Hi, it me.

         So, if you were paying attention to what I was posting in June (lol rip July), you'd know that I planned to post my review of Bebe Rexha's Expectations album. But I got lazy and that didn't happen, so now almost two months later, here I am with a review for Ariana Grande's Sweetener instead.

         Fear not. I will still do the Bebe review because YOU KNOW I LOVE THAT WOMAN. And I want to do that review because I still have thoughts and opinions.

         Anyway, so yeah, we're going to talk about Sweetener for now. I want to preface my review with a disclaimer: I'm not a huge fan of Pharrell Williams, and I'm not a huge fan of R&B music. I don't hate it by any means, but I just don't usually listen to it and I tend to not enjoy it when I do. SO, this album is heavily influenced by both R&B and Pharrell (I think he produced some tracks), and in case I dislike something...I'm sorry. I hate me too.

         I did, however, love Dangerous Woman if you couldn't tell from the review I did of that album, and I love Ariana in general, so this review shouldn't be a complete attack on her as an artist, fear not.

         This isn't a first-listen review. I listened to it once the night it dropped, half asleep and literally in bed, so the past few days I've been giving each song a few more listens to let them fully settle, otherwise this review would have been a Reputation review 2.0 (3.0? Since I did a 2.0 already? Whatever).

         Alright, let's get into it.

01: RAINDROPS (AN ANGEL CRIED) – 10/10

This is so lovely. I know Ariana must have said some things about all the tracks, because a lot of people on Tumblr know what most of these are about, but I'm pretty in the dark. I think I heard something about this being a (short) cover of a Four Seasons song, but wherever it came from, I loved it. Weirdly enough, the first time she posted something on Instagram of herself singing this, I...didn't? Like it? I thought she was going way too overboard with the runs and I just didn't understand why it was so short or what was The Point, but I like it now. Like I feel none of those negative things anymore. I love that there's no music and there's just her voice, and I love how smooth she sounds, and just. Yes. Great opening track. I won't do favorite lyrics because there hardly are any.

02: BLAZED feat. Pharrell Williams – 7.5/10

Shockingly, I don't hate this. The first time I heard it I did, but after hearing it on shuffle a few times and even hearing it now, it's not my least favorite song on the album by any means. It's a bop, really. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but...I actually think Pharrell's parts are some of my favorites. It's fun and jazzy overall (jazzy not in the genre sense of the word but just because it feels like the right word, I don't know), but his parts kind of do a good job of rounding it out and maintaining it, if that makes sense? Sometimes I get a little lost in it, like the structure confuses me – I'm not entirely sure what the chorus is or the pre-chorus or, you know, any of that. So with him there's some structure. Favorite lyric: Sleep if you want / and wake up in love again

03: THE LIGHT IS COMING feat. Nicki Minaj – 5/10

Okay so I only like this song about half of the time, bottom line. I keep trying to give it lots of chances so that I can finally Get It, but it's literally just not happening. No matter how often I listen to it. I hate the strange music/noises, and some of the lyrics in the verses don't always make sense to me, and Nicki's verse sounds like it doesn't even fit? On its own it's great, but with the entire song, I'm just...confused. And I wish she came back in with either another verse or even some moments here and there. Man, I don't know. The only part I genuinely like all of the time is the way Ariana's voice sounds when she says "the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole." So that's where I'm at with this song. I'm sorry I'm not one of those people that Gets It, but I tried. Favorite lyric: Why do we have chemistry / with a need for speed / doin' things that trouble clings to / and burns off our wings

04: R.E.M. – 9.5/10

Hi, I really like this one. And I'm deciding that right now as I'm listening and typing this. The first time I heard it, don't get me wrong – I enjoyed it a lot (especially in comparison to "The Light Is Coming" right before it), but it wasn't a 9.5 by any means. Probably more of an 8. The breathing in the background isn't my favorite thing, but it doesn't necessarily ruin it. Sometimes I don't even notice it until it's more than half over. Also, this isn't the only time I'm going to say this, but Ariana is seriously giving us Christmas and Chill vibes right now. As someone who is SO READY FOR SUMMER TO BE OVER (and never return what?), I'm loving it. My favorite moment sound-wise is in the first big verse when she goes "shh, don't say it loud" and "shh, keep it to yourself." Her voice during those bits, man. I'm obsessed. But yeah, so this is a good one for sure. I'm going to continue to grow to love it even more I think, especially once winter finally rolls around. Favorite lyric: "I love you" / Who starts a conversation like that? Nobody, but I do

