Nicki Minaj- The Pinkprint- Full Album Review

On the 15 of December, rapper Nicki Minaj released her highly anticipated The Pinkprint, worldwide. With Nicki’s first two albums containing almost polar opposite sounds to them (from hip-hop to dance pop), the rapper managed to convey a wide array of different sounds and feelings on this cohesive body of work. Minaj also managed to show a hugely different side of herself, with just the album opener, “All Things Go”, pertaining to the rapper’s damaged connections with different members of her family that she has been attempting to rekindle since she hit fame. The album is full of high profile features such as former “Bang Bang” collaborator Ariana Grande. Also included on the album is another former collaborator, this time on the famous “Flawless Remix”, Beyoncé. The two stars came together to create a track that did everything but scream smash hit. Other tracks such as “Only” feature label mates such as Drake and Lil Wayne. 

The first single off the album, “Pills N’ Potions”, features a more pop sound with a hook sung by Minaj herself. While it only managed to find a niche audience and failed to provide the exposure a lead single is meant to provide, the second single, “Anaconda”, featured a viral video that skyrocketed the track to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. This became that artist’s biggest single to date, beating out her previous high point, “Super Bass”, which fought its way up to number three in the year of 2011. Follow up singles “Only” (urban single) and “Bed of Lies” (pop single) have already garnered critical acclaim, joining each and every single’s positive reviews from critics worldwide.

Overall, this definitely is one of my favorite albums of 2014. The cohesive 22 track work displays all sides of Nicki, sides revealed in ways never before on this heartfelt work. From Chris Brown to Skylar Grey, from hard rap to soulful ballads to straight up pop jams, you would be hard pressed to not find something you can enjoy on this diverse, solid album that manages to span all genres, serving all of her fans in one body of work. I would recommend any hip-hop enthusiast to pick up the album today!

Ariana Grande- My Everything Track By Track Review

Hey everyone! Following Sunday's VMA performance, Ariana Grande has released her new sophomore album, My Everything, to retailers nationwide. How does this set stack up to her previous effort, Yours Truly? Find out below.

Intro: This short little introduction track prepares us for the sophomore album of the soulful songstress in a beautiful way that just leaves you wanting more.

Problem: Read My Full Problem Review Here!

One Last Time- One Last Time is a mid-tempo track led with a danceable EDM instrumental track. The song shows off Grande's vocals, with them occupying the spotlight of the track. However, the track always feels as if it's building up to something that it just never quite reaches and is very underwhelming.

Why Try- Why Try is a mid-tempo track that has a marching drum led beat. The beat works wonders with Ariana's laid back vocals. However, while the track is good, it's almost underwhelming, and the song slowly starts to drag just a bit before it reaches the end of its 3 and 1/2 minute duration.

Break Free- Read my Full Break Free Review Here!

Best Mistake- Best Mistake is my personal favorite off the album. Similar to Just a Little Bit of Your Heart, the piano led instrumental pairs with Ariana's hauntingly beautiful vocals in a way I've never heard before, and is simply stunning. While I feel like Big Sean would have been better suited on a different track off the album, his verse fits in well enough to complete this near perfect track.

Be My Baby- Be My Baby is one of the more upbeat tracks off the set, with a bass heavy, drum led instrumental track. Grande's fast paced verses transition smoothly into the stellar chorus. This danceable track leads us right into Break Your Heart Right Back.

Break Your Heart Right Back- Break your heart is a catchy, bass heavy track, telling the true story of a former flame of Grande's cheating on her with another guy. The track samples "I'm Coming Out" in a smart way that adds that much more to this fun, dancey R&B track. Childish Gambino is also featured on the track with a cleverly placed verse that add a lot of diversity to this solid song.

Love Me Harder- Love Me Harder is an uptempo track featuring The Weekend. The song is fun, catchy, and Ariana & The Weekend have fantastic chemistry. This track will stay stuck in your head for hours, and I currently have it on repeat.

Just a Little Bit of Your Heart-  This Beautiful ballad centers around a heartbroken Ariana asking for Just a little bit of her love's heart. The song is composed stunningly, and succeeds in every way. Lyrically and musically haunting, this is definitely a standout track. 

Hands on Me- Another standout off the album, Ariana has officially shed her Nickelodeon image, proving this with sultry lyrics including the line- "Trembling, when you touch Rush is racing body baking Picture me and you making Making sweet love Baby give it to me" (Metro Lyrics) Featuring A$AP Ferg, this urban, fun, quick paced track has the chance to become a smash hit.

My Everything- To close out the album we have a stunning ballad co-written by Ariana Grande herself. This soulful, piano-led title track doesn't even clock in at 3 minutes, and is over right as it begins, leaving me wanting more from it.

Overall, this is well, a pretty good album that's honestly, just as good as her debut "Yours Truly". Releasing a second album in less than a year really doesn't give yourself any time to grow, and not much growth is displayed on this new album. While I do like it, a sophomore album's main goal is to be better than its predecessor, which didn't happen here.

DOUBLE REVIEW- Miranda Lambert's Platinum & Lucy Hale's Road Between

Due to the recent releases of two country music star's albums, Platinum from Miranda Lambert and Road Between from Lucy Hale, I've decided to review the title tracks of both records in Megaton Reviews's second Double Review. Let's start off with Platinum.

Platinum is a bit of a more upbeat, almost Pop country song, with a singleable chorus. The guitar led instruments track works well with Lambert's fun, light vocals through out the song. The song may not exactly stay stuck in your head exactly, but I did find myself singing the chorus every once and awhile through out the day.

On to Hale's Road Between. This song is definitely pure country, and does a nice job of showing off the new artist's vocals. The vocals are definitely the standout of this track, however the instrumental track does flow nicely through the range Hale's vocals displayed in this track.

