album Rina Sawayama - 'Hold the Girl'

[Brunette Ambition]

Minor Feelings - 2/10 

Hold the Girl - 5/10

This Hell- 7/10

Catch Me in the Air - 410

Forgiveness - 5/10 

Holy - 8/10 

Your Age - 6/10

Imagining - 5/10 

Frankenstein - 4/10 

Hurricanes - 2/10 

Send My Love to John - 0/10 

Phantom - 5/10 

To Be Alive - 0/10

 

from sawayama (my favorite album in the past 2 years) to this  it’s like she took the worst parts of that album (cheesy family) and made it an album 

[JasonGosling]

I haven't listened to the whole album yet but Catch Me in The Air brought me a lot of emotion and I like it a lot. 

[blastoisebaby]

This is a 2022 perfect pop album.

I’ll understand if critics love it.

But it’s like it lacks Rina.

There are highlights. And all the songs are really well written and produced,but it’s lacking something.

 

This album is very commercial sounding with a few exceptions,which is odd for her Niche fans. If that makes sense.

 

Highlights:

 

Hold The Girl

Imagining 

Send My Love To John

Holy

[arceus]

Rina what is this 

[BlackJesus]

1 minute ago, arceus said:

Rina what is this 

A GOOD ALBUM

[halcyonday]

I'm scared to listen to this after all the terrible singles  Fletcher gave us such a good body of art I'm scared to be disappointed by Rina. Sawayama was my #2 album of 2020 

Edited September 16, 2022 by halcyonday

[Communion]

THE WAY SHE KEEPS WINNING, THE ACCLAIM 

 

THE WAY IT FEELS TO HAVE BEEN RIGHT STANNING HER SINCE 2017. 

Y'ALL NEED TO LISTEN TO THE INNER CHILD IN Y'ALL AND HOLD THEM CLOSE ALREADY. 

Edited September 16, 2022 by Communion

[Lazuli]

woke up with hurricanes stuck in my head

[Communion]

10 hours ago, State of Grace. said:

Glad to see this getting acclaim. F words always lose. Cant wait to listen tomorrow  

 

One thing I don't understand though...I get that the lyrics here might be "cringey" (haven't heard everything though but judging by the first 3 songs) and apparently they make sense in the context of the album, but why are people suddenly acting like Rina is this amazing, excellent, mega talented songwriter when even SAWAYAMA had its share of cringey lyrics though? 

 

The way that the same people who parrot the claims of "cheesiness" and "cringe" are also the ones stanning Frankenstein when it's the only track here that probably fits such descriptions, which themselves aren't new for the Ordinary Superstar songstress. Like half of her music and songwriting is rooted in cheesiness. 

 

A good 70% of these complaints about her music no longer being ~cool~ are projection from people who don't understand the music she makes and has been making for five years at this point.

Edited September 16, 2022 by Communion

[AnonnonA]

The outros on this album (CMITA, Phantom, IMAGINING, Frankenstein) are amazing 

[Polgg48]

just prediction.

 

funny feeling about both notorious two labels that pitchfork instead gonna stan hard and the guardian will give 2.5/5 or lower score.

 

alexis please one time, or let someone else in building review.

[Ice Cream Skies]

EXCELLENCE

Minor Feelings

Hold the Girl

Forgiveness

Holy (Til You Let Me Go)

Your Age

Imagining

Frankenstein

Phantom

 

GOOD BOPS

Catch Me in the Air

To Be Alive

 

? UNSURE ?

Send My Love to John

 

MEH

Hurricanes

This Hell

 

I don't dislike anything on here. The two 'meh' tracks are somewhat tedious to me, but the album holds together really well overall.

Edited September 16, 2022 by Ice Cream Skies

[WildAmerican]

I'm a little scared to listen y'all, SAWAYAMA is one of my fav albums of all time. I feel like if I manage my expectations i'll be okay.... but the bar is so high 

[Tasty]

EXCELLENCE

 

Holy (Til You Let Me Go)

Your Age

Imagining

Frankenstein

 

GOOD

Catch Me in the Air

Minor Feelings

This Hell

Hold the Girl

Forgiveness

Phantom

 

BAD

To Be Alive

Send My Love to John

Hurricanes

[perpetual novice]

The first handful of songs on this album are pretty lame, but it really, really picks up from Forgiveness until the end of the album. I adore Forgiveness, Your Age and Frankenstein, but there's really no skips after you get through the first few tracks.

 

 

[sleepevaded]

35 minutes ago, Communion said:

The way that the same people who parrot the claims of "cheesiness" and "cringe" are also the ones stanning Frankenstein when it's the only track here that probably fits such descriptions, which themselves aren't new for the Ordinary Superstar songstress. Like half of her music and songwriting is rooted in cheesiness. 