05: GOD IS A WOMAN – 10/10

I for sure was not a huge fan of this song at first. Not for any reason other than that it just wasn't the kind of pop song I get into. The sultry, slightly dark sound unfortunately isn't usually my favorite, and I just couldn't vibe with it the first time I heard it. I actually didn't start enjoying it until the music video. Although right before the music video came out, the chorus was starting to get stuck in my head, so maybe it would have happened regardless. But yeah, the music video is iconic and I loved it so much. So now that I've crossed over into the dark side, let me tell you what I love about it: the organ-y sounding intro music while she sings the chorus the first time, her vocals in general – including all the runs, which I sometimes tire of if she does too many of them, but not here; I love the chorus in general and that she titled the song "God is a Woman." I love that it actually angered so many people lmao. I love the choir. Anyway yeah, I'm into it. Favorite lyric: Baby lay me down and let's pray

06: SWEETENER – 9.5/10

Okay, lol. I have very mixed feelings about this song. I truly can't decide if I hate it or enjoy it/am entertained by it, but I'm going to assume for now it's the latter. That said though, I think I hate that most of this song is a strange metaphor for like...baking? Or something? It's just so bizarre to me that this is the title track, I'm sorry. Although I think I read something where she named the album Sweetener because this was the strangest song she's ever recorded or something, so I guess that's fair. Sonically "Sweetener" has such a sweet, cutesy vibe going on, but some of the instrumental sounds like Mario Party 8 mini game background music? Oh, and I'm NOT a fan of the "get it, hit it, flip it, mix it, twist it, kiss it" part. At all. Could definitely do without it. But I love "Moonlight" from Dangerous Woman a lot, and the chorus follows a really similar tune, so that helps. If you can't tell, my thoughts are truly all over the place here so I'll just say this: decide for yourself if you like it or not, I'm out. I can't decide. I probably like it. Favorite lyric: I like the way you lick the bowl / Somehow your method touches my soul (this is only my favorite because I think it's so funny)

07: SUCCESSFUL – 4/10

I won't even lie, I don't like this song at all. I'm just not into any of it. I don't like the "it's a surprise, surprise" thing happening constantly, I don't like the tune, I don't like most of the lyrics ("baller" really? Really?), and I'm about one listen away from losing my mind over the heavy breathing. So many people I've seen on Tumblr are loving this one and I wish I could be on the same boat, but I just really am not. I can't do it. And I swear if she actually says "bae" anywhere in this song like it sounds like she does I'm unstanning. Favorite lyric: none. Sorry.

08: EVERYTIME – 9/10

I'm giving this a 9 because I think I'll eventually like it that much. Right now I'm probably at an 8.5, but it's a confident 8.5. I like it more every time (heh) I listen to it. I know this is also one of the tracks most people are really loving, and I can see why – it's structured really nicely and seems less all over the place like some other tracks do. Kind of wish she'd called it "Back to You" instead just because...I don't know, it makes sense. When I saw everyone online loving "Everytime", I was obviously listening for it during my first listen through and I totally had no idea which one it was. And don't get me wrong, I know artists title songs things that sometimes aren't mentioned once in the lyrics, but normally Ariana doesn't do that. So I wasn't expecting it to be so oddly titled. Also every time is two words not one, SO... Favorite lyric: I get drunk, pretend that I'm over it / self-destruct, show up like an idiot

09: BREATHIN – 10/10

I love this song. I love that it sounds like it could have been on Dangerous Woman, I love that she sounds incredible, I love what it's about, I love the pre-chorus, I just...I love everything about this. It's what I wish the whole album sounded like. Everyone – including me – loves a good, well-worded chorus that is repetitive but not too repetitive, but somehow Ariana has managed to give us a chorus with hardly more than one word repeated over and over again, and it's perfect. It emulates the feeling of panic ebbing. I don't know, I don't think I've seen a single person dislike this song yet, so if you're looking for a sure win on the album, look no further. Favorite lyric: How do I know if this shit's fabricated?

