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. gustavog
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Even I prefer a full-pop job, sweetener really caught me; the intro with only-vocal is so amazing, and God is a woman is my favorite of course! breathing' need to be a single… Expand
  2. Adriano34
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    is not Ariana's best album, but it shows that it is much more than the sameness and this is incredible
  3. Daniel618
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Que arte este álbum uno de los mejores del 2018 sin duda lo mejor de Ariana el trabajo más personal con sonidos increíbles ah excepción de blazed que es una de las no muy buenas del álbum pero igual es muy buena para mí breathin es la mejor de Sweetener
  4. fr108nk
    Feb 14, 2020
    9
    Aged like fine wine. The superior album in a flawless discography rivaling thank u, next
  5. LaisSantos
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    I loved !!! Another great work from Ariana Grande !!! We can hear your impeccable vocals in a new musical proposal !!!
  6. braydenbutera
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Ariana Grande stuns on her forth studio album. whether it be discussing bad love, anxiety, or her soon-to be husband, she delivers in several different ways, whether it be through production, vocals, lyricism, or the general vibe.
  7. 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
  8. ooo13
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    your truly ,my everything,dangerous woman are the best album！and sweetener just so-so...
  9. sweetenergrande
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Her best album! I don't understand the hate it's receiving, it's a great album. I do think Pharrell's work is a bit messy but there are other songs on the album which are better.
  10. Flowertoeilish
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Sweetener é um trabalho totalmente diferente dos outros álbuns da Ariana, ele mestra musicas “ chiclete” com ritmos novos, além de explorar um novo lado da voz e da potência da Ari
    Ela realmente surpreendeu no conceito do álbum, tendo um resultado incrivelmente doce
  11. beydreamer
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Another good album by Ariana Grande. Favorite songs: blazed, R.E.M, everytime, breathin, better off, goodnight n go, get well soon and the singles.
  12. Josuecaiza
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Is this Ariana's worst album? Many will hate this album because they are not accustomed ...
    Ariana made her work grow too much, her album is DW's best predecessor because her sounds are impressive
  13. druneyy
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    The album is clearly a grower but Ariana stil needs to use her voice more, raindrops & sweetener (the song) are the best
  14. ykhyn01
    Aug 18, 2018
    9
    Fifteen tracks that put a smile on my face and a tear in my eye. Production duties were granted primarily to Pharrell Williams, allowing Ariana to explore a more experimental sound, but honestly, her voice is so strong, it’s hard to imagine a genre it wouldn’t suit.
  15. AnthonyHowe
    Aug 17, 2018
    9
    Out of fanaticism, Ariana was able to prove that by renewing his music he shows his essence, his lyrics, all of it. We see that their participation is total and that it feels more, now we know it more. I thank you for opening up to us in this way, different sounds that in some way get along very well with the voice of Ariana, simply... Spectacular.
  16. creepysantos
    Aug 18, 2018
    9
    Este é definitivamente O trabalho de Ariana Grande. Para além das letras extremamente pessoais, a artista expressa-se através de diferentes sonoridades. Não é, de todo, um álbum comercial. É um album para os fãs. Nota-se claramente o envolvimento do Pharrel visto que em algumas das músicas há uma constante repetição da palavra que dá título à respectiva música.

    "Sweetener", mesmo tendo    Este é definitivamente O trabalho de Ariana Grande. Para além das letras extremamente pessoais, a artista expressa-se através de diferentes sonoridades. Não é, de todo, um álbum comercial. É um album para os fãs. Nota-se claramente o envolvimento do Pharrel visto que em algumas das músicas há uma constante repetição da palavra que dá título à respectiva música.

    "Sweetener", mesmo tendo três altos momentos claramente POP - God is a Woman, No Tears Left to Cry e Breathin, "Breathin" é sem dúvida o melhor momento do álbum. É uma música extremamente honesta e consegue transparecer todas as emoções que nela estão inseridas.

