How are the guest features?
― Video Drama (morrisp), Wednesday, 28 October 2020 14:50 (three years ago) link
they're very solid unless you hate the weeknd
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Wednesday, 28 October 2020 14:52 (three years ago) link
uh oh
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 28 October 2020 14:57 (three years ago) link
weeknd sounds amazing on that song
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 28 October 2020 14:57 (three years ago) link
it's one of the best songs he's ever been involved in imo
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Wednesday, 28 October 2020 15:13 (three years ago) link
I lol'd at the end of "34+35" -- "Means I wanna 69 with ya... noooooo shit"
― Video Drama (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 04:37 (three years ago) link
"Off the Table" -- holy gawd
― Video Drama (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 04:44 (three years ago) link
it's like "Get Well Soon" taken to... another place
― Video Drama (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 04:45 (three years ago) link
this has indeed become my favourite of hers already
― ufo, Friday, 30 October 2020 04:53 (three years ago) link
These tracks are sophisticated as $#!&. I agree w/Simon that they lose nothing in their brevity -- and it may even work to their advantage.
― Video Drama (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 04:55 (three years ago) link
"Nasty" is every bit as good as the snippet suggested it would be...
― Video Drama (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 04:56 (three years ago) link
whoa - that coda on "Love Language"
― Video Drama (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 05:03 (three years ago) link
There's something "'90s-feeling" about the whole album, without it being an obvious stylistic throwback... touches like the background vocal arrangements remind me of a classic Mariah album or something?
― Video Drama (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 05:09 (three years ago) link
"off the table" genuinely fucking incredible
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 30 October 2020 05:10 (three years ago) link
Haven't heard any of this yet even the single. Super looking forward to this considering that Needy and Ghostin are easily two of the best songs ever. The separate song titles are trending on Twitter; i love it when that happens.
― piscesx, Friday, 30 October 2020 05:29 (three years ago) link
the only thing i've read on this so far was the stereogum review which i thought was weirdly low on the album in general but specifically dissed the weeknd song which just doesn't align at all w/ how i hear this album. that's when it really kicks into gear for me
― J0rdan S., Friday, 30 October 2020 05:38 (three years ago) link
Not feeling “off the table” but the strings on “love language” and the retro vibe and Mariah Carey influence on “My Hair” are early standouts.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 30 October 2020 05:43 (three years ago) link
This feels like a follow-up to Yours Truly in the best way
― self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Friday, 30 October 2020 05:46 (three years ago) link
Just finished listening to this. I went in with high expectations due to the raving comments here but I must say I’m a bit underwhelmed. It’s nice but nothing particularly grabbed me. So far, I much prefer the previous album.But maybe this will be a grower.
― AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 30 October 2020 07:08 (three years ago) link
concur with Moka in that "my hair" or "love language" are probably my favourites. "motive" seemed like the obvious next single to me until i reached the doja cat verse, which kind of throws it off balance with its abrasiveness.
probably her most unassuming album yet; i get more..."i don't care" or "sometimes" from dangerous woman than yours truly tbh
― monotony, Friday, 30 October 2020 07:53 (three years ago) link
I like this album but it exhausts me.
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 30 October 2020 09:43 (three years ago) link
it's a motherfuckin' vibe, it's for motherfuckers that's patient, it's for motherfuckers that like to take their time, close their eyes, and dream
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 30 October 2020 17:34 (three years ago) link
that needs to be quoted in the album poll
― gman59, Friday, 30 October 2020 17:38 (three years ago) link
imo this one is actually for motherfuckers that's not patient
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Friday, 30 October 2020 17:48 (three years ago) link
I do appreciate "Love Language" as the sophisti-pop number after the spirited opening string arrangement.
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 30 October 2020 18:05 (three years ago) link
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Friday, October 30, 2020 10:48 AM (nineteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
if you go strictly by song lengths sure, if you go by some of the indifferent reactions to "off the table" and the general quiet storm vibe she's got going here, nah
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 30 October 2020 18:10 (three years ago) link
The Weeknd sounds fine on "Off the Table." I don't find him a convincing duet partner with anyone except himself, whom I'm sure he'd also fuck and leave after a night of coke and codeine.
