Ctrl

Very nice!

i do enjoy this album

I wanted to like this more, as there's some good music, ideas, lyrics, and vocal ability, but I just don't like the style, which sounds so generically poppy.

I acknowledge her talent, but this type of modern R&B just really doesn't do it for me. 2.5/5

Having just watched wrestlemania I am currently suffering an irrational hatred for Travis Scott and his horrendously annoying autotune hate crime of a song, 'Feen'. Does he ever rap without using it? Besides his intervention Love Galore is quite nice. Three songs in there's already quite a lot of "n*ggaz and bitches" meaning I can't listen to this in any sort of company without retreating into my own anal cavity via a power-cringe. The little voicemail bits in between bring to mind Solange's record. The Kendrick song about shagging brings about another power cringe which miraculously returns me to human form. Outside of that it's pretty enjoyable. I got bored before the end but I'm definitely not target audience. Not for me, but I'm sure she'll cope.

A beautiful album. SZA has some of the best vocals I've ever heard and the production is top notch. There's so much groove, so much soul, so much great flow in the music. It's a lovely experience.

Pretty voice, nice dings but the whole sounds kind of similaar

Technically it was all right, but the lyrical content did nothing for me

The Good: We’ve got nothing but ACROs!!! The Bad: We are missing some acros… The Ugly: … SHIT Simply Horrible Idiotic Trash CRAP Couldn’t Really Appreciate Phonograph Modern music sucks… 1*

That was a surprise. Usually I don't enjoy music like this but this is actually great. Nothing I would listen with passion, but great for a background music for chill or driving

This woman can sing Trump tweets and it would sound good.

She has a beautiful voice and evokes emotion well. I liked Prom, and the extra energy in that song. A lot of it was very similar (might be the genre). But I do appreciate the lyrics (most of the time), it really embodies being insecure, unsure and trying to live up to the expectations of the world for women and the impossible expectations. Some seem simple and immature but there is a lot of truth in them (I don't always shave my legs) and what the overall message is for females. Doves in the Wind was not my favorite, I don't hate the sentiment of the song, just feel like that kind of language doesn't help offset the concerns she poses throughout the rest of the album.

She seems to date a lot of toxic men. This is good music and quality production, it's just hard for me to get into the style of R&B. Feels more like storytelling than songs I can really groove to, which gets boring.

Beautiful voice, nice songs. But I got kind of bored.

Sometimes I think SZA’s great. The hazy guitars and downtempo beats, matched with her plaintively honest and vulnerable lyrics, give off big ‘summer melancholy’ vibes, which I like. But over the course of an album it does become kinda dull; there aren’t enough arresting pop moments like Drew Barrymore to keep my enthusiasm up.

Listening to this while doing a walk literally elevated every step I did, especially the second part of the album.

Shiite

This album sounds great, really listenable. But uh, SZA have you considered going for a dude who’s cool? I’m not saying the stupid why doesn’t she go for a nice guy thing, like. Just a guy who doesn’t cheat, or who has his life together. Or learn how not to catch feels when the dick is good. If I was SZA I would simply date a normal not shitty dude. Or go to therapy. That might help too.

Why was this album popular? It's devoid of hooks or memorable lines or anything that could be considered interesting. It just is.

not my thing, but good album

Not my type of music. Broken Clocks and 20 Something stood out for me. 2.5/5

I really do like SZA. Her dreamy vocals just draw me in. I think I prefer her followup record but this has some great stuff. 4/5

I really expected to like this more. She's a fine singer and the music is good. I just found it boring.

Had to stop after the second song. Jesus fucking christ. Modern mainstream hiphop, with some exceptions, is so fucking dull and unoriginal.

Didn’t really give SZA a shot until recently, but CTRL changed that. Her vocals are smooth, emotional, and totally unique. For a debut album, this is seriously impressive—especially with standout features like Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar adding extra fire. The production is clean, the vibe is consistent, and she balances vulnerability and confidence effortlessly. Solid listen from start to finish. Favorite song: "Doves In The Wind"

It’s great that there is a relatively recent album on the list but I just don’t think that this album was written with me in mind!

Estuvo bien, aunque un poco largo. Prefiero otros discos de SZA

Fantastic R&B album. She has a great voice and the instrumentals are smooth as butter. Love Kendrick's feature as well. I'm not really sure it's notable enough to fit on this list but I do really like it.

Two or three songs were OK, including the openers. Then Kendrick Lamar showed up. Honestly, I like her individual songs better than any of the collabs. She’s got a good voice and a I like the vibe of her individually. But overall, the album didn’t hold me.

I didn't know what to expect but this is a vibe. Love Galore has an addiciive sound, percussive with calm synth pads. There's a retro feel to the production, but not in the way I expected. 80s or early 90s EDM vibes at times, a weird mix of dystopia and nostalgia for me. Doves in the Wind is more measured, a steady breakbeat. Kendrick adds to the track but it's the beat that has me paying attention. Drew Barrymore then shows what SZA can do vocally, the stripped down production letting her shine. Strings lead into Prom with maybe the best beat so far, glitchy with layers of synths. Go Gina is another good one and Garden is even better, featuring a looping synth riff I really dig. I don't know who produced this, but I want to find out. I don't think the second half is overall as strong, but there's some great stuff here.

I liked the beat for Drew Barrymore but that was about it. I'm giving it an extra star because I'm not well-versed in rap. Still only two stars.

An absolute modern classic of an album. SZA's sound is so unique and singular, it's immediately recognizable in the best way. Everything here is executed so well - from the production, to the performance, to the songwriting and lyrics. SZA is making raw, emotional music where she reflects on her own life, and it somehow stands the test of time. So, it doesn't surprise me at all that the angry old white dudes of this platform think it's "trashy". If your takeaway of this record is that she's making "heavily auto-tuned trap beats about pussy and booty", you're a fucking idiot. Go read the lyrics, go read a book, go listen to something other than The Beatles. Nerd. 10/10

do I like SZA yeah, do I think this album changed my life no

Masterpiece, no notes. Love SZA and this album so much, her voice is so good and lyrically it’s very honest. 5/5 Fav song: Drew Barrymore

I did not like this at all. It was all just about her feeling horny and talking about genitals over some uninspiring music.

