Gotta say, I was really excited to dig into this one. Partially because I’ve heard rather positive things about it, and I’ve heard that Ariana really changed up her sound on it, but also because this is the Ariana album I have the least experience with. The only tracks I listened to prior to this review were “Dangerous Woman,” “Be Alright,” “Into You,” and “Side to Side,” and all of those were either given a full-blown single release or a promotional single release, so I don’t really have experience with the deep cuts on this thing like I did with “Yours Truly.” However, the same was said for my experience with “My Everything,” where I wasn’t familiar with the deep cuts beforehand, and I ended up digging that album, so given that I’m hearing that “Dangerous Woman” is even better than “My Everything,” I’m definitely pretty pumped for this! Let’s see if it delivers.
Moonlight: Jumping right in here, we start with a very light, doo-wop flavored jam where Ariana sings about how mesmerized she is with her lover because of how much love he can give her. I love the very dreamy keys and violin plucks on this one, Ariana’s vocals are very pretty as always, and even if the song is somewhat short, it has a nice, swaying feeling to it, almost like a really sweet lullaby. That’s not to say it’s boring, by the way, it just has a very relaxing feel to it that really works. Based on what I’ve heard, this track seems to be an outlier as the one sweet song up against some more sex-driven tracks, but even if that’s the case, it’s a very nice starter to the album.
Dangerous Woman: I’m not gonna lie, when this first came out, I didn’t really pay much attention to it. I didn’t really have any contempt for it or anything like that, but something about it just never stuck with me. Or, perhaps it’s because it was so different than Ariana’s usual stuff and I just wasn’t used to it at the time. After all, when an artist I love goes from 90s/2000’s pop-inspired music to a more edgy, kinda pop-rock vibe, it definitely comes out of nowhere. That said, hearing it now, I definitely have a greater respect for it: I love the slow, dark instrumentals on here, and Ariana’s vocals are exciting as she sings about being a woman that’s not afraid to be honest and stand up for herself. It’s a pretty empowering message, and it’s attached to a very catchy, fun song.
Be Alright: Ariana using some marimba here? I dig it! Unlike “Dangerous Woman,” which I didn’t immediately fall in love with upon listening to it, this was a cut I did love at first listen. And even after several repeat listens, I find the song to be so euphoric and awesome! Ariana’s vocal melodies are gorgeous as always, as she effortlessly glides across the song, proclaiming that no matter what hardships we face in life, “we’re gonna be alright.” The production is also very bouncy and danceable as well, and I can hear from this how Ariana is changing her sound: instead of really sticking to the throwback vibe of her first two albums, she seems to be moving towards deep house on this particular cut, and doing so wonderfully. Really infectious single, I definitely dig it!
Into You: Moving into something more flirty, this electro-pop banger sees Ariana singing about wanting her lover to “make a move” and to give her something a little more dangerous and sex-driven. Our little girl’s all grown up now, isn’t she? In any case, this was another single that I fell in love with right when I first listened to it, and it still rings off now. I love Ariana’s vocal melodies, as she switches nicely between her lower register into her head voice throughout the song, I love the sticky synths, the click-clack percussion, and the extremely catchy hook here. It’s one of the album’s easiest songs to get into, and it’s also one of the album’s standouts.
Side to Side (ft. Nicki Minaj): Admittedly, I was honestly never all that crazy about this song. I would try to give it repeat listens, but something about it just never did it for me. Maybe I needed to sit down and review this album to appreciate it, though. I can definitely see how it’s Ariana growing up a bit, talking about having sex that’s so good that it makes her waddle from side to side…just writing that sentence made me feel dirty. Still, I dig the reggae and trap crossovers going on with the production, the song itself is an interesting, different direction, Ariana’s vocals are great (especially on the very catchy hook), and Nicki’s verse adds an extra layer of fun as well. Maybe I was just being too cynical back then because, yeah, this one’s good.
