Reviews (page 4 of 8)
GETTING CAUGHT UP! honestly one of the closest things to a perfect album I've seen on here so far. yes, I've loves this album for a while, but still. while songs like Go Gina, Wavy, and Pretty Little Birds are pretty flop, there are some GEMS on here. Supermodel, crazy. Drew Barrymore, crazy. Love Galore, crazy. GARDEN: CRAZY. do do you even know I'm alive???? do do you even know I I ????? Do Do???
No. 27 SZA’s got a great voice, and these are cool, chill jams.
A few songs really good, the rest not quite my thing but still nice.
It's fine. Some nice chords from time to time, but not sure why she's as revered as she seems to be from an admittedly very cursory bit of research.
A 1. Not my thing.
I don't need to hear the word "pussy" 372 times. Couldn't even finish it after that song.
Fine. Solid grooves. Good atmosphere.
Eh. I mean, it’s very nice music but nothing extra remarkable.
Pretty run of the mill.
Much better than I remember...pretty solid R&B. 3.5/5
Really good, just not quite enough for a 5.
I can see the talent, but it's not for me.
Hit su hit
It was okay. A little one dimensional. Good collabs.
I really enjoyed this, definitely going to check her other music out
WE love sza
ehhh..don't know how to rate her, I liked her when she came out - she's talented sure, good voice yeah - not very interesting musically but I like a couple of tracks
Good for what it is - I think - but what it is is not for me. 2.5
I'm not quite sure how to rate this one... I found the music pleasant enough, but I fell asleep halfway through. Nothing really stood out for me.
2 out of 5. Nice voice, but nothing else to keep my attention for long.
Don't think I've ever heard of SZA before but I enjoyed this album
I liked it a lot
Super love this album! It was very close to five stars, but the later tracks started to feel like filler. Still it all makes me feel so sexy. I'm melting like butter over here.
did not care for it. I am not a fan of rap that much, but saying pussy over and over again does not impress me.
Rv
7/10
This was pretty good. I expected more energy though.
When's the last time I got an album from the late 2010s? Oh, jeez... March 1st of this year with Golden Hour? Wow. There are not many albums on this last from the 2010s onward. What's even worse is that a good number of them just have no business being on this list at all. Fortunately for me today, this isn't one of them. I mean, SZA is a pretty huge name in music these days. I think it's only fair to give her an album on this list, and Ctrl is the only one that could've been included when this book was last updated, so I guess it's the choice. I've gotta say. It's a pretty good choice. I get it! I get why SZA is as popular as she is! This album's good. Quite good, in fact. I really liked it. It's a very modern album. This is the kind of album that just screams late 2010s. But like, in a good way. The production is nice. Certainly of its time, but it's not "overproduced trash" as some may call it. There are actually some songs that feel kind of sparse in a way. The opener "Supermodel" is pretty cool because of this. SZA's vocals are certainly interesting. I'd say she's got a good voice. There's a reason why she's the go-to "female singer feature" on recent hip-hop songs. Speaking of features, this album's got some good ones. You know me. You've got a Kendrick feature on your album? I'm sold. Quite notably, "Love Galore" is the only appearance of Travis Scott on this entire album list. Say what you will about him as a person or even a rapper, but I feel like his influence should probably warrant having an album on this list. I haven't heard any of his albums for myself, but I've heard that Rodeo is apparently really good, so maybe that could've been on here instead of Hookworms or whatever. Back to Ctrl, the writing seems to be a fairly off-putting aspect for a number of people based on this website's reviews. I don't have a problem with it myself. I think the things that this album has to say are absolutely worth saying. I like the fact that this album displays a good deal of emotional vulnerability that makes the album relatable. Songs like "Normal Girl" and "Drew Barrymore" excel in this regard, and they're great because of it. The album's a normal length. There aren't any annoying skits or interludes (emphasis on annoying). This is a nice album. I hope SZA continues to see a fruitful career. It sure seems like that'll be the case. Light 4/5.
Love Galore Drew Barrymore The Weekend
This is a good album. I'm not sure if I'll listen again and again but it is solid
Phenomenal
This is great music for sex, and that alone makes it a five-star album. Got to try it out this weekend with wifey.
I can appreciate it as a piece of art, but it's just not for me. Some decent songs and some skips.
i think maybe not my kinda music. production is neat though, vocals are lovely ofc. favorite songs are Prom and Anything
Rating: 8/10 one of the best and influential modern r&b albums imo, the songs are emotional and longing as they cover everything about a young woman’s experience with relationships, SZA’s lyrics for someone who is at the top of the charts in her genre are SAD, veering towards insecurity and self-loathing rather than hedonism. It’s a nice touch that she has her mom’s calls recorded throughout to guide her through this period and these experiences
not bad but not for me 5/10
Heard you got some new homies. No memorable tracks, but nothing too forgettable. Better than Ms Dynamic, worse than Compton. 6 scissors out of 10 fishing for fishies out
I don't even know what to think about this. On one hand - I've heard worse, but damn this made me angry and I've listened to most of this while skipping a lot of tracks halfway through. Can't decide between 1 and 2 stars.
Nice album. Slightly laid back but still has its moments/surprises.
This album proves that this genre is not for me
I remember feeling very lukewarm about this album when it was released. The hype surrounding it was tremendous. TDE was the dominant force in hip-hop and SZA the next big thing. However, my first listen through I didn't connect with it. I still don't know that SZA is a must-listen for me, but her work, and this album have grown on me over time. It's got some missteps (Love Galore) that I've never reconciled with, but have a lot more time for her melodic runs, the sleepy production, and atmosphere than I once did. 3.5 but I'm rounding down to a 3 because I don't know if the replay value is there for me.
Generic. Pretty awful.
Nice voice
I feel like after "Z" this was the natural progression of her sound - SZA has such lovely vocals and paired with well composed instrumentals it makes for a very cohesive album. R&B needed something fresh and SZA gave it. Its poetic, with the lyrics sounding like a message left in a voicemail inbox - but there's still an ability to sing along. Speaking of "Z" there was some electronic influence on that EP that I wish other R&B artists would take note of. Tracks like "Julia" on Z became "Drew Barrymore." (Can you tell I really liked Z) Her growth as an artist is a pleasure to listen to.
It tastes like the ingredients of a powerful album, but I still prefer having a little more offered in the way of whole-cooked songs I enjoy listening to as well, regardless of all the atmospheric pads and beats and hard-hitting personal lyrics Not quite enough to go higher but it does have some aura to it
Decent enough and easy to listen to. Nothing too crazy, but a solid neo-R&B/lofi album with all-around good performances. Did drag a little more than a few times, but overall good enough to keep my attention. Top tracks: Go Gina, Broken Clocks, Normal Girl
I have an aversion to travis Scott, but I'm afraid if I say I don't like this it just means I'm getting older.