Int min favorit genre, men tror ja sku fiila det här mer efter fler lyssningar Svag 3

7.5/10 Favorite Tracks: Doves In The Wind, The Weekend, Pretty Little Birds, 20 Something Least Favorite Tracks: Garden (Say It Like Dat), Broken Clocks

perfection

She has a nice voice, but this wasn't anything special.

pussy pussy that was shit

Never heard of her before but this was a great album

CTRL by SZA is like an artfully crafted memo on modern love—sharp, introspective, and brimming with clever wordplay. While SZA’s sultry vocals and nuanced lyricism earn plenty of street cred, the album felt a bit like a highbrow conversation that I just couldn’t get into, despite knowing all the references. It’s clear she’s a master of mood and melody, but for me, the record’s intellectual swagger didn’t quite sync with my vibe. A commendable effort for the R&B connoisseur, though I’d prefer my heartbeats less annotated.

I liked this ok. Not usually one I would seek out but it was good.

I’m not sure I’m the target audience for this music. But to paraphrase Mr. Burns “I’m no music critic but I know what I hate. And I don’t hate this.” Good voice, interesting lyrics, and maybe most importantly every song didn’t sound the same.

pretty cool. i knew/liked some stuff from SZA but never sat down and listened to anything of hers deliberately before. great vocals, cool atmosphere. not all the songs my cup of tea but definitely a cool overall product

I don’t think anyone needs to say pussy that much

This made me feel old :(

Good album but some of the lyrics took away from the chill r&b feel of the album

Not for me.

слишком рнб, хорни и тоненько. более поздние творения которые кусками слышала больше понравились

2.8

Not too bad.

I like SZA's sound. She combines so many genres with the combination of her voice's tonality creates this neo-soul, ethereal experience. Also, the lyrics are well written and are a great portrayal of introspection.

Chciałabym bardziej polubić tę płytę, bo bardzo doceniam tę piosenkarkę i to, że ma swój własny styl i tożsamość. Ale niestety, RnB nie jest moją muzyką i choćbym nie wiem jak doceniała barwę głosu i pojedyncze utwory, całość zlewa mi się w jeden dość rozcieńczony strumień monotonnych dźwięków. 5/10

Milestone log 4: Day 400! Not much to say, I've fallen quite a bit behind (15-20 days). Still can confidently say I'm very much enjoying this project and I intend to go the full way.

A modern rnb classic. The Quality only lacks content wise to me but singing and sonically speaking its a really great album. I love SZA and her music and this is really an album that can be played front to back without any problems imo. (4.5/5.0)

This is ok, but I’m very much not her audience. I don’t really get a lot of this, not much of it lands at all for me, but it’s definitely not terrible. I prefer it to some of the rap we’ve had on here, but there’s just something missing for me. Would never return but at least I know what she is about now, albeit I’m still not sure how to pronounce her name. She likes talking about her fanny mind, doesn’t she?!

There were some decent beats in here and SZA can sing. Production felt very 2010s at times in a Frank Oceany way, lots of meaningful space which is an effect I'm tired of. Not unlistenable but far outside my wheelhouse, feels very much like music for the kids these days. But then I do like lots of recent stuff so I think I'm just not a fan of whatever this is.

Doves in the Wind made me laugh - a very intimate examination of her relationship with her genitals (and the thoughts of Kendrick Lamar on it). I think this would have benefited from a harder edge - the production is extremely bland and a little dated - riffs aren't overly imaginative and the instrumentation is uninspired. Drew Barrymore sounded a bit like a TLC off-cut. Not shocking, by any stretch, just not for me.

This kinda thing makes me feel old. She can sing and rap, I just can't relate to the content. Don't particularly like the style either. It's too RnB for me. She's also rapping about things that would annoy me if a male rapper said it, but I suppose as a female she can say them? I think i get the appeal though, just not sure I'm the correct demographic. I did find myself going back and listening to bits again though so there's that. I think "Drew Barrymore" was my favourite. I'm going 2.5

As a teenage girl, I find myself in the minority when I say I do not adore the music of SZA. I’ve never listened to an album of hers in full, and this being my first time I was rather disappointed. Other than the well known songs I’ve heard through friends or other platforms, I found this album rather difficult to swallow. I do not deny its significance, however I can’t get behind it.

Personal taste (isn't it all) but man do I hate this "style" of singing when I can even get by the processing. What does she really even sound like? Who tf knows - this is one of the most - if not THE most - overly-processed albums on this list. Even forgetting that (because singing sucks anyways) these lyrics would have to be better to be trash. Complete and pedal-to-the-floor pass on this robotic boring and just middle-school stupid soulless cut and paste project. 1/10 1 star

Ig im just not a very big fan of sza yeah she’s a good singer but i felt there was a lack of change between songs and she sorta just pisses me off sometimes😂. I’ve listened too so many albums since my last review it now being July so I’m sort of numb to music now. 5.8/10 2.9/10

I have to say I'm not up on my female rap/r&b artists like I should be! But I don't know who SZA is and I actually enjoyed this album immensely! I especially loved prom and doves in the wind! (Love Kendrick) And it had good features and good beats good album!

Really good. SZA is today's Lauryn Hill, her next two are even better.

Call me old fashioned but a lot of these contemporary R & B albums seem to be all about the vibe and to me the vibe ain’t all that great. Where are the hooks and the melody? Maybe I’m missing the point but it just leaves me cold

Yeah this is a classic

Potty mouth

That album flew by, I enjoyed every track. She's raw and honest delivering her barest thoughts with the sweetest voice.

