Love + Fear
by MARINA
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Apr 26, 2019
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 343 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 269 out of 343
  2. Mixed: 38 out of 343
  3. Negative: 36 out of 343
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  1. nickolaskm
    Apr 30, 2019
    10
    LOVE + FEAR is Marina’s first bet on contemporary pop music after ditching her former stage name “Marina And The Diamonds” and letting her alternative style aside for a while after her well succeeded album “FROOT” released four years ago. This two part album is very different from anything Marina has done in the past. In general, it has much simpler lyrics and way less distinctiveLOVE + FEAR is Marina’s first bet on contemporary pop music after ditching her former stage name “Marina And The Diamonds” and letting her alternative style aside for a while after her well succeeded album “FROOT” released four years ago. This two part album is very different from anything Marina has done in the past. In general, it has much simpler lyrics and way less distinctive production than her previous projects but still delivers important messages and great content. The first half of the album “LOVE” is very wide and diverse in terms of sounds and lyrical content, it goes from feeling connected with the outside world on gorgeous lead single “Handmade Heaven” to celebrating human diversity on “To Be Human”. The only thing that feels a bit misplaced here is Clean Bandit’s mainstream collaboration “Baby” featuring Luis Fonsi. Even though the song talks about Love it has latin music elements that don’t really suit the rest of the album at all. “LOVE” ends with the fantastic and cinematic ballad “End Of The Earth” which has the most unique production on this side. The second half of the album “FEAR”, is not as wide and diverse as the first one and it’s songs tend to sound quite similar at first but it is definitely more cohesive than the first set of songs. In this side Marina delivers some fresh bops that sound very compatible with today’s pop hits but with a touch of sadness and bitter feelings. The main topic in discussion here is the fear surrounding human relationships. Marina talks about traumatic experiences and the feeling of being unable to understand what’s happening on her life. On Fear’s block opener “Believe In Love” Marina talks about the leak of confidence on her capability to love again after having her heart broken many times. On The following song “Life Is Strange” she talks about how ephemeral life can be and how hard it is to feel constantly stuck and empty. Diving a bit deeper in this side to the bold, unique and great “Emotional Machine”, Marina delivers some alternative “FROOT” alike vibes for the first and last time on this album, while she exposes the complex feelings of a harmful relationship. The underrated bop and honorable mention “No More Sucker”, shows Marina’s decision to get rid of any sort of toxic relationship with people she call energy drainers. At the end of the album Marina claims that she finally feels like the Fear is gone and love has to be “Soft To Be Strong” which is the album’s last track.
    After all Marina ,as the incredibly great artist she is, did an excellent job at creating a fresh and interesting pop album but not so well on satisfying public expectations as she decided to abandon some of her signature features. The leak of a highly developed concept as previously done at electropop masterpiece “Electra Heart”, the low presence of complex and ultra descriptive verses as previously done on “FROOT” and the leak of risky, authentic musical choices as found on “The family Jewels” are some of the reasons for this primary rejection. Love + Fear makes evident Marina’s wish to be seen in a more natural, human way, with no character or persona and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, as she states on track number 6, “True” “You don’t need nobody else when you are true to yourself” and that’s about it.    … Expand
  2. Kevinrpan
    Apr 30, 2019
    10
    A perfect album. with beautiful and happy songs. Marina is really happy in this new era.
    I love so much "Karma" and "To Be Human".
  3. ClippyB
    Apr 29, 2019
    10
    Sem dúvidas um dos melhores álbuns do ano, o pop cativante de Marina te faz ficar viciado no álbum, Há sim uma leve evolução quando comparado com o Froot
  4. longjetty7
    May 1, 2019
    9
    It's been a long wait since Froot, but it was well worth it! This really is a very strong album. I can't say there are any bad tracks, which is impressive considering there are 16 of them. It was a good decision to split this into two albums, in my opinion, since they can each stand on their own and don't drag on too much, which is what usually happens for albums this long.

    That being    It's been a long wait since Froot, but it was well worth it! This really is a very strong album. I can't say there are any bad tracks, which is impressive considering there are 16 of them. It was a good decision to split this into two albums, in my opinion, since they can each stand on their own and don't drag on too much, which is what usually happens for albums this long.

    That being said I do have a couple criticisms. In some ways the music and lyrics aren't as original as the material on Family Jewels or Froot. It does feel a bit formulaic at times and overall rather safe, though even if there's nothing groundbreaking here, it's hard to fault it since Marina is so good at what she does. There are some amazingly catchy melodies and choruses, and her singing is as beautiful as ever. In addition it's an incredibly consistent album, so I imagine I'll be listening to this many more times.