SZA displays a great level of vulnerability and conceptuality on this album, and even if I don't personally relate to her lyrics, it's hard to deny their quality. The album follows an interesting narrative. At the start, SZA portrays herself as very introspective and aware of her insecurities. It starts off with a very raw and emotional ballad, where she showcases a deep level of vulnerability, recognizing wrong decisions from her dating life but still being stuck in this loop of repeating them. The quite minimal arrangements and strong vocal lines add sheer emotional power to the song and it's difficult not to feel her words. A great deal of the first half of the album deals in the topics of infidelity and toxic relationships, recognizing that she is just a side girl for the guy she's writing about. Eventually, SZA comes to a realization that that's not what she wants, which is a sign of self-reflection and emotional maturity that I really admire. On Love Galore, the 2nd song on the album, SZA reflects over some of the shit relationships from the past and how despite the toxicity you can still end up gravitating towards the other person. However, I think she does it in a pretty badass way. The song has an interesting psychedelic twist to the production and Travis actually matches the vibe very well. Doves in the Wind is really amazing too. It's a very sensual and sexy song with some woozy textures and some cool hip hop insipred drums. Lyrically it focuses on how there is more to love than just sex, but again, she does it in a pretty witty way. Kendrick also lays a very focused verse with some very strong sung bars. I like it as it's not a style he does too often. The themes of insecurity and questioning your self worth come back on Drew Barrymore, despite of the cozy and warm vibe of the song. It's got an absolutely stellar melody and chorus that almost distract from the raw emotional vulnerability, especially in the 2nd verse. Prom is another touching moment where she talks about maturing and self-development, mainly being scared of not growing as fast as her guy. The song is wrapped in this very summery sound with some gorgeous strings and a slight disco twist. The Weekend has one of the juiciest beats with this super thick bassline that I really like, and is yet another moment of realization that she's being played. She describes herself as the 'weekend girl', with the other girl being on the main plan. Go Gina and Garden contribute more to the themes of insecurity and unsatisfaction of the first half of the album, but I do think both could have used stronger hooks and melodies. I do really like how the bass on Garden is a bit more agressive tho. Following that is the song Broken Clocks, which is my favorite here and serves as the centerpiece of the album. Firstly, it works as a reflection of time passing and how it can be easy to get worked into the chaos of life, with everything moving super fast. The song emphasizes how it's good to take life day by day and try to make small improvements every day, which is a healthy perspective that I really like and relate to. She also uses this song to reflect on the balance between ger work life and love life, ultimately recognizing that the flings she described before were not worth the hussle. Admittedly, I do think the album gets a little weaker afterwards, with a song like Anything being bold and interesting but not executed as well as it could have. The Wavy interlude could have been a full song, as it has some great sounds, but I also think it could have been just SZA on it. What I do like is the reflective nature of some of those songs. On Normal Girl she realizes that instead of worthless hookups she would like an actual healthy relationship, which makes it a pretty wholesome moment. The album does a full circle moment with the final song - 20 Something, which much like the first one is a raw, acoustic ballad, but this time touching very different themes. She recognizes that her life is unorganized and imperfect, but ultimately isn't that what you're 20s are for? In the end, she recognizes that it's ok this way. It's a truly great closer to a truly great album that has a lot to give, both sonically and lyrically, as I think her approach to r&b is pretty fresh. It's an album I really enjoyed diving into, as indicated by the length of the review.
Need to get past the first few to get to the better stuff, like the singles!
Pretty catch, but not an all-timer
not terrible, its new :)
Nicht schlecht, aber nicht wirklich meine Musik.
Definitely didn't need to be on this list. Much better and more influential hip hop albums from the past 15-20 years that could've been here. I would replace this with Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Love her voice, not her style.
A generic r&b album that talks about sex waaaaay too much, never heard the word “pussy” so many times in an hour before. Only a couple listenable tracks right at the end. Not good at all
Absolutely marvellous
Best Song: SZA SZA has a great voice and this is a strong album. However, it isn't really my thing and I don't see myself ever listening to this again. Nothing against the music itself, this is just my taste. 3/5.
6/1001 унылое и скучное рнб, только в каждой второй строчке "пусси" бред
мне очень понравилось, не смотря на то что в альбоме ни одного белого исполнителя. хотя пожалуй за это минус балл
This is too boring/chill for me. Songs just run together. Top tracks: “Prom,” “Doves in the Wind”
--Supermodel...interesting --Love Galore...nice but nothing special --Doves in the Wing...Kendrick rapping about pussy --Drew Barrymore...I like the vocal choices here --Prom...this is good. straightforward but driving rhythm. vocals shine again --The Weekend...generic "the girl/boy is mine" track --Go Gina...solid post-club track --Garden...meandering --Broken Clocks...again it's a little generic. this song could be found on any R&B album post-1990 --Anything...I'm not sure I like this but it's not a generic --Wavy (interlude)...not an interlude! or maybe it is because it's short? whatever it's nice --Normal Girl...the great voice shines again but the production doesn't wow me. this is all very nice but I'm confused as to why I need to "hear it before I die" --Pretty Little Birds...I like the use of horns here. a more experimental mood. it works --20 Something...a stripped down ballad with a guitar. it's nice
While it may be better than the album i got last time, Ctrl isn't really that great of an album. The production is decent with some pretty nice sounding music even if it can get rather forgettable depending on the song but for the most part it is pretty alright. My main issue with this album though is the lyrics, many of them are extremely stupid with a constant overuse of sex terms (Doves In The Wind is an especially bad offender of this) which makes these lyrics really annoying. And in general, i can only really remember a select few songs from this album due to the majority of them being so forgettable. It really is a shame because i know that SZA clearly has quite a lot of musical talent, just none of it is really on display here. Best Song: Pretty Little Birds Worst Song: Doves In The Wind
N thnks
Great vocals and great song writing, I particularly think it picks up with Drew Barrymore, the best song here, but I also really enjoyed Prom and Broken Clocks. Maybe not one I'll revisit often, but certainly a worthwhile listen. 4 Stars.
1. zuper - 1.5 2. galore -1 3. uuind - 0 4. Drew- 0 5. Prom - 1.5 6. Weekend -1.5 7. Gina - 1.5 8. Garden -1.5 9. Clocks - 1.5 10.anything - 1 11. Wavy -1 12. Girl - 1.5 13. Birds - 0 14. Something - 1
Nice voice, Shame about the rest
I had only heard SZA before on that song she did with Doja Cat. I’m really glad this album was on this list. It’s great!
Always reminds we of when Houmous & Chutney released their infamous album with no vowels. IVS (rrtble vwl syndrm) 1.6 11/14 Wavy
Wtf
This was both a new genre and new artist to me. Interesting, but I don’t think it’ll be one I’ll return to.
Started off big thumbs down for me, but I stuck with it. “Drew Barrymore” and “Prom” were smooth. The record nicely blends r&b, rap, electronic and her voice is rich and lovely. But the music doesn’t move me in any particular way, and I’m not connecting with it. The lyrics are… uh… Want to give this a 2, but feel like it at least deserves a 3. But it’s my list. So I listened to Drew Barrymore and Prom again, and those are good songs. So I’m bumping it up.
