After 1 listen, LOVE IT. It's not Future Nostalgia part 2. It's mostly midtempo and it's a VIBE. It's giving warmth, and a distinct summery, beach Balearic-like sound. There's William Orbit-like flourishes on Maria and Happy For You. Dua's vocals and live instruments are at the forefront. You can hear how she's matured as an artist and how much these songs mean to her in the way she sings. The album artwork make sense.

 

I wouldn't say it's totally cohesive, Houdini and Training Season do stand out a bit. Anything For Love feels like an interlude on an already short album.

 

Early favourites: End of an Era, Maria, Happy For You

 

Watching the countdown on Spotify felt like I was going into the new year except I have to be up for work in 4 hours. So happy right now :wub: :cry:

These Walls is #1 on NMF Australia & NZ

"These Walls" is the focus track of the album. A reliable source mentioned that it was going to be "End of an Era", so I don't know whether it was changed or they got it wrong, lol.

 

Either way, it was added (in the lower spots) to Hot Hits UK too, so it makes me think that Warner could work with that track as the fourth single around Glastonbury.

I found this hugely disappointing on first listen ☹️

 

I'll give it time though...

Don't like this album at all on first listen her voice isn't sitting with me right either. Houdini a career highlight, this album a miss.

"These Walls" is the focus track of the album. A reliable source mentioned that it was going to be "End of an Era", so I don't know whether it was changed or they got it wrong, lol.

 

Either way, it was added (in the lower spots) to Hot Hits UK too, so it makes me think that Warner could work with that track as the fourth single around Glastonbury.

Eeep! Can't say I'm happy about that. It's one of my least favorites.

On first listen I like These Walls more than End Of An Era...

Critic reviews have been mixed so far. I knew Dua was setting herself up for criticism by citing all those inspirations she did.

 

It currently has a critic score of 68 on AOTY (12 reviews)

 

The Independent - 5/5

"The singer delivers a much-awaited release that sees her do what she does best, keeping people moving with an unfaltering slick pop style."

 

The Telegraph - 4/5

"Listening to the propulsive, shiny pop of Radical Optimism feels like attending a Dua Lipa dance class, where no step is ever out of place."

 

The Irish Times - 4/5

"As Beyoncé ventures into country and Taylor Swift wallows in another break-up album, Lipa’s the star we need right now. This is the pop album we've been waiting for."

 

Slant Magazine - 4/5

"Lipa’s views on life and love might be broad enough for a pop song, but the joy is in the little details."

 

DIY Magazine - 3.5/5

"On her hugely-anticipated third, there’s plenty of sun-drenched sonic optimism but not so much that’s all that radical."

 

NME - 3/5

"Later this summer, she’ll headline Glastonbury for the first time and also top the bill at a string of European festivals. It’s the kind of place where ‘Radical Optimism’ might thrive: the album’s beachy vibes feel suited to a festival field’s carefree disposition. You just wish there was a little more to these songs."

 

Pitchfork - 6.6

"Dua Lipa’s star power sounds muffled on her much-anticipated third album, which has many interesting ideas for songs and a surprisingly low hit rate."

 

Clash Magazine - 6/10

"Lipa could have dabbled in more experimental territory, dipping her toe further into the psychedelic and Britpop realms she claimed would be present in the album. Instead, it could be argued that Lipa has become ever-so-slightly risk-averse in an effort to cement her place in pop’s upper echelons."

 

The Guardian - 3/5

"The British superstar has said her new album is influenced by Britpop, rave culture and Primal Scream, but you could go mad trying to find the evidence."

 

The Arts Desk - 3/5

"It’s not a wash-out by any means, with every song jam packed with hooks and decent grooves ... It just feels like Lipa and her team have worked a little too assidiously to recreate the magic of the last album, without leaving a lot of room for cutting loose and happy accidents."

 

Evening Standard - 3/5

"There’s plenty to like here even if it’s nowhere near as radical as its title would have us believe."

 

The Line of Best Fit - 3/10

"Nobody needs to know the details of Lipa’s real life to lend her songs weight, but there should still be something in her performance, delivery, songwriting or production that sets them apart from platitudes, from background noise."

omg Falling Forever :o

 

 

"These Walls" is the focus track of the album. A reliable source mentioned that it was going to be "End of an Era", so I don't know whether it was changed or they got it wrong, lol.

 

Either way, it was added (in the lower spots) to Hot Hits UK too, so it makes me think that Warner could work with that track as the fourth single around Glastonbury.

To complement this, it was also added to Today's Top Hits. It's way lower than "Illusion", but still.

Whatcha Doing and French Exit are growers. Both just properly clicked with me on 3rd listen. Whatcha Doing is the Pretty Please of the album.

 

The album is very EUROPEAN.

Ok just finished my first listen...second part for me works better with French Exit, Falling Forever (omg I hope there are plans to make this a single) and Maria.

 

It's definitely not a patch on FN but then I already prepared myself for that.

 

I think for now I will rate 3.5 out 5, which is still a very solid album but I'll probably need to listen to it more.

 

 

How loooooooo-ooooo-oooooong

 

omg I'm obsessed with Falling Forever.

Falling Forever is giving me Eurovision vibes :lol:

Future Nostalgia vs End of an Era

 

Don't Start Now vs Houdini

 

Cool vs Training Season

 

Physical vs These Walls

 

Levitating vs Whatcha Doing

 

Pretty Please vs French Exit

 

Hallucinate vs Illusion

 

Love Again vs Falling Forever

 

Break My Heart vs Anything For Love

 

Good In Bed vs María

 

Boys Will Be Boys vs Happy for You

 

Ooops, I actually I didn't expect this to kinda fare better than FN on track by track comparison. DSN and Houdini couldn't separate them <3

Edited May 3, 20241 yr by Addy!

Happy For You has got me all teared up right now

 

 

Can't wait to see her perform it in the BBC Live Lounge

Falling Forever is giving me Eurovision vibes :lol:

 

I'm on my 7th listen...it's the most instant track on the album for me <3

 

French Exit and Maria as well.

Edited May 3, 20241 yr by Addy!

I can't believe These Walls is the focus track WTF

These Walls isn't bad per se but I agree...any of French Exit, Maria or Falling Forever would have been better imo.

 

 

Hmm.

 

Honestly, with the reference points and collaborators — can’t say I’m not massively disappointed by this after two listens. Early days, I hope.

Edited May 3, 20241 yr by blacksquare

The Guardian - 3/5

"The British superstar has said her new album is influenced by Britpop, rave culture and Primal Scream, but you could go mad trying to find the evidence."

 

LOL this is probably me

 

Listening now.