    Standout tracks: Superstar, Karma, Handmade Heaven, True    … Expand
  5. heike-makatsch
    Apr 30, 2019
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Through 'Love+Fear' Marina tries to tell us a catharsis storyline, lyrically it's a really well done album but it feels flat when it comes to sound and production.… Expand
  6. maugzz6
    Apr 29, 2019
    7
    A good body of work although is not Marina's best, but I find myself enjoying it. A cohesive and clear album, different from her complex previous works. Its refreshing seeing Marina trying to use a contemporary style. I would recomend it.
  7. oxmarxrey
    Apr 29, 2019
    10
    Marina is finally back after a 4 year hiatus! Love + Fear shows her evolution as an artist transitioning from a more laid back production to a full modern day production pop record. Songs like “Soft to be strong” “To be human” and “Too Afraid” show the raw emotions that MARINA has always delivered off her previous records. The record is fun playful and fresh.
  8. alejxxxdro
    Apr 29, 2019
    9
    Love + Fear is good a cohesive album, but it suffer from a lack of diversity, honestly I expected more from the lyrical content, every word sound corny and cliché. I'm a big marina fan, but after all i can say that is a good album, I only need to hear it more
  9. davecastro1
    Apr 29, 2019
    10
    Incredible album, so cohesive with fresh songs and production. Love + Fear is probably one of the best albums of the year, MARINA u really did that!!!!
  10. Flawlessasurnot
    Apr 30, 2019
    7
    Her comeback was epic, to be honest. The lyrics are as deep as her first two albums but hasn't reached her top work: Froot. The production was kind of poor and repetitive in some fragments of the album. However Marina has finally found herself with this 16-track-length album regarding to the content and the strength of the messages. 75/100
  11. omarruiz
    Apr 29, 2019
    10
    MARINA formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds has come back from her 4 year hiatus. At first glance and at first listen this project may seem as her weakest but that is the on the contrary. After a few listens you can hear the progression and evolution Marina has gone through. The production of this record is very fresh, fun, and exceptional. The use of tropical influence and trap likeMARINA formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds has come back from her 4 year hiatus. At first glance and at first listen this project may seem as her weakest but that is the on the contrary. After a few listens you can hear the progression and evolution Marina has gone through. The production of this record is very fresh, fun, and exceptional. The use of tropical influence and trap like beats shows how the current wave of 2019 music sound has been adapted by Marina. The lyrics show how marina has evolved as a person as well, she is now in a very happy place with a new love something she has struggled with based on her previous records. Nonetheless Marina has come back to prove herself as a phenomenal pop superstar.… Expand
  12. vthfcwgkm
    Apr 30, 2019
    10
    It touched me in several ways, that I can not even describe the deep when it came to my most sensitive feelings, leaving me so sad and happy at the same time, Believe in love and No more suckers are the most beautiful tracks
  13. WEEZY00
    Apr 29, 2019
    10
    Marina has come back with a powerful self evolutionary album that has new modern musical influences. She has grown so much as an artist especially through her 4 year hiatus. The production of this album reminds me of every season which means I can play this album any time I want and feel refreshed and happy. The dark Sounds of some songs also show how Marina is still sticking to herMarina has come back with a powerful self evolutionary album that has new modern musical influences. She has grown so much as an artist especially through her 4 year hiatus. The production of this album reminds me of every season which means I can play this album any time I want and feel refreshed and happy. The dark Sounds of some songs also show how Marina is still sticking to her initial roots as an artists. Such an amazing project.… Expand
  14. imsounworthy
    Apr 30, 2019
    10
    Marina, you're talented 100%. thank you for this wonderful album. you're always working on good stuff!!! I love to see you happy :)
  15. iamgxddy
    Apr 30, 2019
    10
    Marina did not come to play!! Her follow up to 2015's FROOT is a massive triumph in the acceptance of love and the dismissal of fear, sporting a new minimalist, contemporary pop style. While many fans are upset that she's no longer writing about having panic attacks in a supermarket, this Marina isn't at that point. By listening to both sides of the album, along with following along withMarina did not come to play!! Her follow up to 2015's FROOT is a massive triumph in the acceptance of love and the dismissal of fear, sporting a new minimalist, contemporary pop style. While many fans are upset that she's no longer writing about having panic attacks in a supermarket, this Marina isn't at that point. By listening to both sides of the album, along with following along with the promotional campaign of the album, it's very obvious that this is a more mature, evolved Marina then we've previously seen.

    On the Love side of the album, Marina easily swats away any semblance of Fear, starting off strong with the ballad lead single "Handmade Heaven". Immediately, we're thrust into a world of calm, beautiful sonic imagery with positive energy easily flowing from Marina's beautiful vocals. Following into the next track, "Superstar", Marina continues to keep that positive consistency. The whole side of Love is essentially that: it's drenched in good intention and meaning, stuffed to the brim with her love and happiness. The following tracks like "Orange Trees", the Clean Bandit & Luis Fonsi assisted "Baby", "Enjoy Your Life", and True" all contain fun, positive messages with a fun pop sound to match. "To Be Human" and "End Of The Earth" show a resounding burst of sonic and lyrical energy, and even with the foreboding lyrics of "To Be Human", it's still very obviously from a place of love for unity, not a place of fear for pain.

