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. musicremarks
    Aug 17, 2018
    3
    While Breathin and Everytime remain the standout tracks from the record. There is no other song which is single worthy. No Tears and God is a Woman were chosen well to serve as singles. Max Martin should have been more involved on the album compared to Pharrell whose production practically ruined the album. The album was rush released with most songs sounding the same and with zero lyricalWhile Breathin and Everytime remain the standout tracks from the record. There is no other song which is single worthy. No Tears and God is a Woman were chosen well to serve as singles. Max Martin should have been more involved on the album compared to Pharrell whose production practically ruined the album. The album was rush released with most songs sounding the same and with zero lyrical content. Her public breakup, toxic relationship and the Manchester bombing should have been addressed directly. There is no theme on the album. VERY Disappointed. Looks like after 3 widely successful albums. Ms Grande finally does/will have a least successful album which seems to be Sweetener in this case.… Expand
  2. BuyTrench21
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    B U A C K, que album mas asqueroso nunca debio existir por eso y mas Trench >>>>>
  3. Lasweetener
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    Revival es todo lo que esta God is a Woman quiso ser y no pudo.
    Selediosa >>>> Arimi3rd4
  4. LaGodisAPedo
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    Ariana never tires of giving a basic and generic **** We are already used to this type of commercial garbage, but with this album it exceeded expectations. Most of the songs have a pathetic production (you can not expect more from the failure of Pharrell Williams) and the lyrics are the most mediocre you can see. If you thought the light is coming it was disgusting, you will be speechlessAriana never tires of giving a basic and generic **** We are already used to this type of commercial garbage, but with this album it exceeded expectations. Most of the songs have a pathetic production (you can not expect more from the failure of Pharrell Williams) and the lyrics are the most mediocre you can see. If you thought the light is coming it was disgusting, you will be speechless when you hear this complete ****… Expand
  5. revivalsel
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    Dangerous woman is way more better than this. Sweetener sounds ridicolous effort to stay relevant
  6. TimW001
    Aug 29, 2018
    6
    Sweet Fluff

    I listened to Sweetener multiple times to ensure I knew how I felt about it. At first I thought it was mostly vapid fluff music with no personality. Others said the album was good so I kept listening and waited to review. On multiple re-listens it only confirmed my original feelings were correct. None of the songs on the album are bad. They're all light and pop fun. But    Sweet Fluff

    I listened to Sweetener multiple times to ensure I knew how I felt about it. At first I thought it was mostly vapid fluff music with no personality. Others said the album was good so I kept listening and waited to review. On multiple re-listens it only confirmed my original feelings were correct.

    None of the songs on the album are bad. They're all light and pop fun. But none of the songs are ground breaking or even interesting. Most songs feel so designed for radio. The pleasant songs that I did like didn't actually have enough staying power for me to add any of them to a regular listening cycle.

    Ultimately a simple light album with nothing amazing on it but is fun.    … Expand
  7. nokyam1
    Aug 17, 2018
    2
    Definitivamente esse é o pior trabalho da Ariana, músicas completamente esquecíveis e mal produzidas, Bordeline é uma bomba sonora não consigo entender como essa música foi parar no álbum, Breathing, Everytime, No Tears Left to Cry e God is a Woman são as únicas músicas memoráveis e que se destacam na imensa bagunça que é esse álbum. Verdadeira decepção.
  8. dislexicpotato
    Nov 2, 2018
    1
    Absolutely horrible album, the one point is for Breathin which is a great song.
  9. renansantanakc
    Aug 19, 2018
    0
    É o pior trabalho que Ariana já fez, eu a amo é super talentosa, três faixas salvam este álbum!
  10. condecamposr92
    Aug 18, 2018
    0
    This is a truly mess, the production and lyrics are so weak, there isn't a important message and it's full of forgettable songs. If she wanna change her musical style, Pharrell is no the option
  11. Juanups
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    i really loved Ariana Grande, But i really can't enjoy the album. Was Literal a full piece of garbage. She Didn't take vocal risks. Every song sounds similar, i was a great fan of her. Bun her fans are so pathetic too, She needs to upgrade for her fifth album, if she doesn't want to end like Iggy Azalea or Meghan Trainor
  12. OneTrickPony
    Aug 23, 2018
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ariana's worst album yet and millions of light years behind Dangerous Woman. Pharrell's production was messy, all over the place and too distinctly him it clouded Ari's personality. I'm an Ari fan but this album is just painful to listen to. And it confuses me how major music review publications are pretending to like it like just knock it off. Say what you want about Max Martin but without the guy and God Is a Woman this album is just a lost cause.

