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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 12,948
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Quote:
Originally posted by DevonRoars
Ariana Grande - My Everything
Sophomore album by Ariana Grande not as impressive as her debut. but still a great record filled with fast pop songs like Problem to slow ballads like My Everything.
Stand out tracks: Hands On Me, Love Me Harder, & Be My Baby.
9/10
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Your review must be longer, otherwise it won't count
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/15/2007
Posts: 29,795
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Quote:
Originally posted by WeFoundWill
Will we review "V" ?
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Yes.
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Member Since: 10/3/2010
Posts: 50,276
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Ariana Grande - My Everything
This album was so disappointing in every way possible. Especially when considering that Ariana had received a score of 81 on Metacritic on her prior release. I was actually expecting a really solid pop release, but ultimately I essentially wasted my time listening to an overproduced rather contrived work, that struggles to figure out what it wants to be. Ariana attempts to focus on many different genres throughout the album, but falls short in all of them. 'My Everything' is an album that is very broad in relation to genre, but very specific in relation to quality. Essentially nearly all of the tracks are weak, and none of them are truly enjoyable. On her next release she should attempt to be less mainstream, and focus more on her material musically.
3 out of 10
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 68,548
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Ariana Grande - My Everything ... 8/10
This album represents the evolution of Ariana, from her girl next door persona to a sexier, more grown-up image. Unlike her previous record, My Everything offers us EDM and pop, other than R&B. The album's main downside? There's not much single material. The two songs with top ten potential have already been released - one of them being pop perfection and the other being generic and uninspired - and, except for a couple tracks, the album's production could've been a lot better. Overall, this album is unlikely to estabilish her as a main pop girl, but she's definitely getting there.
1. "INTRO". 9/10
A really cute intro that reminds me of Avril Lavigne's "Black Star". On pop albums intros might sound weird, but this one just fits perfectly. Ariana's breathy vocals seductively welcome us to her new album.
2. "PROBLEM" f/Iggy Azalea. 10/10
Definitely the main highlight of the album, this song has been stuck in our heads for months. Ariana showed us she can do pure pop other than the R&B-influenced music featured on her debut album. It still sounds fresh. Needless to say, this was the perfect lead single.
3. "ONE LAST TIME". 7/10
We had been promised an electro-pop song à la "Break Free" for this track that, in the end, only sounds flat. Lately David Guetta hasn't been able to produce one outstanding song... Guess it's not 2009 anymore!
4. "WHY TRY". 7/10
Probably the worst lyrics of the album (the angels and devils references better stay in the 00s), and it sounds like a cheaper version of other Ryan Tedder big productions. The upside of this song is Ariana's particularly beautiful vocals in the chorus.
5. "BREAK FREE" f/Zedd. 6.5/10
It's your typical generic Zedd production. The music sounds like anything else that has been crafted by him, and the song already sounded dated when it was released. Generic music, and generic lyrics too. Come on Zedd, we've heard this too many times. Some creativity wouldn't hurt, babe.
6. "BEST MISTAKE" f/Big Sean. 8/10
Here's the beginning of the R&B side of My Everything. This has to be the best production of the album. The 8 could've been a 9 - or even more - if it wasn't for Big Sean's useless presence on this track. His slightly nasal voice ruins it all, and he just doesn't seem to make it any better. Solo version to be released as a single, maybe?
7. "BE MY BABY" f/Cashmere Cat. 8/10
This cute track takes us back to the Yours Truly times, as it reminds me a lot of "Right There". Unlike her previous album, Ariana gets sexier on this song that could easily represent her evolution.
8. "BREAK YOUR HEART RIGHT BACK" f/Childish Gambino. 9.5/10
"My baby loves me", Ariana repeats through the chorus. This seductive raggae-influenced track is one of the highlights of the album, and features one of the best productions of Ariana's career. The music doesn't overtake her voice as it happens on several of her tracks, and her voice is perfectly polished.
