Ctrl

Eh, just modern r&b that seems to celebrate trashiness. Lots of ting ting ting sounds, do u wanna fuck dis pussy n---a, etc etc. Imagine if this ends up getting shot into space for the aliens to hear, haha. 1/5.

Ctl-Alt-Del

4.4 + An honest and raw survey of love and sex from the perspective of a young female of color. SZA unbares herself emotionally, and at times it sounds like she's almost ugly-crying while handing me her phone so I can read a text from bae. Despite the rawness of emotion, the songs themselves are sophisticated with interesting chord structures and arrangements. Also, SZA's voice is just delicious. Highlights: "Supermodel", "The Weekend", "20 Something."

A beautiful, messy dive into the mind, life, and relationships of SZA. The album is aptly named, as it touches so many aspects of what control means...what does it mean to be in control? What do you get from it, or what do other people get from having it over you? Is it worth it? So many thoughts and ideas radiate from SZA's confessional record. With the emotional and narrative strength she harbors, the production and music is as equally strong. And there lies a deeper layer of control, to have such a strong presence musically while covering subjects of infidelity, betrayal, the struggles of womanhood and youth...it's so richly done. There's definitely a lot to unpack, and sometimes the album gets lost in certain moments, but it feels like an album that only ages and matures with each listen. The Kendrick feature was a little weak for me, and some sound choices were a little underwhelming, but overall I really enjoy this album. It makes you think. Consider me a fan. Favorite Songs: Prom, 20 Something Least Favorite: Wavy

Genre: Alternative R&B 4/5 One of modern R&B's sweetest and sexiest musical statements, SZA's CTRL is thematically introspective, and musically lush and playful. An album made for women by a woman, it's a project that doesn't speak much to the male experience, but is straightforward and honest enough to be transcendent in its message. SZA's voice is the true highlight here, intermingling with trap/R&B-influenced production throughout with style and grace, and by all accounts almost entirely improvised. Some songs here range from Neo-Soul to Indie Rock, as SZA's influences can be heard from Timbaland to The Police, and it forms a rich palate of sounds for us to feast on as the tracklist progresses. The first half of the album is some of the best R&B the decade has to offer, with Supermodel serving as a flawless, near-psychedelic intro, flowing into Love Galore and Doves in the Wind, the latter featuring one of Kendrick Lamar's best features, which leads into Drew Barrymore and Prom rounding out the first 5 tracks with alt-pop flair and synth hits that would make anyone groove out. The album is interspersed with sweet, loving advice being given to SZA by her mother over the phone, a classic trope that exists throughout R&B and hip-hop, and is a great communicating device to flesh out themes and concepts. Overall, this project excels at being itself, and not shying away from introspection, and providing us with solid tunes full of soul, energy, and passion. A pop-R&B triumph, as far as I'm concerned.

NSFW but I did anyway. I liked it more and more as it progresses.

That's just shit

Calming, pleasant grooves...about pussy and booty. Sigh.

This album get's 2 stars for the creative song-writing. The vocals however are terrible. Her voice has so much processing and auto-tune applied that maybe she should just considered song-writing for others. If you want to hear an amazing R&B that came out around the time this one did check out Kali Uchis' Isolation. It should replace CTRL in the book.

