases from Ariana and friends. Also returning is an assuredness not fully displayed on any of Spears’ releases since 2003’s, In the Zone. Spears sounds both competent and confident as she carefully flits between extremes; tartly commanding her beau to bring her to orgasm like it’s his job, then opting for romantic flourish ( “…you’re the spark that won’t go out, my heart’s on fire when you’re around…”) before unleashing a fury of spiritual howls meant to signify her “big O”.
Other recent efforts have seen Britney act primarily as a producer’s vessel – a YOLO cyborg for will.i.am (“ Big Fat Bass”, “ Scream and Shout”), a perfectly-paced warbler in Max Martin’s rollicking thumpers (“ Hold It Against Me”, “I Wanna Go”), the girl with the “flirt” to match Dr. Luke’s “cute” (“ Gasoline”) – and while part of Britney’s “gift” is her perfectly malleable presence, it’s thrilling to bear witness to something that could herald the rediscovery of both her literal and figurative voices. The breadth of her talent, when it’s being utilized, is quite staggering.
“Make Me…” is proof of the cyclical nature of pop music – that genre tropes will regenerate on an endless loop and discarded luminaries can and do return to the top of the heap.
9/10
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/23/2008
Posts: 14,330
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Katy Perry
Rise
“Can’t write my story, I’m beyond the archetype,” she boasts atop a swelling theatrical arrangement. But we’ve got her pegged from the outset. It’s Katy’s resolve to convince us of her unique power that is her undoing. This is the Katy Perry who roars – the pandering, inspirational, sap with a laundry list of overly-familiar idioms and an anthemic song in her <3. She’s surviving, she’s thriving, she’s absurdly on the nose with her rhyme scheme. She will overcome, won’t be undone, even if you hit her with a million (pronounced mill-e-un) proverbial final nails, a gang of blond-haired, blue-eyed, circling vultures (HI, SQUAD!), or orchestration so overblown that it threatens to muffle even her most relentless wails. Rise, Katy! Rise! Aspire to something greater than this dreck!
2/10
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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Did the pop princess make us...oooh?
 | In a career full of ups and downs, Britney was always considered to be a pioneer in the pop music industry, someone who has always been revolutionary and inspiring to so many young talents, both look and sound wise. At least, all of that happened until her breakdown, moment after which things kind of took a wrong turn, making everything about her feel more "robotized", maybe also a bit weary and tedious. While I still think that she made okay music, her fans were not satisfied with the way things turned. "Make Me..." is supposed to be her comeback after the 2013 Britney Jean disaster and a atrocious Iggy Azalea feature on the buzz single "Pretty Girls". Did the pop princess finally deliver quality this time?
Written by the artist herself, Burns, Joe Janiak and G-Eazy (who is also featured on the track), the song emphasises on the idea of a sexual desire. Nothing revolutionary there, and lyrically it's a bit of a let down too. However, the guitar riffs, the building up pre-chorus and the soothing, almost relaxing chorus, with a lot of "ooohs", all of them perfectly placed, are definitely the things that put the theme into the spotlight and differentiate it from all of the other sexual songs on the radio. Britney sings the song just like it comes straight from the "In The Zone" album, yet with a modern twist, especially in G-Eazy's verse. A seductive song that would sound perfectly on the radio, which is what Britney has also aimed.
Sonically, it's an impresive mix of guitars and synths. It's a pop/R&B kind of track which just sounds "modern" and not dated alike Spears' last efforts. That is hopefully something we will see on the yet to be announced album which is due for a release this year.
In conclusion, it was a track that I have truly enjoyed, and I also find G-Eazy's addition to the song a good plus to it, although his lyrics are kind of weird. It is exactly what I have expected from Britney and it is surely a grower. Sure, I feel that it is hopping on a trend that is current and it does not bring something very new to it as most of the songs on the radio now are leaning towards an R&B sound, but we can appreciate her effort and the fact that it is probably the best thing she has released in at least 5 years.
Recommended for the listeners of: Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Lindsay Lohan, Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton(as suggested by last.fm) |
Score: 8.7/10
Other reviews
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 15,103
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Alexanderao can't you extend it to this sunday/saturday
I think I'm going to do both but I can't right now 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Navyofbadgals
Alexanderao can't you extend it to this sunday/saturday
I think I'm going to do both but I can't right now |
Yeah I'll extend it to Saturday night.
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 15,103
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Rise is in one word: underwhelming
It has been almost 2 years since Katy released the last single of Prism; This Is How We Do, ever since that we barely got anything from Katy musically. Now she is finally back after all the waiting and on first listen Rise is not dissappointing, but it just doesn't do it. Rise feels like a dramatic version of Roar. Rise is the typical 'people doubted me but here I am' song. And while Katy has never been really innovative, all her big hits had something that you would come back to. Dark Horse for example has a great beat, Roar is incredibly catchy and so on. Rise is not catchy, it doesn't have that great or outstanding beat, it's just an okay song, but after waiting nearly two years, it's kind of underwhelming. Maybe as an album track I would recieve it better, but now it's just okay and it's a song that won't last in a discography full of big hits.
Not a bad song, but not outstanding either.
We can trust Katy that she will rise with the lead single of her forthcoming album, but for now, she hasn't risen yet.