Really Good album.
Ok 2/5
This is similar to her follow-up where I adore the big singles and am so surprised how much I dislike the rest. The lyrics are cheesy which is amplified when she just decides to repeat what she just said. The instrumentation is pretty bare so you're left with just her vocals to grasp on to. I don't like her vocal style either where she holds a note while dropping the pitch like she's walking down the stairs. Rating: 2.4
Lyrically, it’s 40 minutes of oversharing and anatomical references. Not aimed at a 58-year-old white bloke, and that’s absolutely fine. I just wish it came with a warning: “May contain more ‘p*ssy’ than a cat shelter.”
Bom, mas para além das que eu conhecia, pouquíssimas me pegaram!
Solid album, I enjoyed listening to this record back on its original release year, and it has aged pretty well.
Great body, great voice, great album🔥
Knowing this shit headlined Glasto makes me very sad
No fucking clue. Sizzler mang
We continue to suspend our disbelief that someone as sexy as SZA could possibly have been dogged just like the rest of us. Sharp and shimmering— ✅✅✅ Supermodel ✅✅✅ Love Galore ✅✅✅✅ Drew Barrymore ✅✅✅ The Weekend
'Love Galore' is sooooo good. Solid album and a nice reprieve from all of the men on this list.
She has a great voice, and the rhythms are good, but it doesn't elevate beyond an average R&B album to me.
I always want to like Sza more, given she's from our hometown and went to the same HS as my kids. But despite what is a wonderfully produced album, I just despise vocoder vocals and can not get into this album. Recognize it's good for those who like it, but this ain't my yum.
Excellent album - reinventing r&b in an entirely new landscape
Love it, it's been a while since a full listen, but perfect.
Meh, ajmo reći dva od pet čisto radi produkcije. Boli me kita tko te je varao i šta si sve radila da mu se osvetiš. 2/5
Sorry, couldn't listen to this even part of the way through.
Ei sytyttänyt. Fiilis sekä biitit olivat laiskoja ja rumia sanoja oli liikaa.
"Niggers dont deserve pussy" perfectly encapsulated songwriting post 2015. How is a group of people SO obsessed with thier own genitals? Really speaks to intelligence levels when thats all yall can connect with
I think this is a phenomenal album. It's creative, original, catchy, and extremely personal. Stories of life, love, and the desire for acceptance abound in this album, and Sza's voice complements perfectly. I'd say it's a 4.5 rating, but I'll give it the half star bump because Sza is one of my son's favorite artists.
super bon, tranquille, bons featurings
It was not good. Can’t believe this is one of the top 1001.
Soft voice Like the "inteviews" parts Simple and chill
In one ear, out the other. I don't really care for this.
Do you know, it's pretty good. The music is s lot about a life and culture that's foreign in location and time for me, but the music is interesting to listen to.
Fine, but didn’t grab me
2,5
Generational talent.
Favorite tracks: Drew Barrymore, Prom, Love Galore, Broken Clocks
First a disclaimer: I am not the target audience for this. This is not for me, and that is perfectly fine. If you like it, good for you. Art is subjective. So yeah. I do not like this. It all blends together into a sound that I just don't find interesting. Autotune is a travesty and there is so much of it on this that I just can't. What does SZA really sound like? We'll never know! Lyrics are not great. Music is not great. Vocals are irritating. It all feels very manufactured and synthetic. SZA could be a robot and it wouldn't really change things.
Day633 - this is directed straight at gen z and they can have it
the kind of super up front rnb vocal production doesnt really catch me at all, still sounds fine just boring
enjoyed it, good for background music
forgot how strong this record's opener is, but also how tonally different it is from some of the later tracks. really great instrumentation, as sparse as it is compared to SZA's contemporaries. good shit all around; I really don't think there are any skips here. not a huge fan of Travis Scott but whatever, SZA is obviously the star of the show. I guess he's allowed to say a few words. I will never get tired of broken clocks no matter how often it's played. if you hate that song you're an idiot. it's so good. I feel like that meme of spongebob floating in the air with wired headphones when I listen to the beginning of pretty little bird. that reverb is great and with a pair of great headphones, that song is extra good. probably not a perfect album, but for pretty damn close.
I think this album is very pretty and very well done. However, I do not think this album is for me. I liked Anything though. That one was fun.
29 is still 20 Somethings, right? I still belt every lyric when I play this album, it’s Solana’s best work by far. Lord knows how many times I’ve played “Love Galore” and “The Weekend” on repeat
+: Love Galore, The Weekend, Drew Barrymore, Broken Clocks, Anything, Wavy - should have been longer -: Supermodel, Go Gina, Normal Girl Well produced, a few moments of too much noise. Thematically aligned, major focus on womanhood, although difficult at times to understand SZA. Kendrick would kill a performative male competition with that verse. I don’t know shit about reviewing so we’ll see if I’m “on track”. I’ve always gone back to Love Galore and Broken Clocks, but I’m not sure I’d want to go back cover to cover again.
I think this album introduced (or re-introduced) a lot of people to R&B, myself included. I'm now noticing this big gap in notable stuff in the genre, as it came out 20 years after the height of 90's R&B. It definitely ended up on my radar because it came from Kendrick Lamar's label's and his stamp of approval. SZA's debut was a key part of the genre seeing some revival, it was novel, and still holds up.
Fine voice but not my favorite. Not something for my Spotify or will be coming back to. 2 stars
I’ve loved this album since it released, it was nice to have a reason to revisit it! On a different note, there’s a noticeable shift in tone of reviews when I see a black artist on this website, especially black women. Reviews with little critical value other than “trash” “not for me” “sings about _____ too much”. It’s discouraging. If I can listen to some Irish folk album or ANOTHER Elvis Costello album, you can spend 40 minutes with a black person and give a real, critical review on their work. This project is supposed to be about broadening horizons, not cowering at the sight or sound of a person who isn’t like you.
A few good songs. Overall meh…
sza and kendrick said some of y’all don’t deserve pussy and you losers took it to heart.
Nice to have something recent. The production was the standout aspect for me too. Im not the target audience but i did enjoy Prom, normal girl, 20 something. Lyrics came across very honest. Will add this to the give another listen pile, it could grow on me over time.
Good production but I’m not a fan of her vocal style. Prom is pretty good though. 2.5 rounded down
Meh. That Saturn song ruined SZA for me. The lyrics are dumb.
It's a decent enough album. SZA has a really nice voice, it makes me want to listen to more of her. It didn't hit me the same as my wife. She knew and enjoyed her before but after listening to it with me I'm sure she's a fan now. Talking about wanting to see her live. So although the totality missed me I have to give SZA props.
She is!!
Bunch of post-melodic fried 'n' compressed vocalizing that sounds like it was made up on the spot and then autotuned to fit the key of the backing track that a raft of producers (including The Donuts, LoveDragon and Scum, of course) cooked up. Lyrics are an unmediated first-draft craft-free voice-to-text brain dump that probably came straight from the Notes app (and sung with phone in hand in the studio, most likely).