Let Me Love You (ft. Lil Wayne): You know, I feel like I should be shocked at the Lil Wayne feature on this thing, but honestly, given that her last album had A$AP Ferg…really anything goes at this point. Anyway, this one is another darker, kinda sexier song where Ariana talks about wanting to love this new person after a recent breakup. I like the somewhat eerie production here, Ariana’s vocal melodies throughout the verses are really fun, and while the hook needed to grow on me a little bit, I do think it can be quite fun. Lil Wayne’s verse is also suitably fun, and I love the very different vibe of this one in comparison to Ariana’s other songs. Once again, it feels like she’s trying to grow up and shed that “Nickelodeon skin” that people remember her for, and she’s doing a fine job of it.
Greedy: Taking things in a more disco-oriented, funky direction, this one does throw things back a little bit to Ariana’s first few albums, but it’s just so damn punchy and infectious. Layering innuendo over innuendo as she talks about greedy she is for love, this song gives Ariana all the room in the world to explore her very powerful vocal range, and the very loud, production is very easily danceable and fun without feeling overly bombastic. Definitely a really exciting song, and one of the better deep cuts on the album.
Leave Me Lonely (ft. Macy Gray): Ariana is joined by singer Macy Gray on this one, as the two try to decide between their own happiness or the affection of someone they are infatuated with. It’s a slightly slower song with more soul-infused production and a more swingy drum beat, and it also features some very throbbing keys. I do love Ariana’s vocals as always, as she begs emotionally for this lover to leave her alone, and Macy Gray’s feature is nice, if a little underutilized, though I don’t really think the song sticks to me quite as much as some of the better cuts on here, and there’s not as much here that really hooks me in quite as well. It’s still a solid cut, just not as strong as some of the album’s better songs.
Everyday (ft. Future): As I said with Lil Wayne, I want to be shocked that Future is here, but again, she’s surprised us in the past with her features, so I guess you can just say, “why not?” Anyway, much like many of the other songs here, this is another sexually-infused song with some cool pop-rap fusions, and once again, Ariana’s vocals are powerful and smooth. She and Future do have some nice vocal interplay here (Future’s verse is also pretty fun as well), but I also think the song doesn’t really have a great hook. The chorus itself is somewhat fun, but the pre-chorus and refrain on this one just feel somewhat bland. It’s not an awful cut, but I can kinda see why this is one of Ariana’s weaker-charting singles to date.
Sometimes: Hmm, Ariana Grande doing an acoustic song? Well, everyone’s been saying how this album is such a change in sound for Ariana, can’t say I disagree. Anyway, Ariana talks here about how she’s so dedicated to her lover that she doesn’t even think of leaving at all. I like the somewhat subtle acoustic guitar riffs that mix quite well with the pretty fun electronic drums. Ariana’s vocals are wonderful, as she sticks into her lower range for the most part, but once again glides effortlessly through the song, and her hook is quite catchy as well. It’s a very sweet, easy-going cut that I really enjoy!
I Don’t Care: Something of a “clap back” to the haters, Ariana talks here about how she just doesn’t care what people have to say about her anymore. It’s a proclamation of self-love and a really short one at that, but I think it’s such a lovely song in spite of its short length. It’s a very sensual track with smooth electric guitar riffs, an appropriately seductive performance from Ariana, and a very slick vibe that’s easy to get into and relax to. Again, it is a bit short, but I think in this case that’s okay because it plays on the idea of “more is less.” Really enjoyed this one!
Bad Decisions: Takings things in a more hip-hop-leaning direction, Ariana continues to shed her "good-girl" image by talking about the kind of love that she receives from her lover. It’s a punchy song that sees Ariana sing-rapping to a degree on her verses, and her performance and flow are very fun here. The song is very fast-paced and I do think it’s pretty emphatic and mixed well, though I do think it could’ve used a slightly better hook. Still, I do think it’s quite enjoyable, I like some of the lyrics (like “ain’t you ever seen a princess be a bad bitch”) and I think it has some potential to grow on me a bit.
