This installment we see the effects of the thank u, next phenomenon that's been happening, with Grande holding 3 of only 8 slots on our list.
I didn't come around to Ariana Grande until I gave the Dangerous Woman album a fair listen. I've been a fan of hers since. It showed me that she had the breadth to be able to put together a full length, cohesive album, with no filler.
First, I know this outs me as an old person who actually cares about albums and the artistry and talent that goes into putting together an extended listening experience.
I understand, that the album doesn't mean what it used to, and a collection of singles makes more sense in the streaming age, so I'm not mad at Sweetener or thank u, next for lacking a feel of cohesive multidimensionality. Which is why I'm so pleased Billboard put together their "Sweet, Thanks" playlist, which pulls together 13 recent AG tracks to make a listening experience I'd put on par with Dangerous Woman.
The
article does a great job of backing up their selections, too, for example: "We have to take it a little easy on the Pharrell cuts on Sweet, Thanks, because his contributions so reflect his own sonic signature that they can occasionally distract from Ariana's own presence."
When Williams was producing large swaths of the hit catalog of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears in the 90's and 00's, his sound was still novel, and pop music fans had less awareness of the role of producers and songwriters in the machine.
Now, major producers are well-known, collaborations are common place, and Pharell's sound, while admittedly usually blazing, sticks out. And it doesn't help that he can't help but have a vocal presence on every cut he does, too. This keeps Sweeetner from being a great full-length effort, as it plays a bit like Pharell taking over much of AG's record. (Same thing happens on Gwen Stefani's 2006 The Sweet Escape album.)
- Matt
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UP 2
#1 WITHOUT ME / Halsey
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" This song is still doing it for me. I’ve removed it from personal playlists to avoid overplaying, which helps. I hope we get more from Ashley’s perspective since it feels more raw and honest than her other tracks from “Halsey.”
Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Identifying itself a gender-reversed "Cry Me A River" in the bridge is one the reasons I think this has hit the top of the charts. It puts itself in the ilk of the JT's of the world, feminine, but subject, not object. And I think that's what a lot of pop fans want right now. A non-male contemporary superstar who has become successful without being subordinated to the male gaze.
Credit to my regionally-programmed hip hop/dance radio station for playing "CMAR" right after "Without Me" the other day on my way to work. Love that kind of stuff.
NEW
#2 7 RINGS / Ariana Grande
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" This track is fun and catchy. Does it help the cultural appropriation discussion constantly surrounding Ariana? Nope. Not at all. It helps that she (eventually) pulled 2 Chains onto the track but given the timing, it does feel like she’s just covering her butt. I recommend listening to this song in the context of the album for a heightened experience.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" "Black card is my bidness card." This track is a brilliant potpourri of so many modern pop tropes, which I love. Of course, the legal and accounting departments may have their work cut out for them, but I don't think it's an artistic issue. Borrowing, sampling, referencing, etc. is all part of it for me. That said, where was the Rodgers and Hammerstein outrage?? JK IDK if there was outrage or not. Just a joke. Having some fun. I
will say that amidst all the drama surrounding the single, Ariana Grande, like Britney Spears on her 2007 "
Hot As Ice," is "handling [her] bidness."
DOWN 2
#3 THANK U, NEXT / Ariana Grande
Erin - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" I’m bored. I was never a huge fan of this track, and any enthusiasm was really for the music video hitting all the right nostalgia points. It’s fine, it’s forgettable, it’s getting all the attention “I’m so into you” deserved.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" That little hi-hat closing when she says "next," like she's swiping to the next one. This song is impossibly easy to listen to.
NEW
#4 EASTSIDE / benny blanco
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Khalid and Halsey both have interesting voices and that’s keeping me engaged with this track. It’s an interesting choice for song writer Blanco to put his name directly on the track and I’m excited to see what else he has coming out
Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" Very close to four stars. Love the rhythmic interplay with the lyric and the percussion. The cadence, meter and rhyme are just so tight, ratcheting tension to be released with the "runnaaaaaaaaaa-way with me..."
DOWN 1
#5 HIGH HOPES / Panic! At The Disco
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" I’ve been a PaTD fan since A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (I’m aging myself here). I’ve enjoyed watching the growth of this band, or really the journey Brendon Urie has taken. High Hopes has a definite place in their discography while having no right to be on any of their other albums, which I think is an incredible feat for a band going on 15 years.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" I give this one a turn it up, because if you do, it's better. Remarkable amount of tiny little details that keep momentum well in hand. Nine (!) people have writing credits on it. Rare case where it turns into a well-textured anthem instead of a too-many-cooks deal. Also it's so cute he's actually talking about advice his mom gave him.
DOWN 4
#6 SICKO MODE / Travis Scott
Erin - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" The main attraction for me here is the contrasting start with the rest of the song. This is edited out for radio play which I think is really unfortunate.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" Probably launched into the Top 10 unnaturally, but now it's a phenomenon. If anything, it's giving repeated airplay to a trap song with many parts, giving the general public an insight into the sparesely-architected bounce that fans of trap are drawn to. Must give credit to whoever did the radio edit. This version allows the transitions to take their time, but on the radio it plays inconspicuosuly smoothly.
NEW
#7 SUNFLOWER / Post Malone
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" I’m surprised by how much I like this song. It’s so mellow that it’s calming when it comes on the radio, a nice variation from some of the other music happening now.
Matt - ⭐️ "Turn it off" Plodding, dumb, barely romantic.
NEW
#8 BREAK UP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND, I'M BORED / Ariana Grande
Erin - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Turn it up" With a fun, cool vibe I’m enjoying this on the airwaves. I always love when an artist comes out with multiple singles on top of each other, and I think it really adds to the enjoyability of any single track since the artist tends to be in rotation more than any single single. And, of course, the ode to N*SYNCs “It Makes Me Ill” is a true delight.
Matt - ⭐️⭐️ "Leave it on" A fun song, probably sneaking on to the Top 10 because it is a sort of short song (easy to log repeated listens on streaming) and the rest of the album has been so popular. And it's a little daring.