## In-Depth Review of SZA's *Ctrl* SZA's debut album, *Ctrl*, released on June 9, 2017, is a landmark in modern R&B. It blends raw vulnerability with polished production, exploring themes of self-discovery, love, insecurity, and empowerment. The album’s influence on contemporary music is undeniable, as it redefined the boundaries of alternative R&B while resonating deeply with millennial audiences. ### **Themes and Lyrics** Thematically, *Ctrl* is a deeply introspective work that examines control—or the lack thereof—in various aspects of life. SZA reflects on relationships, self-worth, and personal growth with unflinching honesty. The lyrics are confessional and conversational, often feeling like diary entries. Tracks like "Drew Barrymore" delve into insecurities and self-doubt, while "Normal Girl" reveals a longing to fit societal molds of perfection. On "20 Something," SZA captures the uncertainty and existential dread of young adulthood with poignant simplicity[1][2][6]. Songs such as "The Weekend" tackle themes of infidelity and unconventional relationships with a frankness that challenges traditional norms. Meanwhile, "Supermodel" opens the album with a biting narrative about betrayal and self-reliance, setting the tone for the emotional journey that follows[3][4]. The inclusion of voiceovers from SZA's mother adds another layer of intimacy and wisdom to the album[2]. ### **Music and Production** Musically, *Ctrl* is rooted in alternative R&B but incorporates elements of neo-soul, hip-hop, pop, and even indie rock. The production is minimalist yet textured, allowing SZA's vocals to take center stage. Producers like ThankGod4Cody and Carter Lang crafted a soundscape that balances live instrumentation with electronic beats[1][2]. Tracks like "Supermodel" feature stripped-down arrangements—primarily guitar and subtle percussion—while songs like "Love Galore" (featuring Travis Scott) lean into bass-heavy hip-hop influences[3][4]. The production avoids overwhelming complexity, instead creating space for SZA's voice to shine. Her vocal performance is versatile, effortlessly shifting between husky tones and ethereal falsettos. Songs like "Pretty Little Birds" showcase her range alongside jazzy undertones, while tracks such as "Broken Clocks" employ boom-bap rhythms reminiscent of classic hip-hop[5][8]. ### **Highlights** - **"Supermodel":** A raw acoustic opener that sets the tone for the album's introspection. - **"Love Galore":** A sultry collaboration with Travis Scott that explores complicated relationships. - **"The Weekend":** A standout track addressing polyamorous dynamics with candid lyricism. - **"Drew Barrymore":** A vulnerable exploration of self-esteem issues. - **"20 Something":** A heartfelt closer that captures the anxieties of young adulthood. ### **Influence and Legacy** *Ctrl* has had a profound impact on modern R&B. Its blend of vulnerability and genre-defying production inspired a wave of artists to embrace authenticity in their music. The album’s themes resonated particularly with millennial women navigating similar struggles in relationships and self-discovery[6][7]. Critics have credited *Ctrl* with redefining the sound of contemporary R&B by merging introspective storytelling with accessible melodies[8][9]. Beyond its musical influence, *Ctrl* also sparked conversations about representation in music. SZA’s willingness to embrace imperfection—both lyrically and vocally—challenged traditional standards of beauty and success in the industry[8]. ### **Pros** 1. **Lyrical Depth:** SZA's honest and relatable storytelling connects deeply with listeners. 2. **Versatile Vocals:** Her ability to convey emotion through dynamic vocal performances is a highlight. 3. **Innovative Production:** The fusion of live instrumentation with electronic elements creates a unique soundscape. 4. **Cohesive Themes:** The album’s exploration of control ties its diverse tracks together seamlessly. 5. **Cultural Impact:** *Ctrl* redefined modern R&B and influenced a generation of artists. ### **Cons** 1. **Repetitive Themes:** Some critics argue that the focus on relationships can feel one-dimensional at times[4]. 2. **Safe Production Choices:** While cohesive, certain tracks lack the experimental edge present in her earlier work[4]. 3. **Limited Range in Topics:** The album primarily revolves around romantic relationships and personal insecurities, leaving little room for broader themes. ### **Conclusion** SZA’s *Ctrl* is an emotionally resonant masterpiece that captures the complexities of modern love and identity. Its confessional lyrics, innovative production, and cultural significance make it a standout debut that continues to influence R&B years after its release. While it has minor shortcomings in thematic diversity and experimental risks, these are outweighed by its strengths in storytelling and emotional depth.

This needs a little more cowbell, I mean autotune.

I really enjoyed this record.

84/100.

A beautifully well engineered and mixed album that insists upon sharing poor life choices with poorly chosen word choice lyrics (N-word and P-word) that could have been expressed by making other word choices that would have invited a wider range of listeners to lean in closer rather than leaning away and ignoring the message entirely during the first half of the album. I couldn't tell if she has a wonderful voice because they never let us hear it underneath all that auto-tuning. After listening to the song "Drew Barrymore" it was unclear to me why it was named after her. After reading about the song's creation, maybe association would have been clearer if it was named "Poison Ivy"? Favorite tracks: "Broken Clocks" and "Pretty Little Birds"

Not bad. Not my cup of tea

Hadn't listened to much SZA, but really enjoyed this. Smooth, subtle, sexy. Like sipping a nice Bourbon on the rocks.

It was om

Good but not quite SOS

How many times can you say pussy in one song

SZA is great

Not really my kind of music, but not totally unpleasant. Her sounds do sound a little repetitive after a while, but it's also kind of hypnotic, I guess.

2.5

It wasn't a bad album, but that's a very wrong way to start an album. Wrong, but brave. If you removed the trap songs you'd have a very decent album, but alas, it stays in the pile of Number 2's.

Yet another hip hop album. Beginning to wonder if this generator is being run by AI technology. There can be little justification to defend the quality of a lot of the albums that crop up on here. Certainly way too many hip hops do. Very disappointing

A rare W pick of a newer album by the editors of the book, SZA's debut set the tone for her rapid rise towards stardom to come. Great production, interesting vocals and killer beats.

Never actually listened to SZA’s debut before. Easy to hear why she became the star that she is today. Great vocals, likewise productions and a runtime that isn’t as excessive as so many of her genre colleagues. Everything isn’t for me, but I didn’t expect it to be either.

Kendrick's feature was great, the rest was fine. Listenable

I like a lot of the artists adjacent to her but for some reason not her

I remembered this album being better than it actually is. I thought it was really good, but I now realize that it’s just alright. Firstly, I kind of don’t like the way she sings throughout the album, which is weird, because she is a talented singer (she sounds way better on the Kendrick songs I’ve heard her on, including All The Stars, which only came out a year after this album). I also just don’t remember most of these songs the best. It’s still fine, though.

Dafür, dass es nicht mein Genre ist erstaunlich gut und witty

Ist einfach nicht soo meine Musik aber allgemein schon nicht schlecht.

Great musicianship, production, sound, but the lyrics were such hot garbage I had to turn it off. I love angry music, but make it angry about oppression and injustice, not petty dramas. I don't know. Giving it a 2 because it genuinely sounds fantastic, but just unlistenable. Weird combo.

There's no denying that SZA is a fantastic singer, but I find this album kind of drags on at times. Standouts: Supermodel, The Weekend, Broken Clocks

Jaja Rhythmusmaschine und so...

Good Liked the mix in genres

If this is a message album or concept album I completely miss it. I’m not the person this album is made for…I’d add alt del to this and call it a day.

I knew this SZA record a lot more than the other one that we did, and this one I think deserves the hype a lot more - there's some bangers here.