Honestly some of the features weren't my favorite but the rest of the album was good listening.
not to bad
More than meets the eye.
Drew Barrymore is a standout
I'll probably like this more in a few years. She's got good flow, sound, and production, but there's too many cringey lyrics and a pretty boring spread overall.
Sounds ok but really not my thing
Very surprised by this one. Great voice, good lyrics and some great guest stars
OK but not really my genre.
I found this to be way more enjoyable than I first thought it would be.
This was really good! SZA always has some great stuff.
I listened to this a couple of times when it came out, didn't really get it then. I kind of get it now, but feel like it's just not really for me. Particularly the first few songs - I find women rapping/singing about dicks and pussy just as cringe as when men do it, apparently! The middle and end of the album are much better though. By then I've warmed up a bit to her vocal style, and like the introspective and vulnerable lyrics. Might give her newer albums a go now.
Well at least now I know what SZA does. Not awful. Nor for me.
Great alternative R&B. I’ve heard of SZA, but never gave her a deep listen. I enjoyed this album.
Not for me, at all. I tried to give it a chance but only made it a song and a half in before I had to give up.
Meh, I don't think I'm the target demo for this, it's really not my thing.
This album was a big deal when it came out. I think it falls in line with a style of RnB that is really specific to the 2010s like the music of frank ocean or the weeknd. The album is great, SZA's voice is generational. The hits are fantastic. This album is very unified directionally which I think is great for a debut to establish the SZA sound. While this album is simple, things in SZA's personal life, seem to not be with SZA's online presence eclipsing her musical output. While it is nice to imagine artists as singularly focused on capturing magic in music, SZA. Being a SZA fan following this album included an 8 year wait for SOS. A wait so long I would say that it would be impossible for the listener, as well as the music scene not to grow and change within it. And that's what happened. This album is a bit of a time capsule. I was graduating high school and leaving my friends most of whom I haven't reconnected with to this day. That summer, those graduation parties, and listening to tracks off this album (among others) is a time and place that I will never be able to go back to. And listening to this reminds me of that. It's between a 4 and a 5.
This was pretty good for a modern pop album. Despite the army of producers and editors the sound is mostly cohesive and the underlying musical style isn’t disjointed or all over the place. Sometimes this leads it to sound a bit generic but it’s good enough to not be background music. There are some complaints about auto tune in the other reviews but I don’t hear it, so it’s either really well done or a misunderstanding of the term. I think she’s got a great voice; not a huge range but it’s not necessary for the songs. Not bad, not anything super memorable for me but pleasant enough. The production is the best part.
Wikipedia said she was known for her diaristic lyrics and I got excited. Then I found out that means "having the nature or style of a diary" and I was pretty let down. Despite the lack of diarhea this album is a refreshing treat. Musically it's soothing and her voice is amazing. I was never bored and was left wanting more.
Definately creative lyrics and interesting production it's like a sneak peak in SZA's diary but i struggled from 21 songs to find some gems. Personal picks: The weekend,Supermodel,Normal girl, 20 something,Drew Barrimore(my fave,i wish the whole album was like that),Prom is a breath of fresh air-my second fave
It's an album in the worst genre of music ever invented - modern r'n'b - and starting off it doesn't disappoint. Or whatever the opposite of not disappointing really is. Screaming 'get some proper drums" to replace the stick on a tea bag drum machine. Then it surprises a bit with some songs. But it's modern r'n'b and ultimately dreadful.
The singles might distract from how amateurish the writing is in this album. Some might call it honesty, rawness or vulnerability but it did not come across that way for me.
Did not like!
Amazing, I love this album. Perfect first choice. Fave songs: Normal Girl, Drew Barrymore, Doves in the Wind
Not my style. Alright beats I suppose, slower than expected but at least made lyrics clear. Not sure what makes the album great, and all I'll remember is the song featuring Kendrick Lamar saying pussy a lot
Queeeennn!!! This may be the newest album in here yet. I love her vocals they are so pretty. It was a very chill album to have while i was doing a few things but still listened. I have heard some of the songs on here but not all of them and i enjoyed this listen!! Shes got some pretty runs
Yeah, i liked this!
So much good stuff. Just electric and velvety.
Not for the kids. R&B is back and it’s all about the sex. Strong female perspective, she is pulling for a different place than the other modern female artists (Nicki Minaj, Meagan Thee Stallion, etc) which is cool. I came in and out of focus with this one. Some songs absolutely got me with the grooves others turned me off with the content.
love it
Been loving this album since it came out. I don't think I've ever listened to it in order, all the way through. So I'm excited to look at it as a full project instead of individual songs.
Not my thing
Good singer, terrible everything else, like wow, is that a let down.
No standouts
This one surprised me...
Not terrible, enjoyed a few of the songs and SZA objectively has a great voice. Not necessarily my favorite genre but I overall enjoyed it.
perfect debut album.
4 out of 5 Not too bad. Some slower songs but I liked the collaborations. Pretty good R&B.
I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this. It's not overly polished or produced like so much pop/R&B is these days. The autotune is there, but it is not over-used. It is mostly just chill, woozy tracks with SZA upfront in kind of conversational singing with rap inflections or even jazz harmonies. Whether intentional or just natural for her. Of course, there are the usual pop cliches and refrains, e.g. "Drew Barrymore" is a standard pop song that producers put some strings and a seasick hook under, but it's definitely catchy. Overall this is a great album, but it's still pop, still mass-produced. However it does feel more honest, more gritty than many other productions, and it feels cohesive as an album rather than just a series of disconnected singles. The album drags for me a bit in the second half as some songs start to sound the same. I liked the beginning of the album: "Supermodel" to "Love Galore" to "Doves in the Wind", and "Garden (Say It Like Dat)" to "Broken Clocks" is another high point.
Pretty damn good
I'll make sure to access that when I'm in the mood for porn.
Ecstatic to see this on the list. There’s too much I want to say about an album that may be in my top 10 of all time. Ctrl is a modern r&b classic. SZA is so sincere with her insecurities and is front to back baring her soul to the world while singing these crazy catchy melodies. There are so many moments that are pure “wow I’m obsessed with this part” like the drums on Drew Barrymore, how SZA glides into Go Gina, Travis’ YAHs in Love Galore, and even when setting the record for the number of pussies said in a song the “ya know Jen-nay almost gave it all up for em” in Doves in the Wind is fucking electric. Coming out of college I connected with this album so much and there are so many lyrics I related to that these moments are crystallized in this album, it makes every listen like a little time capsule. I could go on and on but I’ll end here, good lord what an album
Smooth, glossy production all the way through. The songs feel more like confessionals than poppy hooks, so it didn't always land with me. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Love Galore - The Weekend - Broken Clocks
Complete and utter, irredeemable dogshit. just listening to the 3 songs I did was an assault to the senses
Bien mais me procure pas bcp d’émotions
not fully my style i guess, didnt resonate that much, but enjoyed many parts of it
I tried. I’m a 50-year-old white man. I’m sure it’s empowering for women to finally get to sing/rap about their genitals too, but it’s hard for me to seriously consider this within days of getting to review The Beatles. I’m sure SZA will do fine without my approval.