    The jump from Love's closer "End OF The Earth" to Fear's opener "Believe In Love" is extremely well blended. When listening to the album, you can definitely feel a linear shift. While songs do keep a little bit of positivity, it's not all "yay life is happy all is good haha" as Marina deals with serious questions of life and love. Even though Marina feels balanced, she can still feel fear. By highlighting that no one is ever truly happy, she's able to properly outline the human condition. Songs like "Blive In Love", "You", "Karma", and "Emotional Machine" all stand out as lyrical shifts while still keeping both a lyrical and sonic connection to the Love portion of the album. Album closer "Soft To Be Strong" is an emotional highlight of the album, as Marina has finally accepted after everything that sometimes love needs to be soft to be strong. The Fear side builds and corresponds beautifully with the Love side, containing slick, modern pop productions with true, approachable lyrics.

    This album, while received coldly by some fans, is a beautiful showcase of the human condition and how anyone can truly find happiness and a way to enjoy their life. The Marina on this album isn't the Marina you cry to while you cut up pictures of your ex-boyfriend, this is the Marina that you sing along to with friends as you drive down the sunny highway, excited for the future as you wave goodbye to the suckers in your rearview mirror.

    Standout Tracks: "Handmade Heaven". "Orange Trees", "Baby", "Emotional Machine", "Enjoy Your Life", "True", "Believe In Love", "You", "Karma", and "No More Suckers"    … Expand
  16. Mark1998
    Apr 29, 2019
    7
    Marina's last studio album present interesting ideas, such as dividing the musical project into two separate themes and present subjects such as human psychology and nature vs nurture. Still, the lyrical representation, melodies and production present a misstep when compared to her previous album, Froot.
    Standout Tracks: To Be Human, End of the Earth, Life Is Strange.
  17. alexandregodoi
    Apr 30, 2019
    10
    Marina flutua toda sua experiência de vida em um pop gostoso, bem costurado e com um conceito psicológico por trás. Letras intensas com uma sonoridade onde mostra todo o seu amadurecimento artístico. Love+Fear é incrível e sua volta não poderia ser melhor.
  18. sirleonardo
    Apr 30, 2019
    10
    Existencialismo além de love and fear, nunca falhou através de seus conceitos.
  19. JOVAN00
    Apr 29, 2019
    10
    Marina is truly one of a kind. She is criminally underrated, she is a popstar that defies what a typical pop star is. Her new record just shows her versatility as an artist and the evolution she has gone through.
  20. Jish
    May 1, 2019
    10
    Una renovación total de la música de Marina, con letras frescas y sonidos pegajosos. Definitivamente de sus mejores albums.
    Love es grandioso y Fear muestra una parte con la que realmente puedes conectar.
    Simplemente Arte.
  21. SaulFranco12
    May 2, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El álbum representa un cambio drástico en lo conceptual, dando entender con simples palabras que puede llegar a comprender el(la) oyente, para no complicar la temática con palabras difíciles de comprender, la parte de "LOVE" es suave, un poco realista pero cada pista tiene su propio toque musical en especial "End Of The Earth" en el intro al inicio cuando menciona "love" se completa con la oración, con las palabras "end of the love" dando a entender que es el fin de la parte de "LOVE" e inicia la etapa "FEAR", mientras que "FEAR" tiene cada pista un toque único tanto especial como lírico, cada canción tiene un profundidad en la letra , esta basando en el amor & miedo en especial en la forma emocional, sentimental & psicológico, un álbum que pocos llegaran a entender, pero es PERFECTO, se puede sentir cada canción una emoción que cada una se tiene relacionada.… Expand
  22. SilvanD
    May 4, 2019
    9
    LOVE + FEAR is the most intimate release Marina has done since TFJ. While the lyrics are not as complex, the sentiment and emotions go beyond the not so subtle self exploration of Marina and her journey trying to understand what make us connect to each other, giving their fans a chance to embrace the simple yet profound quest for the darkest and warmest places inside ourselves, and that'sLOVE + FEAR is the most intimate release Marina has done since TFJ. While the lyrics are not as complex, the sentiment and emotions go beyond the not so subtle self exploration of Marina and her journey trying to understand what make us connect to each other, giving their fans a chance to embrace the simple yet profound quest for the darkest and warmest places inside ourselves, and that's what makes this album so strong: it's made not for success, it's made for people to hear and be less alone.… Expand
  23. jesusbronze
    May 1, 2019
    8
    After finding a new artistic persona during the longest hiatus of her career, MARINA (sans, the diamonds) returns with a double album exploring the duality and (sort of) symbiotic relationship that LOVE and FEAR share.