9. "LOVE ME HARDER" f/The Weeknd. 8/10
Here's another useless feature. The Weeknd's autotuned - and quite girly - voice doesn't seem to fit very well in here. The upside of this song is its hypnotic sound. Definitely repeat worthy.
10. "JUST A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR HEART". 7/10
This song is definitely not as bad as the early critics wanted us to believe. Sure, it's not as memorable as some other tracks on the album, and its lyrics are generic and repetitive, but it's still a cute ballad to listen to when the thought of your cheating ex comes up. Let's not hate on it just because the One Direction guy penned it!
11. "HANDS ON ME" F/ASAP Ferg. 8.5/10
The sex bop of the album, where Ariana's breathy vocals let us know that she wants IT. The downsides? It kind of sounds like an unpolished demo (such a terrible production), and the ASAP Ferg feature is unnecessary - or at least, she could've chosen a more outstanding voice for this song that is a good album track but no single material.
12. "MY EVERYTHING". 10/10
It took me a couple plays to fully appreciate this sweet lullaby. It has by far my favorite lyrics on My Everything, and it's just as cute as it gets. Let's add the fact that it's extremely relatable. Unfortunately, it will never be a single.
13. "BANG BANG" f/Jessie J & Nicki Minaj. 6.5/10
The worst production of the entire album. This track sounds messy and all those background noises were unnecessary. On the bright side, heterosexual icon Jessie J and Ariana slay vocals, while Nicki serves one of her best feature raps of all time.
14. "ONLY 1". 7/10
A rather forgettable song that sounds more like a Destiny's Child album track from the early 00s. In Katy Perry's words, "it's good for a throwback".
15. "YOU DON'T KNOW ME". 7.5/10
Did Beyoncé re-release "Be with You" after 11 years? Oh, wait, no. It's just a song that really sounds like it. Ariana serves flat vocals on the final track of the deluxe edition of My Everything. Those four synth notes repeat themselves way too much and end up sounding annoying after a couple plays.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 521
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Quote:
Originally posted by KillingYourCareer
Ariana Grande - My Everything ... 8/10
This album represents the evolution of Ariana, from her girl next door persona to a sexier, more grown-up persona. Unlike her previous record, My Everything offers us EDM and pop, other than R&B. The album's main downside? There's not much single material. The two songs with top ten potential have already been released - one of them being pop perfection and the other being generic and uninspired - and, except for a couple tracks, the album's production could've been a lot better. Overall, this album is unlikely to estabilish her as a main pop girl, but she's definitely getting there.
1. "INTRO". 9/10
A really cute intro that reminds me of Avril Lavigne's "Black Star". On pop albums intros might sound weird, but this one just fits perfectly. Ariana's breathy vocals seductively welcome us to her new album.
2. "PROBLEM" f/Iggy Azalea. 10/10
Definitely the main highlight of the album, this song has been stuck in our heads for months. Ariana showed us she can do pure pop other than the R&B-influenced music featured on her debut album. It still sounds fresh. Needless to say, this was the perfect lead single.
3. "ONE LAST TIME". 7/10
We had been promised an electro-pop song à la "Break Free" for this track that, in the end, only sounds flat. Lately David Guetta hasn't been able to produce one outstanding song... Guess it's not 2009 anymore!
4. "WHY TRY". 7/10
Probably the worst lyrics of the album (the angels and devils references better stay in the 00s), and it sounds like a cheaper version of other Ryan Tedder big productions. The upside of this song is Ariana's particularly beautiful vocals in the chorus.
5. "BREAK FREE" f/Zedd. 6.5/10
It's your typical generic Zedd production. The music sounds like anything else that has been crafted by him, and the song already sounded dated when it was released. Generic music, and generic lyrics too. Come on Zedd, we've heard this too many times. Some creativity wouldn't hurt, babe.
6. "BEST MISTAKE" f/Big Sean. 8/10
Here's the beginning of the R&B side of My Everything. This has to be the best production of the album. The 8 could've been a 9 - or even more - if it wasn't for Big Sean's useless presence on this track. His slightly nasal voice ruins it all, and he just doesn't seem to make it any better. Solo version to be released as a single, maybe?