    Definitivamente a quebra do álbum e o momento mais fraco é "Borderline". Para além de não conseguir relacionar a canção com o resto do álbum, a presença da Missy Elliot só estraga a música. Profere os versos como se estivesse a fazer um favor. Não é de todo a Missy Elliot enérgica que todos conhecem.    … Expand
  17. panchofan
    Aug 18, 2018
    9
    el album es bueno canciones como NTLTC, GIAW, TLIC, Breathin, everytime, raindrops (an angel cry) son las mejores pero en otras canciones muy adelantada para sacar nuevos tonos y no son buenas son largas y aburridas
  18. hoesoulji
    Aug 18, 2018
    9
    O álbum mais coerente e maduro da Ariana. Senti a falta dos vocais mais potentes que ela têm e que se encaixariam muito bem com o som mais r&b do sweetener.
  19. gabsbrand
    Aug 18, 2018
    9
    É um álbum bastante controverso para uma cantora do nível da Ariana - se não, o mais controverso de sua carreira -, mas não deixa de ser um trabalho impecável. Nesse trabalho, Grande deixa de lado os seus poderosos vocais, marca registrada do seu álbum anterior: "Dangerous Woman", porém ainda podemos notá-los em faixas como "raindrops" e "God is a woman", por exemplo. O único ponto ruim doÉ um álbum bastante controverso para uma cantora do nível da Ariana - se não, o mais controverso de sua carreira -, mas não deixa de ser um trabalho impecável. Nesse trabalho, Grande deixa de lado os seus poderosos vocais, marca registrada do seu álbum anterior: "Dangerous Woman", porém ainda podemos notá-los em faixas como "raindrops" e "God is a woman", por exemplo. O único ponto ruim do álbum são as músicas produzidas pelo Pharrel, que deixam um pouco de lado características próprias da Ariana e se mostram como um "The Pharrel Show" (como afirma o "The Independent (UK)"). Infelizmente, muitos esperavam uma chamada "salvação do pop", e se desapontaram, mas para quem realmente conhece a Ariana, sabe o quanto é importante esse álbum para ela. Contudo, em linhas gerais, é incrível como a Ariana conseguiu sair de sua zona de conforto (pop dançante e vocais bem marcados) e trouxe realmente um álbum bem "adoçado", com suas melodias, letras e vocais amenos.… Expand
  20. Agdiamondx
    Aug 18, 2018
    9
    Iconic diosariana dando arte nada nuevo, proxima reina del pop asi esza
    Ariana>>>selesarna
  21. sidestodemi
    Aug 19, 2018
    9
    O destaque aqui vai para os singles lançados anteriormente, everytime, breathin, goodnight n go, pete davidson, better off e get well soon que salvam o álbum no melhor estilo da Ariana.
  22. Wikujama
    Aug 20, 2018
    9
    This album i so incredible and different (unique). My favourite song is goodnight n go this is so amazing like angels in the sky! I love Ariana so much but i can't give her 10/10 because of Blazed ft. Pharrell....This is **** OMG!
  23. cabrerapancho
    Aug 26, 2018
    9
    Hoy, cuando la paciencia y el interés son bienes virtuales escasísimos para el mundo de la cultura y la satisfacción debe ser tirando a inmediata, las primeras impresiones –a menudo las más certeras– suelen ser cruciales. En ese sentido, ‘Sweetener’ ha llegado al mundo con mal pie: las primeras reseñas y reacciones del público general están siendo relativamente negativas, con la palabraHoy, cuando la paciencia y el interés son bienes virtuales escasísimos para el mundo de la cultura y la satisfacción debe ser tirando a inmediata, las primeras impresiones –a menudo las más certeras– suelen ser cruciales. En ese sentido, ‘Sweetener’ ha llegado al mundo con mal pie: las primeras reseñas y reacciones del público general están siendo relativamente negativas, con la palabra “decepción” a modo de mantra. Y la culpa, en este caso, la podría tener las altísimas expectativas despertadas por dos singles sobresalientes como ‘No Tears Left To Cry’ y ‘God Is A Woman’, de largo las dos mejores canciones del cuarto largo de Ariana Grande.

    ¿Hizo bien Ariana en presentar el álbum con la crema? Sí, sin duda: en no pocas ocasiones hemos visto cómo una mala elección en los primeros indicios de un disco pop pueden hacer que el público dé la espalda a obras que, a posteriori, se han revelado mejores de lo que anticipaban. Sin embargo, el “mal” que aquellas dos canciones han hecho a ‘Sweetener’ es que no eran representativas de su sonido. Porque, en realidad, Max Martin y sus estrechos colaboradores Ilya Salmanzadeh y Savan Kotecha, productores y co-autores de aquellas, apenas están presentes en dos canciones más, que, a todas luces, conforman lo mejor del largo: el sensual –amargo en lo lírico– mediotiempo trap-pop ‘Everytime’, y ‘Breathin’, un banger al estilo ‘Into You’ –un clip a la altura y quizá un buen remix, podrían hacer de ella un hit– en el que Grande envía un mensaje bonito y positivo sobre superar la ansiedad.