    The result is an interesting mix of Contemporary pop songs with subtle electronic influences, yet there is a feeling that some tracks could have been left out of the    After finding a new artistic persona during the longest hiatus of her career, MARINA (sans, the diamonds) returns with a double album exploring the duality and (sort of) symbiotic relationship that LOVE and FEAR share.

    The result is an interesting mix of Contemporary pop songs with subtle electronic influences, yet there is a feeling that some tracks could have been left out of the project of what it could have been nothing short of a brilliant album. It is hard to decide whether in LOVE or in FEAR is where MARINA finds herself to be more musically comfortable.

    Nevertheless, standouts such as "Believe in Love", "Emotional Machine", "Orange Trees", the glorious ballad "Soft to be Strong" or the single "Superstar" reminds us how good of a songwriter is MARINA, standing out among her contemporary pop peers.    … Expand
  24. marcmyworks
    May 2, 2019
    7
    Marina is back and like Joan Jett she is dropping the band moniker and going out on her own. Love + Fear is a decent return, after a 4 year hiatus, however at times it feels too en-trend with the current radio friendly sound. The 'Fear' side of the album is the superior part, as it relates the underbelly of how fearful love and relationships can be. Listen to: Believe in Love, HandmadeMarina is back and like Joan Jett she is dropping the band moniker and going out on her own. Love + Fear is a decent return, after a 4 year hiatus, however at times it feels too en-trend with the current radio friendly sound. The 'Fear' side of the album is the superior part, as it relates the underbelly of how fearful love and relationships can be. Listen to: Believe in Love, Handmade Heaven, Love is Strange, To Be Human.… Expand
  25. sahraduygu
    Dec 15, 2019
    10
    this album has a song like Superstar... the best song - the best album of all times
  26. jackie2016
    Aug 25, 2019
    8
    Embracing the two core human emotions, love and fear are two unique experiences that are woven together well; Marina ties universal themes that many can relate to. The harsher of critics may say this album is safe, on the contrary, it is the most vulnerable record of hers to date, it's shedding the artist for the person she's become. There are certainly some sonic criticisms to be had hereEmbracing the two core human emotions, love and fear are two unique experiences that are woven together well; Marina ties universal themes that many can relate to. The harsher of critics may say this album is safe, on the contrary, it is the most vulnerable record of hers to date, it's shedding the artist for the person she's become. There are certainly some sonic criticisms to be had here but it's a record worth many listens and analysis.… Expand
  27. arcanjo
    Jul 27, 2020
    7
    Marina is the happiest and lightst she can be. It has moments of instrospectiveness and cheers, thoughtful and that feels very true t marina's vision of herself now. but still as a whole record it still fails to make a lasting impression.
  28. ANTILOV
    May 1, 2019
    10
    Good songs with good messages, maybe it's something very different from what Marina had us used to, but it also shows that she put all the heart and dedication into creating this album, each song with a specific purpose, besides the rhythms like A roller coaster, it's wonderful how it transports us and makes us feel with this album. FEAR is much more pleasing, it is deeper and more elaborate.
  29. Julia1d
    Oct 14, 2019
    8
    In "Love + Fear," Marina demonstrates the ups and downs of a hard, concise feeling that is love. To love is to be reciprocated. Within this, we enter this poetic work well represented by it.
  30. fptomasini
    Jun 7, 2019
    10
    Always improving in the way she thinks it's better for her, and it's amazing cause it's her life and career, and we appreciate it. I love the lyrics, the melody, it's so pure. Can we just talk about End of the Earth? different from everything, the instrumental at the bridge had me shook, also the meaning. And Emotional Machine is so damn good, THE VOCALS, only thing i have to say aboutAlways improving in the way she thinks it's better for her, and it's amazing cause it's her life and career, and we appreciate it. I love the lyrics, the melody, it's so pure. Can we just talk about End of the Earth? different from everything, the instrumental at the bridge had me shook, also the meaning. And Emotional Machine is so damn good, THE VOCALS, only thing i have to say about this one. Anyway thanks Marina for everything.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Most Discussed Album of 2019
57
#57 Most Shared Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. musicOMH.com
    May 17, 2019
    60
    As ever with Diamandis, there’s some decent pop music here, but it seems like we’re still waiting for her to produce that genuine killer album, Diamonds or no Diamonds.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    May 14, 2019
    40
    There are suggestions of better directions not taken. [Jul 2019, p.113]
  3. AllMusic
    May 2, 2019
    80
    As the first offering of a new stage in her career, Love + Fear not only reveals its creator as newly hopeful, but it also gives hope that future efforts might be carved in a similar fashion. Marina's Electra heart still beats, it's just pumping smoother and with a confidence born from a renewed and mature perspective.
    Read full review
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