Touch It: Experimenting a little bit with synth-pop, this is a somewhat emotional song about how Ariana feels about her man’s love. Beyond the synth-pop feel, the song also has a little bit of a trap influence with an 808 drum beat as well. I like the overall dark synths and percussion on this one, the hook is plenty of fun, and I think Ariana really gets to explore her vocal range really well on this song, even if the production takes more of the lead on this one. Keeping things feeling very different, Ariana does a really good job with this cut, and part of me honestly feels like this could’ve been a great single. Even so, it’s definitely one of the album’s better deep cuts.
Knew Better / Forever Boy: Keeping with the idea of “experimentation” on this album, this is Ariana’s first “two-part” song. The first part, “Knew Better” sees Ariana talking about a boy that should’ve known better than to mess with her affection (rumors has it that the song sends shots at her ex-lover Big Sean and his “billion dollar pussy” lyric said to be aimed at her), and the second part “Forever Boy” is more loving, as Ariana hopes for a boy that can stay with her forever. The first part, “Knew Better,” feels somewhat hip-hop-influenced, and has a really cool synth-flavored instrumental with some smooth percussion and very gorgeous, darker vocals from Ariana. The second part, “Forever Boy,” feels more EDM-flavored, but it does have very infectious instrumentals and a fun vibe, even if the hook isn’t quite the strongest. Not one of my favorite cuts on the album, but all in all, it’s a nice song.
Thinking Bout You: Closing things out, Ariana talks about the feeling when her lover is away, and she is overcome by melancholy and longing. The production is very spacey and heavenly, and the hook here is extremely catchy as well. It’s very punchy and vibrant, and Ariana’s vocal range is on full display once again. It’s a somewhat more minimal track than some of the others on here, but it’s still a very gorgeously made track and it’s also an excellent closer to the album. Part of me wishes it was released as a single only because I feel like it deserves more love, but either way, it’s an infectious finisher to the album.
Overall, “Dangerous Woman” sees Ariana in several different forms: it sees her growing up and taking things a little more sexually, it sees her being a figure of empowerment, and it also sees her experimenting with a lot of different sounds, changing things radically from the sound she came up with on “Yours Truly” and “My Everything.” But most importantly, it sees her in very strong form, creating hit after hit with infectious production, gorgeous vocals, catchy hooks, and plenty of great ideas executed very nicely. In a lot of ways, this record feels like her broadest one to date, given that she takes on so many different styles and genres, and fortunately, she handles them with aplomb, crafting what’s possibly the best album thus far in her young career. Obviously, with “Sweetener” on the way very soon (next week, in fact), we’ll see if she’s able to top this, but as of right now, “Dangerous Woman” sees Ariana in possibly her strongest form, embracing what makes her great while adding new tools to her repertoire to reaffirm her status as one of the best pop stars in the game today.
Next up, we’re gonna review some Travis Scott…but not “Astroworld” just yet! We’re starting off with his first studio album “Rodeo.” Stay tuned!
Favorite tracks: Moonlight, Dangerous Woman, Be Alright, Into You, Side to Side, Let Me Love You, Greedy, Sometimes, I Don’t Care, Touch It, Thinking Bout You
Least favorite tracks: Leave Me Lonely, Everyday
Rating: Excellent
Be Alright: Ariana using some marimba here? I dig it! Unlike “Dangerous Woman,” which I didn’t immediately fall in love with upon listening to it, this was a cut I did love at first listen. And even after several repeat listens, I find the song to be so euphoric and awesome! Ariana’s vocal melodies are gorgeous as always, as she effortlessly glides across the song, proclaiming that no matter what hardships we face in life, “we’re gonna be alright.” The production is also very bouncy and danceable as well, and I can hear from this how Ariana is changing her sound: instead of really sticking to the throwback vibe of her first two albums, she seems to be moving towards deep house on this particular cut, and doing so wonderfully. Really infectious single, I definitely dig it!
Into You: Moving into something more flirty, this electro-pop banger sees Ariana singing about wanting her lover to “make a move” and to give her something a little more dangerous and sex-driven. Our little girl’s all grown up now, isn’t she? In any case, this was another single that I fell in love with right when I first listened to it, and it still rings off now. I love Ariana’s vocal melodies, as she switches nicely between her lower register into her head voice throughout the song, I love the sticky synths, the click-clack percussion, and the extremely catchy hook here. It’s one of the album’s easiest songs to get into, and it’s also one of the album’s standouts.