I love Amy. I haven't listened to Frank, I don't know why? In my mind it's because she didn't like it and felt it wasn't true to her, so that's why I just never bothered to do it. Fucked up on my part for sure. I enjoyed this album! It's way more lounge-y and r&b than the more pop/throwback 60s vibe her second album had. No one can sing like Amy and this album proves that still, however many years later, there isn't anyone who sounds like this. I started listening to it on speakers and then switched to headphones because I was listening while making dinner and I wanted to be sure to appreciate it. Appreciate it I did. I don't know if I will return to it or not though.

I’m just not sure why this made the list. There are some interesting ideas that then lead to generic modern R&B. It’s not bad, it’s just empty calories.

Ctrl establishes a new and powerful voice.

This is the 52nd album I’m rating. I’ve heard great things about SOS but not a lot about Ctrl. Adding to my Playlist - Doves in the Wind, Go Gina, Broken Clocks, Anything, Wavy (Interlude), Pretty Little Birds, and 20 Something. Not Adding to my Playlist - Supermodel, Love Galore, Drew Barrymore, Prom, The Weekend, Garden (Say It Like Dat), and Normal Girl. Supermodel - I’m have a natural disdain for radio music. The Weekend - I lost my review while writing this and I’m annoyed. All in all I liked 7/14 songs. This wasn’t the greatest but it was pretty good and on a different day I might rate it higher. However, I just don’t like this type of music today. I accidentally gave this 5 stars and had to edit it to 3 stars.

Another album where I feel I'm forcing myself to continue listening. Not a good sign. The autotune, which I'm normally fine with in moderation, is pretty out-of-control here. It makes it feel like SZA (pronounced "scissah") isn't putting any effort into her singing. The lyrics themselves are actually fine in general, excluding the first two tracks (Supermodel and Love Galore) which really leave a bad aftertaste heading into the meat of the album. Here are a few especially bad samples: "Let me tell you a secret / I been secretly banging your homeboy / Why you in Vegas / All up on Valentine's Day?" "You gots a fetish / You gots a problem / Now it's a problem, oh no / Skrrt, skrrt on bitches / I don't know these bitches / Dig dirt on bitches" SZA definitely has the pipes for some truly fantastic singing, and she flexes those pipes often – but her vocal is marred by poor instrumental accompaniment, repetitive melodies, lyrics that don't really say anything, and autotune that makes her sound bizarre and unnatural. Re the autotune – I have a similar complaint about Charli XCX's music (though compositionally and energetically, she's far superior). What of the instrumental? Broken Clocks stands out as the only track with an obvious material instrument – the acoustic guitar – and for that reason it's a huge breath of fresh air amidst a sea of uninteresting electronic noise. A few songs have trap beats, others have simple unlayered synths, still others have a sluggish electronic bassline... it's just not interesting enough to really grab the listener's attention. I have to assume it's built for listeners to focus on the vocals, but as mentioned previously, those are flawed for their own reasons. One other quirk I noticed is a reliance on the 2nd of a tonic/major chord and 4th of a tonic/minor chord in SZA's melodies. Modern pop seems to do this a lot; it can be seen with artists like Doja Cat, Lizzo, even Taylor Swift. In just about every track (and possibly even every line in some tracks) SZA clings onto this melodic idea. I would say it's an artifact of a genre, but seeing how universal it is only recently, it's probably more an artifact of a musical era. It's a bit distracting when these notes are used constantly instead of just as passing notes. After this album, I went ahead and listened to SZA's later album SOS (2022), which is musically pretty similar but dives more into melodic hooks and sound layering than Ctrl. I reckon 2017-SZA could take some notes. 1/5 Key tracks: Drew Barrymore, Broken Clocks, 20 Something

Not really my thing, but some of it is decently laid-back. 2,5/5

Not really my thing. Production is cool and some interesting songs, most of the lyrics aren’t relatable for me

Excellent

You know what with a more distinctive singer this would have been in contention for a 3.5 or a 4. The beats, samples and melodies are a strong representation of contemporary pop r and b rap. Auto-tuned from A to Z, she's not quite able to lift this for me into something distinctive. It's a solid 2.5 but afraid it's a round down.

i lovee sza my favs off this album were ofc "broken clocks" and then I rly liked "drew barrymore"

Not going to have a go at it but I'm not into it, just seems like fairly standard modern R&B. Only moment I thought I particularly liked the instrumentals were during Normal Girl and Doves In The Wind The singing is sort of irritating. It feels pretty out of place with the acoustic instrumentation, especially with the heavy autotuned moments. Travis Scott feels like a pisstake on the second track, suppose that's how he usually sounds but I don't like that heavily processed style at all. I liked Kendrick's feature, though Not going to knock how sexual the lyrics are, I don't really care. It seems like women get a much harder time for that than men, as if it's invalid or somehow more vulgar. I had Van Halen yesterday and it's funny that nobody mentioned the sexual lyrics on that Not my thing, not particularly interested in hearing it again 2.5 Highlights: Normal Girl, Doves In The Wind

Nice grooves, it might grow on me more

3.5 - not at all my usual jam, but I enjoyed this

This doesn't get us excited but we weren't in a hurry to turn it off either. An average album for us.

Drew Barrymore sticht raus

★★★★⅓

Forgettable.

I actually disliked this so much I had to give up halfway through. There's nothing particularly interesting about this album. Her voice is solidly alright, but there's nothing special going on. Musically or lyrically. Lots of swearing for swearing sake which really doesn't get you very far with me. 0/10 would like to never listen to any of this again