7. "BE MY BABY" f/Cashmere Cat. 8/10
This cute track takes us back to the Yours Truly times, as it reminds me a lot of "Right There". Unlike her previous album, Ariana gets sexier on this song that could easily represent her evolution.
8. "BREAK YOUR HEART RIGHT BACK" f/Childish Gambino. 9.5/10
"My baby loves me", Ariana repeats through the chorus. This seductive raggae-influenced track is one of the highlights of the album, and features one of the best productions of Ariana's career. The music doesn't overtake her voice as it happens on several of her tracks, and her voice is perfectly polished.
9. "LOVE ME HARDER" f/The Weeknd. 8/10
Here's another useless feature. The Weeknd's autotuned - and quite girly - voice doesn't seem to fit very well in here. The upside of this song is its hypnotic sound. Definitely repeat worthy.
10. "JUST A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR HEART". 7/10
This song is definitely not as bad as the early critics wanted us to believe. Sure, it's not as memorable as some other tracks on the album, and its lyrics are generic and repetitive, but it's still a cute ballad to listen to when the thought of your cheating ex comes up. Let's not hate on it just because the One Direction guy penned it!
11. "HANDS ON ME" F/ASAP Ferg. 8.5/10
The sex bop of the album, where Ariana's breathy vocals let us know that she wants IT. The downsides? It kind of sounds like an unpolished demo (such a terrible production), and the ASAP Ferg's feature is unnecessary - or at least, she could've chosen a more outstanding voice for this song that is a good album track but no single material.
12. "MY EVERYTHING". 10/10
It took me a couple plays to fully appreciate this sweet lullaby. It has by far my favorite lyrics of My Everything, and it's just as cute as it gets. Let's add the fact that it's extremely relatable. Unfortunately, it will never be a single.
13. "BANG BANG" f/Jessie J & Nicki Minaj. 6.5/10
The worst production of the entire album, indeed. This track sounds messy and all those background noises were unnecessary. On the bright side, heterosexual icon Jessie J and Ariana slay vocals, while Nicki serves one of her best feature raps of all time.
14. "ONLY 1". 7/10
A rather forgettable song that sounds more like a Destiny's Child album track from the early 00s. In Katy Perry's words, "it's good for a throwback".
15. "YOU DON'T KNOW ME". 7.5/10
Did Beyoncé re-release "Be with You" after 11 years? Oh, wait, no. It's just a song that really sounds like it. Ariana serves flat vocals on the final track of the deluxe edition of My Everything. Those four synth notes repeat themselves way too much and end up sounding annoying after a couple plays.
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Great review, you are really talented!
Quote:
Originally posted by Truth Teller
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I really loved the review, as in the
comment I have posted.
Quote:
Originally posted by e437
| Ariana Grande's sophomore album "My Everything", was released earlier this week. Did the album match the quality of her debut album? I would say no. But, some songs are better than the ones on her debut.
There are two major problems with this album. First one, the cohesiveness. I just hate the fact how the songs jump from a pop smash to a ballad. Not to mention the fact that she mixed those ballads with the sexy songs and it makes it look even more messy. Second one, the good tracks from this album are literally flawless, but the bad ones are the pits. Throughout the whole project, we can hear some of the best tracks of her career ("Problem", "One Last Time", "Break Free", "Love Me Harder"), but also some of the worst ("Hands On Me", "Only 1", "You Don't Know Me") and the bad thing is that those are more R&B influenced, and we knew she was an expert at these.
Overall, the album is just there for me. Even though I could forever play the songs mentioned above as her best, I would immediately delete the bad, filler ones. One more thing I'd like to add is that "Love Me Harder" should be released as the next single, but the fact that it sounds exactly as "Do What U Want" (and it also follows the same structure!), is not good at all. Also, the best ballad on this album is "My Everything" (followed by "Why Try), but still, it doesn't have the same power like the most important ballad on "Yours Truly", "Tattooed Heart". |
Score: 6.9/10
Other reviews
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A really great review, loved all of those you have posted so far!
