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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Bloomers Review:
Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal And Reflective
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It finally happened. After what seems like decades of waiting, Azealia Banks released an official single. Finally free from label drama and all the associated push-backs related to creative differences, PR kerfuffles from countless twitter feuds, and market testing, Azealia Banks has finally released something that indicates her elusive full length may finally materialize. Heavy Metal And Reflective is her first single released under Azealia Banks records, the record label Azealia established to release her own material.
The single itself is a head rush of a song, two minutes thirty-six seconds of unrelenting fire. The cool yet edgy glide of earlier releases like 212 (her house inflicted break-out) and Esta Noche is replaced by an unrelenting pulsating monster of a track that goes even harder than the primal scream of her last lead single, Yung Rapunxel. The lyrics are mostly about how hard Azealia can go, but that message is hammered in through the music and Azealia’s flow. Heavy Metal And Reflective gives no time to stop and reflect on the song, it keeps going, threatening to leave anyone who can’t keep up behind; there is no dynamic to her flow, little chorus to grasp onto, only a slight decrease in tempo around the 1:50 mark that quickly picks back up just as your head stops spinning fast enough to begin to think about taking a breath. Azealia’s serious. Heavy Metal And Reflective shows she hasn’t lost it, she’s coming harder than ever. Heavy Metal And Reflective is forward thinking musically and in terms of Azealia’s career. The track is scary, not because of the music or theme, it’s scary because it still sounds like she’s holding back.
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GRADE: A
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Banned
Member Since: 4/13/2011
Posts: 18,738
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SINGLE REVIEW
Heavy Metal & Biased
A Heavy Metal and Reflective Single Review
enun•ci•ate
verb \ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌāt\
2: Articulate, Pronounce < enunciate all the syllables>
The most common case Azealia’s pop music craving naysayers make for disliking her records is lack of enunciation. Yes, quite often she rolls over lyrical stanzas with a nasally vocal intonation like someone with a chronic sinus infection, but whether or not she gets her pipes checked: who cares? Really. A nasally tone stopped no one from appreciating Ariana Grande, Leona Lewis, or Celine Dion. Just play the damn music.
Reflective is the type of unforgiving and gritty hip-hop born from what could only be an ex NYC stripper turned female MC. She glides over her lyrics with robotic perfection: not one breath wasted, each note in place, each rhyme jam-packed with meaning, and to a pop listener’s dismay, no one liners.
When Azealia says I could spit that prissy poem / Sex with her breakfast / I could break ya [n word] bone / …Wanna bet Bitch?!,
I believe her.
When Azealia says I be cherry deeky / When it swell up / get that best dick / I be very cheeky / Bitch I'm better / Bet you wet, bitch?
I believe her.
And when Azealia says I be looking very Jiggle / Jello in them dresses / I be with the pedi in the puddle reminiscing , I imagine her at some New York street corner nail establishment being tended to by some Asian nail technician, relaxing, thinking about her next move. Then I believe her again.
In fact, I believe each of her rhymes. Each stanza is authentic, interesting, and adds to the records massive looming message: Azealia is here, and she’s better than your favorite rap bitch.
Heavy Metal and Reflective isn’t the made for radio, easy to consume, stand-up comedy punch line rap. It's the kind of rap that makes you lean, gives you a boost of confidence and bad ass, then induces an overwhelming urge to hop in the car with your friends and shoot up your neighborhood. It is post 90’s hip-hop in its truest form, and while Azealia doesn’t enunciate each word with laser precision, Heavy Metal packs more punch in each lyrical stanza than another popular MC’s complete discography. No glossy pop chorus or fancy production necessary.
VERDICT
10
This Knocks
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Some incredible reviews in here. I love how M A R C was so concise but managed to really get his point across. maiko's whole post is gorgeous also and is a perfect combination of   and 
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 15,244
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Quote:
Originally posted by maiko
SINGLE REVIEW
Heavy Metal & Biased
An Azealia Banks' Heavy Metal and Reflective Single Review
enun•ci•ate
verb \ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌāt\
2: Articulate, Pronounce < enunciate all the syllables>
The most common case Azealia’s pop music craving naysayers make for disliking her records is lack of enunciation. Yes, quite often she rolls over lyrical stanzas with a nasally vocal intonation like someone with a chronic sinus infection, but whether or not she gets her pipes checked: who cares? Really. A nasally tone stopped no one from appreciating Ariana Grande, Leona Lewis, or Celine Dion. Just play the damn music.
