Sweetener
by Ariana Grande
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Aug 17, 2018
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3093 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,340 out of 3093
  2. Mixed: 204 out of 3093
  3. Negative: 549 out of 3093
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  1. KelvinC
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    This album is so cohesive and so good , i'm glad ms grande finally found her own sound
  2. miablakeway
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    This is Ariana’s best album to date. Those complaining are the same ones who wanted her to experiment and move away from pop, and now she has no one is happy? Ariana has clearly worked on this project for a while and put all her best efforts into it. The production, vocals and lyrics are her best to date. Notable tracks: Breathin, Get Well Soon & R.E.M.
  3. sweetlover
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    so so impressed with this masterpiece of an album!!! she experimented so well and it all paid off, this is her best album for sure omg
  4. EvanSands
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    SWEETENER is Ariana’s best album, she gives up new dope sounds, and the lyrics had an upgrade.
  5. aliofficialkz
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best album. God is Ariana Grande.In this album Ariana has shown themselves more brave and tender. Yes, the album may not be the most successful in her career, but it will be a quality one. Song… Expand
  6. hui67
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Альбом самый лучший. Я удивлен. Ариана икона и богиня. Бризин самая лучшая с альбома. Я надеюсь хейтеры помрут и перестанут ставить нули.
  7. Maia54
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Ariana Grande бог и все это знают. Свитенер самый лучший ее альбом. Все песни шикарные. Она большая молодец. Арианаторы ставим 10.
  8. punkrockgabby
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Her best and most cohesive album to date. Lyrics, production and vocals are out of this world. If you're doubtful I sincerely suggest giving it a few more listens before deciding; almost all of the songs are growers and take some time to be fully appreciated. She has come so far since Problem and Bang Bang and has for sure gained a new fan with this album.
  9. illuminari
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    She snapped, really different and cohesive, absolutely love it, ariana is an icon and the stans giving her a low reviews are just mad that their fav releases albums like witness
  10. alex_hoffman1
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    it's from his best albums, he has very good rhythms, lyrics and sounds not very listened to, it's just magnificent
  11. arianaofspades
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    This album shows Ariana’s growth as an artist. The music production is interesting and fresh. Lyrics are fun, youthful, and endearingly lightening. The project also showcases her vocal proewess with the flawless runs. Plus the album is very cohesive! Well done Ariana!
  12. buteraslove
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Filled with dreamy, chill and simply gorgeous tracks such as "breathin" where Grande sings about her struggles with anxiety, the Imogen Heap-cover/remix "goodnight n go" and the mesmerizing closing track "get well soon" which ends with a 40 second-long moment of silence - a tribute to the victims of the Manchester attack. Along with these she also put out fun and upbeat songs, the titleFilled with dreamy, chill and simply gorgeous tracks such as "breathin" where Grande sings about her struggles with anxiety, the Imogen Heap-cover/remix "goodnight n go" and the mesmerizing closing track "get well soon" which ends with a 40 second-long moment of silence - a tribute to the victims of the Manchester attack. Along with these she also put out fun and upbeat songs, the title track "sweetener", the self empowerment anthem "successful" and the fun Pharrell-feature "blazed" are all something you would expect from any Grande album. The only slip in her fourth album is the repetitive "the light is coming" that would have suited much better as an interlude than as a full song. Overall very good production, lyrical depth and improved enunciation.… Expand
  13. DangerousWFG
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Oh my God, definitely that's the best Ariana's album already released. Sweetener is totally sweet to listen cause is a wonderful mix of pop and R&B. All feats is sooo building and connective, I liked every. Get well soon is wonderful and I cried with this song, cause is sooo intuitive and beautiful. I don't have words to express all feelings this album causes me, but I want here thankOh my God, definitely that's the best Ariana's album already released. Sweetener is totally sweet to listen cause is a wonderful mix of pop and R&B. All feats is sooo building and connective, I liked every. Get well soon is wonderful and I cried with this song, cause is sooo intuitive and beautiful. I don't have words to express all feelings this album causes me, but I want here thank Ariana for this this beautiful, wonderful, intuitive and lovely album. Definitely sweetener came to sweeten our lives.… Expand
  14. jesusbronze
    Aug 17, 2018
    8
    Sweetener finds an Ariana with the eagerness to experiment and explore her "artist" side, much like her idol Imogen Heap (sampling her in Goodnight n Go), while preserving her Pop Star persona, therefore forgetting that experimenting entails walking through uncharted terrain, in which Sweetener rarely strays. It is noticeable that in the cuts produced by Ilya and Pop deity Max Martin (GodSweetener finds an Ariana with the eagerness to experiment and explore her "artist" side, much like her idol Imogen Heap (sampling her in Goodnight n Go), while preserving her Pop Star persona, therefore forgetting that experimenting entails walking through uncharted terrain, in which Sweetener rarely strays. It is noticeable that in the cuts produced by Ilya and Pop deity Max Martin (God Is A Woman and Breathin) we can hear an Ariana that is comfortable and secure of her singing abilities (preserving the sound she experimented with in Dangerous Woman), while she feels somehow drowned in the songs produced by Pharrell Williams, overtaking much of Ariana's identity as a singer in spite of the impeccable production. Regardless, Sweetener is an enjoyable ride in the artistry of a singer with one of the best voices in the current Pop landscape and a good footnote in her, hopefully, long-lasting career.… Expand
  15. jacobmmmccc
    Aug 21, 2018
    9
    This album is one of the best of the year. With this album Ariana uses different music styles that she hasn't used before. This makes the album unique. It is defiantly not just a basic pop album. She also wrote most of the songs on this album which she usually does not do. The album also flows very well together. I found every song on the album enjoyable which is very rare for me. ArianaThis album is one of the best of the year. With this album Ariana uses different music styles that she hasn't used before. This makes the album unique. It is defiantly not just a basic pop album. She also wrote most of the songs on this album which she usually does not do. The album also flows very well together. I found every song on the album enjoyable which is very rare for me. Ariana also experiments with the lower register of her voice in many songs which sounds very breathy, foggy and beautiful. Overall this album is amazing and I highly recommend it.… Expand
  16. Arianatorjeff
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    It's her best work so far, the production is amazing, her voice couldn't have gotten any better, it's a great album!
  17. diegoabh
    Aug 21, 2018
    10
    I think it needs more than one listen. Everytime you listen, it becomes better. It's a great album!!!
  18. NETMUSIC
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Really incredible fourth album from Ariana. Her working with Pharell is so great.