― Patriotic Goiter (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 30 October 2020 18:12 (three years ago) link
for some reason had to play "six thirty" three times in a row just now
are you downwhat's upare you downwhat's upare you dowwwwwn
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Friday, 30 October 2020 19:24 (three years ago) link
wasn't 100% sold until a voice with real credibility spoke up:
the frozen pizza wants you to know that it really relates to trauma @BrandsSayingBae pic.twitter.com/n0HQw2hEV3
― Evans on Hammond (evol j), Friday, 30 October 2020 20:00 (three years ago) link
that's a special kind of cursed, my god
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Friday, 30 October 2020 20:13 (three years ago) link
Nice track review, which also serves as a concise set of thoughts on the album overall: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/ariana-grande-pov/
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 21:31 (three years ago) link
critics seem weirdly low on this so far, i'm a bit baffled
― J0rdan S., Friday, 30 October 2020 21:33 (three years ago) link
a relisten affirms that this is the second best thing she's ever done, next to that time she said "I hate america" in public
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Friday, 30 October 2020 21:35 (three years ago) link
xp i’m surprised to hear that… I haven’t read any reviews, but I would’ve guessed it’s a natural for critical luv
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 21:46 (three years ago) link
(It feels, both culturally and artistically, right on point for the moment)
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 21:48 (three years ago) link
skimming through reviews and they all seem to complain that it's not full of big obvious hits and too low-key
idk that's kinda the point! she goes for vibes and nails it the whole way through and as much as i do love some of her Big Pop Moments i think she's even better at this
but i've never quite understood the critical response she's gotten after sweetener was really loved when it was easily one of her weakest records
― ufo, Friday, 30 October 2020 22:38 (three years ago) link
I love Sweetener, and think it deserves every kudo – but maybe it had the advantage of a “comeback” narrative, in terms of critical reception
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Friday, 30 October 2020 23:59 (three years ago) link
(which this one doesn’t have, and some critics may not have that “hook” to rely on... I dunno, don’t want to judge reviews I haven’t read. do any of them talk about her vocals much?)
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Saturday, 31 October 2020 00:00 (three years ago) link
I think “pov” is interesting in that I’m not sure she can totally “pull off” the vocal—but she goes for it anyway.
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Saturday, 31 October 2020 00:02 (three years ago) link
there are a few other spots on the album where it also feels like she’s pushing past some of her natural limitations as a vocalist, and just doing what she loves and making the kind of songs she wants to make.
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Saturday, 31 October 2020 00:03 (three years ago) link
Feature focusing on Tommy Brown, with some details on how the album came together: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ariana-grandes-new-album-positions-tommy-brown-interview-11604060104
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Saturday, 31 October 2020 00:16 (three years ago) link
this is my favourite of hers since her debut and I love how cohesive it feels. They're right that there's no "Break Free" or "thank u, next" but a forty-minute album of charming r&b is a great look for her
― boxedjoy, Saturday, 31 October 2020 10:40 (three years ago) link
I agree. This is a right place, right moment sort of album for her. A stay in home, or rather stay in bed vibe. Who even wants summer, party anthems from her in 2020? Have they not been paying attention?
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Saturday, 31 October 2020 11:31 (three years ago) link
And I’m not even a fan of r&b ballads (or most ballads tbh) but I think it’s a very appropriate mood and a good look on her. She knows she wont be touring this album so it makes sense it has a smaller sound, this is meant for home-listening not for stadiums. And as noticed, this also allows her to push her limitations as a vocalist since she wont be risking singing these in an off-night.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Saturday, 31 October 2020 11:39 (three years ago) link
only listened to this once so far (haven’t had the time, and there’s also a Wizkid album, priorities!), but it sounded very good and assured.think Moka raises a very interesting point (if I read her correctly) about the way the pandemic and all it entails might be playing into the album’s sound. interestingly, this might be the case with the Wizkid album as well.
― Welcome to Nonrock (breastcrawl), Sunday, 1 November 2020 17:38 (three years ago) link
I think "Shut Up" (the first song she recorded) dates from the beginning of the year, and "Nasty" was obviously well in the works by the time she posted the snippet in late March (around the time the shutdowns began here).
I have thought about how she said, when thank u, next came out, that she wanted to start releasing songs soon after recording them (like a rapper, etc.)... obviously, she didn't end up going that route, at least this time around. She saved them all up for an album -- which feels like the right move, under the circumstances.
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Sunday, 1 November 2020 17:52 (three years ago) link
Xpost: yes! I haven’t read articles or interviews but I think the sound of the album is a very conscious decision based on the pandemic. Most of these sound like slow burners rather than stadium anthems to me, and I feel knowing there wouldn’t be a tour affected this decision.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 1 November 2020 18:25 (three years ago) link
There's also a practical point that flying to Sweden to record a few bangers may not have been an option (...but it could also be that this is the album she would have made even under normal circumstances!).
She did a long YouTube interview over the weekend that I'd like to listen to when I have a chance; I assume she touches on this topic.
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Sunday, 1 November 2020 18:40 (three years ago) link
apparently scott storch said he first played the “my hair” beat for her in fall of 2018, i wouldn’t read so much into the pandemic aspect. the production doesn’t feel all that different from thank u next to me in terms of tone & tempo it’s just more of an R&B palette as opposed to a pop one. even the big hits on thank u next were pretty low key
― J0rdan S., Sunday, 1 November 2020 18:56 (three years ago) link
Good point about the Storch beat (the reference is in that tweet I posted above).
― Tim Simms (morrisp), Sunday, 1 November 2020 19:16 (three years ago) link
i agree entirely. i think 'thank u next' was just such a career peak both in terms of her music and her celebrity, her really just being in the center of the pop culture zeitgest and releasing great music that spoke directly to all the attention, that i think the follow up was always going to be in a really tough spot in its shadow regardless of whether it was good or not. it just so happens to be really really good
― slob wizard (J0rdan S.), Wednesday, 10 January 2024 20:34 (three months ago) link
New thread for a new "era": ariana grande - eternal sunshine (2024 album)
― Wooly Bully (2005 Remaster) (morrisp), Thursday, 11 January 2024 17:15 (three months ago) link