Signed to what was admittedly the biggest rap label at the time (Top Dawg Entertainment), alt-r'n'b / neo soul singer SZA spent two years refining around 150 - 200 songs, and her and her producers were repeatedly unable to select which ones should make the final cut for her debut (until TDE put their feet down and forced them to do so). I'm wondering... Is it because a large majority of those 150 - 200 cuts were just supporting the same sorts of meandering and tired vocal lines mostly devoid of hooks or anything that would make them memorable (or just endearing for general audiences)? Is it why they couldn't sort of the wheat from the chaff? Because a very large part of that crazy effort was actually *underwhelming*? (at least, that's what could be inferred from the 14 tracks out of that gargantuan output that did end up in *Ctrl*). To her own admission, SZA relies a lot on improvised adlibs over music written by others in her artistry. And here's the thing, folks: unless you're a killer jazz vocalist or instrumentalist, vocal adlibs rarely yield to a clear-cut artistic vision, transcendent songs, or a personal, sophisticated knack for *composition*. And there's not the density of full-blown rapping either. TDE needed a return from their investment, hence why those sly foxes heavily promoted the thing anyway -- their first female r'n'b singer, big whoop! -- and they first did so to a select choice of "music critics", probably favoring surface gloss over real substance, of course. And then, well, all you needed to do was to promote SZA to a massive target audience that's never too picky as long as you have a good-looking singer doing the same type of neo-soul theatrics. It's a book as old as *The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill*, another decent album that's been overrated to ridiculous proportions. There are things that money *can* buy in the music world. And TDE had loads of it in the first place. OK, I admit what I've just written on obviously sounds incredibly harsh and polemical for SZA fans (and also for fans of Ms. Hill, btw). Let me be clear, though, I don't *hate* this album. Once you set your mind into the correct expectations, a lot of it is rather nice and chill *background music*. It's what I will eventually enjoy in the first three tracks of this LP: opener guitar-driven "Supermodel", "Love Galore" and "Doves In The Wind". I also fully appreciate Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar's rap featurings on those cuts - especially the latter deconstructing the use of the slur "pussy" in a near-feminist angle. Likewise, I love some of the left-field shenanigans going on in the background -- all those futuristic synths, enticing loops, or indie-rock-inspired guitar licks, whether in the cuts I've just quoted or in many other ones in the record. But *SONGS*, folks? Ones you can hum or whistle in the shower? Ones that you instantly and *truly* feel for? Are there any of them in this album? Good news, there is at least *one*, "Drew Barrymore", with its emotional killer chorus, with a lush string section helping the whole thing make a home run at the end of the track. Was finding a memorable chorus all that hard, Solana? Apparently, it was, since follow-up synth-pop cut "Prom" comes close pulling it off twice in a row, and yet ultimately fails at it. Because there's definitely something missing in that one composition, just like for at least half of the other ones... After that, it's indeed more and more adlibs and soul-trap meandering theatrics, unfortunately ("The Weekend", "Broken Clocks".. ). Lyrics are fine, I guess: women's perspective on love relationships (or lack thereof), and so on. Nothing revolutionary, though. Self-indulgence still comes off in spades throughout the album, whether musical or lyrically. Two highlights magically reach the heights already explored in a more spectacular mode by "Drew Barrymore". They're the moody, cinematic and afro-futuristic "Garden" and "Pretty Little Birds" (with also nice jazzy and scat flourishes in the latter, and what a surprising ending, to boot). But once again, the achievements here owe more to the greatness of the music in the background than to SZA's vocal ideas. So that's it. I tried hard to open my shakras on this one, and there is stuff in this record that I can genuinely say that I love. Yet, there are also tons of moments where I'm just bored to death. Sometimes I wonder if the target audience for this sort of music truly cares about the *album* format. Just like that sort of audience maybe does, I can see myself adding my favorite cuts from this record in a playlist, and then not only totally forget about the rest, but also totally *dismiss* it altogether! Which is another reason why I believe this particular record won't make my own final cut of 1001 albums you must listen to before your demise. And I feel like the same sort of thing will happen with SZA's other LPs (the visibly bloated *SOS* and *Lana*, apparently displaying the exact same share of assets AND flaws in even *longer* runtimes -- I mean, for *one* "Kill Bill", how many "Low", "Snooze*, "F2F" and "Gone Girl"?). Not exactly an immediate ctrl-alt-delete, but if my 1001 album software gets bogged down by too many performance issues, I'm afraid I won't have much choice than to start losing excessive data with this sort of overrated LP. Unless I want my IT gear to join all the technological garbage behind SZA. Guess that's where the rest of those 150 - 200 songs ended up anyway. 3/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums 8/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3) Number of albums left to review: around thirty or twenty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book. Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 464 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 282 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 336

7.57

Gesang und Style nicht schlecht. Mix ist mir zu scharf und gnadenlos übersättigt (jaja, THD). In diesem Maß ist das eine schlimme Mode.

super produced R&B, but a little too janky and smooth for me

It wasn't terrible. Nice beats and good listening. The lyrics of some of the songs aren't terribly nuanced but overall I enjoyed listening to something I never would have chosen myself to listen to.

I came into this album not looking forward to it based on its recency and the scathing reviews. My opinion was changed by track 2 and locked me into a fan by the end of the album. The whole point of this project is to discover new music. I've known of SZA for a while but never heard her. Her music is not up my alley, but she earned my respect through this release. 4/5

Straight porn lyrics seemto have become a trend among female R&B/Rap acts over the past 1-2 decades. I don’t need the graphic play by play of sex acts with my R&B. Not sure what got this on the list other than shock value. I realize many many bands have nasty lyrics and themes — but the metaphors, word play, & double entendre usually make then more interesting than this. Can’t imagine too many scenarios where I’d want to listen to this. A 1.

Honestly this has been one of the stickiest R&B/pop albums of the past decade for me. Just grew and grew and grew. Supermodel not just a supreme album opener, but a supreme song - Anything a close second

Damn I haven't listened to this in a long time. Very impactful album

really good and nostalgic - really amazing debut... reminds me of a simpler time :)

I read up a little about SZA, and I really, really didn't want to like this album, as she just seems like a horrible person. Turns out I didn't have much to fear, as it was a mess of auto-tune, tinny trap sounds, and inane lyrics. If this album is supposed to be this generation's "Miseducation", then god help us all. There were a couple of places where I appreciated the guest vocalist, so I'm going with 2 stars, but it's a low 2. Pretty tacky and derivative R&B.

Painfully generic and utterly forgettable. Half an hour after finishing it I genuinely struggled to remember anything about it

3/5 nic szczególnego. Taki współczesny pop-rap.

Of its time but extremely influential

Better than I expected it to be. Would listen again

Autotuned nonsense across 14 tracks. It might be good for having sex to in a slammed Dodge Charger with some sick rims in South Central. For my lilly white butt I'll pass.

pretty funky and vibey, have to like that

Ctrl starts off rough (Travis Scott can make anything boring, i swear), but eventually improves into something a bit more mature and less one-note over time. i still don't feel like i'm "in love" with the record -- any themes of control as relayed to SZA via her mom feel scattershot and almost incidental -- but i can understand why people gave so much love and attention to her career at the time. it's hard picking out the best track cause of how united the album is in its sound, but let's be real, the answer's probably Drew Barrymore. wasn't aware pussy had so many dimensions before "Doves in the Wind". i kind of miss the time before i learned, about an hour ago.