In 2016 Frank Ocean released 'Blonde' a creative masterpiece that elevated R&B and Soul into a whole new generation of modern artistry and SZA was one of the first to take the blueprint that the album was and add an own spin to it. The result is an album full of great writing, masterful production and great vocals and raps. The opener 'Supermodel' starts the album with a tape recorder intro that transitions into a guitar driven and smooth playing that feels weirdly hypnotic. This is a perfect example of what I meant with Frank Ocean with her own twists. It feels like something you'd find on a Frank album with the difference that her vocal style complements this instrumental in a whole different way. It's an absolutely gorgeous intro that builds up more and more tension by adding more and more instruments. A wonderful start to a wonderful album. 'Love Galore' features visionary Travis Scott who revolutionized the psychedelic Trap sound and made one of the best albums in that genre with Rodeo. The Trap Soul sound of this song works well with both artists own styles and singing. I really like the styles that are blended here while still sounding true to what the first track introduced. I just personally don't love it as much as others do but I can see the greatness in it even if it doesn't touch me to the core. With 'Doves in the Wind' the sound changes from Trap Soul into a more Trip Hop sounding beat that really feels Kendrick Lamar inspired and funnily enough he is featured and as always he rocks it. You can hear that he's in his "DAMN. era" which I like the least and I therefore don't love it as much as other Kendrick features but it is great nonetheless as is the whole song especially with the chorus. In most peoples eyes, 'Drew Barrymore' is the best song on the album. I agree. It is a masterful blend between her immature but great lyrics with the Soul and Hip Hop sound while building up more and more tension into a nearly psychedelic sound while keeping a great delivery throughout. It's lovely and simply beautiful. I love it. 'Prom' goes a more Synthpop style while still having the incorporations with the Neo-Soul style. It has a lovely sound and chorus with all the layered vocals but the highlight is definitely the beat. It's a pretty good song with great moments that overall sadly don't appeal as much as they could have but I still like it a lot. With 'The Weekend' the Trap returns but much less present than when Travis was featured. It is a a pretty nice and chill song with multiple great moments especially in the detailed production but outside of that it doesn't appeal to me as much as the instrumentals might could've offered. In that way it is pretty much like 'Prom'. The ending is phenomenal though, what a great way to close a song. 'Go Gina' is a much better delivered track that works much better overall even if the details are a bit less present. It's mainly that the way it flows the whole way through while keeping the interest with the listener with the chorus. All that makes it slightly better compared to the two songs before but I missed a lot of the details as mentioned. So in the end... all close by each other. There is a lot of electronic bass work on 'Garden (Say It Like Dat)' that results in something that shouldn't really work but still does. It is detailed, interesting and most importantly just a great written song. It is a great song to close the first half to. The albums third and last single 'Broken Clocks' is another great song. The "breathy" beat adds an interesting twist but I am ultimately annoyed by it a bit. SZAs delivery is really great and might be the best on the album in that more Rap inspired style. I think this is a wonderful song and a definitive standout to the album. 'Anything' keeps the great delivery on top of a very nice beat and although I pretty much love everything about the song, the breaks that are all the way throughout the song make it a bit annoying to listen and break the flow that it could've build. Twice and it would've worked but the way it's done is just to much and once it does switch to another beat it ends way to fast. This had so much unused potential. Although it's just an interlude 'Wavy (Interlude)' is actually a pretty great track. In the short time it plays it actually has a lot going on with the feature and the fast but great deliverd lyrics. I actually wished this wasn't an interlude and extended into a full song. The very sentimental 'Normal Girl' might be the most emotional cut on the album and it also features an incredible vocal delivery in the chorus. It is weirdly relatable even as a guy. It is so underrated and I wish more people gave it the credit that it rightfully deserves. This is the albums second best song and maybe after listening to the album a little bit more... I might prefer it over 'Drew Barrymore'. The pretty Wonky and slightly electronic 'Pretty Little Birds' is another decent cut from the album. It is a really solid and diverse track with the added saxophones that randomly appear for a couple of seconds before the song returns to the mix of Hip Hop and detailed R&B. But overall it starts stronger than it ends and the change of it happens pretty much after the first sax appearence. When the return we get a very raw and raspy feature from Isaiah Rashad that works better than it should which results in making the whole song more interesting than it would've been if SZA was going at it solo. The albums closing track '20 Something' sounds very much like the opener with a strong focus on guitar and vocals that might be enough to call it Singer-Songwriter. I absolutely love the performance and lyrics as well as the chorus. It is such an incredible way to close an album like this and it's easily one of my favourite songs here. favourites: Drew Barrymore, Normal Girl, 20 Something, Supermodel, Broken Clocks least favourites: Go Gina, Prom, The Weekend, Rating: Strong 8

Inane lyrics. Boring simple melodies. Not worth listening to at all. My criteria for giving something one star is if it feels like it is actively trying to piss me off, and this one doesn't feel that way. This is bad enough that I still wanted to give it 1 star but by that measure it's more like 1.5.

A classic album. One of my favorites so far on the list.

this is the newest album we’ve gotten so far, and you can tell why it was included. amazing production, great features, and sza is an excellent vocalist. very solid 5

Not my bag but wasn't bad I guess. Hard to have an opinion

If you are into gen Z dull productions, one note auto tune music about dicks, pussy and lost panties well this is definitely for you. What is the matter with you?.😀 Go and find some real music to listen to. 0

Atrocious lyrics. Auto-tune vocals. Dull tunes. Worthy of a zero.

This album is the absolute best, I listened to this album a while before I got it here and it's so good, I don't know what else to say.

I’m a sucker for neosoul, so of course I like this. SZA is great, she’s not my favorite in the genre, but the album is well produced, the lyrics are right, and SZA certainly brings a lot of emotion and energy to all of the tracks

I am familiar with a little bit of SZA, but this is a first album listen. I quite appreciated it!