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 68,548
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Quote:
Originally posted by ExtraOrdinary
Great review, you are really talented!
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Thank you!
I had already done it in Italian, I just had to translate it.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 27,856
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My Everything
Ariana's sophomore album is a work which builds upon the efforts of "Yours Truly", in the sense that sonically, they both give the impression that Ariana is yet to find her true musical niche. However, after many listens of "My Everything", and analysing the buzz around recent singles "Problem", "Bang Bang" and "Break Free", one certainly gets the impression that Ariana is closer to where she needs to be.
The album begins with a short "Intro", which I think was a nice touch as it retains a lot of the sound and feel of her previous studio release, while still notifying the listener that her sound is shifting and morphing. This idea was excellently communicated through the production of the piece, which leads the listener into picturing stars - and after you're a few songs in, it becomes more than apparent that Ariana's star is set to be soaring amongst them.
Personally, I see three stand-out songs on this album (excluding those we'd already been exposed to). The first of my three must be "Why Try". I think it's definitely one of Ariana's greatest solo songs. The second slot goes to "Love me Harder". The Weeknd really shines in his feature role, and he aids Ariana in carrying this song to another dimension entirely. Finally, I shall recognise "Be My Baby". The production in this song is slick and perfectly suits the tone of Ariana's voice.
Overall, a strong album which I'll only criticise for its slight lack of cohesiveness ("Bang Bang" doesn't quite fit with the rest of the album, and feels like it has just been tagged on for the sake of it) and flow.
3.2/5
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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Quote:
Originally posted by ExtraOrdinary
Great review, you are really talented!
I really loved the review, as in the
comment I have posted.
A really great review, loved all of those you have posted so far!
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Thanks
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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I'll be listening to My Everything today and should have a review up by tonight.
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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After this, we need to review both V & Goddess.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Nait Phoenix
After this, we need to review both V & Goddess.
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I think we should review:
Singles:
Animals - Maroon 5
Albums:
Blacc Hollywood - Wiz Khalifa
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Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 34,961
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Ariana Grande - My Everything
__________________________________________________ ______________________
I’m disappointed with My Everything.
I loved everything about Ariana Grande’s debut album Yours Truly. Yours Truly is one of the best debut pop albums in recent years, it added modern touch to retro 90s R&B and 50s doo-wop; the album is a little inconsistent, but Ariana shows off her vocal skills, but never oversings, she adds a sweet playfulness that prevents the tracks from being dopey, it really was an album that was a breath of fresh air among the high profile abrasive pop albums like ARTPOP, Yeezus, Pure Heronie, and Nothing Was the Same. Yours Truly brought back good breezy, playful pop music and established Ariana as one of the most promising new pop stars.
My Everything does not capture the same feeling as Yours Truly. A couple tracks sound like they’re about to go in the direction of Yours Truly, like the Intro, “One Last Time,” “Be My Baby,” and “Problem” but overall the album takes an edgier turn. The girl who sang lightheartedly about Tattooed Hearts, Popular kids, and Loving her Piano is gone. Instead songs about Breaking Free, cheating boyfriends, and ****ing problems take up the bulk of the record. That’s not a bad thing, Ariana is growing up and maturing. The problem is she’s maturing into a pop star and not Ariana Grande the Pop Star. Tracks like “One Last Time,” and “Why Try,” Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart,” are instantly forgettable album filler that could’ve been on Prism, Bangerz, Shakira., [insert pop album here]. Second single “Break Free,” also would be pretty forgettable if it wasn’t for the goofy video that shows off Ariana’s personality; it shows Ariana fighting space aliens and whatever the heck this thing is:
The album is not bad. “Problem,” is infectious; “Break Free,” is energetic, “Love Me Harder,” is groovy, most of the album is one of those adjectives or a combination, it’s just that Ariana has little time to shine through and captivate like on her debut. Ironically it’s on more of the low-key tracks where she shines. “Best Mistake,” features an eerie piano line and Ariana soul-searching about a relationship that went wrong (Adele-style) with the “best mistake she ever made,” the track shows a more restrained and contemplative Ariana; the clunky Ziploc bag referencing guest verse from Big Sean and bizarre references to pots of gold at the ends of rainbows really do add some fun insight into Ariana’s personality, adding flavor to an otherwise serious song that makes the song hers. “Break Your Heart Right Back” combines another downtempo beat with a disco guitar and a sample from “I’m Coming Out” (done infinitely better by The Notorious B.I.G.) the song never quite comes together completely but is a humorous kiss-off to one of Ariana’s exes that cheated on her with another guy that also showcases Ariana’s so-bad-it’s-good taste in rap.
