Dancing with the Devil... The Art of Starting Over
by Demi Lovato
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Apr 2, 2021
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 3177 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,838 out of 3177
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 3177
  3. Negative: 290 out of 3177
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  1. Eleonora99
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    I love this album! The best Demi Lovato’s one. She deserves the #1 on Billboard Hot 100 even if I think she’s underestimated. At least I can say that she grew up musically.
  2. maurogomes
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    perfect album she is so powerful and the best singer. this is everything for me.
  3. Adriellyy
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    It's an extraordinary album, full of her history and her feelings. She turned her pain into art.
  4. henrsampaio
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    Demi é uma artista brilhante, capaz de transformar acontecimentos ruins em novos recomeços... esse álbum é só uma amostra do quão forte e honesta ela consegue ser !
  5. CaioSouza
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So amaziiing, she was perfect, coherent, great tones of voice, incredibly perfect, stepped on the crazy blonde who did several songs for ex… Expand
  6. Hxnryr
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    Demi is amazing! This album is the **** awesome, the lyrics, the beats, the featuring! Oh damn!
  7. EduRosnovski
    Apr 8, 2021
    10
    AOTY!!!!! So proud of Demi! This album means rebirth, grow, she made her best album.
  8. Nw65162003
    Apr 8, 2021
    8
    Overall, a solid project from Demi Lovato. The album starts off strong, showing off Lovato's vocal power with piano ballads and stripped-back production. ICU (Madison's Lullaby) is a particularly high point on this record. However, as the album progresses, Lovato falls back on her pop laurels. While many of the songs of enjoyable and her emotionally raw songwriting elevates them beyondOverall, a solid project from Demi Lovato. The album starts off strong, showing off Lovato's vocal power with piano ballads and stripped-back production. ICU (Madison's Lullaby) is a particularly high point on this record. However, as the album progresses, Lovato falls back on her pop laurels. While many of the songs of enjoyable and her emotionally raw songwriting elevates them beyond previous releases, her vocal talents fall by the wayside (again). Listeners only get glimpses of her powerful voice, with soaring ad-libs over the final chorus. The features are well chosen, and the interjections of 80s synth pop here and there made for an interesting turn of events. When zooming out on the album, it clearly exceeds her previous releases, while still presenting many of the problems in them. Where her songwriting has significantly improved as she recounts the tales of her struggles with fame, abuse, and drugs, Lovato fails to accurately center her vocals. The production on this album improves from her basic pop brand of the past, but struggles to jump headfirst into the singer-songwriter vocal-centered record she ought to make. 8/10… Expand
  9. Alikhandannik
    Apr 9, 2021
    1
    That was awful I am sorry for her ,her voice isn’t good at all
  10. larissa26
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    An amazing album with very heavy and powerful lyrics... Demi Lovato is a warrior and i am so proud of her, it's beautiful when artists turn pain into art.
  11. lilianek
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    this album is completely perfect, demi's best work so far!!! soo good!! pure masterpiece
  12. kamilwithtea
    Apr 9, 2021
    8
    Very strong album, but I'm not really big fan of Demi's style. Song with Ariana (Met Him Last Night) is very good!
  13. Edsaliinas
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    This album is so personal and powefull and beautiful. She is a Queen! Voice of her generation.
  14. Rafaellovatic
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Este album es de los mejores de su carrera es una joya tremendo arte que nos dió demi… Expand
  15. b327
    Apr 9, 2021
    8
    Her best work to date. Her vocals are incredible and the concept of the album really touching. The “dancing with the evil” part of the album is amazing. The other part is ok, but way too long and it’s not sure if she really started over. Could’ve done better
  16. FlagLadino
    Apr 10, 2021
    10
    i love it, omg, i think its deserve aoty, this so personal and the same time to everyone, superaction and love, is it. Thank u demi to make this perfection
  17. SusanaGR
    Apr 10, 2021
    10
    Best album, ever
  18. Aikamazing
    Apr 11, 2021
    10
    I believe this is the best album she has made! Its raw and real. Not everyone will be able to appreciate this album. I love Demi's honesty and how she owns her truth in this album, and I love that she is discovering new sounds. The album is lyrically and sonically impressive. A work of art indeed! I highly recommend it
  19. alilmonsterrr
    Apr 13, 2021
    10
    This album is one of the best by Demi and also this album is an emotional rollercoaster and it's a masterpiece.
  20. Lu4nzz
    Apr 14, 2021
    10
    It's a masterpiece! It's so personal and so brave! Demi really did a great job with this album.
  21. brendasima
    Apr 16, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The best album of all time, holds us from beginning to end! Demi was awesome!!!… Expand
  22. Laura_K
    Apr 17, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a very strong album. I think the first 3 songs of the album are incredible. They are standouts.
    Other standouts for me are Met Him Last Night, Easy, Carefully, Melon Cake, Lonely People, The Way You Don't Look At Me and The Art of Starting Over.
    The outro for The Kind of Lover I Am is weird, but kinda funny.