Since I am old and the kids' music (anything released after 2000) doesn't tend to appeal to me (or so I think), I did not expect to like this much. What a great surprise! I love SZA's vocal fry and appreciate her P.O.V. I found several of the songs very moving. Maybe the kids are all right. (Ooh, I shouldn't call a woman in her 30s a kid. But, you know what I mean. The youngs. Signed, Gramma.)

This isn’t a genre I’m very familiar with, and I hadn’t heard any of this before. Loads of talent packed onto this and I enjoyed the personal feel for the stories. I started off thinking this was in the 4 range, but on the second listen the amazing detail in the music and lyrics really struck me and I fell for this. There’s a dreamy quality to the songs that really elevates the album. Fantastic!

The best. Love SZA

Think this'll age well

While Jhene Aiko is more my flavor, I do have a soft spot for 2010s R&B. This album was no exception, with beautiful vocals, production, and features that spice up the projext.

Great debut by a trendsetter

Rating: 9/10 Bests songs: Love galore, Doves in the wind, Drew Barrymore, Prom, The weekend, Normal girl, Pretty little birds

very cool

Enjoyed

I’m kicking myself for not listening to this sooner!

Have heard this album praised before and this listen was good confirmation of that. Shocked I'd never listened before!

I am unfamiliar with SZA and her music. Ctrl is not for me. The music did not reach out and catch my attention, and the content of the lyrics is definitely not for me. This album is a 2. Perhaps if I had listened more closely to the lyrics, it would have been a 1.

I try to confront everything this list sends to me with an open mind. This is immediately trash and I hate it. I don't need to hear an already dated auto-tune heavy trap album that has a three note variation talking about the various levels of self abuse you endured to get some dick.

I get excited when there is a relatively recent album I like. Still down with the kids! Haha. Reading the other reviews it's weird seeing so many people moralising or squeamish about SZA singing about sex. I wonder how many of them nod along while Mick Jagger sings about raping slaves?

For a time, CTRL seemed primed to become The Miseducation of our generation; in that, with one mission statement, SZA had the culture at the palm of her hand, signaling that she was the one in the driving seat (it didn't hurt that her label mate Kendrick was also there, along with a few other passengers...) taking us where we needed to go. The near fifty or so minutes of this masterwork is the epitome of 2017, yet another highmark for Black female musicians offering tantalizing and beyond valuable music that speaks for themselves and for the listeners who will keep flocking to it (and have been) in the present and near future. Bring on the new album... whenever that may be!

Yay :’)

Absolutely gorgeous Normal Girl and Go Gina supremacy I loved the hints of her grandmother throughout

Soulful and rich. Great album.

Reading the reviews for this you'd think this is some generic, listen to it once and forget it album, but honestly I don't see the issues people have with this. It's a well-written, well-produced modern r&b album, and a lot of the reviews here are one step removed from "back in my day" commentary. Y'all exclusively listen to the type of music that dominates this list and it's showing in these reviews.

Summer 2019 - floating in a pool on a hot day, a lil bit toasted with some family, absolutely vibing to "Prom" - this is one of my top visceral mood music moments - a happy place that I go to led by a spectacular pop song. The rest of the album is damn good too. Special second shout out to "Go Gina" because it is so fun to sing ~picking up a penny with a press on nail~

SZA’s got a great voice and these are cool, sensual, chill jams. Favorite track: Prom

Feels like Tyler but for women

SZA has talent and this album is a bop. For me probably not a modern-day classic but that's for the critics to decide, I guess.

Not my thing, but she definitely has talent, and a great voice.

Surprised how much I enjoyed this

Perhaps the 21st Century's definitive statement on dick and pussy.

Absolutely nothing special about this - nice enough, if you like that sort of thing. I don't. It's just offensive, passive racist rubbish.

#195. Is all modern pop music trashy skank music, or just the stuff on this list? 1/5: God awful

This album is diametrically opposed to everything that is worth striving for in this world. The antithesis of beauty, wisdom, humility, sophistication, virtue. Emblematic of the decay, decadence, and depravity of a modern Western culture that rots the mind, deadens the heart, and defiles the soul. Our ancestors look down on us disappointedly from a heaven that none of us will ever reach.

Nah super disliked it. Lyrics were so vapid and just did nothing. Lot's of N-__a and P---y in place of actual lyrics and meaning. Overproduced and underwritten.

Horrible singing. Idiotic lyrics. I felt my IQ crank down a few points in real time listening to this jive. Bin it off.

Weak lyrics, even worse singing with lot of autotune, and boring music. Sorry, it is a 1 from me.

I detest autotune, thus I detest this pile of nonsense

Anybody who relies solely on auto-tune for their vocals shouldn't be allowed to record, much less be on a "must listen" list. This should be on a website "1001 Albums You'll Wish That You Had Died Before Hearing".