    Love: God Is A Woman, everytime, breathin
    Hate: blazed, the light is coming (truly godawful song), R.E.M, sweetener (ridiculous chorus and Pharrell's vocal backtrack truly makes me cringe), successful (juvenile lyrics), borderline (and honestly what was Missy Elliott's deadpan guest verse about? Had NO personality whatsoever)
    Neutral: raindrops, no tears left to cry, pete davidson, get well soon

    I'm sorry I really tried to like this album but Pharrell needs to keep his hands off mainstream pop. Also to Ari stans, this album, although a brave statement and possibly what Ari has always been wanting to try out musically, is in no way one step further into mainstream for her?! She's getting distracted from fully utilizing her powerful vocals to product pop megahits, and instead is just making lyrically-immature, production-wise messy, generic, forgettable messes. Big NOPE for me.    … Expand
  13. mikavk
    Aug 17, 2018
    1
    This is truly terrible. I understand trying R&B but this is R&B gone horribly wrong. The lyrics are childish and unpleasant and there's no hiding it especially on the singles no tears left to cry and god is a woman additionally the melodies are weak overall. The production is laced with a number of throwaway trap beats and a lot of incomplete sounds. the concepts are very superficiallyThis is truly terrible. I understand trying R&B but this is R&B gone horribly wrong. The lyrics are childish and unpleasant and there's no hiding it especially on the singles no tears left to cry and god is a woman additionally the melodies are weak overall. The production is laced with a number of throwaway trap beats and a lot of incomplete sounds. the concepts are very superficially covered and it feels like at the centre she's singing about either sex or her new fling (who she got engaged to after dating for a month). there aren't really any redeeming points except a few experimental songs and compositions. However, if you had to compare this to other modern R&B albums (A seat at the table, ctrl, 24k magic, ANTi, awaken my love, trip etc ) it doesn't come close and as a pop album it lacks immaculate production and powerful melodic writing (think 1989, Loud, Prism, Starboy etc) to leave any memorable impact.… Expand
  14. SuchiB14
    Oct 4, 2018
    2
    The album is actual crap. That is just a euphemism. The bubble gum beats make me want to puke, her singing is overrated, clearly average and her lyrics are as simple as a baby's vocabulary. However, 'Sweetener' is perfect for 12 yr old girls and the features do raise the album's quality a slight notch. There are one or two average to good songs, but one or two songs do not make an album,The album is actual crap. That is just a euphemism. The bubble gum beats make me want to puke, her singing is overrated, clearly average and her lyrics are as simple as a baby's vocabulary. However, 'Sweetener' is perfect for 12 yr old girls and the features do raise the album's quality a slight notch. There are one or two average to good songs, but one or two songs do not make an album, and the bar for pop artists has clearly dropped off a cliff if critics are going to suck Ariana's dick like displayed by their overly kind reviews. Anyway its a 3 out of 10 from me and a recommendation to all of those who may read this to listen to other more talented artists.… Expand
  15. araragik
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    whaaaaattttt a shiit, garbageeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  16. JhosepKingsley
    Aug 26, 2018
    3
    After listening to songs like "no tears left to cry" and "God Is A Woman" we had many expectations of what would probably be one of the best albums of the career of Grande and pop history, however Ariana told us that really we would find ourselves with "The Light Is Coming" and we did not realize it. Although the album is quite consistent in terms of sounds presenting a mostly R & B lineAfter listening to songs like "no tears left to cry" and "God Is A Woman" we had many expectations of what would probably be one of the best albums of the career of Grande and pop history, however Ariana told us that really we would find ourselves with "The Light Is Coming" and we did not realize it. Although the album is quite consistent in terms of sounds presenting a mostly R & B line produced by Pharrel Williams that becomes so repetitive that it becomes boring, something that we can not blame Pharrel but the young singer because I get wrapped up quite well in the new genre. Understanding that it is a great change for the dangerous woman and she is still adapting to this new environment, we hope that in future work she will be able to mold herself well. Despite the bad taste of mouth that we take with the excess of filling in "Sweetener" it is necessary to speak of the masterpiece "breathin", one of the most precious jewels of the album in which it is impossible to highlight the majestic composition with the that Ariana transmitted a feeling with which she is easy to connect and the wonderful vocal performance that fits very well with the production (in which, curiously, Pharrel is not involved).… Expand