Side to Side (ft. Nicki Minaj): Admittedly, I was honestly never all that crazy about this song. I would try to give it repeat listens, but something about it just never did it for me. Maybe I needed to sit down and review this album to appreciate it, though. I can definitely see how it’s Ariana growing up a bit, talking about having sex that’s so good that it makes her waddle from side to side…just writing that sentence made me feel dirty. Still, I dig the reggae and trap crossovers going on with the production, the song itself is an interesting, different direction, Ariana’s vocals are great (especially on the very catchy hook), and Nicki’s verse adds an extra layer of fun as well. Maybe I was just being too cynical back then because, yeah, this one’s good.
Let Me Love You (ft. Lil Wayne): You know, I feel like I should be shocked at the Lil Wayne feature on this thing, but honestly, given that her last album had A$AP Ferg…really anything goes at this point. Anyway, this one is another darker, kinda sexier song where Ariana talks about wanting to love this new person after a recent breakup. I like the somewhat eerie production here, Ariana’s vocal melodies throughout the verses are really fun, and while the hook needed to grow on me a little bit, I do think it can be quite fun. Lil Wayne’s verse is also suitably fun, and I love the very different vibe of this one in comparison to Ariana’s other songs. Once again, it feels like she’s trying to grow up and shed that “Nickelodeon skin” that people remember her for, and she’s doing a fine job of it.
Greedy: Taking things in a more disco-oriented, funky direction, this one does throw things back a little bit to Ariana’s first few albums, but it’s just so damn punchy and infectious. Layering innuendo over innuendo as she talks about greedy she is for love, this song gives Ariana all the room in the world to explore her very powerful vocal range, and the very loud, production is very easily danceable and fun without feeling overly bombastic. Definitely a really exciting song, and one of the better deep cuts on the album.
Leave Me Lonely (ft. Macy Gray): Ariana is joined by singer Macy Gray on this one, as the two try to decide between their own happiness or the affection of someone they are infatuated with. It’s a slightly slower song with more soul-infused production and a more swingy drum beat, and it also features some very throbbing keys. I do love Ariana’s vocals as always, as she begs emotionally for this lover to leave her alone, and Macy Gray’s feature is nice, if a little underutilized, though I don’t really think the song sticks to me quite as much as some of the better cuts on here, and there’s not as much here that really hooks me in quite as well. It’s still a solid cut, just not as strong as some of the album’s better songs.
Everyday (ft. Future): As I said with Lil Wayne, I want to be shocked that Future is here, but again, she’s surprised us in the past with her features, so I guess you can just say, “why not?” Anyway, much like many of the other songs here, this is another sexually-infused song with some cool pop-rap fusions, and once again, Ariana’s vocals are powerful and smooth. She and Future do have some nice vocal interplay here (Future’s verse is also pretty fun as well), but I also think the song doesn’t really have a great hook. The chorus itself is somewhat fun, but the pre-chorus and refrain on this one just feel somewhat bland. It’s not an awful cut, but I can kinda see why this is one of Ariana’s weaker-charting singles to date.
Sometimes: Hmm, Ariana Grande doing an acoustic song? Well, everyone’s been saying how this album is such a change in sound for Ariana, can’t say I disagree. Anyway, Ariana talks here about how she’s so dedicated to her lover that she doesn’t even think of leaving at all. I like the somewhat subtle acoustic guitar riffs that mix quite well with the pretty fun electronic drums. Ariana’s vocals are wonderful, as she sticks into her lower range for the most part, but once again glides effortlessly through the song, and her hook is quite catchy as well. It’s a very sweet, easy-going cut that I really enjoy!
I Don’t Care: Something of a “clap back” to the haters, Ariana talks here about how she just doesn’t care what people have to say about her anymore. It’s a proclamation of self-love and a really short one at that, but I think it’s such a lovely song in spite of its short length. It’s a very sensual track with smooth electric guitar riffs, an appropriately seductive performance from Ariana, and a very slick vibe that’s easy to get into and relax to. Again, it is a bit short, but I think in this case that’s okay because it plays on the idea of “more is less.” Really enjoyed this one!
