yeah, sure, but i think the intention with this album was always more to make a statement than to deliver any sort of traditional era

Meanwhile, I just checked my AM wrapped for August and it was my top album with 1,292 minutes

yes but that's because it's her worst album

it's pretty surprising that such a fat commercial and critical flop from a MPG doesn't get dragged more. album so uneventful and forgettable that people don't even bother making fun of its floppage

yes even though im still really enjoying her tracks freak and big feelings from it

i hope "like i do" will get single treatment

As it should.

People here for bubblebop sultry song not her "personal' song whatsoever, the melody is not good.

6 hours ago, GentleEarthquake said:

I feel like the talks about her appearance eclipsed the album

This tbh

3 hours ago, needs said:

yeah, sure, but i think the intention with this album was always more to make a statement than to deliver any sort of traditional era

What's the statement?

Sadly yes. I still play the lead single but something about the whole album just doesn't click, the contrast is even bigger when you remember ES is her best album.

Listened to it once and never again. It's just not a good album. She needed another My Everything or Dangerous Woman

idk I think the mixed reception could've made Ariana stop pushing the era any further

Sadly yes

Well yes. It's an album about her struggles with fame and showbiz. The gp dgaf about those subjects. Hopefully she got it out of her system and serves something more relatable next era.

20 minutes ago, Havoc said:

What's the statement?

You guys should get off her dick.

Honestly yes. Love her and love this album, even more so than ES. It helps that this album is still solid and nothing as catastrophically bad as Witness or Bionic, and still produced a hit. Just a lot of factors influencing this, but ultimately it was/is an underperformance. This is like her RO, in terms of commercial performance. ES already showed as she is not over though, so we maybe shouldn't count her out as a commercial juggernaut just yet.

The album is boring and the talk about her weight has overshadowed the era.

8 hours ago, GentleEarthquake said:

I feel like the talks about her appearance eclipsed the album

I think it's probably a combination of multiple things. Yes, her appearance and the media blitz about her health being literally EVERYWHERE. Also, the album was experimental for her, and not as mainstream and an 'easy listen' as her previous work. I also have only listened to the record a handful of times but came to realize it's just not for me. I also understand that for some other people and fans, it's their favorite album by her.

I honestly feel like people are done with her synth-pop. They want strictly pop R&B Ariana back. Less electronics for the next album—something more organic and connected to the urban sounds of the past, especially '90s/2000s soul.

I also feel like her last few albums have been very moody, and people want happier music from her. Something fun, raw, and feral, like Dangerous Woman. Ariana used to be such a "vibe", and today she feels a bit more melancholic.

At this point in my life, I'm honestly just happy we have new music from her, and I want her to be healthy again and take care of herself. Even if she takes a long, long break from music, that's okay. Her safety comes first, before everything else.

I don't think the music is bad, but yeah, this is one of those eras where the conversation is too noisy and it drowns everything else out.
Although I don't see this era as harmful to her, because it's not an era focused on big hate like witness-artpop-bionic-life of showgirl. It's an era focused on people's concern for her. If she comes back better than ever in the next few years, she could have a huge comeback.

Edited September 2Sep 2 by AvadaKedavra