    El resto del disco, con excepción de un par de concesiones al equipo de TBHits –capaz de cosas tan monas como ‘Better Off’, y también tan prescindibles como ‘Goodnight N Go’ –que no es ni la mitad de chula que el original de Imogen Heap– o la bromilla ‘Pete Davidson’–, se caracteriza casi al completo por contar con el traicionero “sello Pharrell”, convertido en el Timbaland de esta era: su sonido es tan reconocible como predecible, confundiendo el minimalismo con la cutrez y lo rácano. Williams consigue que la vocalmente sobrenatural Ariana resulte no ya inane –como en ’Get Well Soon’– sino también irritante, como en ’Blazed’, ‘The Light Is Coming’ –curioso cómo, al contrario que ‘Bed‘, se ha hecho pequeña con los días, quedando en nadería en esta secuencia– o ‘Borderline’. Curiosamente, estas tres coinciden en ser los tres únicos featurings de ‘Sweetener’: el primero, con la innecesaria intervención del productor, y las otras con dos raperas como Nicki Minaj y Missy Elliott, que generalmente dan lustre y magnetismo a lo que tocan y en este caso suenan impersonales y marciales, como meras funcionarias del rap.

    Sin embargo, agrupar todo lo que ha tocado Pharrell en ‘Sweetener’ bajo esa visión sería simplista: las escuchas hacen que brille ostensiblemente una “clase media” de canciones como ‘R.E.M.’ –aparentemente dedicada a su actual pareja, el ya citado Davidson, con explícitos “tú sabes como comerlo”–, ‘Sweetener’ –con un estribillo que, de nuevo, parece aludir simpáticamente al sexo oral femenino–, o la juguetona ‘Succesful’ –un aparente autohomenaje a la par que un himno de sororidad–, en las que el tratamiento feo/bonito, dulce/salado, cándido/picante que Williams aplica al pop R&B de la cantante resulta tremendamente adictivo. Es en estas donde este tándem cobra sentido, y revela una faceta versátil de Grande, capaz de equilibrar gorgoritos y swag, que la aproxima a eso que tan buenos réditos da a Bruno Mars, por ejemplo.