    Best Song(s):
    breathin
    blazed ft Pharell Williams
    no tears left to cry
    God is a woman
    get well soon
    borderline
    raindrops (an angel cried)

    Worst Song(s):
    R.E.M
  19. edgarmartinez26
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Me encanta demasiado ❤️, no será el mejor pero me gustó.
    Qué feo que los fans de Selena ataquen.
  20. DriesT
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    her best, most cohesive album with amazing lyrics and production. good balance between pop and r&b
  21. zavalag15
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    I truly believe this is one of the best pop albums of 2018 (we have not had many options to choose from, tbh). Sweetener is really cohesive, uplifting and well produced. Favorite songs are: REM, sweetener, successful and God is a Woman.
  22. sms01
    Aug 18, 2018
    10
    Najlepszy album Ariany Grande, warto było czekać na niego 2 lata. we love, we stan.
  23. lucaslira_
    Aug 24, 2018
    8
    DESNECESSÁRIO O MC HAPPY, MAS O ALBÚM TÁ MADURO, TÁ INTERESSANTE, INSTIGANTE. GOSTEI!
    EVOLUÇÃO É ESSENCIAL NA CARREIRA
  24. GK0202
    Aug 20, 2018
    10
    amazing work! ms. grande really did that! my favorite tracks: breathin, everytime, god is a woman
  25. danielxo
    Aug 21, 2018
    10
    After listening at least twice to the album, you easily understand this is Ariana's best body of work. Every song is unique, perfect and gorgeous and a 10/10 (with the Nicki Minaj collaboration The Light Is Coming as an exception - probably a 7/10). It's a new and better Ariana, none of these pop beats that she's more known for, which is amazing.

    The lyrics are more personal. The    After listening at least twice to the album, you easily understand this is Ariana's best body of work. Every song is unique, perfect and gorgeous and a 10/10 (with the Nicki Minaj collaboration The Light Is Coming as an exception - probably a 7/10). It's a new and better Ariana, none of these pop beats that she's more known for, which is amazing.

    The lyrics are more personal. The production is simply amazing.

    Breathin' is pop perfection and literally the best pop song I have ever listened to in my whole life (as well as Into You by her prior album).

    The intro is probably the best introduction for an album I have ever listened to since Lana Del Rey's Cruel World.

    Even tho The Light Is Coming is the not-so-good song on the album, it is still amazing - Nicki's part is perfect.

    Get Well Soon is perfect, and those 40 seconds of silence in honor of the Manchester attack victims are a great way to end the album.

    Easily her best album and best album of the year. Once again, she proved she isn't just a pop girl, she's the main singer right now and one of the biggest voices ever in history.

    Obviously coming for the Grammys.    … Expand
  26. Abraham_glez
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Un album lleno de arte y amor, es tan ridiculo que la gente piense que no es bueno, y es aun más ridiculo que piensen que Seleperro es mejor

    Sweetener>>>>>ladrivival
  27. INTOBISH
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Sweeteneer is by far ariana’s best album so far. Deciding to change up her sound and work with pharrell was one of her best career decisions !! Too bad pop stans cancel every album which lacks of synth pop beats
  28. mariyahj
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Very different from anything she's ever put out there but still good. True some songs could've been better written but it's still good.
  29. spaarkss
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    sweetener is the most different worl from Ariana. The album literally brings us a sweetening experience, ahowing happiness and courage in the musics. the music sounds different from the other albuns, but this don’t make it the worst, of course, one of the best. CONGRATS ON DIS AMAZINGGG ALBUMMMM
  30. Olafgrande
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Perceptível que o trabalho foi algo pensando para ser conceitual. Ariana substituiu as batidas Pop por algo mais melódico e inventou em um Pop/R&B/Rock suave. Como sempre ela inovando nas gavetas e mostrando que tem tudo para se tornar a diva da geração… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2018
2
#2 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. The Quietus
    Aug 31, 2018
    70
    Grande’s new sound, the Williams-produced Not-Bangers, only make up half of the album. These standout tracks are interspersed between standard pop tracks. ... That’s not to say that the Bangers on Sweetener are bad--it’s more that they belong in previous era of Grande and they spoil the flow between songs. Sweetener may not be the dawning of a new age for Ariana but it could be a step towards somewhere weird and wonderful.
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  2. The New York Times
    Aug 29, 2018
    90
    Ms. Grande backs up her statements with song-and-dance mastery. ... She’s her own choir, support group and posse. While a few guest vocalists (Mr. Williams, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott) provide a little grit for contrast, Ms. Grande sails above any fray, past or present. Her aplomb is her triumph.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    Aug 28, 2018
    80
    An album that coheres in a way other Ariana Grande albums don't, which means Sweetener is something of a double triumph: she's come through a tough time stronger and better than before.
    Read full review
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