Sawayama
by Rina Sawayama
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 1138 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,056 out of 1138
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 1138
  3. Negative: 57 out of 1138
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  1. MPB
    Apr 17, 2020
    10
    An honest, exciting, sexy, funny, heart-breaking, mind-bending and incredibly catchy ride in the form of a pop album. With SAWAYAMA, Rina proves herself to be one of the most interesting pop voices in music currently and an underdog deserving of everyone's attention.
  2. marcmyworks
    Jul 19, 2020
    9
    Rina Sawayama's first full length LP is a masterwork in mixing different sounds and genres of music. The album explores her culture heritage of being both British and Japanese, as well explores her mindset growing up in the UK. Overall one of the best albums of the year.
  3. vitortfv
    Dec 3, 2020
    8
    Rina mixes different musical genres, without sound confusing. Really a masterpiece and one of the best, if not the best album of 2020.
  4. SamHPL
    Apr 18, 2020
    10
    The release date is unfortunate, because this album is amazing and could (and should) help get Rina the visibility she deserves.
  5. LilScience
    Jan 21, 2022
    9
    Rina, me impressiona por seu estilo ser tão diverso em um só álbum, um dos mais promissores desse ano.
    Misturando Pop e Metal, ela renasce esse estilo, mas com sua própria identidade, tenho certeza que vamos ver muito sobre ela ainda.

    Faixas favoritas: XS, STFU!, Comme De Garçons (Like The Boys), Paradisin', Love Me 4 Me, Bad Friend, Tokyo Love Hotel e Chosen Family.
  6. SoFetch
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    Two months after I heard this masterpiece for the first time and I realized that the later you hear SAWAYAMA it keeps getting better. Such a music roller coaster, production-wise and lyrically diverse, going through self love and identity, family, friendship, feminism, capitalism, micro-aggressions, and even climate change!
  7. Boatfromthesea
    Apr 18, 2020
    10
    Excellent debut album. It features Nu-Metal rock, Pop, Electronic, and R&B. That sounds overwhelming but somehow everything works out perfectly. Fav Tracks include XS (I love how this song mocks capitalism), STFU, and Chosen Family.
  8. Evic21
    Apr 24, 2020
    10
    SAWAYAMA is an honest self-portrait of an artist brimming with ideas of how to push pop into weirder territory. Her creative choices on the album shouldn't work, but they all come together to form an album that is nostalgic yet refreshingly new. Rina's lyrics and rock star vocals anchor the whole project as a singular vision of boundless potential and creativity.
  9. barthurbottino
    Jul 26, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Não existe críticas negativas possíveis sobre esse álbum. Perfeito do primeiro segundo até o último. Rina mostra a versatilidade de estilos (Xs seguida de STFU!, por exemplo) e criativa. A diversidade de temas das letras é impressionante, de críticas ao capitalismo (XS) a uma música digna do título de Hino LGBTQIA+ (Chosen Family), ela mostra que é capaz e produzir uma masterpiece. Rina chegou chutando a porta com seu álbum debut, já fico ansioso pelo próximo lançamento.… Expand
  10. Simao
    Oct 1, 2020
    10
    she did the unimaginable right here.

    i had few expectations that she’d top RINA with this album but i can say for sure it probably did. there are no skips and not only that but most songs are indescribably good.... we’re talking about a handful of going-down-on-history songs.... i don't know how she did that but rina sawayama truly is the future of pop and alt-pop music. SAWAYAMA is    she did the unimaginable right here.

    i had few expectations that she’d top RINA with this album but i can say for sure it probably did. there are no skips and not only that but most songs are indescribably good.... we’re talking about a handful of going-down-on-history songs.... i don't know how she did that but rina sawayama truly is the future of pop and alt-pop music.
    SAWAYAMA is pop perfection & nu metal excellence all in one album

    fav songs: XS, who’s gonna save u now?