Reflective is the type of unforgiving and gritty hip-hop born from what could only be an ex NYC stripper turned female MC. She glides over her lyrics with robotic perfection: not one breath wasted, each note in place, each rhyme jam-packed with meaning, and to a pop listener’s dismay, no one liners.
When Azealia says I could spit that prissy poem / Sex with her breakfast / I could break ya [n word] bone / …Wanna bet Bitch?!,
I believe her.
When Azealia says I be cherry deeky / When it swell up / get that best dick / I be very cheeky / Bitch I'm better / Bet you wet, bitch?
I believe her.
And when Azealia says I be looking very Jiggle Jello / in them dresses / I be with the pedi in the puddle reminiscing , I imagine her at some New York street corner nail establishment being tended to by some Asian nail technician, relaxing, thinking about her next move. Then I believe her again.
In fact, I believe each of her rhymes. Each stanza is authentic, interesting, and adds to the records massive looming message: Azealia is here, and she’s better than your favorite rap bitch.
Heavy Metal and Reflective isn’t the made for radio, easy to consume, stand-up comedy punch line rap. It's the kind of rap that makes you lean, gives you a boost of confidence and bad ass, then induces an overwhelming urge to hop in the car with your friends and shoot up your neighborhood. It is post 90’s hip-hop in its truest form, and while Azealia doesn’t enunciate each word with laser precision, Heavy Metal packs more punch in each lyrical stanza than another popular MC’s complete discography. No glossy pop chorus or fancy production necessary.
VERDICT
10
This Knocks
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 27,856
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Heavy Metal and Reflective - Azealia Banks
5/10
Heavy Metal and Reflective is a passable track from Azealia. The main weakness of the song lies in the fact that it doesn't really bring anything new to the table. Azealia's monotony on this single is reminiscent of Yung Rapunxel; and it simply lacks the punch and impact that her vocals had on tracks such as 1991 and 212. While the production is a little less monotonous, the mid-song instrumental period feels somewhat awkward to listen to and doesn't quite fit with the rest of the track. It's great to have Azealia back on the scene, but I'll be hoping that her future releases have the pizazz and finesse found in some of her earlier works.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 11,808
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
If we were to review something like Rude, Latch, Summer, Boom Clap, Wasted, Rather Be, A Sky Full Of Stars, Habits, Love Runs Out, Black Widow, Believe Me, Cool Kids, Bailando, Na Na, or 2 On (just to give a few examples) I would give positive reviews.
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Interesting
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 11,808
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Ooo, this looks fun
Lemme cook one up...
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Member Since: 2/29/2012
Posts: 17,071
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Lorde. I've been waiting to review, but haven't felt passionately interested, in love, or disappointed with the choices thus far. Except for Sia's.
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Member Since: 5/16/2012
Posts: 12,486
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Quote:
Originally posted by maiko
 review
SINGLE REVIEW
Heavy Metal & Biased
A Heavy Metal and Reflective Single Review
enun•ci•ate
verb \ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌāt\
2: Articulate, Pronounce < enunciate all the syllables>
The most common case Azealia’s pop music craving naysayers make for disliking her records is lack of enunciation. Yes, quite often she rolls over lyrical stanzas with a nasally vocal intonation like someone with a chronic sinus infection, but whether or not she gets her pipes checked: who cares? Really. A nasally tone stopped no one from appreciating Ariana Grande, Leona Lewis, or Celine Dion. Just play the damn music.
Reflective is the type of unforgiving and gritty hip-hop born from what could only be an ex NYC stripper turned female MC. She glides over her lyrics with robotic perfection: not one breath wasted, each note in place, each rhyme jam-packed with meaning, and to a pop listener’s dismay, no one liners.
When Azealia says I could spit that prissy poem / Sex with her breakfast / I could break ya [n word] bone / …Wanna bet Bitch?!,
I believe her.