This was actually pretty good. Pop R&B, but never obnoxious. Mellow, easy, good for background music. It’s got a good dose of that 20-teens era of no-music music. But she’s a good singer, and there’s enough actual music to keep it from feeling too empty. On second listen, I like it more. Several saves and only one skip.

Sounded great! 3.5

this is a really good album except for the part where forrest gump is described as "never without pussy" that just isn't accurate, SZA

Somehow never listened to this all the way through before despite being in college at the peak of this album's popularity

I want to like SZA more than I do, but most of the time I'm like "yeah this is nice" and then forget about the album until some other time it's brought up

Feels very generic and over produced

Not for me. Bored, couldn’t get through it - neither music nor lyrics seemed to have anything to offer.

Album 663 of 1001 SZA - Ctrl (2017) Rating : 1 / 5 First track she says how much she liked the dick. 3rd track was all about pussy. I prefer talent over trash.

Decent. Headphones were playing up a bit. Not sure if this will be thought of as one of the 1001 best albums in 10 years time but hey ho 5/10

Not my genre of music by any means, but some interesting tracks, and if I have to listen to Country it would definitely be Johnny

Je l’ai pas encore lancé, mais je sais déjà que je vais pas tripper. Puisque j’ai un retard dans mes écoutes et j’suis pas un sado, je vais me contenter d’écouter de critiquer seulement la première tounes, ce qui devrait amplement suffire: C’est du caca boudin, gnagnagna je pleure bouhouhouinouinouin 😭😭🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮

Explicit marked against every track… no thanks!

As shallow as a muddle puddle. Shitty autotune applied throughout. The lyrics and content are utterly, utterly dreadful. No artistic merit at all. It gets one feeble extra half-star because some of the production is quite good, and the song 'Prom' isn't bad. However I'm still rounding that 1.5 down.

I do love her 21st-century sadgirl vibe in her later albums, but this debut album feels more like an R&B and soul version of Beyoncé.

This is another case of something I’m only vaguely familiar with, so I didn’t really know what to expect. WOW this is not what I expected at all. It’s so cool. The vocalist is super incredible, an amazing range of expression. The music and production reminds me of trip hop more than anything. It’s like Portishead just a shade less cinematic and a bit more hip hop. Super catchy music, very soulful vocals, trip hoppy production, hip hop beats, and just an amazing air of cool. Not sure how all that coolness works with the album being called control. This feels loose and intuitive, not overly done and controlled. Another thing I really like is how the vocals are used in a variety of roles. I mean sometimes you get the vocals clean as a “lead”. Other times they’re treated with delay to be used as something more of a rhythm instrument. Sometimes it’s jammy and jazzy, other times pop. This is just beautiful. I also really like how sparse the production is. It allows for really great dynamics within the songs and the album as a whole. The album closer “20 something” is a real treat. Not exactly folk but it got a folksy guitar, not really soul but it got soulful singing, just something unique and beautiful. This is an incredible album and an easy five star.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are compelled to listen to pop music created within the last 10 years, you could do a lot worse than this. The vocals are strong and the lyrics and music are solid. I’m just not a huge fan of this genre.

Interesting, but not for me.

Has an interesting sound that I don't hate. Not a fan of the mumbly songs though. I'm missing something.

Nothing exceptional about this at all. The Kendrick Lamar track is complete trash. Most songs sound the same Prom was OK. 2.5 and I'm torn which way to round it. . . Grudgingly rounding up.

I have not lived SZA’s life but I had a few situationships back in college so I feel we are connected.

Njeh

not my jam overall, decent sound but bad lyrics.

2- the album is definitely not made for me. The music sounded fine and there was some cool synths. I just didn’t resonate at all with the lyrics

not even remotely my cup of tea

nope

I don't like pornographic lyrics but the rest of it was good

Only positive was her voice, unfortunately how she used it was trash.

Not of a fan of any of it

Ugh. Production is pretty solid and sounds good. Her voice is pretty solid. Otherwise though, lyrics are straight trash. All this album cares about is sex, drugs, and pleasure at any cost, it's so hedonistic. Kinda makes me sad that that's all you care about in life.

vocally, it was ok. musically, pretty one-dimensional. lyrically, so demeaning coming from a woman. why is this on the list? 1.5 stars

75% Best: Prom; The Weekend; Go Gina Must-Hear? Decent, but no

chill

262/1001 🌕🌑🌑🌑🌑

I'm really not feeling this album.

This was actually not as bad as I thought it would be. It was pretty pleasant to listen. The lyrics in newer music though, those need some work.

SZA has been a breath of fresh air for the R&B scene. The production paired with her vocals is such beautiful harmony throughout this record. Very well done.

This was fine. Listened once over weekend, didn’t turn it off, won’t listen again.

Bit my style

Gorgeous. Could have done without some of the grosser guest spots, but every note out of SZA's mouth was perfect

Sonically I find it a two, maybe a one. It’s uninteresting to me. Lyrically it is literally and figuratively provocative. It comes from an underrepresented audience.

At the start I was convinced this wasn't going to be my thing, but it did pick up at the end! Favourite track: Broken Clocks.

Rating: 5.5/10 It's decent, the production is amazing but the themes and her vocal delivery and style do not resonate with me.

Enjoyed it overall. Blurs together a bit in the middle. Standout songs: Love Galore Doves in the Wind 20 Something

Pretty solid

Very cool

It's cool to see albums from the last 10 years find their way into this listing. This is really good - she's a very good singer - the music and beats are solid. Good features (fuck Travis Scott though). Didn't really pay much attention to the lyrics but they seem good - I can see how this album ended up here.

Really started off thinking this was not my thing, but there were actually some pretty nice tracks on here

Quote "Ctrl is primarily an alternative R&B and neo soul album, with elements of hip hop, pop, soul, electronic, and indie. " To be honest, that's broadly "a bit of a mess ... with too much AutoTuned vocals." The album tries to a wide range of genre's, and isn't really outstanding at any of them. (Actually, I didn't detect any Death-Polka, so maybe that'll be on the follow-up album.