Not really my bag. She does have a good voice and I liked some of the beats/ production - but lyrically too icky / uncomfortable in places. Educational - but will not be returning.
nice voice, some heart-felt soulful tunes. Some overly processed sounds, some unnecessary "duets" and some dodgy lyrics.
No idea why this here.
The good songs are excellent, but a solid third of the album is just baffling in its mediocrity compared to the rest of the songs.
I've always wanted to believe that this is just one of those albums that's impossible to hate, and yet you lot still manage to prove me otherwise. Like it's literally just a super chill RnB album to stick on in the background, obviously nothing mind blowing but it's just so easy to listen to.
I do not dislike neo-soul or temporary r'n'b, but why this album with its autotune vocals, mediocre lyrics, pussy this, dick that, is in the list, and not, for example, Alicia's Keys' "Songs in A Minor" is a complete mystery to me, maybe I'm too old, (gen x), but this is not my cup of tea.
I'm too old and too white for these lyrics to resonate with me, but I thought the beats and music were quite good. Mostly chill and pleasant-sounding.
solid. didn’t blow me away but i enjoyed every song!
Way outside of my usual listening preferences. Let's see how this goes. Let's go!! Just her voice over sparse arrangement is nice (Track 1) Wasn't expecting Forrest Gump references (Track 3). Starting to get repetitive to my untrained ear (Track 7) So yeah, this isn't my type of music and nothing I heard made me change my mind about it. I find these difficult to rate because I'm sure it's good, just not what I like to listen to. I was bored however. I don't think all music from this genre would bore me. 2.1/5
Good from start to finish. No low spots.
So boring I decided to watch videos on YouTube of some dude cooking a Gordon Ramsay-inspired sandwich and a chicken biryani. I feel really bad listening to this thing, but I guess it's not that fully terrible.
Das Album bietet persönliche Einblicke, doch die Songs wirken textlich vage und musikalisch monoton. Besonders im R&B-Genre, das von Vielfalt lebt, stört die Gleichförmigkeit: Viele Tracks klingen ähnlich und lassen klare Höhepunkte vermissen. SZA’s Gesang bleibt ausdrucksstark, aber technisch schwankend – ein durchwachsenes Debüt mit wenig Wiedererkennungswert.
Ouais franchement pas mal je m’attendais pas tant à ça que ça mais bon pas trop mal Après j’y retourne pas
Favorite Track: Drew Barrymore
This album was pretty good. I know I would appreciate it more with repeated listens but with just the one, it was just pretty good. An interesting voice, and when I was able to listen while reading the lyrics you can see she has something to say, and I want to know what it is.
Honestly, this kind of music is just so out of my loop that I can't really judge if it's that good or not.
Not really my kind of stuff and I really can't tell if I enjoyed it or not.
This kind of music is really made for someone else than me. It wasn't bad... I'll give it a safe 3. I don't know! Who knows.
Slower paced hip hop. Not really my thing usually but there were a few songs that I wouldn’t turn off if they came on the radio.
SZA has been all over the award show circuit for a lot of years and her performances are usually solid. This album is not a good representation of her talent.
Lots of auto-tune, and her vocals don't have any pattern to them. Imagine someone just singing a stream of consciousness throughout their day. That's what this is.
Ive listened to this album before and i refuse to do it again. The entire album is mumbled and inarticulate, just bad.
Ya, I kinda hate this.
Not for me
Pretty cool.
Am I waaaarm enough for ya.... Reminds me of summer 2017 -- just graduated high school, the world ahead of me. Experiencing new feelings, perfectly punctuated by SZA
Awesome album. What R&B is. 7.4/10
One of the best R&B records of our time. It’s so much like Frank Ocean at times that I question if he helped write it.
This was an album that grew on me while I listened to it. I saved "Normal Girl," "Broken Clocks" and "Prom." I'd rate it 3.5 so I'm rounding up. :)
A pretty meh album. Some songs were strongish and others entirely forgettable. The little vocal snippets throughout didn't have much impact. 2.6/5 - > 3/5
Cheeks. The good kind.
Ass, ass, ass and titties with lots of pussy and a good measure of the n word thrown in because when you want to sound like a cultured black woman in this genre apparently that how to portray oneself. I didn't hear anything that made me think of struggle or even an interesting life to sing about.
Didn't mind this one. Kind of my cup of squash.
Nothing much to say, it was pretty chill, know better songs she collaborated in
This felt like a generic modern album that doesn't follow a cohesive theme besides sex, nothing stood out to me and I don't think it's one of the best of all time... not my mug of mayonnaise
In no particular order: The level of vulnerability and insecurity here is painful to listen to The end of “Anything”!! And “Pretty Little Birds” One of the best we’ve listened to so far
3.0 not really my type but good beat and bass
Chill.
She's so good she makes me want to like this genre of music. Far and away the best at what she does for this type of R&B Best Song: Doves in the Wind Rating: 8/10 Stars: 4/5
This is not music but the mumblings of some base creature obsessing over their crotch. So stupid
Não esperava que eu fosse gostar deste álbum. Pensando sobre, estava tudo alinhado pra eu não gostar dele, é um álbum de R&B feminino da década de 2010. O último disco assim que peguei foi um da Solange e eu detestei-o, uma das menores notas que dei até agora. Então comecei a ouvir este álbum bem cético, mas já na primeira faixa percebi que seria diferente. O que aconteceu que fez eu gostar desse disco? Justamente o fato que ele foi pensado como um álbum. A coesão entre as faixas, a duração temperada, a consistência na produção e na performance da SZA, a moderação nos features… São todos fatores que fazem muita falta em outros álbuns da década de 2010 e 2020. Fico feliz de ouvir uma artista contemporânea que ainda entende a arte de fazer um álbum verdadeiramente bom. Além disso, lendo o artigo da Wikipedia sobre Ctrl, notei outro detalhe importante que auxiliou no meu agrado das canções aqui. “The album's recording process was described as being analog and featured the unplugging and re-plugging of wires in order to create the desired sound.”. Produção analógica, isso faz toda a diferença no som! Claro que, liricamente, é difícil pra mim relatar com o que ela canta. Eu não tenho os mesmos problemas dela, como precisar dividir um homem com outra mulher. Mas apesar disso, eu sinto a paixão na voz dela, ela é uma cantora maravilhosa. E já elogiei a produção do disco, é impecável. Já falei em outra review que não me importo muito com conteúdo lírico, e isso me ajuda a dar uma nota maior para este álbum. Curiosamente, a única parte que me incomodou nesse álbum foi o feature do Kendrick Lamar, achei bem fraco e irritante o verso dele, estragou aquela faixa. 4/5
Maybe 2 is a bit harsh, but I just didn't really enjoy it that much. I don't know exactly why, but this genre tends to annoy me a little bit
Enjoyable, nothing too special
Amazing voice SZA incorporating lots of different genre and it worked. Great album
Pretty big album in general. She's not on my major play list, but I dig it.