It’s too bad that the album doesn’t showcase more of Ariana’s personality. It’s a fine album, just not a good Ariana record. Still, it’s exciting that on her second album so much is expected of her and that a solid record like My Everything can be a disappointing Ariana Grande release.
The Deluxe Tracks
Unfortunately, the Deluxe Tracks did not make the album. The four deluxe version tracks are better than the majority of My Everything and do take Ariana’s persona and sound from Yours Truly to the next level. “Only 1” is a smooth R&B track and is probably the best of the bunch. “Cadillac Song,” is also an easy going throwback tune that would be a highlight on any R&B album that Ariana sells well.
Grade: C+
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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holyground: music in review
6.7
"decently done but a tad of a mess"
highlights
love me harder (feat. the weeknd)
one last time
why try
problem (feat. iggy azalea)
hands on me (feat. a$ap ferg)
| My Everything
Ariana Grande
What is Ariana Grande? With her previous effort, Yours Truly, she sold us a brand of throwback R&B-pop, apart from being a powerhouse vocalist, which is something that's rare nowadays. It would be repetitive and boring if she tried to do that again, almost less than a year since the release of her debut album. As such, she decided to go all out to conquer the pop world. However, the results were a bit of a mess.
With Yours Truly, there was a cohesive sound throughout the album which really makes it a solid piece of work. In this album, there is no cohesion. One minute it's straight up pop, the next it's a ballad, and the next is some rapper feature. It is sort of difficult to keep up with the album. The songs aren't outstanding enough in their own way, which makes the album feel a tad monotonous. Before you try to get into a song, you're onto the next. And this keeps going on.
The tracks are well-produced though, even though they are comparatively faceless compared to those on Yours Truly. One disappointing thing too were the ballads. They just didn't feel epic enough. And what is Ariana without huge Mariah-esque ballads? The Intro was unnecessary too. Like, what are you trying to introduce to us as a whole here?
At least there are a few couple of bops. One Last Time and Why Try sound like good contemporary mid-tempos, while Love Me Harder is a production gem (only to be bogged down by the awkward sexual lyrics). Hands of Me is even more overtyl sexual, but it's irresistible, even as she's oozing Dirrty Xtina in the song.
Overall, though this album is a disappointment compared to her previous one, it is still too early to write Ariana off. Maybe she is still trying to find her place, but we do need more Arianas (talent-wise) in the mainstream.
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previous reviews
archives
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all about you - hilary duff - 6.9
lp1 - fka twigs - 8.0
shake it off - taylor swift - 8.0
break the rules - charli xcx - 7.5
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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The Lowdown: Pop-R&B album takes a few ill-advised steps, but is decent in the end.
When I heard that Ariana Grande was coming out with a new album, I was fairly excited. I did not like most of Yours Truly, so I was hoping for a good R&B-pop album that I could bop to (because those are scarce in the mainstream these days). My Everything is Grande's sophomore effort, and Intro immediately signals a departure from the style of music performed in Yours Truly. Intro is an approximately-one-and-a-half minute serenade consisting of diva-esque runs and harmonies that are very over-the-top. A simple piano and strings arrangement backs up Grande's light vocals. It is an intriguing but not very likeable beginning to the album. Problem, Grande's biggest hit of her career, follows. The horns that start the song feel like the start of the album, never mind they rip off Talk Dirty. The production is smooth, but formulaic and predictable. Fortunately, Grande's vocals are a change from straight-up pop and she infuses just a touch of R&B, which keeps the listener hooked on the song. Though Big Sean's whispering is irritating, Iggy Azalea's guest rap is a nice addition to the song. It maintains the overall sentiment of the track while adding substance to it. Though Problem is a very fluffy song, it is quite good and the second-best song on My Everything. One Last Time has an interesting electronic synth line that sounds very familiar but fresh at the same time. Lyrically, it is very similar to Stay With Me. Despite this unoriginality, I like the downtempo and moody feel of the song. I wish there was more of a bridge to break up the flow of the song a bit, but nevertheless I could see this becoming a successful single (winter hit?).