    None of the songs on the album are bad, but there are 3 that I'm not as in too.

    The only 3 songs I don't like all that much are
    California Sober - a good song, but the message makes me uncomfortable. It gives me an uneasy feeling and I don't want it to become her song that we look back on like Rehab is for Amy.
    Mad World - For a new album that took 4 years to come out, her including a cover song makes no sense. It's gorgeous, but I could have lived without it.
    Butterfly - The other songs have all grown on me, but this one has yet too. It's just not the most memorable. Maybe because it comes right after Mad World, I have trouble getting back in to the album after being distracted by a random cover.    … Expand
  23. DinahJane
    Apr 20, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. É simplesmente o melhor álbum de todos os tempos! Demi Lovato nos entregou mais uma vez um trabalho sem nenhum defeito.… Expand
  24. Meca18
    Apr 30, 2021
    9
    This album is one of Demi’s best. She gets real and sheds out nothing but raw honesty. Demi has been through a lot as a person and this album magnificently showcases how much she’s been through. The lyrics are well-executed and the production in this album is excellently done. But her vocals were the star of the show. They are better than ever in this project and are really worth listeningThis album is one of Demi’s best. She gets real and sheds out nothing but raw honesty. Demi has been through a lot as a person and this album magnificently showcases how much she’s been through. The lyrics are well-executed and the production in this album is excellently done. But her vocals were the star of the show. They are better than ever in this project and are really worth listening to. She also showcases her versatility in pop music. She doesn’t just do ballads. She gives some country, light trap, and soft rock anthems. The soft rock anthems are a little weak, but still an earworm. This is truly Demi at her peak and I highly recommend this pop/ballad masterpiece.… Expand
  25. MetacriticOnur
    Sep 21, 2021
    8
    excellent
    [ ek-suh-luhnt ]

    adjective
    possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.
  26. lifesupport
    Jun 1, 2021
    8
    A great album that shows the struggles demi faced! "The Kind of Lover I am" "Mad World" "Dancing with the Devil" all a bunch of beautiful songs. There were 2-3 skips for me but this album was an excellent body of work.
  27. megdid
    Jun 14, 2021
    10
    This is truly Demi Lovato’s best body of work. The fact that it comes from such a raw and genuine place makes it even better. This album truly is the unofficial soundtrack to Demi’s past, current and future life. The way they were able to turn all their traumas into triumphs is so admirable. I have been a fan of Demi’s since As the bell rings and every album of theirs has neverThis is truly Demi Lovato’s best body of work. The fact that it comes from such a raw and genuine place makes it even better. This album truly is the unofficial soundtrack to Demi’s past, current and future life. The way they were able to turn all their traumas into triumphs is so admirable. I have been a fan of Demi’s since As the bell rings and every album of theirs has never disappointed me. I can undoubtedly say this is Demi’s best album ever and also my favorite. I am so proud of Demi and look forward to their future getting even brighter. This album deserves ALL the Grammys and recognition. Demi, you poured your heart OUT!! I love you always, Demi.… Expand
  28. huskywhite14
    Sep 4, 2021
    0
    The album seems very uninspired and follows common overused themes. Demi should find her own sound.
  29. Gianmxrcos
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    Best album ever that’s awesome and inspire me ♥️ Tiene excelente música algunas de relleno pero no me aburrí en ningún momento. Me encanta las canciones con emoción no que digan mmmmmm y vacíos. TODAS son canciones que llenan y tienen un mensaje
  30. traumaking4eva
    Sep 3, 2021
    10
    This is literally THE BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR!! Everything about it is perfect, from beginning to end. The world does not deserve this divine masterpiece.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. AllMusic
    Apr 15, 2021
    60
    Lovato's frankness is disarming, forcing a listener to reckon with the depths of the singer's distinction, yet the album works best when it veers toward lighter territory, letting the slick R&B rhythms and sugared hooks carry Lovato's emoting.
    Read full review
  2. PopMatters
    Apr 8, 2021
    80
    Dancing With the Devil… The Art of Starting Over is Demi Lovato like we have never heard before. She is sassy and carefree while serious about her identity and personhood in a way she has been itching to be for years.
    Read full review
  3. Clash Music
    Apr 8, 2021
    80
    The opening three tracks are almost an EP in their own right, before a quick reset. Semi title track ‘The Art Of Starting Over’ begins anew, a straight forward bop that gets to the root of Demi’s recovery – her natural talent, her ear for pop magic, affording room for personal renewal.
    Read full review
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