I kept waiting for it to get better after weak start but it never peaked its head above mediocrity

I want to give this album a 5 because it is awesome...but I can't put it in the same category as the all time greats. 4.4

Modern R&B like Drake or The Weeknd or Frank Ocean. Overproduced, talentless music about banging.... I don't get it.... Also, like every other album in this genre, it is full of skits for some reason.....fuck I hate skits.... Someone commented "Ctrl-Alt-Del" and I think that is the most fitting review I've ever seen for this shit. ... I hate everything about this.... Favourite songs: Prom Least favourite songs: Doves in the Wind (gross) 1/5

Very cool

It's not really my style of music but I can appreciate it, there's some nice songs here. Her voice is great, features didn't really add much to it for me.

It’s pretty. I like her voice. I like the production. I respect her honesty. I like the character depicted in the album. I’m glad I listened to it. I’ll never deliberately listen to a single track ever again though.

1/10 I hate this. I had to listen to a cat making love to scrub my brain. 12-11-2024

I gather people make a fuss over the fact that it's a women dishing out vulgar lyrics. I don't really mind that, but I don't really get into vulgar lyrics from either gender. I like SZA's voice and some of the production, but I didn't get especially hooked by any tracks.

Drifted between a and 4 for me. But, rounding up because I think it's so stupid-funny that other reviewers are put off by her vulgarity while excusing so many male performers here that are worse.

No one does vulnerability like Sza. SOS might be her best album (yet) but Ctrl is an amazing sophomore effort.

Not as terrible as I expected. Sometimes actually enjoyable, too many cheesy gimmicks (pitch changes, "Vinyl" sounds, "shocking" lyrics) however to really enjoy.

I understand why someone would like this, but it hits a lot of musical pet peeves for me. Also a lot of the songs have the same flow and just kind of sound the same. Mid 2.

She has a great voice but my main problem is that every female singer sounds the same. Because I didn't even realise the album was over and it was on radio for 5 more songs... I did enjoyed the first tracks with travis scott and kendrick lamar. Not bad, but just one in a crowd of singers.

Un nuevo álbum clásico, SZA hizo un gran debut y tan solo este álbum la consolidó como una de las más grandes estrellas pop de esta década, un logro increíble como cantante de R&B

SZA is good, Ctrl is good.

Lotte muziek

Soulful and rich. Great album.

3.4 - It had some good bits, but not really my vibe

Very good, nothing particularly great for me. Very 4 star album, and that's kinda how I feel about most of SZA's work, it's never bad but also rarely any transcendent standout tracks. 4/5

yikes

Not for me.

I thought I would like it more cuz I like SZA on features, but I think I don't really like sad music

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.

Well, she can sing in a vocal range of about 5 notes, she can't pronounce, and the samples on here are just... really rough. Obviously it's popular, just not my cup of tea.

I actually enjoyed this album heard of SZA but I don’t think I’d listened to any of her music prior to this.

Held back by the expectations of its generation

Not Sza’s best work

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

4-

Alright pop album. Nothing super stuck out, albeit this review is coming 6 weeks later...

Pop/rap really fun, original sound design and melodies

The first three songs on this are quite off-putting, just by the subject matter (which is fine, I'm not against it, it was just quite in your face). After that, it settled into a really pretty good album, with strong vocals and a very cool style. She sounded like Samia, who I really love. It's probably the wrong way round to make that comparison in fairness, given SZA has headlined Glastonbury and Samia has...not.

It’s a little different but it’s still r&b.

girl why you gotta bring Drew Barrymore into this 😭

Good album, throwback to my high school days.

Good stuff

Overproduced tripe. Not my thing.

2 - Parece que es solo una canción, mismo sonsonete todo el disco.

Drew Barrymore sticht heraus

It was listenable. It sounded like x number of artists you hear on urban \ contemporary radio nowadays. I didn't find anything on there that would make me listen again.

4.25

Mostly just a decent hip hop album, but there were a couple of really good songs in the first half that made it worth the listen

4.5/5

They could have spent some more time on the songwriting and some less on sound design. She's a good singer. The backing tracks aren't really going anywhere. They spent a lot of effort to cover it up with a super slick production. I almost fell for it. Favorite song: 20 something.

One of the better modern r&b pop albums, but man it's hard for me to link into the mindset. Like I'm not a passionate woman, so I have to try to get in those shoes. But good voice and style

I was expecting to dislike this album. I really didn’t know what I was getting into. I enjoyed it way more than expected and will have to listen to it again to see if it can be added to my rotation.

I like SZA's music in general. Some of the songs I really like, some are just alright but I enjoy the vibe of her music.

It was OK - didn't really speak to me, but then again, I'm probably not the audience

A perfect encapsulation of why I don’t listen to new music. Every time you hear “pussy” take a drink!

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~

Kann man mal anhören.

Surprised how much I enjoyed this

After song 1, I was in the -fuck this auto tune shit being on the list. Woman empowerment with a lyrics about needing you? But I persisted, because that's the point of this project, right? So my overall review is... the music is dull. It lacks good beats, it's repetitive, and in my opinion, highly overrated.

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

Ctrl is the debut album from SZA, who makes music in contemporary R&B. SZA has a voice the could have excelled in R&B and Soul in an era; in a time of autotune and vocal filters, her voice still shows through as beautiful, expressive and emotive. The album met with widespread critical and commercial success, and made a star out of SZA. These are melodic, engaging stories told by a soulful voice. The production is an electronic, effect laden version of R&B, but that does distract from SZA's incredible voice. Songs like "Anything" demonstrates the not-always congruous elements of her music; it starts with a near-dancehall, distorted bass, and ends with a looped cadence with SZA's angelic voice.

пару неплохие песен, но в целом залупня конская

Don't run with her

The combination of the spacious sound and honest-like-a-diary lyrics make this an interesting and very respectable pop album for sure. That being said, I don't find the songwriting or the stories told all that appealing or well-executed.

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

A lot of good songs, but a few very annoying ones bring this down to a three.

Shimmery, emotive, yearning soul music, like someone threw Aaliyah and Beach House in a blender. Great atmosphere and vocals. I’m into it. Best song: Normal Girl

Ik weet niet zo heel goed wat ik ermee aan moet. Dat had ik ook toen ik vorige week Hot Ones keek, waar zij met een bizar insectenmasker aanschoof. Ik heb het idee dat dit is wat je krijgt als je de Spotify top 50 aanzet. Ik vind dit wel lekker wegluisteren, maar verder heb ik er niet zo veel mee. De nieuwe Katy Perry ('Prom'), met iets meer streetcred. Rnb in een 2024 jasje, of 2017 jasje dan. Ik denk niet dat iemand zich dit over 20 jaar nog herinnert. Maar zoals gezegd kan ik het best aanhoren een keer. En ome Kendrick komt langs. Drie sterren.