    least fav: **** this world (interlude)    … Expand
  11. BrenoHennrique
    Sep 8, 2020
    10
    Album do ano e quem discorda é n4z1st4!!!! Curvem-se à futura A-LIST!!!!!
  12. lUcOzAdExx
    Jul 28, 2020
    10
    I just discovered Rina a few months ago, but i really fell in love with everything that she does, her music is fantastic, so diverse and very enjoyable, it's no doubt that i really love SAWAYAMA and i'm looking forward to listen to everything that Rina puts out to the world.
  13. supremehive
    May 10, 2020
    10
    After lots of listens I still can’t get over at how great this album is as an experience, she presents herself as a versatile artist, the production of each song seem like they couldn’t be any better, I couldn’t ask for anything more. One can get completely immerse in the storylines she pulls with each song, greatly expressing her emotions and making us follow along the journey of eachAfter lots of listens I still can’t get over at how great this album is as an experience, she presents herself as a versatile artist, the production of each song seem like they couldn’t be any better, I couldn’t ask for anything more. One can get completely immerse in the storylines she pulls with each song, greatly expressing her emotions and making us follow along the journey of each track. Speechless. I don’t believe 2020 will have a better album, and this was my introduction to Rina. I’m in awe.… Expand
  14. alexve2023
    Mar 9, 2021
    10
    Brilliant album. One of the Best albums of 2020. She deserves all the best.
  15. Jaz_Grant
    May 30, 2020
    10
    Un debut en lo alto, Sawayama marca la explosión de Rina en el firmamento.
    Un álbum diverso pero siempre conciso, directo y pegadizo que nos muestra la versatilidad de la artista. Sin duda alguna uno de los mejores álbumes del 2020.
  16. Dragunty
    Aug 28, 2020
    8
    great album i love it, its one of the most surprises aartist on this year love
  17. Joel_Freecheck
    May 29, 2020
    8
    "XS" is a song few artists can pull off. Genre-blending and wonderfully exuberent, Rina establishes her presence in 2020 pop right off the bat. SAWAYAMA is a brilliant debut that would be perfect aside from some filler near the end.
  18. totoro0192
    Apr 17, 2020
    9
    This album feels really fresh, it's a really fun listen, can really recommend to everyone from a casual listener to someone who searches a deeper listening experience in their music
  19. SylviaLehman
    Nov 16, 2020
    10
    Just have discovered the Sawayama album, and it brings me back the joy of life, in this 2020s ...
  20. alphabetboy98
    Apr 18, 2020
    10
    The album is absolutely amazing from start to finish. If you're expecting Cherry-esque type of bops, this album is not for you. This is more like Alterlife/10-20-40/TMAIA but taken to a whole another level. Can't believe she topped RINA. She truly outdid herself. The singles are the weakest songs on the album. Also, I highly recommend listening to the album on good quality headphones,The album is absolutely amazing from start to finish. If you're expecting Cherry-esque type of bops, this album is not for you. This is more like Alterlife/10-20-40/TMAIA but taken to a whole another level. Can't believe she topped RINA. She truly outdid herself. The singles are the weakest songs on the album. Also, I highly recommend listening to the album on good quality headphones, because the production is out of this world, and it might not translate well on a speaker during casual listening.… Expand
  21. sebascampos
    Jul 23, 2020
    9
    By far one of the best albums of 2020, song by song, it's just an empowered album
  22. lookausername
    Apr 17, 2020
    10
    This album is Y2K nostalgia in a bottle, yet it manages to be something completely new through Rina and Clarence breathing new life into the trends of the time period and putting all those popular genres into a blender and somehow creating a cohesive sound for the record in the process. Rina's exploration of themes unusually explored on top of these maximalist pop beats also creates aThis album is Y2K nostalgia in a bottle, yet it manages to be something completely new through Rina and Clarence breathing new life into the trends of the time period and putting all those popular genres into a blender and somehow creating a cohesive sound for the record in the process. Rina's exploration of themes unusually explored on top of these maximalist pop beats also creates a whole lot of very original pop songs.

    Whether it be the t.a.T.u. inspired pop-rock track 'Dynasty' which vocalises Rina's desire to succeed and flourish in the world and make her family proud or the synth-pop ballad 'Bad Friend' in which Rina describes a friend whom she had lost contact in recent years because she didn't make an effort to maintain the friendship, there is a song for everyone here who is a fan of Y2K era pop.    … Expand
  23. adelwinwr
    Apr 24, 2020
    10
    sawayama has everything from nu metal to r&b to pop. she uses genre-splicing to express different emotions on her album. almost every song on the album is good but DYNASTY is definitely my favorite so far
  24. eliluc123
    Apr 17, 2020
    10
    Miss sawayama made one of the best albums of 2020!
    I love this album so much!
  25. FernandoZ
    May 31, 2020
    10
    Es un álbum excelente, un aire nuevo y refrescante mezcla armoniosamente sonidos, temas emociones y los canaliza en una joya pop
  26. VGabrielLM
    Aug 28, 2020
    10
    The BEST album of 2020. Rina Sawayama is a genius! The criticism of the lyrics, the production, it's all amazing! XS, Comme des Garçons and Bad Friend are the highlights of the album. The multiple parts of an personality is between the lines. It's a travel with Rina through his brilliant mind.
  27. Max_Vito
    Nov 1, 2020
    0
    This is absolutely fire. Rina kills it with her vocals, blended with amazing choices for production on every song on this album. From the build-up on Dynasty, to her sampling her prior work in 10-20-40 and Take Me As I Am on Rina in F*** This World (Interlude), she does no wrong on this album and it's an amazing listen whether it be the first time listening or the enthh time listening.
  28. teddyeatspeanut
    Sep 1, 2020
    10
    awesome awesome awesome this album is something else, i just love it so much
  29. DrewBarrymore
    Apr 22, 2020
    10
    ths is AMAZING! i hope gets the recognition that deserves plsssssssssssssss
  30. rykketid
    Apr 17, 2020
    8
    SAWAYAMA is a quintessential pop album. very messy and out of control, constantly blowing up genre as it desperately pleads to say something about the artist. very vulnerable and heartfelt and also compulsively listenable.
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Album of 2020
20
#20 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. AllMusic
    May 19, 2020
    80
    On this stunning debut, Sawayama captures Dua Lipa's future nostalgia and Poppy's metal-meets-pop savvy, rightfully making it her own with more depth, bigger thrills, and a limitless palette.
    Read full review
  2. Consequence
    May 4, 2020
    91
    SAWAYAMA appears poised to be one of the best pop albums of the year and sets Sawayama up as a pop force to be reckoned with.
    Read full review
  3. Under The Radar
    Apr 30, 2020
    75
    The album is a complicated picture of Swayama’s past, present, and future. It is rare to see a debut album with such a fully realized voice and vision behind it. What’s more, she exorcises her personal demons amid some of the year’s best dancefloor-filling pop.
    Read full review
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