Vulgar for vulgar’s sake. Boring music.
This is an album. Not my usual style or speed but she does have a great voice.
Her voice is beautiful but not really my thing
If dog shit didn’t just have a smell but also a sound, this would be it.
Listenable and fresh and mostly fun R&B/neo-soul, with good guests and cameos and the semi/quasi-outrageous lyrics on "Doves in the Wind" are very much true in one's experience.
Average R and B.
Not half as bad as I thought it would be. The collabs are pretty mediocre but the music in itself is quite good. Not sure if it deserves a place on this particular list though.
I'm so glad I grew up in the 70s and 80s.
Already don't like the first song, weak lyrics on a cliche topic. Musically not very interesting. Not a fan of this trap/dream pop and the lyrics are too distracting. Best track - Drew Barrymore Outro synths to Garden (Say it Like Dat) are quite nice 2 stars
I don't get SZA, it's nice but not my genre. 2*
I can't
better than i expected. nice voice and kind of different. not my genre at all but i was not mad at it
I love this album. Soulful, smooth, sexy. A bit of fun.
Well, this was a load of pussy-obsessed shit, wasn’t it?
First impression pre listen: I've heard of SZA mostly through her contributions as a feature on other artists's songs, though I've never bothered to check her solo stuff out myself. As it's a bit of a more modern album, I'm as always pretty excited to check it out. It's great to hear something that's a bit more contemporary for once. Don't know what to expect. Individual track notes: Supermodel Kinda unexpectedly strange instrumental. Really like when the drums come in. The structure of the vocals makes it sound a bit all over the place. Kinda like a stream or conciousness. Don't get me wrong, it works pretty well, just needs a bit getting used to. Decent. 3.5/5 Love Galore Cloudy and obtuse. I like the production on the vocals, there's some interesting layering there. Kinda forgetable lyrics, feels a bit generic for the era. Dated adlibs. The Travis Scott feature is nothing special, but does an alright job representing the other side of the story. Fine. 3/5 Doves In The Wind Tongue in cheek lyrics. Interesting allegory. Great production on the vocals. Really like the background "talking" sample. Kendrick does great on this beat honestly. Love the controlled chaos of the final minute of the track. Good. 4/5 Drew Barrymore Drowned and watery production. The first verse has some fun lyrics. The themes of insecurite are pretty striking. Solid chorus. Definitely has a more poppy sound, though it works well at this point in the album. The strings at the end add some extra drama. Good. 4/5 Prom Sparse and cold instrumental. The vocals do feel a bit overproduced on this one. There's a bit too much going on. Don't love the pitched up effect that's occasionally used here. I like the way the choose to fade out the track. Fine. 3/5 The Weekend That synth is kinda tired. I like the bass sound they chose for this track. The snaps are a bit dated sounding. Kinda sad concept to be honest. Isn't particularly exciting in any aspect really. I do like her voice here however. Very emotive. The ending is kinda tacked on. Average. 2.5/5 Go Gina The coin toss sample is kinda annoying. She has a fun way to structure the lyrics. Unremarkable song otherwise. Average. 2.5/5 Garden (Say It Like Dat) Don't love the production on this song. The drums are too of the time, and the bass doesn't really fit. Decent performance, she carries a lot of emotion in her voice. It's decently dynamic and never feels flat or phoned in. Fine. 3/5 Broken Clocks Again. Annoying drums, they sit too forward in the mix and are annoying and shrill sounding. The background sample is a bit distracting. I like the everyday lyrics. Average. 2.5/5 Anything I kinda hate the instrumental here. The electronics don't provide anything interesting and only serve to distract from the rest of the song. Kinda catchy. I find parts of the lyrics to be pretty evocative. Don't mind the ending, has a solid impact. Fine. 3/5. Wavy (Interlude) Nice and smooth. Has some good interplay with the feature. Normal Girl She sells the insecurity pretty well. A bit too repetitive. Wish there was a bit more nuance here. There are some empowering moments too I suppose. Fine. 3/5 Pretty Little Birds Sounds a bit busy, has some parts that are overproduced. Honestly sounds a bit confused. Hate the vocal effect on Isaiah Rashad's verse. The layering is really abrasive. Dislike. 2/5 20 Something Relatable sentiment. Don't mind the production too much, though there are moments where the additional vocals clash a bit with the instrumental. Fine. 3/5 Final Review: It's not the most impressive work on this list, but it gets the job done decently. You're presented with a modern RnB album, and that's exactly what you're getting. While it doesn't go above and beyond it does have some qualities worth mentioning. The songwriting on this thing is pretty good. What makes it compelling is the way the lyrics are structured. They're never predictable, seemingly never really following an outline. The contents of the lyrics mainly focus around sex, love, longing and general relationships. However when she turns the focus towards some of her insecurities is where they mostly get interesting. She does have an ability to channel emotions with her voice, which works well with these topics. However the album is buried in production, some of it very overbearing. Often the vocals suffer from too many overlapping effects. Other times the instrumental has parts that distract way too much from the main attraction. And honestly much of the trap style production just hasn't aged well. It never really gets enough to ruin a song, but it's there and it's noticable. I am also missing some nuance and maturity in some of these songs. They do touch on some pretty relatable subjects, but it's rarely elaborated on beyond the surface level. Overall it's a bit of a mixed bag for me, but never overtly unpleasant or boring. I'd say its a decent listen, reflective of its time. 3/5
Remember after Blond dropped when everyone was trying to be Frank Ocean?
Rich, gorgeous pop and R&B that is at once stunningly crafted, thoughtfully personal, and has bangers throughout. It’s rare for me to want to dive deeper on a pop artist because it’s not usually my cup of tea but this album made me an instant fan. Zero complaints on this one, want to listen to more.
Great voice with a few songs that really stuck out
Very pleasant with a few standouts. Drew Barrymore was my fav song.
Pretty good, not my favorite SZA album.
The album was interesting and the lyrics were on point also she has a unique style of singing
Das Studioalbum Ctrl der US-amerikanischen Sängerin SZA wurde in mehreren Aufnahmestudios realisiert, darunter die Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Obwohl sie zuvor bereits einige EPs und Mixtapes veröffentlichte, gilt Ctrl aus dem Jahr 2017 als ihr offizielles Debütalbum im Rahmen einer Major-Label-Veröffentlichung. Musikalisch bewegt sich das Werk zwischen Alternative R&B, Neo-Soul sowie Einflüssen aus Hip-Hop und Indie. Die Produktion ist zurückgenommen und stellt Stimme und Text in den Mittelpunkt. Inhaltlich verarbeitet SZA persönliche Erfahrungen, Unsicherheiten und Beziehungsdynamiken. Songs wie „Love Galore“, „The Weekend“ und „Drew Barrymore“ gehören zu den bekanntesten Titeln des Albums. Sie spiegeln exemplarisch die introspektive Ausrichtung des Werks wider und zeigen eine künstlerische Handschrift, die sich bewusst von gängigen R&B-Konventionen absetzt. Ctrl wirkt in sich geschlossen und gleichzeitig offen für Brüche. Es ist ein Album, das nicht auf Wirkung zielt, sondern auf Haltung.
