Current ranking :heart:

1. (=) My Hair

2. (+1) Positions

3. (-1) Motive (feat. Doja Cat)

4. (+1) POV

5. (+1) Obvious

6. (+1) Just Like Magic

7. (+3) Love Language

8. (=) Nasty

9. (=) 34+35

10. (-6) Safety Net (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)

11. (+2) Six Thirty

12. (+2) Shut Up

13. (-1) Off The Table

14. (-3) West Side

 

Almost everything has grown, especially POV, Love Language and even Six Thirty :wub: Safety Net was about the same second time round but it was one of my faves initially. I'd put the songs in these categories x

 

Crème de la Crème

My Hair

Positions

Motive

POV

 

Almost up there

Obvious

Just Like Magic

Love Language

 

Very good

Nasty

34+35

Safety Net

Six Thirty

 

Solid

Shut Up

 

Meh

Off The Table

West Side

This isn’t the kinda R&B I like, this is 2010s hipster alternative R&B. I’d be hoping for an album more like Chloe x Halle’s Ungodly Hour if I had to choose a recent R&B album. Mariah’s albums were much more diverse. Ariana is basically the female Drake lol

 

There are very few positives about this album... west side is good for the Aaliyah sample and the vocals are very Brandy-inspired, positions is better now I know it’s the only moderately uptempo song on the album, pov is alright but the ventilator noises are a turn-off and lyrically it could be better

I wouldn’t say this was alternative Rnb tbh . Alternative Rnb is people like Solange , FKA Twigs SZA etc.

 

Yeah this felt quite classic R&B to me, obviously with Ariana’s own stamp on it.

So this is an fantastic album!!

 

I love Motive, Nasty and my hair atm the most. Will need more listen to determine proper faves tho

Just had a listen to this in the bath and it was chill-out heaven :heart:

 

I'm slowly becoming a 'my hair' stan - can't believe that was only 7th in my rank earlier! It's at least 4th now <3

Went into my first listen with prettylow expectations because of the description of the album and it certain exceeded them. Overall the album is very nice and cohesive and in some parts pretty great. I think she succeed in what she set out to do - it just isn't exactly my cup of tea in style. I'm sure in 2 or 3 albums time she'll loop back around to some pop bops even if she seems quite far from it just now. The only song that felt like a complete flop for me was west side, its just such a non event of anything. The more sultry R&B ones tended to be my fave (with the exception of off the table, its not Love Me Harder :/) Overall, definitely a pleasant surprise for me

 

1) my hair

2) 34+35

3) love language

4) motive

5) pov

6) nasty

7) shut up

8) positions

9) just like magic

10) obvious

11) six thirty

12) safety net

13) off the table

14) west side

I wouldn’t say this was alternative Rnb tbh . Alternative Rnb is people like Solange , FKA Twigs SZA etc.

 

I was thinking more Tinashe, Summer Walker... definitely not classic R&B. Besides vocally I don’t get the Mariah comparisons at all. I love R&B, I listen to it more than pop but this ain’t it. Experimental R&B

Edited October 30, 20204 yr by No Sleeep

I was thinking more Tinashe, Summer Walker... definitely not classic R&B. Besides vocally I don’t get the Mariah comparisons at all. I love R&B, I listen to it more than pop but this ain’t it. Experimental R&B

It’s really not an alternative Rnb Album lol . This is pretty much a standard commercial Rnb album with an Ariana twist and flavour to it and also Rnb classic influences . Summer Walker and Tinashe both fall under classic Rnb with Tinashe sometimes doing alternative Rnb and also commercial Rnb as well while Summer does Soul Rnb also . If you listen to Solange/FKA Twigs/SZA there perfect examples of alternative Rnb .

Edited October 31, 20204 yr by troylovesmusic

Love Language and Just Like Magic are my two stand out faves on first listen. Absolutely adore the title track as well of course. Did feel a bit samey in parts but so far I'm liking it.