Why Try is a bit of a letdown considering that Problem and One Last Time are both good songs. The "why try" part during the chorus is so harmonized over it's ridiculous. The "na na" runs in the chorus also feel superfluous. The piano is good, and the production is silky smooth. Unfortunately, Grande ruins the final chorus by electing to oversing even louder than usual, as if to try to put an exclamation point on the song (but in reality she's just adding a question mark). I was left wanting a heavier beat throughout the song, though I liked the bridge. It's a passable but forgettable song. Break Free follows and is quite horrendous. The production is very, very dated, sounding like a failed rehash of faux-EDM-dance-pop from 2010. The famous "now that I've become who I really are" line is atrocious and downright embarrassing. The chorus was generic circa 2010, but that doesn't mean it sounds any better here in 2014. Break Free's synths and breakdown are extremely predictable, and the song gets old and boring rapidly. Grande continues to oversing unpleasantly during the final chorus, finishing off one of the worst pop songs of the year.
Me Listening To Break Free
(sung to the tune of the Break Free chorus)
This is
The part where I roll my eyes and I
think this is such a stupid song
This is
The part when I take the
Headphones and throw them on the ground
Best Mistake is the point where My Everything begins to repeat itself. A downtempo synth intro is followed by soft vocals which are soon harmonized over, a template which will be used in quite a few more songs. Big Sean does not really fit in on this track; it is not worth a rap feature as the weak instrumental takes a complete backseat to Sean's droning rap. After the rap, the song gets boring and simply drags along. The lyrics are pretty cheesy, and Grande's vocal delivery is very safe. Be My Baby is next, and it's a mixed bag. It is probably the most forgettable song on My Everything, though. Nothing really sticks out. Though Grande's faster vocals keep her from screaming during the verses, and the song has a nice R&B feel to it, nothing stands out as really good on this track. I can't help but complain about her oversinging during the final chorus yet again.
It feels like eighth track Break Your Heart Right Back was an attempt to sound urban. The intro is sassy, and a snap beat almost in the style of DJ Mustard is prominent throughout the song. Unfortunately, the whole thing sounds like an extremely lazy effort, sampling both a guitar riff and vocals from The Notorious B.I.G. The verses do not add much substance to the song, and neither does Childish Gambino, who turns in a performance that scores as a 1500 on a scale of 1 to 3005. This song sounds manufactured and imitative. Love Me Harder follows and is quite easily the best song on the album. The beat is very good, synth-heavy and danceable but not bubblegum and definitely not fluffy. The Weeknd is a great fit for the song. He sounds smooth and his voice goes very well with Grande's. Grande opts to not scream in this song, which is also a big plus. Honestly, Love Me Harder needs to be a single very soon. It would have a likelier chance of being a hit in the winter than in the spring or summer in my opinion, so get on it Republic!
Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart is a drastic change from Love Me Harder. It begins with a poignant piano intro that is rarely joined by any other instruments or synths. Grande builds the song up well, and the first chorus sounds really good. Lyrically, the song is all about how much Grande loves this guy and wants him. It's not strikingly original, but at the same time it is not delivered with any overly stupid lyrics. I'm not liking the harmonies. Unfortunately, the song is almost when a minute-long overly dramatic final chorus (complete with a dose of oversinging) is stuffed into the track instead of ending it at the 2:55 mark. Overall, Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart is not a bad song, and its strengths outweigh its weaknesses. Hands On Me is the penultimate track, and sonically it is also a big change from Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart. The instrumental is okay; it feels a bit retro for me and I'm not a big fan of that synth. During that first part of the chorus, before the "put your hands on it" part, the beat is very good. I don't know who decided to put A$AP Ferg on the song. Just like with Best Mistake, the rap makes the song choppy and breaks up its flow. It appears to be a blatant attempt to push Ariana into urban music, and that is just not what she does best. The title track My Everything closes the album. It's a ballad, but it's a better one than Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart. The two songs are quite similar, but My Everything is more captivating as nothing gets in the way of Ariana's vocals and lyrics. The song does feel a bit rushed, clocking in at just 2:49. The fade-out outro was cool though.
Firstly, I have to say that I enjoyed the album more than I expected to. It's a very moody album with a lot of ups and downs. Disappointingly, there isn't really a stretch of 3-5 good songs (or more). Almost every other song seems like a step back. Fortunately, the album is good enough so that even the underwhelming songs fit in with the general atmosphere of the album. The contrast between Grande's regular vocals and her oversinging is made painfully clear with My Everything. She needs to realize that it's alright to complete a song without singing even one note really loudly. I'm also a bit concerned about all of the rappers featured on the album. With the exception of Iggy Azalea (who isn't really an urban artist anyway), none of the rap features really fit. I'm worried that Grande (or her label) is trying to step into urban music, which would be the wrong move for her. She is at her best when she does pop songs that have a few touches of R&B in them (see The Way, Problem, Love Me Harder). The "urbanization" of some of these songs feels forced and is a bit unpleasant to listen to.
I do appreciate that Grande took several risks on My Everything. The album does not really feel safe, which is good. Unfortunately, it is also not very cohesive. Piano ballads, R&B-urban, and pop all have their places on My Everything. The ballads mostly feel sappy and overdone, while I've already explained my thoughts on the urban music. Quite a few songs are questionable and very mediocre, but a few are also good songs. They balance each other out on the album, creating a feeling of "Hey, that wasn't all bad." My Everything doesn't contain many catchy choruses, but it packs in plenty of decent R&B and adds a bit of pop. The execution isn't the sharpest, but it's good enough for now.
Reviews:
Drake - 0 to 100 / The Catch Up (4.0)
La Roux - Trouble In Paradise (2.3)
Azealia Banks - Heavy Metal and Reflective (2.0)
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang (5.8)
Hilary Duff - Chasing The Sun (0.5)
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Anything Goes (4.9)
Nicki Minaj - Anaconda (2.0)
Beyoncé f/Nicki Minaj - ***Flawless Remix (3.7)
Pixie Lott - Pixie Lott (6.0)
FKA Twigs - LP1 (1.7)
Hilary Duff - All About You (4.1)
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (7.1)
Charli XCX - Break The Rules (4.6)
Ariana Grande - My Everything (5.2)
Maroon 5 - V (5.4)
Banks - Goddess (8.2)
Calvin Harris f/John Newman - Blame (8.6)
Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat (8.8)
Fergie - L.A.LOVE (la la) (2.5)
LIGHTS - Little Machines (6.7)
One Direction - Steal My Girl (2.0)
Carrie Underwood - Something In The Water (5.3)
Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie (5.4)
Iggy Azalea f/MØ - Beg For It (7.7)
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by holyground
holyground: music in review
6.7
"decently done but a tad of a mess"
highlights
love me harder (feat. the weeknd)
one last time
why try
problem (feat. iggy azalea)
hands on me (feat. a$ap ferg)
| My Everything
Ariana Grande
What is Ariana Grande? With her previous effort, Yours Truly, she sold us a brand of throwback R&B-pop, apart from being a powerhouse vocalist, which is something that's rare nowadays. It would be repetitive and boring if she tried to do that again, almost less than a year since the release of her debut album. As such, she decided to go all out to conquer the pop world. However, the results were a bit of a mess.