Score:6.5/10
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 15,103
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Make Me... is in one word: surprising
Ever since Britney released Work Bitch her career kept declining in terms of quality. We've had Tom's Diner which was a great but that doesn't erase the mistakes she made with Britney Jean and Pretty Girls. So I kept my expectations on the low, and they were surprisingly succeeded with ease. Make Me... doesn't feature an awkardly nasally Britney, it doesn't have cringey lyrics, it doesn't really have any major flaws. While Make Me... isn't the best thing released this year, or the best thing Britney released, it is still a great replay-worthy track. Britneys vocals are smooth and it's super catchy, G-Eazy does his job just okay. If Britney can have the same quality as Make Me all over her forthcoming album, we are in for a treat. Make Me is a huge step up, and it's a very decent pop song.
Britney wanted us to make her ooh, but she made us ooh with this great pop song.
Score: 8.5/10
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 56,234
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 | Auroræviews™
"Rise" by Katy Perry — 10/10
American pop phenomenon Katy Perry promises to "Rise" in her latest cut, and rise she does. The brooding, dark pop anthem tells of a Perry who promises to overcome her adversities despite her doubters. "I won't just survive, oh you will see me thrive, can't write my story, i'm beyond the archetype," Perry powerfully expresses her confidence with a Björk-flavoured melody atop a moody, booming electronic production. The song progresses to a pre-chorus expertly crafted to build up anticipation and break down doubt, with inescapably catchy repetitions reinforcing her messages. The chorus is a triumph in itself as both Perry's vocals and the backing track explode with a newfound energy. "When, when the fire's at my feet again, and the vultures all start circling, they're whispering, "You're out of time," but still I rise," Perry roars over a euphoric trap beat as the song reaches its climax. The final chorus introduces the listener to new melodic harmonies and the final outro blesses Perry's audience with a final vocal rise bound to make any listener feel victorious. As an attempt at distancing herself from her well-loved 'Teenage Dream' era sound, "Rise" is undeniably a success and is sure to help Perry finally transition into a well-respected pop act. If "Rise" is anything to go by, Perry isn't going anywhere. |
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 5,381
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Katy Perry
Rise
A risk that only the BOTUS could take!
Katy has long been criticised for her lack of risks in her music, but that's a fundamentally flawed viewpoint that overlooks the many subtle yet important risks that have been components of her wildly successful career. Rise is the first time that the wider public has been able to see the riskier side to Katy more clearly, because it is finally obvious enough for them. Katy sings with a passion that she is "beyond the archetype", and Rise certainly shows that with it's expert and inspiring lyricism that many of her contemporaries could only dream of. The line "Oh, ye of so little faith" is particularly notable for it's olde-English roots, with the historical link a departure from the typical pop songs of today. However, because it's not as immediately digestible or uptempo as her previous army of hits, Rise takes a few plays to really get into.
Rise gives a formidable taste of her upcoming album, and if this track is anything to go by then we are certainly in for an exceptional record full of risks, surprises, and chart success.
10/10
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 21,846
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Katy Perry - "Rise"
A longtime risk-taker and unafraid musician, Katy Perry shocked the world with her game-changing new single "Rise", an anthem created for the 2016 Olympic Games. Despite being nothing more than a buzz single, the tune has proven a huge success on the charts (for a song so experimental and unfamiliar to the general public) and garnered the singer, popularly dubbed the "American Björk", acclaim from fans and critics alike. The song opens with a pounding drum beat, before Perry passionately informs us that she "won't just survive", she'll in fact, "thrive". It is with beautiful, poetic lyricism like this that the song succeeds at striking the heartstrings of even the biggest naysayer. "Oh ye of so little faith", Perry pines, paying homage to the Bible and her memorable history as a Christian gospel singer, "don't doubt it, don't doubt it". It's safe to say that upon listening to this hymn, it's impossible to doubt Perry now.
10/10
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 15,103
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yall are such trolls 
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 18,803
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I love the Kats so much 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 56,234
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Quote:
Originally posted by Navyofbadgals
yall are such trolls |
Not sure what you mean? Anything less than a 9 should be considered a troll review and discarded. It's a masterpiece. 
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 18,803
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DYLOBS' REVIEWS
Katy Perry — RISE 10/10
Katy has done it again; by which I mean delivered a solid, risky new song which displays another facet of her artistry.
A complete musical 180 from what she's shown us before, the dynamic new buzz single fulfils its purpose of empowerment, and then some. Katy's roaring vocals compliment the ominous sounding electronic production very nicely and lift the Olympics anthem to an unparalleled high.
Coupled with the inspiring lyrics in the song and Katy has truly set the standard high for both herself AND her peers who must try and Rise above this song...
...if they can! |
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 15,103
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I love yall 
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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Omg this wave of 10/10 reviews 
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 3,944
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KATY PERRY
RISE
10/10
The pop queen Katy Perry is back, and this time with an icy, dark, Björk inspired sound. Rise is truly an experience, and dare I say one of the most polarizing songs of all time. Katy won't just conform no matter how you shake her core. Perry's discography is hit after hit for a reason, and Rise is on par with all of her previous efforts. It's up-lifting yet dark, and if her next album is anything like the dynamics of this song, expect a completely different direction from her PRISM sound. Katy Perry's confidence is evident and extremely inspiring. The production on Rise is superb... not to mention her vocals are on a new level we haven't ever seen before. Is there anything more you can ask from Katy? A plethora of hits a la Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey, sultry vocals, jaw dropping lyrics, and only the best of the best productions. The beat to rise is similar to pop princess Ariana Grande's Into You, but undeniably more recognizable. When Katy releases music to the world, she doesn't just survive, no, she thrives. Truly, Rise deserves so much acclaim because this song is one for the history books, and victory is in her veins.
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Member Since: 2/4/2014
Posts: 7,207
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I love this so much
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Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 18,157
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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only BOTUS 
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