 

A good 70% of these complaints about her music no longer being ~cool~ are projection from people who don't understand the music she makes and has been making for five years at this point.

DRAG!!!! The foolishness I see when it comes to her work is consistently annoying and unnecessary. Idk who they expect her to be 

[WildAmerican]

is there a Dynasty on this album? that's her best song i fear 

Edited September 16, 2022 by WildAmerican

[Ichinaru19]

Excited to hear the album! All the promo singles she released were at least good

[Communion]

10 minutes ago, sleepevaded said:

DRAG!!!! The foolishness I see when it comes to her work is consistently annoying and unnecessary. Idk who they expect her to be 

It's just so unserious and laughable. "THE ONLY GOOD SONGS ARE HOLY AND FRANKENSTEIN!!" is serving "POP MUSIC WAS BETTER IN THE EARLY 2010'S WHEN IT WAS PURE POP!!!" levels of shallowness. 

 

7 minutes ago, WildAmerican said:

is there a Dynasty on this album? that's her best song i fear 

 

Multiple! 

[WildAmerican]

3 minutes ago, Communion said:

It's just so unserious and laughable. "THE ONLY GOOD SONGS ARE HOLY AND FRANKENSTEIN!!" is serving "POP MUSIC WAS BETTER IN THE EARLY 2010'S WHEN IT WAS PURE POP!!!" levels of shallowness. 

 

 

Multiple! 

i won 

 

2 hours for me 

[400Iux]

#that user going on a whole tangent in here and telling ppl to get therapy  this thread is so funny and im not even a rina fan like that

[HeavyMetalAura]

I think part of my problem with Rina's music is that it's just too on the nose with what it's trying to evoke (early Y2K pop, some early 2010s pop star influence there too). She's like a perfect tribute to that sort of pop star but somehow too good of a tribute. Like she's a drag queen of a pop star rather than an actual pop star. 

 

For example, "This Hell" sounds like what Drag Race would use for "Born This Way" for a Gaga Rusical since they couldn't use the original. That's not shade btw - there's nothing wrong with being inspired by someone else, and lord knows Gaga got plenty of criticism for evoking Madonna maybe a little too strongly (for the same song no less.) 

 

Maybe I'm seeking more originality or a discernible brand from her. It's like all the ingredients are there. I think partly she doesn't have any truly wow, holy s**t, undeniable great songs. Just a whole lot of really good ones. 

 

Not to rain on anyone's parade who loves her, I'm just expressing my viewpoint. Maybe the album tonight will change my mind - I've been listening to her music as it comes because even though I don't love her yet I think she has potential. 

 

edit: it also might just be that I'm getting old  and the new girlies aren't connecting with me like the last generation. 

Edited September 16, 2022 by HeavyMetalAura

[Communion]

4 minutes ago, HeavyMetalAura said:

I think partly she doesn't have any truly wow, holy s**t, undeniable great songs.

 

?

 

[WildAmerican]

10 minutes ago, HeavyMetalAura said:

I think part of my problem with Rina's music is that it's just too on the nose with what it's trying to evoke (early Y2K pop, some early 2010s pop star influence there too). She's like a perfect tribute to that sort of pop star but somehow too good of a tribute. Like she's a drag queen of a pop star rather than an actual pop star. 

 

For example, "This Hell" sounds like what Drag Race would use for "Born This Way" for a Gaga Rusical since they couldn't use the original. That's not shade btw - there's nothing wrong with being inspired by someone else, and lord knows Gaga got plenty of criticism for evoking Madonna maybe a little too strongly (for the same song no less.) 

 

Maybe I'm seeking more originality or a discernible brand from her. It's like all the ingredients are there. I think partly she doesn't have any truly wow, holy s**t, undeniable great songs. Just a whole lot of really good ones. 

 

Not to rain on anyone's parade who loves her, I'm just expressing my viewpoint. Maybe the album tonight will change my mind - I've been listening to her music as it comes because even though I don't love her yet I think she has potential. 

 

edit: it also might just be that I'm getting old  and the new girlies aren't connecting with me like the last generation. 

you've probably heard like 5 of her songs if you think this 

[xTurn]

I really love the album, more cohesive than Sawayama.

 

EXCELLENCE

Minor Feelings

Hold the Girl

Holy (Til You Let Me Go)

Your Age

Imagining

Frankenstein

Phantom

To Be Alive

 

GOOD

This Hell

Forgiveness

Hurricanes

 

MEH

Send My Love to John

Catch Me in the Air