Grammy award-winning singer returns with her 5th studio album.
Ariana Grande returned to the top of the charts when she released her highly anticipated 5th album earlier this month. However, saying Grande returned to the charts is probably a stretch as her album comes less than 5 months after the release of 2018’s Sweetener which garnered mixed reviews from fans and critics alike (which I personally don’t understand).
The set opens with the breathy yet powerful track ‘Imagine’ which perfectly sets the tone for the vulnerability displayed throughout the 12 song set. Tracks such as Needy (my favorite on the album), NASA, and Bloodline all tackle themes of self concept and esteem, and more importantly not allowing anyone to validate or invalidate them. Fake Smile is the first song on the second bridge of the album and by the time she gets to the chorus Grande sings about being emotionally transparent and no longer holding things in to appease others around her. Up until “Bad Idea”, the album was sonically and thematically cohesive in my opinion but although Grande sounds wonderful per usual, the track left me feeling as if it were added simply to pad streaming numbers.
Subsequent tracks on the album address the death of rapper and her longtime ex boyfriend, the late Mac Miller as well as the ending of her engagement to comedian Pete Davidson. Grande chooses to end the album on a high note as lyrical content shifts to that of sisterhood and improved self worth via the albums title track, “thank u, next” which launched three months prior to the albums release still sounds as fresh as it did three months ago. On “7 Rings” which created mass controversy upon its release for many reasons Grande croons about treating herself and her friends to the finer things in life and realizing no man can make or break her.
Grande releasing albums so closely initially made me nervous, but with “thank u, next” Grande released the most cohesive and mature project of her career thus far and in doing so effectively proved why she’s the hottest thing in pop music today. This is a solid body of work that will continue to age like a fine wine as it’s lyrical content is relatable, engaging, and thorough not to mention Ariana’s voice is a dream throughout.
ZRating: 4.5/5
The Sounds of Music 