UGH, POV was my favourite from listen one anyway but I am loving it so much tonight. It actually, despite not having anything to do with Christmas, is making me feel very warm and cosy in a Christmassy kind of way. Lush and absolutely how to do a closer :wub:

It’s really not an alternative Rnb Album lol . This is pretty much a standard commercial Rnb album with an Ariana twist and flavour to it . Summer Walker and Tinashe both fall under classic Rnb with Tinashe sometimes doing alternative Rnb and also commercial Rnb as well while Summer does Soul Rnb also . If you listen to Solange/FKA Twigs/SZA there perfect examples of alternative Rnb .

 

Classic R&B to me is Brandy, Mary J Blige, Beyoncé, Mariah... VOCALS. Tinashe, Kehlani, Jhené Aiko and Summer Walker do not bring vocals. Ariana’s vocals are great obviously but they’re not the focal point of the album... she sounds so disinterested and talk sings most of the album. Modern “R&B” is basically indistinguishable from hip hop. R&B doesn’t even really exist anymore. Well there’s Toni and Tamar... Ariana didn’t release anything like their material. R&B doesn’t just mean slow and talk-singing about pussy lol.

Edited October 31, 20204 yr by No Sleeep

my hair and nasty. :wub:

I don't know how I would rank the full album yet, but I will. my hair is #1 though, that is amazing.

Album ranking for now.

 

1. my hair - instant love for this one! :wub:

2. nasty

3. pov

4. positions

5. love language

6. 34+35

7. off the table

8. safety net

9. obvious

10. motive

11. just like magic

12. shut up

13. west side

14. six thirty

Ooh a new in depth interview with Zach Sang! I loved the 'thank u, next' one :wub:

 

I’m really liking this. I was a bit sceptical going in because of the initial reactions on here and twitter but I’m pleasantly surprised and it’s growing with each listen. So smooth.

 

safety net, pov, nasty and 34+35 are where it’s at :heart:

 

Completely agree with the Tinashe comparisons – west side especially but I could see her doing quite a few of these which is probably why I’m liking it so much

Classic R&B to me is Brandy, Mary J Blige, Beyoncé, Mariah... VOCALS. Tinashe, Kehlani, Jhené Aiko and Summer Walker do not bring vocals. Ariana’s vocals are great obviously but they’re not the focal point of the album... she sounds so disinterested and talk sings most of the album. Modern “R&B” is basically indistinguishable from hip hop. R&B doesn’t even really exist anymore. Well there’s Toni and Tamar... Ariana didn’t release anything like their material. R&B doesn’t just mean slow and talk-singing about pussy lol.

 

Kehlani and Jhené Aiko don’t bring vocals? What songs have you listened to exactly

Agree they’re great vocalists but I see what No Sleeep is saying – they don’t bring the vocals in the same way Mariah, Mary J etc do!

 

On first listen I was so ready to dismiss six thirty as complete filler and a non-event, but then that middle 8 hit 🤩 gorgeous

1st day on Spotify

 

1. positions

2. 34+35

5. motive (with Doja Cat)

8. shut up

9. off the table (with The Weeknd)

10. just like magic

15. safety net (with Ty Dolla $ign)

16. nasty

17. my hair

18. pov

19. six thirty

23. love language

25. west side

26. obvious

 

 

Looks like positions/34+35/motive are going to end up being the 3 chart-eligible songs. Hope they all end up in the top 10.

UGH, POV was my favourite from listen one anyway but I am loving it so much tonight. It actually, despite not having anything to do with Christmas, is making me feel very warm and cosy in a Christmassy kind of way. Lush and absolutely how to do a closer :wub:

I get those sort of vibes from it too, a really lovely warming track! :heart:

 

I've had to listen to the album a few times now because the first couple of listens everything just kind of blended into one and it lost my attention, but I've given it a couple more listens and am starting to establish which songs are which and what ones I'll go back to etc. It's far from my favourite album by Ariana, but it's alright. Some highs, but some lows too.

 

1. pov

2. positions

3. safety net (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)

4. off the table (with The Weeknd)

5. my hair

6. motive (with Doja Cat)

7. 34+35

8. love language

9. just like magic

10. nasty

11. obvious

12. six thirty

13. shut up

14. west side