I feel like I don’t have the energy to talk about just how much of an eye-roll this album is the way she sings is not unique in any way, ukulele hoes have been singing like that for millennias, seriously dude just go on youtube, search ‘[random twenty one pilots song] ukulele cover’ and you’ll find hundreds of bitches who think they can sing, pronouncing stuff the dumbest way you can imagine https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/828397306256031804/944045530722492456/IMG_1357.jpg and the lyrics, holy shit those lyrics, everything she said was either some kinda dumbass Escher sentence or the most wild take that made me say ‘what the fuck am I actually hearing’ probably the best example was probably “Forrest Gump had a lot going for him, never without a pussy” like I don’t even wanna think about what the fuck she was thinking when she wrote that, holy fucking shit the production was alright half the time, nothing too special but not necessarily bad like I kinda digged the retro vibe on Prom but then she had to ruin it with “fErin not gwOwin uUuUponan” it’s not cool, nothing about that makes me think, wow she knows how’s to sing, it’s just such a fucking waste of time, how the hell do people like this? the features weren’t any good either, Travis Scott speaks for himself of course but even Kendrick had to make his voice so goddam annoying, like it sounded more annoying than Chance on Acid Rap somehow, and at least that was a good mixtape like come on, why even rap that verse if you’re gonna half ass it that much, it sounds like he recorded it on his phone or something jesus christ I could spend many more paragraphs talking about just how much I hate this shitshow, how I’d rather brush my teeth with super glue and wipe my ass with greasy, hot-off-the-grill pancakes than listen to this joyless, try-hard bullshit, but this album has me too exhausted to spend another another second hating it how the hell this album made it on this list is beyond me, but I think it gave Taylor Swifts 1984 a run for its money on the shit talk I want to give it like with they it gave me the rage, the infuriating energy to want to write about every ear screeching second, but like, at least she had the talent to write those songs SZA couldn’t even produce this, like it’s just so lame and depressing, why write about how dumb this is? holy fuck, rant over, I’m done, I need to go listen to some Swans or ABBA or something, fuck this album

Nope

I started hating this, (how many times can you say “f**k” and “p***y” in one song), but some of the other songs were pretty catchy. I just feel like the first couple of songs scraped the bottom of the barrel of depravity and immaturity I couldn’t enjoy the rest of the album. 🤷🏽‍♂️ To each his own.

Very cool

This was a banger of an album, i had no idea.

Rare to find albums in this era that are no-skip from start to finish. Just a modern masterpiece that gets better with every listen. My favorite is "Go Gina."

Now here is an an album that is newer and better than so many on here and totally worth the inclusion. I had listened to SZAs mixtape prior to this and thought it was pretty good but this really cemented her as a phenom (funny because some of these British bands it took them 5-10 terrible albums to get there and she did it in one). I remember this was an album I downloaded to listen to on a plane ride right around when it came out. I'm still trying to figure out where her new album stacks up with this one because it is equally as good. Kept: Love Galore, Drew Barrymore, The Weekend, Go Gina, and 20 Something. Also kudos to her releasing her deluxe album 5 years later vs the following week. I'm sure that really messed with her streams but she seems like someone who doesn't need that validation.

So glad this was included. I became a fan of SZA when she first signed with TDE in 2014, at that time I was obsessed with the label and trusted them with anyone. Her debut tape Z was really solid, but I had no idea what was coming. Everything leveled up on this project: songwriting, vocal range, production, you name it. This album is extremely personal and vulnerable, it's a kind of R&B that steps aside from the usual tropes to self-examine and self-actualize. Almost every song on here I love, but to me none are as brilliant as "20 Something." Such a beautiful ode to growing up. SZA has one of my favorite voices in the history of ever, and to date this is still her masterpiece. I'm not sure if I've realized it before now, but yeah, this is a 10/10 album. Favorite tracks: 20 Something, Garden, Supermodel, Doves in the Wind, Love Galore, Broken Clocks. Album art: SZA sitting in the grass among a heap of junk computers. Youth decaying. It's a classic and iconic already. 5/5

One of the few albums on this list I’ve listened to before so it gets points for that. Lot of good songs but definitely liked the first half more. Production is good. I didn’t realize how mid the Kendrick song is.