  17. gianor15
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    Her worst album, is the same beat in all the songs, she could do it better the next time
  18. Dramaslut
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    Easily one of the worst albums of 2018. She thought she was doing something but she really didn’t. A huge miss.
  19. JeanDaniel
    Aug 18, 2018
    1
    Very disappointed of this album. Ariana shows no sign of musical growth. Pharrell's sound is not made for Ariana voice.
  20. jemesc
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    I'm sorry but what was Ariana thinking? She's been so conceited over this album, and it was downright horrible.
  21. Dai231196
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    Pure trash. The songs produced by Pharrell are all worst songs. She should have a better producer.
  22. ewhite
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    The album is trash. Dangerous Woman, My Everything and Yours Truly remain unbothered.
  23. oitentt
    Aug 17, 2018
    1
    This album certainly disappointed me, It's her worst album ever. Repetitive songs, messy melodies and such a waste of her powerful vocals. I expected more, there's only 2 songs I like... really sad
  24. vocalz
    Aug 17, 2018
    2
    This wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Only 2 sounds besides the singles we’re decent the rest were straight garbage. No artistic growth, it sounds like a kids pop machine . Not what you’d expect from an A vocalist, wtf were the lyrics in this album? If she contributed then she needs to not take on writing anymore sweetie. The production was crap. I wasn’t surprised in any formThis wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Only 2 sounds besides the singles we’re decent the rest were straight garbage. No artistic growth, it sounds like a kids pop machine . Not what you’d expect from an A vocalist, wtf were the lyrics in this album? If she contributed then she needs to not take on writing anymore sweetie. The production was crap. I wasn’t surprised in any form throughout the album, and it hurt to listen and hate it. Fourth album curse, maybe the next one will be better.… Expand
  25. thefentyboy
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    The only good thing about this album is the Imogen Heap cover, therefore congrats Imogen Heap!
  26. aislanruivo
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    Totalmente diferente e ESTRANHO de tudo que já fez. O estranhamento e o jeito diferenciado poderia ser pra melhor, mas nesse álbum foi pra pior. Som equivocado, que o que parece a cantora aceitou a sonoridade dos produtores(que não tem nada a ver com ela) e não fez nada do que queria!ÁLBUM PÉSSIMO! Pior da carreira!
  27. zarryisreal
    Aug 26, 2018
    0
    Álbum lixo, horrível, músicas totalmente genéricas e esquecíveis com letras porcas e mal feitas, é uma vergonha ter esse álbum na discografia comparado à 'Dangerous Woman' e 'Yours Truly'. De 15 músicas menos de 5 se salvam, Ariana se tornou mais um produto esquecível da indústria, pode fazer o sucesso que for que não irá mudar o quão esse álbum é ruim e sem qualidade alguma.
  28. worldofxtina
    Aug 20, 2018
    0
    Listened to the album. Thought NTLTC was a bop. anything else is mediocre. Thanks
  29. Wonderland28
    Aug 17, 2018
    1
    Ariana Grande's "Sweetener" won't be going into one of my cups of tea anytime soon.
  30. Jezara
    Aug 17, 2018
    0
    Es el peor de todos iugh. Ariana se encargó de hacer un aborto peor que Yours pedo y aquí demuestra como se está llendo a la Everyday.
    Bueno saludos mis porcinas, espero escuchen algo mejor que esta cosa fea, gg
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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.
    Read full review
  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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