10: NO TEARS LEFT TO CRY – 10/10

I didn't think I liked this song the first time I heard it, which is hilarious. But much like with "God is a Woman", as soon as I saw the music video, that all changed. It's not that I loved it immediately after that, but it started getting stuck in my head, and wah-la, I'm obsessed. I wish you all could have seen my face though the first time I heard it when the intro chorus transitioned into "I'm picking it up, picking it up..." because I'm sure it was amusing. Anyway, yeah, at first I didn't think the chorus and the verses went well together, but I was wrong, because they do. They have an interesting contrast, and it works. I also think it was the perfect first single. I can't even think of another track that would have been a better choice. Favorite lyric: They point out the colors in you / I see 'em too and boy I like 'em

11: BORDERLINE feat. Missy Elliott – 3/10

I'm just going to copy and paste most of what I put for "Successful", except know that I somehow like this one even less. I won't even lie, I don't like this song at all. I'm just not into any of it. I hate that she was the word "wifey" in a song, I don't like the tune, and the chorus is boring to me. Missy Elliott's verse is the only decent part and it lasts all of ten seconds (no clue actually, that's a guess), so. There's just nothing here for me. Favorite lyric: none. Sorry.

12: BETTER OFF – 7.5/10

I hate that I thought she said "You keep me in your armpit" at the start. I just...want her to enunciate some words. Not even all of them. Just words like orbit so they don't sound like armpit. But that aside, I don't hate this song. I even like it well enough. I like that her voice stays low throughout the chorus, and I guess I also like that we're getting a ballad at all. The roof lyrics are interesting, but you know, alright. I think I just wish it was a little More, if that makes sense. It reminds me of "Fire Away" from Niall's Flicker, you know? It's nice enough but there isn't a lot happening, even for a ballad. I want to feel emotional, not sleepy. Maybe I just don't relate as well as others do, because I know a lot of people love this track. I like it! Just don't love it. Favorite lyric: And if we're being honest / I'd rather your body than half of your heart

13: GOODNIGHT N GO – 10/10

HI THIS IS MY FAVORITE ONE. I loved this the first time I heard it and I still love it now. My favorite story about this is that as I listened (over and over and over again), I knew it reminded me of something but I couldn't figure out what. Then I realized it has the dreamy, breathy vibe of a Christmas song, and then I realized it reminds me of "Just For Now" by Imogen Heap, which I know from the movie The Holiday. Well, IMAGINE MY SURPRISE when I found out this was a cover of a different Imogen Heap song called "Goodnight and Go". I was over the moon knowing there was two versions of this song in existence, because I love it so much. Even Ariana's original verse is fun. But my favorite part is for sure Imogen's verse, beginning with "One of these days, you'll miss your train..." Although, the chorus gives it a run for its money, because "Why'd you have to be so cute?" is so simply phrased but so adorable and just works so well? Man, I don't know, I love everything about this song. I'll stop babbling about it. Favorite lyric: While you're lookin' at 'em, baby, read my lips / I know what you want, but you can't have this

14: PETE DAVIDSON – 8/10

Like, no matter what I think about Pete Davidson or Ariana's relationship with him, I have to admit this one is pretty cute. I like the lyrics a lot, although sometimes I'm too distracted to listen for them specifically. It feels like a strange place in the album for a short transition track like this one, so I wonder if there's a very purposeful ordering here that I'm not understanding. Anyway yeah, it's cute. I don't hate it, and I thought I would. Favorite lyric: I thought you into my life

15: GET WELL SOON – 6.5/10

There's just a lot happening here. I want to like it a lot more than I do. Like, I can hear the lyrics and I know there's a lot of great content here. What she's saying is important and all, but...this tune. I really don't like it. The only tune I enjoy is during the bridge (both times), and her voice is super pleasant when she says "If it ain't one thing, it's another". I feel like this track could have been so much stronger if they'd spent longer reworking it to sound more like something people will want to listen to all the time. Is it just me? I thought I saw some people online not enjoying it either, but yeah, I don't know. I wanted more from a closing track. I also hate the "You can feel it, feel it *ding*" Favorite lyric: My body's here on earth but I'm floating / (Girl, what's wrong with you? Come back down)

         Friends, I don't know how I feel about the album overall. There are a couple tracks I LOVE, a couple tracks I like enough, and several that I outright dislike. I miss the Dangerous Woman era I think, and I blame Pharrell Williams for all of my problems.

         How do you feel about this album? What are your favorite tracks? Do you love "Goodnight n Go" as much as I do?

         Thanks for reading if you did! See you with something soon, probably.