    Ese trío, a la postre, hace que la balanza se incline hacia el lado positivo y que ‘Sweetener’, aunque no llegue a superar el que es, hasta hoy, el mejor disco de Grande, ‘Dangerous Woman’, sea un más que aceptable paso hacia la consolidación de su talento. Si los fans y la industria resisten esas prisas inherentes a esta época, parece indudable que Ariana Grande llegará a publicar discos a la altura de su inconmensurable talento.    … Expand
  24. danielfonseca
    Sep 5, 2018
    9
    Este álbum é diferente do que a Ariana costuma fazer habitualmente. Sweetener é um album que contem musicas felizes e melodicas ao nivel pop e logo aí tem muito a ganhar por ser um album completamente diferente ao que estamos habituados no mundo da musica. A única coisa negativa que me chateia é o facto do album ter menos tempo do que o habitual e haver uma musica com 30Este álbum é diferente do que a Ariana costuma fazer habitualmente. Sweetener é um album que contem musicas felizes e melodicas ao nivel pop e logo aí tem muito a ganhar por ser um album completamente diferente ao que estamos habituados no mundo da musica. A única coisa negativa que me chateia é o facto do album ter menos tempo do que o habitual e haver uma musica com 30 segundos(raindrops) outra com 1:15(Pete Davidson) e aqueles 40 segundos mudos na ultima musica.....acho que no fator tempo a Ariana tem um pouco a perder neste album. Quanto menos musica fizer, tambem menos erros dá.… Expand
  25. pursuingdreams
    Nov 25, 2018
    9
    Ariana Grande evolved when making the album. The lyrical content is improved a lot. The album is obviously divided into 2 parts: Pharrell's part and the other part. It is glad to see that Ariana attempts different styles. Nevertheless, most of these songs are not very successful. Blazed(5/10) and Botherline(5/10) are insipid. The Light is Coming is a little bit repetitive andAriana Grande evolved when making the album. The lyrical content is improved a lot. The album is obviously divided into 2 parts: Pharrell's part and the other part. It is glad to see that Ariana attempts different styles. Nevertheless, most of these songs are not very successful. Blazed(5/10) and Botherline(5/10) are insipid. The Light is Coming is a little bit repetitive and weird(6/10).(MV is pretty bad) REM has the potential to be a bop but the breath sound is annoying(7/10). So does Sweetener(8/10 because some of the parts are really good). Successful is actually good(8.5/10). Get well soon is unexpected but overall it is fair(8/10). For the second part, the tracks are more like the original Ariana. Most of the tracks are bops. The best track is absolutely Breathin and the meaning behind it is wonderful(10/10). Everytime is cute especially the laughter in the end(9.5/10). Raindrops is a great intro(9.5/10 Ariana is always good at making intro). God is a woman is powerful(10/10). No tears left to cry is a grower(9.5/10). Goodnight n go is beautiful especially the finale of the tone(10/10). Better off is cute(9.5/10). Pete Davidson is sweet but too short(9/10). Overall it is good but not perfect. In my opinion, Dangerous Woman is more catchy despite the lyrical content is not good.… Expand
  26. louis_
    Jun 26, 2019
    9
    Maturity is the key word to describe this spectacular album, which gave us a very positive perspective of Grande sound evolution in the industry and that is shown in a fantastic way in this album
  27. BrookeMad
    Aug 24, 2019
    9
    I love this album, is the most different of her, the vibe "sweet" is everything. NTLTC, GIAW and Everytime are perfects.
  28. SoleLorde
    Aug 31, 2019
    9
    The album is great, it doesn't disappoint, its a different turn from her previous, heavy pop, album (Dangerous Woman) the album is r&bish with some pop infused songs. The album has mixed lyrics, some of them are very good and some of them are just fun songs with meaningless lyrics, on terms of production, Pharrell did an amazing job yet you can see the difference from the songsThe album is great, it doesn't disappoint, its a different turn from her previous, heavy pop, album (Dangerous Woman) the album is r&bish with some pop infused songs. The album has mixed lyrics, some of them are very good and some of them are just fun songs with meaningless lyrics, on terms of production, Pharrell did an amazing job yet you can see the difference from the songs non-produced by Pharrell. On this album Ari showed a sweet side. Healing from past circumstances. T

    he album starts good yet it goes downhill from there, the light is coming is a good song, a song for the club, it had potential but it wasn't used, the album closes with get well soon, probably her best written and best song yet.    … Expand
  29. diegomoontoya
    Oct 13, 2019
    9
    Incredible, Ariana's creativity at its best, is a musical hug, too sweet in her lyrics; I consider that the tracks produced by Ilya and Max Martin are better than those of Phraell, they show more professionalism.
    Sweetener tries to be very happy, in a world of colors and happiness, and he succeeds, the songs are of love and dreams.
    I think the grammy truly deserves.
  30. greedybadidea
    May 23, 2020
    9
    Ariana Grande has found the light on her fourth studio album, 'Sweetener'. During times of heartbreak, tragedy, and anxiety, Grande is able to provide one of the happiest records the world has ever heard. With her sweet vocals meshed with the quirky, cute production Grande is able to make you smile, dance, cry, and smile some more. This record is powerful and shows much growth from theAriana Grande has found the light on her fourth studio album, 'Sweetener'. During times of heartbreak, tragedy, and anxiety, Grande is able to provide one of the happiest records the world has ever heard. With her sweet vocals meshed with the quirky, cute production Grande is able to make you smile, dance, cry, and smile some more. This record is powerful and shows much growth from the legend herself.

    Album Track Ranking:
    1. God is a woman
    2. no tears left to cry
    3. everytime
    4. breathin
    5. goodnight n go
    6. better off
    7. get well soon
    8. raindrops (an angel cried)
    9. successful
    10. pete davidson
    11. sweetener
    12. R.E.M.
    13. borderline (feat. Missy Elliott)
    14. the light is coming (feat. Nicki Minaj)
    15. blazed (feat. Pharrell Williams)    … 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.
    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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