R&B is not one of my go-to genres, but I had this album on repeat when it came out. I first fell in love with SZA's voice when I heard her feature on the opening track of Rihanna's ANTI. I had to see what solo work she had, and realized I'd heard her song Julia on my college-town radio station a ton, and while I also really liked that song, her feature on Rihanna's song really showcases her signature vocals that would come to shine through on CTRL. This is probably a 4.5, but I'm giving it a 4. Mainly because - while I love vibing to this album - I can't really remember what any of the songs sound like outside of Love Galore, which is my favorite track. I prefer an album's songs to embed themselves in my brain in the most delightful way. Overall a great album, and I've enjoyed following her deserved success since then.

Liked this one a lot more than I expected. I am not usually a fan of female led pop/rap but this was really good, clever lyrics that were sometimes just as vulgar as her male counterparts. Good beats and good features.

If I wrote a review using the language used in these songs I would be banned from the internet

Superb album.

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?

Chill modern R&B. Not as cutting edge as Frank Ocean but still good songwriting

I usually love this genre but scraped 3* from me. It's okay, but sounds like a more boring version of Drake, and I already find Drake boring.

It’s okay - not my cup of tea but it wasn’t bad to listen to.

Nt bd

Not my cup of tea but I like her voice. Actually, saw her once at a festival. Left halfway thru as I thought she was more interested in "shock" lyrics instead of showing off her talent and vocal ability. But I'm not her target audience so I'm sure she didn't notice.

I didn't really like that album. SZA can sing but it's not enough to impress me. The instrumentals were fine as well. The tracks are the type of song that gets radio play every hour. And I don't mean it in a good way. 2 stars for "Ctrl".

Half way through the album and it just isn't something I would put on my home speakers for background. I like a lot of hip-hop but this isn't an album that clicks for me. I also listened to SOS and find I like that album quite a bit more.

You can die before listening to this album. Actually listening to this album made me want to die.

Couldn’t wait for it to end

Confident album with some excellent collaborations. I liked.

9/24/24. First time giving SZA's debut a full listen, I was late to the game! Very solid album, top-tier R&B for the modern times. Falls off a little toward the end, but is pretty consistent throughout.

3.5 rounded up to 4. Drew Barrymore was my favorite track, with Doves in the Wind and Anything getting honorable mentions.

This was ok, but a lot of it sounded the same. Was hoping for better.

I like this

Relaxed beats again completely ruined by inane lyrics

About damn time

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."

Byrjar sem rappplata en endar á hugljúfum tónum. Þannig að ég var búinn að missa áhugann áður en ég fattaði að þetta var bara prýðileg plata. Ég mun samt ekki setja hana aftur á fóninn

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

Cool, smooth, modern R&B, with plenty of bite. Quite a pleasant listen, and she has a lovely voice, but the overall effect is somewhat less than fully compelling. There just isn’t as much here that is new as she would like, especially lyrically, which is your typical litany of casual connections that are less than fulfilling.

Chill music with some good beats. And she has a good voice. The lyrics are hilarious, but I don't really listen to them anyway.

Solid hip-hop / r&b. Had some really nice pieces in it. The rest was OK. Felt very middle of the pack but didn't hate it at all.

Kind of a disappointing album - feel like she has a great singing voice but it all kinda sounds the same. Wanted to like it more but was just ok. 7/10

a kind of bloated modern pastel modern bedroom R&B album. nothing to write home about

I can't get on board with Ctrl, it sounds too generic to interest me, doesn't come close to the quality or depth of the genre from 10 or 20 years ago, it's pretty shallow and I continue to dislike the modern production of music and the heavy heavy use of autotune. Dull as fuck 2.

I quite like this. But it's just too laid back for me, it doesn't excite musically at all really, the stuff behind it is all quite slow. Her voice is really nice when it's left alone (Drew Barrymore probably the best example of this), but there's too much production behind most of it I think? She tells interesting stories for the most part, the lyrics are decent, it's too good for a 2 but musically a bit too bland for a 4. 3/5.

good album, good songs, good vocals

I perhaps wouldn’t choose to listen to her but this was alright.

3 stars. Not my usual genre but good stuff.

Same old garbage that every bad artist raps. Couldn't make it beyond 3 songs.

I'm old.

some good moments, but in general only a good effort in mixing R&B, soul and modern hip-hop/pop beats

Heard a lot of praise for this when I came out but just middle of the road for me.

Ihan kai passelia musiikkia, mutta mikään ei jäänyt mieleen.

Her ability to inject genuine personality and character into each song is so astounding that the instrumentals don’t have to do that much work. I can think of few others over the past few decades who have that capability - maybe Frank Ocean, earlier Kanye, and Kendrick. Elite storytelling abilities puts her in elite company. Side note, anytime I pull an album from 2000ish or beyond, I’m filled with excitement for something new, but also filled with dread - knowing there’s only more 60’s psychedelia and 80’s british post-punk to slog through

ashamed to say ive never listened to this album b4 now its a banger

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.

Not a huge r&b fan so didn’t love this but think it’s good

5/10 - They kind of all blended together. Some of the songs were bad and some were slightly better. 20 something was weird.

I’m not the biggest rnb fan but sza is always fun to listen to

Conflicted. Lyrically a mess and the first half to middle of the album is trash. Even with the instrumentals on some of the early songs be pretty great it is ultimately destroyed by the awful lyrics. The latter portion of the album is much better and man if it would have just been those songs this would probably have been a much more enjoyable experience. 4/10

Incredible. Feels like there's a million unopened doors that will take hundreds of listens to open.

I enjoyed a lot of the songs on this album individually. She has a great voice, and the music is good overall. The problem comes when I try to listen to it as an album, and every song starts to blend together because they all sound really similar 3/5

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

Meh album. This just sounds like everything else. It's not really difficult to listen to, but it doesn't have anything that moves me. Lyrically, it's not great. **

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

I can appreciate that this is good. It’s just not my jam.

Good

Listened Before? N Wow, really surprising. I have only heard of her in passing, but this album is very, very good. Nice mix of hip-hop and R&B with some trap sound. Very intelligent lyrics make this a rare one. Loved it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Broken Clocks

Boring and -1 for autotune

It’s about 14 songs too long