When Azealia says I be cherry deeky / When it swell up / get that best dick / I be very cheeky / Bitch I'm better / Bet you wet, bitch?
I believe her.
And when Azealia says I be looking very Jiggle / Jello in them dresses / I be with the pedi in the puddle reminiscing , I imagine her at some New York street corner nail establishment being tended to by some Asian nail technician, relaxing, thinking about her next move. Then I believe her again.
In fact, I believe each of her rhymes. Each stanza is authentic, interesting, and adds to the records massive looming message: Azealia is here, and she’s better than your favorite rap bitch.
Heavy Metal and Reflective isn’t the made for radio, easy to consume, stand-up comedy punch line rap. It's the kind of rap that makes you lean, gives you a boost of confidence and bad ass, then induces an overwhelming urge to hop in the car with your friends and shoot up your neighborhood. It is post 90’s hip-hop in its truest form, and while Azealia doesn’t enunciate each word with laser precision, Heavy Metal packs more punch in each lyrical stanza than another popular MC’s complete discography. No glossy pop chorus or fancy production necessary.
VERDICT
10
This Knocks
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mrnoniee
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Member Since: 4/22/2012
Posts: 33,490
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Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal & Reflective: 5/10
I have listened to this song quite a few times now, and I am still not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, I love the sleek, polished beat and production, which is easy on the ears and reminiscent of some of her best work; on the other hand, the vocals are far from that level of sophistication, being nothing more than a mumbly mess that left me wondering what this song is actually about. The lyrics might be great, but if I cannot understand them, it's not of much use - and to me, that just screams lackluster all over the place. The song is only 2:30 long, so I would have expected her to use every second of that to punch, especially over such a simple beat, but instead her delivery fails to hold my attention, causing me to lose interest way too soon. The bridge manages to at least partially save the song, it's a smart change of pace, but when everything kicks back in the exact same way it already went on for 1:30 before, it becomes clear that this is another wasted opportunity for Azealia.
It is not a bad song per se, and it might work better in a different context - e.g. on the album - but as her big comeback single, this falls short of expectations.
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Member Since: 10/2/2011
Posts: 43,174
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Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective
7/10
Another lead single, the first as an indipendent artist, from Azealia's album came out by storm a couple of days ago. Not as loud as most of its predecessors, her flow gets monotonous, quiet, almost whispered. That's not really a bad thing because she managed to keep it interesting, mostly thanks to her on point rhymes. She plays this outsider role but if she wants to I know she can establish herself in the rap scene, the talent is there and it's maybe the biggest of this generation of female rappers. The track keeps being experimental through the Lil Internet's simple, polished but yet interesting production. I really like this track but it's not really lead single material neither one that will found success, in my opinion.
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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 | After a lot of time since the release of her single ATM Jam, song which featured Pharrell Williams, Azealia returns with her newest release: "Heavy Metal and Reflective". The song is a haunting masterpiece that sounds like a continuation of her earlier Yung Rapunxel and it feels that this will be the theme for her many times delayed album "Broke with Expensive Taste". Her flow in the song is just amazing and the beats are the best thing, they make you jam so much when you hear the song. I also love the fact that Azealia didn't try to make something mainstream like ATM Jam and has stuck with her original, artistic and creative beats. I am looking forward to hearing her album (and I hope there won't be anymore problems in releasing it) because if she'll continue with songs like this, I'll be here for it, and hopefully many of her fans. |
Score: 9.2/10
Other reviews
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Member Since: 1/31/2012
Posts: 19,942
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We're never reviewing Jesse McCartney are we 
Heavy Metal & Reflective
The song's instrumental is interesting and kinda catchy, but overall I feel let down. This was supposed to Be Azealia's return to smash and come with something remotely interesting and she failed. She wants mainstream success so badly, but with the material she's releasing, it ain't happening. The song is a typical Azealia Banks filler song. I don't hear anything that makes it stick out or differentiates it with the songs she as previously released. There's no hook to the song, and nothing catchy about it. It could have been so much better if she actually did something different this time around instead of staying with that same Azealia formula. It's a formula I'm getting really tired of hearing and it's getting super boring. The stans are hyping the song as her comeback, but you would need to come up to comeback... Hopefully the next single is actually something that's catchy with a hook and does something different. If this is the direction BWET is going, I might have to pass on it.