Aika kova debyyttialbumiksi (lafka on laittanut kaikki peliin). Joitakin oikein koskettavia ja tuntuvia juttuja. Paljon lauleskelua kyllä myös, b-puoli on lähes yllättävän herkkä a-puolen toisinaan tapahtuvan uhoilun jälkeen.
Not really my vibe. Didn't really stand out for me, I don't think I'd listen to it again.
I was following the TDE crew pretty closely leading up to this and remember hearing Prom and felt like another Channel Orange might be upon us and then...well...[insert Principal Skinner meme] It’s fine, but I’m about as pulled into this as some of the random late 60s English folk and psychedelia. Just not for me. Judging by its success and her later feature on Luther - which is also...OK? - clearly, I am in the wrong here.
Nah
Хорошая музыка
It alr8ght
Didn't like it. Some OK woozy RNB production on some of the early tracks, but strikingly boring and beige compared to say CrazySexyCool.
The music and vocals are pretty good, enjoyable, she clearly has a unique talent. That said, it's difficult for me to get past the dirty lyrics on some of the tracks and truly enjoy the album. Songs like "Prom", "Garden", and "Broken Clocks" are good with 'clean' lyrics, but a few of the other tracks ("Doves in the Wind", "Love Galore", specifically), are just too profane, or gross, for me to appreciate. I will also never be comfortable hearing the n-word in any context. I don't listen to a lot of R&B like this in general, and I definitely don't listen to artists that use this type of language, so if this is normal and 'expected' for the genre, then I see why it's considered a pretty solid album. But whether these lyrics are written because that's really how people in this sort of culture talk about their lives, for their shock value, or because it's not considered 'profane' by the artist, it comes across as mostly unnecessary and distracting to me. And to be sure, I 'get it' and understand the social commentary behind "Doves in the Wind." It's a pretty clever take on men and how they pursue women in our society. And I understand this type of unique commentary might not be possible without the use of the language SZA chose to use. But it's still not comfortable for me to listen to. Final thought: I'm glad I listened to this for a peek into a genre and culture of music I'm only exposed to during the Super Bowl halftime, but it won't be something I'll ever actively revisit.
Jesus man, this was a slog. Dare I say - mindless garbage? Yet another good example of why I just can never get into popular music. I feel like the point of music like this is the lyrics - the music itself is kept very safe, familiar, and homogenous to make it more mass appealing, and what people really relate to and find interesting is the words. But I feel like...the lyricism isn't even that good?? So what are we doing here??? Fave song(s): - "Doves In The Wind", I guess
Not quite a 5 but almost there. I enjoyed this a lot, and glad it's on the list. 4/5
2.5
Don’t like the clickity tick tick tick of this genre and dislike the lyrics Skip. ———————————— My non-musician scoring system. 5 - Love it. Would play anytime, buy, see live… 4 - Good music. 3 - Average playlist. Depends on time and setting. 2 - I can’t listen to whole songs. 1 - No.
zašto znam skoro svaku pjesmu
Horny-sad girl music
A regular album of modern R'n'B, I don't get the point. Just another one.
SZA is one of the more recent mainstream artists I've slowly gotten on board with. My exposure first started with her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on "All the Stars" done for the Black Panther film soundtrack, followed by her feature on Doja Cat's "Kiss Me More", culminating in my listening to her second album, SOS. I consider that album good, albeit a bit bloated, which is probably not helped by the deluxe reissue that came out last year. I was curious about how her major label debut sounded, given what has come after. With all that said, how does Ctrl hold up? Well, I consider it a solid alternative R&B record, complete with organic production, muted guitars, and subtle movements throughout that made the whole experience come off lush. Never once between the instrumentals and the guest features did I feel SZA was being overpowered, which is very much needed when this album ends up as an extended diary sprawl through her insecurities with these shifting relationships. The raw emotional core in her lyrics tended to be her second-guessing herself, wondering if she's even deserving of true love beyond the sex. From the opening "Supermodel" through cuts like "Drew Barrymore", "Prom", and "Garden (Say It Like Dat)", she dissects various instances of uncertainty in herself as she navigates through her love life. The men she comes across along the way also don't help matters in making her, from Travis Scott's more restrained hedonism on "Love Galore", to Kendrick Lamar's highlight of male obsession and entitlement while also experiencing insecurities of their own on "Doves in the Wind", to the buckling relationship with James Fauntleroy on "Wavy (Interlude)", to Isaiah Rashad's exhausted deliverance of a truth that he hopes could satisfy on "Pretty Little Birds". There are fleeting moments of acceptance or found clarity in the breakdown of her life, such as on the multiple partners' roles with this one guy on "The Weekend", the recognition of her romance conflicting with her work schedule on "Broken Clocks", and the full dive into a fling even while questioning the partner on "Anything". This leads up to the punch of "Normal Girl" in the acceptance of her differences from what is perceived as "normal" for a partner. Is it all a bit reckless? Sure, but in no way does SZA glorify this lifestyle, and if anything, she acknowledges that it's a common struggle on the closer "20 Something" where she prays for other people who may go through a similar song and dance. It's all about finding that control in the chaos of love, and that feels pretty enriching. Okay, so what holds me back from outright calling this album great? Well, I have to admit, my problem lies with SZA herself. At this stage, it's clear that she is still developing as a songwriter, and there were a fair number of instances throughout the record where the writing can feel barebones, including multiple cases of repetition and rhyming a phrase with itself. Not helping matters are moments where SZA sounded like she was slurring her words a bit, which ends up making the final sound come off sloppier than it needed to be. But at the end of the day, Ctrl is still a solid debut for her. I feel SZA's capable of making a great record, but until then, this was still a treat.
Some good tunes, but not a complete album for me and I like SZA
nice - better than expected. Good melody and beautiful voice
Très chouette, j’ai aime l’énergie
Bra sång, gillar hennes röst. Riktigt bra RnB-album. Drew Barrymore och ett par till sticker ut som favoriter. Inte min favoritgenre, men kan absolut tänka mig att ha skivan på i bakgrunden.
Not my usual vibe, but there were some really vibey songs. Especially liked Drew Barrymore and Doves in the Wind
Nice beats, fairly low key but effective, and with a hint of dreamsynth sprinkled in for a unique and pleasant sound. Might be a 3.5 for me, so it gets rounded up.
