Day 9
Dangerous woman (2016) – Ariana Grande
Can you believe I dressed like Ariana Grande Dangerous woman for Halloween 2019, but you haven’t heard the whole album yet? I can, because I didn’t listen to albums. If you like slightly edgy pop rather than sultry R&B, this album could be considered Ariana’s peak. It’s just as good as I expected. There is filler, as with any album, but far from the level of Sweetener Where Positions. I knew some of the songs I’d like from this album (‘Side to Side’, ‘Dangerous Woman’ and ‘Into You’), but I was super excited to discover a bunch of other low-key bops in the form of ‘ Moonlight’, ‘Greedy’, ‘Bad Decisions’ and ‘Touch It’. This album also features my new favorite Ariana Grande number, “Jason’s Song (Gave It Away)” – so jazzy, so fun, with an amazing voice (no wonder she didn’t write it, no shade). The only thing that would make this album better is if it included a bonus track of the a cappella version of “Dangerous Woman”, with Ariana Grande singing the guitar solo. This recording is actually on Spotify, but not via Ariana Grande’s official account.
Cover: 10/10 for the level of gray, the frame, the leather rabbit character, the font, the chef’s kiss.
Album name: 10/10 we are so far from the days of Nickelodeon bubblegum pop
Firecrackers: 8/17.
General atmosphere: Party, whether it’s the regular kind with guests and drinks or just a solo where you celebrate the divas and what a time it is to be alive.
Day 10
Talking heads: 77 (1977) – Talking Heads
The Talking Heads song “And She Was” is the theme of the Freakonomics podcast No stupid questions. I had never heard the song before, but I really enjoy this podcast and have come to love the chorus of the song after hearing snippets of it twice a week. When I realized that the absolute unit of a track “Psycho Killer” was from the same band, I knew I wanted to dig deeper into their discography. I think I picked that album because it was the one with ‘Psycho Killer’, but I should have realized that was a mistake – those old albums rarely have more than one banger, and this one doesn’t. is no exception. Apart from ‘Psycho Killer’ which remains certified bop, the album is bitterly disappointing. I’m starting to think the only reason people love 80s music so much is because 70s music was so terrible. The only other song I somehow enjoyed was “Don’t Worry About the Government”, but I think years of listening to Tim Minchin made me like what I assume is heavy lyrical sarcasm.
Cover: 1/10 I mean, how lazy can you get? The font is correct but the color of the text is indescribable which makes me uncomfortable.
Album name: 2/10 first of all I find it odd to name an album after a year and not the others, especially the first because what if they didn’t make any more? that would be embarrassing. Really though, I think the reason I hate that name is because I compare it to their second album. More songs about buildings and food which I think is a brilliant title.
Firecrackers: 2/12
General atmosphere: I regret the structure of this project because I locked myself in and have nothing funny to say here.
Next time: the albums of a glam rock icon and a strangely soulful modern pop duo.