Bad Decisions: Takings things in a more hip-hop-leaning direction, Ariana continues to shed her "good-girl" image by talking about the kind of love that she receives from her lover. It’s a punchy song that sees Ariana sing-rapping to a degree on her verses, and her performance and flow are very fun here. The song is very fast-paced and I do think it’s pretty emphatic and mixed well, though I do think it could’ve used a slightly better hook. Still, I do think it’s quite enjoyable, I like some of the lyrics (like “ain’t you ever seen a princess be a bad bitch”) and I think it has some potential to grow on me a bit.
Touch It: Experimenting a little bit with synth-pop, this is a somewhat emotional song about how Ariana feels about her man’s love. Beyond the synth-pop feel, the song also has a little bit of a trap influence with an 808 drum beat as well. I like the overall dark synths and percussion on this one, the hook is plenty of fun, and I think Ariana really gets to explore her vocal range really well on this song, even if the production takes more of the lead on this one. Keeping things feeling very different, Ariana does a really good job with this cut, and part of me honestly feels like this could’ve been a great single. Even so, it’s definitely one of the album’s better deep cuts.
Knew Better / Forever Boy: Keeping with the idea of “experimentation” on this album, this is Ariana’s first “two-part” song. The first part, “Knew Better” sees Ariana talking about a boy that should’ve known better than to mess with her affection (rumors has it that the song sends shots at her ex-lover Big Sean and his “billion dollar pussy” lyric said to be aimed at her), and the second part “Forever Boy” is more loving, as Ariana hopes for a boy that can stay with her forever. The first part, “Knew Better,” feels somewhat hip-hop-influenced, and has a really cool synth-flavored instrumental with some smooth percussion and very gorgeous, darker vocals from Ariana. The second part, “Forever Boy,” feels more EDM-flavored, but it does have very infectious instrumentals and a fun vibe, even if the hook isn’t quite the strongest. Not one of my favorite cuts on the album, but all in all, it’s a nice song.
Thinking Bout You: Closing things out, Ariana talks about the feeling when her lover is away, and she is overcome by melancholy and longing. The production is very spacey and heavenly, and the hook here is extremely catchy as well. It’s very punchy and vibrant, and Ariana’s vocal range is on full display once again. It’s a somewhat more minimal track than some of the others on here, but it’s still a very gorgeously made track and it’s also an excellent closer to the album. Part of me wishes it was released as a single only because I feel like it deserves more love, but either way, it’s an infectious finisher to the album.
Overall, “Dangerous Woman” sees Ariana in several different forms: it sees her growing up and taking things a little more sexually, it sees her being a figure of empowerment, and it also sees her experimenting with a lot of different sounds, changing things radically from the sound she came up with on “Yours Truly” and “My Everything.” But most importantly, it sees her in very strong form, creating hit after hit with infectious production, gorgeous vocals, catchy hooks, and plenty of great ideas executed very nicely. In a lot of ways, this record feels like her broadest one to date, given that she takes on so many different styles and genres, and fortunately, she handles them with aplomb, crafting what’s possibly the best album thus far in her young career. Obviously, with “Sweetener” on the way very soon (next week, in fact), we’ll see if she’s able to top this, but as of right now, “Dangerous Woman” sees Ariana in possibly her strongest form, embracing what makes her great while adding new tools to her repertoire to reaffirm her status as one of the best pop stars in the game today.
Next up, we’re gonna review some Travis Scott…but not “Astroworld” just yet! We’re starting off with his first studio album “Rodeo.” Stay tuned!
Favorite tracks: Moonlight, Dangerous Woman, Be Alright, Into You, Side to Side, Let Me Love You, Greedy, Sometimes, I Don’t Care, Touch It, Thinking Bout You
Least favorite tracks: Leave Me Lonely, Everyday
Rating: Excellent
No comments:
Post a Comment