Solid R&B, although that's a genre that doesn't do much for me. 3.1
Really not the type of music for me. I was switching between not really paying attention and not really enjoying what I was listening to for most of the duration of this record. Some songs were alright and some were really not to my liking, couldn't tell you which are which. A lot of late 2010's early 2020's music sounded like this and I really cannot stand it.
Really like this album; it dropped when I was 17 so hearing it again got me in the feels. 3.5/5
This was fine. I'm a little irritated by the use of auto tune, but it's groovy in places, which means it's not terrible.
Yeah, no, can't understand why I should care about this one. I guess miss SZA has a nice voice and some of the tracks are quite chill. But it never feels like it's going anywhere, never gives me any reason to care about the music.
It was fine. Not my preference, but didn't mind listening to it.
Does absolutely nothing for me.
the people talking about how deep and emotional this is are nuts
First of all, I’m not a fan of this type of music. Women’s hip hop? Or rap pop? I don’t know. I then have to compare SZA to Rihanna who sits atop the woman’s alter of music. After those stipulations are weighed, I can feather my way through the unwanted feelings and assess this album. You know what? I’m glad I listened. The music is great, the beats hit. Sza’s delivery isn’t even great. Sort of a Jamaican sound vocally. There’s samples! I never hate that. As much as i wanted to fake listen to this album, I’m glad I didn’t let my music snob attitude win. My biggest disappointment is that I found the best song to be the 3rd song, which seems to be a constant for me. If Rihanna is the Queen, at this point, SZA warms the Throne when Rihanna leaves to go to the bathroom. Choice cut: Doves in the Wind
It was alright, couldn’t really get into it. Could use another listen.
I liked this a lot. It did dip slightly in the middle but SZA pulled it back with the last two tracks.
You know when you're just glad an album is over? THat's how I felt when I finished this. I think pop music simply isn't for me. SZA has a great voice, strong and bold vocals. It is the production of the album that really irritates me. Even listening to this in the summer, I cannot enjoy it. The best track on this was wavy, and yet that was an interlude, barely 1 minute long, but went the hardest. I gave SZA a go, but ultimately her music isn't for me. With that being said, she is clearly a talented artist.
Quite a good album to have the day after Frank Ocean, because it feels like this has a bit more of what that was missing. A bit more heart and quality, but still missing something for me. Does what it does well, R&B, neosoul, but doesn’t particularly excite me. Nice bits of variety but kinda familiar by the end and similar vibe and themes throughout.
Nu angre æ litt på at æ aldri hørte på det her albumet da æ la inn en «burde lytte på det her»-stjerne da det kom i 2017, for æ likte det jo skikkelig godt. Veldig chill, med teksta æ av og til hekte mæ fast i, deilig.
This is my third 1★ rating in a row. What an awful week this has been. This is garbage! Go away!
Not my style of music, but 'Pretty Little Birds' is worth a second listen.
I know I overuse "chill" but that's what this is. I do not like the auto tuning trap voice, though. The backing tracks are almost too simple. I wanted a little more complexity. Her rapping flow doesn't really make sense to me. And the lyrics. I hate the lyrics. I don't need a tribute to your or your partners genitals, male or female. This isn't a take on "modern love", it's just dick and pussy music.
I can’t seem to think of a reason why this album is on this list. Overproduced and generic, tons of autotune, and awful lyrics.
Modern R&B bores me to tears. This one made it through my eardrums but not a single track made it to the part of my brain that remembers tunes. Pretty sure I already listened to this when I was listening to Rolling Stone's top 500 albums in order.
Ok album but nothing real special about it.
Not really list worthy. The song about pussy with Kendrick Lamar was alright I guess
I seem to recall this appeared towards the top of many 2017 best albums lists. Just how dire was 2017 for music?
Not really my thing. Generally hookless music with melodies that don’t easily present themselves. Sparse arrangements highlight the vocals which are non-conventional. Prom was pretty good, one of the few with traditional pop song structure. This lack of traditional moledicism doesn't mean its bad, just difficult for me grasp on to. Maybe given time It's charms will present themselves to me, but I don't have the patience these days to stick around and find out. As I type I'm half way through and Go Gina is interesting. Maybe I'll give it a 2nd listen before posting this. I do think this album and all albums deserve at least one, 2nd chance. After a 2nd listen same impressions of music that’s difficult for me to find something that works with my sensibilities. She’s talented beyond the dive – histrionics, but not for me. 3 stars
There is some pretty inspired work here, starting around Broken Clocks onward, where I really was able to appreciate this album for it's R&B sounds. The problem is that I like to share music with family and friends, and Supermodel and Doves In The Wind are songa I absolutely would be embaressed showing someone else - theyre just far too vulgar. I feel the same way about some of the rap albums I've had here. And it's a shame because the aforementioned Broken Clocks, Anything, Normal Girl, and a couple others are really great songs with some really great dreampop/ R&B fusion. Overall, still generally impressed by SZA here, just turned off by some of the louder pieces of the album. Also, it's a bit long.
Not my usual earfodder and although some of this was interesting, I can’t bring myself to be engaged by it. Unremarkable.
I prefer my pussy sans-autotune.
Trash
Not for me...
Really good! There isn't a ton of range, and I also wish there were more hooks throughout. Wouldn't mind if SZA came on the playlist in the future.
Not a big fan of SZA.
I’ve heard a few songs by SZA, and they were alright, but I had no idea how I’d feel about an entire album from her. This was absolutely amazing. A lot of the more recent albums on the list I don’t feel deserve their place on it, but this absolutely does. I vibed with the whole thing, and “Drew Barrymore” is going to be on repeat for my for a long time. Such a great album, and I’m so glad for this list making me listen to it because I wouldn’t have otherwise.
This a debut album, and it is well done for a debut. The songs are sufficiently different from each other, which is good. The singing is ok. Unfortunately this is not my favorite musical genre so it gets 2.5 stars, rounding to 2.
I'm glad this is on here; SZA is one of my favorite current artists (although I like SOS as an album much more). I like her voice; I think it's very clear and pleasant. I also like this album cover, since it looks like something I would choose for an album cover myself. As for the album, it's a little heavy on the slow jams (and the slur count), so I don't particularly love it, but I am still a SZA fan -- just glad she moved to a more pop direction!
A few songs are good, suprisingly enjoyed that
I was surprised that I didn't hate this.
I’ve heard a lot about sza over the past half decade, but never intentionally heard her music, nor could I pick her out in a crowd. Today’s black youth could do better, but T&A sells, so they get this. She is average in all matters except her bank account.
Good pop album. Has some pretty hot tracks.
Not my favorite. Not much else to say
I hadn't heard of SZA until this album; mostly thanks to Kendrick. Her singing is incredible and unique despite comparisons to amazing singers of the previous generation like Rihanna and Beyonce.
Album was uneven. Some songs I really like, next to others that I could do without...
Didn't really like it.
Hm. Didn't care for this one.
It's a genre that doesn't speak to me
Songs too slow for me
Nice chilled album, mid tier
= the Beatles Interesting album