With Yours Truly, there was a cohesive sound throughout the album which really makes it a solid piece of work. In this album, there is no cohesion. One minute it's straight up pop, the next it's a ballad, and the next is some rapper feature. It is sort of difficult to keep up with the album. The songs aren't outstanding enough in their own way, which makes the album feel a tad monotonous. Before you try to get into a song, you're onto the next. And this keeps going on.
The tracks are well-produced though, even though they are comparatively faceless compared to those on Yours Truly. One disappointing thing too were the ballads. They just didn't feel epic enough. And what is Ariana without huge Mariah-esque ballads? The Intro was unnecessary too. Like, what are you trying to introduce to us as a whole here?
At least there are a few couple of bops. One Last Time and Why Try sound like good contemporary mid-tempos, while Love Me Harder is a production gem (only to be bogged down by the awkward sexual lyrics). Hands of Me is even more overtyl sexual, but it's irresistible, even as she's oozing Dirrty Xtina in the song.
Overall, though this album is a disappointment compared to her previous one, it is still too early to write Ariana off. Maybe she is still trying to find her place, but we do need more Arianas (talent-wise) in the mainstream.
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previous reviews
archives
...
all about you - hilary duff - 6.9
lp1 - fka twigs - 8.0
shake it off - taylor swift - 8.0
break the rules - charli xcx - 7.5
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This is a really good review. I agree with most of it.
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 12,948
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Quote:
Originally posted by holyground
holyground: music in review
6.7
"decently done but a tad of a mess"
highlights
love me harder (feat. the weeknd)
one last time
why try
problem (feat. iggy azalea)
hands on me (feat. a$ap ferg)
| My Everything
Ariana Grande
What is Ariana Grande? With her previous effort, Yours Truly, she sold us a brand of throwback R&B-pop, apart from being a powerhouse vocalist, which is something that's rare nowadays. It would be repetitive and boring if she tried to do that again, almost less than a year since the release of her debut album. As such, she decided to go all out to conquer the pop world. However, the results were a bit of a mess.
With Yours Truly, there was a cohesive sound throughout the album which really makes it a solid piece of work. In this album, there is no cohesion. One minute it's straight up pop, the next it's a ballad, and the next is some rapper feature. It is sort of difficult to keep up with the album. The songs aren't outstanding enough in their own way, which makes the album feel a tad monotonous. Before you try to get into a song, you're onto the next. And this keeps going on.
The tracks are well-produced though, even though they are comparatively faceless compared to those on Yours Truly. One disappointing thing too were the ballads. They just didn't feel epic enough. And what is Ariana without huge Mariah-esque ballads? The Intro was unnecessary too. Like, what are you trying to introduce to us as a whole here?
At least there are a few couple of bops. One Last Time and Why Try sound like good contemporary mid-tempos, while Love Me Harder is a production gem (only to be bogged down by the awkward sexual lyrics). Hands of Me is even more overtyl sexual, but it's irresistible, even as she's oozing Dirrty Xtina in the song.
Overall, though this album is a disappointment compared to her previous one, it is still too early to write Ariana off. Maybe she is still trying to find her place, but we do need more Arianas (talent-wise) in the mainstream.
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previous reviews
archives
...
all about you - hilary duff - 6.9
lp1 - fka twigs - 8.0
shake it off - taylor swift - 8.0
break the rules - charli xcx - 7.5
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Love all your reviews + style
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Member Since: 10/18/2010
Posts: 29,224
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
I think we should review:
Singles:
Animals - Maroon 5
Albums:
Blacc Hollywood - Wiz Khalifa
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I don't think we go backwards here... That album came out before My Everything, right? And the single might as well be substituted in with the album V, since that album already came out. Having V and Goddess on deck next makes sense since they are the recent releases, with Goddess coming out in a few days and V being out for a few days.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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I think we need a 24h notification today.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/15/2007
Posts: 29,795
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~24 HOUR NOTICE
You have roughly 24 hours to get in any last minute reviews.
The final score for Ariana Grande - 'My Everything' will be tabulated and posted tomorrow.
Reviews for Maroon 5 - 'V' will start tomorrow!
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