Musically, there's a lot of stuff that is starting to come out now that sounds exactly like this. It's really really good stuff. I'm not entirely on board with some of the content of the songs, but I also understand what's she's trying to communicate, and why she chose to communicate it in that way. If that makes sense. (looking at you Doves in the Wing). As a 29-year old, I really resonated with 20 Something. Honestly, though, an incredible album. The vulgarity and explicit-ness was a little much on a couple songs, but otherwise no notes from me. Favorite Song(s): Prom, Anything, 20 Something

Outstanding!!

if i had any suspicions that many of this site's users were dull, pretentious men, then the reviews for this album certainly would have done nothing to confirm them! 👍🏻

If I hadn't been so busy catching up on things after a long weekend, I would have pulled out my vinyl copy. Still a great revisit to such a fantastic album! Love that this made the list.

ahhhh yes. thats my friend

Cool

Some immediate thoughts while listening: Female Frank Ocean Perfectly sums up mid-2010 millennial dating/hook-up/Tinder vibes For any hot mess "in their feelings" As a mid-30 year old man, this is just old enough for me to have some nostalgia for the era, where I too was in my feelings.

I don't think I have listened to all of these songs before- good ass album.

SZA is the best!

SZA - Ctrl Debut album for SZA. Listening to this, I understand the hype and praise. I don't know why I never listened to this album. R & B, trap, and indie rolled into one to make this amazing album. I'm going to have to find time to listen to her new album soon! 5/5

Such an amazing vocal performance by SZA. She conveys so much emotion in her voice. She also has a lot of range. I remember when this album came out listening to it on repeat. She also pulls some huge hip hop features like Travis Scott, Isaiah Rashad, and Kendrick Lamar. Just a great blend of hip hop, RnB, and pop. I think my favorite track is Broken Clocks although the whole thing is good front to back.

One of my top ten. A song for every mood. SZA is an unparalleled RnB artist and I love pretty much any project she puts out.

Never had listened to it. Very good and consistent. Defining for the genre

Good album. Fun and unique and provocative.

Glad the list listened to my review from yesterday and gave me more 2010s music I’m a sucker for except it’s low fi r&b instead of indie rock. This particular itch hasn’t been scratched since way back when I got heaux tales like 2 years ago and while nothing on this album beats price tags, I think it’s a stronger album from end to end and also has standouts like drew barrymore and go Gina.

Personally, I believe R&B was on the decline and SZA went so fucking hard on bring it back. This album is as iconic on the first listen as it will be on my last. Vocals are beautiful. Instrumentation is the perfect amount of experimental. Lyrics are exactly what’s needed. Nothing to not like here. 5/5

Gefällt mir gut. Sehr abwechslungsreiches Album

This is what I listen to every time I'm on an airplane. For the longest time I had no idea what the second half of the album sounded like because I would always fall asleep. Every time I revisit I find a new thing to like.

nice bit of neo soul

Nice flow, good album.

SZA made a new fan. She has such a great voice and her lyrics are funny, personal and sometimes dark/sarcastic. Loved the vibey beats in the background. Listened to it the whole day!

What a debut album! Not only does SZA bring it in the solo tracks, but also makes her presence felt alongside other great collaborators. Ctrl really \"is craft in action, a uniquely excellent album from a uniquely excellent artist.\"

A modern classic tbh

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

A debut album this good? Was added to all my playlists in 2017.

-CTRLLLLL YESSSS -not only have i listened to this album, but i LOVEEEEE IT -love sza so MUCH! -supermodel always makes me 😭 -god. doves in the WIND! DUDE! is so insane (one of my favorites) -drew barrymore. love of my life. -sza really made a beautiful insane album and its just out here dude -prom is one of the songs i listen to the least on this album but its still really good -the weekend is genuinely also one of my favorites -garden (say it like dat) is probably one of my least favorites but like Barely -her grandmas voice throughout the album ❤️ -BROKEN CLOCKSSSSS -i haven’t listened to anything a lot but its again. REALLY GOOD. -wavy interlude is the only song im not into in some way -NORMAL GIRL SUPREMACY ❗️❗️❗️❗️ -20 something too fucking relatable -this album is one of few albums i have listened to that deserve to be on this list -easy 5 stars

Oozing talent.

Holy shit the racism in the reviews for this album. Some of you people should think twice about the things you think to say when a black woman’s singing.

nice

I probably would’ve given this an 8 but just reading the reviews on this site made me so annoyed I’m bumping up the score. I mean, “Why I can't stay alone just by myself? Wish I was comfortable just with myself but I need you,” almost made me cry this morning. 9/10

SZA!!! i love this album

10/10!

really good

EXCELLENT

I have been sleeping on SZA and this album was phenomenal. Shame on me for not listening to more of her stuff sooner!

Really liked this!?

🎶✨

Wow! Normalmente este tipo de música no es mi estilo, pero este disco me atrapó desde el inicio.