4/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
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Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj - "Bang Bang"
| Bang Bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj | Republic | Release Date: July 29, 2014
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56 | Member Score
Mixed or average reviews
based on 53 Ratings | d | dddddd
8.2 | Modscore
Universal acclaim
based on 4 Mods |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The joint single from the three stars will
serve as Jessie J's lead single from her upcoming
third album. | Record Label: Republic
Genre(s): Pop |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 25 | | d | ....iMixed: ██████ 10 | | d | Negative: ████████████ 18 |
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| | Mod Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 3 | | d | ....iMixed: █████ 1 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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Well ****… Okay…
It'll be on the same post, tho…
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Member Since: 8/6/2012
Posts: 5,333
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Let me get my Azealia review done, then on to Bang Bang.
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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Just in case you don't see it…
"Bang Bang" REVIEW
It's the collaboration you'd never see coming had you dreamt it! We have two explosive singers, and one dynamite lyricist on a nuclear beat; that equals in my eyes a song that could set the entire pop world on fire! But, is it enough?
While this song might be the most interesting collaboration, only one of these ladies has the staying power to make this song an instant classic. This is so similar to what could've been the next big song, "Can't Remember to Forget You"! Even with a name like Rihanna under it's name, it couldn't make it to the top 10! So, it's not to say that a name like Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, or Jessie J will not make a splash, since all these women have tasted Billboard gold. However, I see this as being a cult classic in the eyes of the fans, not the general public.
But I cannot deny that hook has some blaze going on! Whether it guarantees a #1 spot or not is not up to me, but if it were, I'd make this my #1 song of the week in a heartbeat!
Score: 8.5/10
Final say: Lacks staying power, but it's going to make headlines for sure!
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Heavy Metal & Reflective
Finally! The almost-instant release of this song definitely leads me to believe Azealia's label simply was not comfortable with her releasing music, but fortunately we can finally continue on... 2 years later. Like many of her more recent songs, this song finds itself to be very repetitive to fairly decent results. Her repeated flow (with some memorable and clever lines) with the pulsating electro beat are beaten into the listeners head yet it functions as a totally awesome pre-game jam. It has no giant hook, but Azealia has never really needed those.
7.0/10
Jessie J/Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Totally of its time, yet totally lacking awareness. That's a great way to describe this song, with some of 2014's signature drum hits, synth noises, but also one of the most incoherent choruses, screaming matches, and random out of place Nicki Minaj verses of the year. It's an understatement to say this song is a MESS. The song almost relishes in its flaws, becoming an extremely rewarding listen nonetheless. Methinks it's a fluke, but one I'll enjoy anyway.
7.0/10
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Member Since: 4/29/2012
Posts: 15,977
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Heavy Metal And Reflective
Finally was my first thought listening to the song. Azealia is finally back to old form. After countless meltdowns, delays and label drama which seemed to drag on for an eternity she finally managed to release a song. And what a banger. This can effortlessly be shown next to the 1991 EP and the highlights from Fantasea. The production is hard and addicting, her flow may be a little monotone but the lyrics make up for it. The lyrics consist of great made up slang,a boss bitch attitude and constant disses. Highlights:
"I be PYT you Billie Jean/ You been that ex bitch"
"I could break ya ***** bone/ wanna bet bitch? "
" I be getting several, you be zero /bet you pressed bitch"
" I'm in every city / They say hello to the bitch"
"I be looking very Jiggle Jello in them dresses"
On top of all these lyrics you get a cheeky sample which sounds totally out of place at first but becomes one with the song after a few listens:
Final say: The song will make you feel like a boss. That's the best way to describe it .
One of 2014's finest songs so far.
9,5/10
Bang Bang Bang
I will keep it short on this song. I've rarely ever heard a song this bad in my entire life.
The song is completely overloaded with Jessie J's oversinging, Ariana's oversinging and Nicki's (admittedly decent) verse. On top of that the production is super noisy and the choir in the chorus suffocates everything even more.
Final say: The lyrics are weak,the production is weaker and the vocals are unpleasant.
The female version of Pharell's "Happy". Just awful.
1/10 ( for Nicki's verse)
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