Overall, these were two great tracks, with my favorite leading towards Road Between. However, neither track quite represents the rest of their respective albums, with both tracks representing the other's more, as Road Between features more pop-country tracks, and vice versa, as Road Between features vocals similar to Platinum's mainly pure country vocals. However, both tracks are great individual title tracks, and I  definitely recommend any country fan to check out both albums in full, as both are two very cohesive, quality projects that are worth their price.

What did you think of both tracks? The full albums? Post in the comments below, and I'll see you in the next review!

Iggy Azalea- The New Classic Review

On the 21st of April, Iggy Azalea released her debut album "The New Classic" in the US. A follow up from her hit singles such as Work and Fancy, the album hit the #1 spot on iTunes in less than 24 hours. Did the album live up to all the hype it was surrounded by? Find out below.

In all 4 singles from the album, Iggy's had a sick, unending flow that could make heads spin. However, on the album's opening, Walk the Line, the speed is put on the back burner for most of the song, with the chorus being almost rap/sung. A strange song for Iggy, and an even stranger song for the opening of her album, we then move into Don't Need Y'all, which features quick paced verses, but again, a slow chorus. While still an interesting track coming from Iggy, it fits her better than the opening "Walk". However,  the song quickly grows monotonous, and drags on a bit before we move into the next track, 100. This song features a more upbeat, drum heavy instrumental track, which couple with Iggy's fast paced rap vocals perfectly. However, these rap verses once again trump the actual, boring chorus, that's honestly completely unnecessary for the track. 

Change Your Life, the third single from the record is featured next, and so far is the most hard rap centered cut off the album. In my opinion, "Change" was an excellent, radio ready single choice that originally turned me into a fan. "Change" is followed then by Fancy,  Iggy's break out hit in the US. Check out my full Fancy review here. Fancy is quickly followed by New Bitch, which features a bit more laid back rap vocals and a perfect, upbeat instrumental. The track is, out of all tracks so far, the most single ready (besides already released singles), which is saying a lot. New Bitch is followed by Work, the debut single from Azalea and the lead single off The New Classic. Work features impeccable, high speed raps, a dance-able instrumental, and a chorus that has made me literally sing the entire thing every time I mention the word work. No matter who I'm talking to. It's like, a serious problem. Workworkworkwork.

After Workworkwork, the album starts to pick up more with Impossible is Nothing, which features more of a flow from Azalea. However, the next track Goddess, features a drum led, almost African feeling beat, which couples with Iggy's harder hip-hop oriented rap vocals perfectly. The next track Black Widow, also features a hard beat, sick vocals, and an electro-esque hip-hop beat, along with a singable chorus that's stuck in my head even as I'm writing this review.

From Work and onward, the album really starts to pick up, and reflects on previous singles from the album in a more accurate light than the previous half of the record.

I had a lot of hope, and expectations for this album to live up to before it was released. However, when I heard the first half of the record, I was worried I was going to be disappointed. However, the fun yet hardcore rap centered latter half of the album (along with the singles) met, and exceeded my expectations, and overall, I'd recommend this album to any general hip-hop fans.

What did you think of the album? Did it meet your expectations? Post your thoughts in the comments below, and I'll see you next time!

Rating: 

Karmin- Pulses Album Review+Download

On Tuesday,  March 25th, Karmin released their first full length studio album in the United States. Will the album pale to or leave their debut EP, Hello, in the dust? Find out below.

Pulses has an overall mood and feel similar to their EP Hello, featuring many uptempo, dance centered tracks, but takes the energy to a new, higher level. And as opposed to the album's lead single Acapella, many of the tracks feature a more mature feeling to them, absent in many of the tracks featured on Hello. Even the most party centered tracks, namely Night Like This, features a much more grown up aura than tracks such as Brokenhearted and Too Many Fish, both featured on Hello.

Pulses is able to differentiate itself from its predecessor in many ways, with many differences being visible between the two works. All tracks on Pulses also feature new, unique, hip-hop esque instrumental tracks, that pair perfectly with the duo's pop vocal verses, or Amy's rap verses, an element absent in Hello.  Speaking of, Amy's rapping also features a more mature sound to it, shedding its pop-rap exterior for a more hip-hop based rap vocal sound. Another difference between both works is the other half of Karmin, Nick. In Hello, Nick was only noticeably present in one song, and sang backup vocals for most of the other tracks. However, in Pulses, while still far from being the lead singer, Nick is actually audible in more of the album than not, actually garnering his own verses or lines in many of the album's thirteen tracks.

One thing about the album that baffles me about the album are the single choices. While Acapella overall was a fun, dance-able lead single, it failed to actually give us a real taste of the album. Rather, Acapella is musically different from most tracks on the album. The second single, I Want it All, is an even more confusing choice. While as a stand alone track the song is a fun pop anthem (although it fails to differentiate itself from the large pop landscape today), it is overall the weakest track off the album, and any song, even one of the ballads, would have been a better single choice than this.

Stream the entire album for free here

As the name suggest, the album certainly has its uptempo and downtempo tracks. However, the uptempos certainly outweigh the downtempos, with the album clocking in with 2 ballads. both are powerful relationship related tracks, that actually give the duo a chance to show off their vocals.

Overall, this is an album that's different from most pop/hip-hop albums today, something we don't hear everyday. In their previous works, Karmin has had a sound that to some, was just unbearable to listen to. While I never had that problem, from what I've heard it was her rapping that was the problem. With the more mature rapping style Amy has adopted with this album, it seems that the problem has been at least lessened a great deal. This could be a beneficial move for them that could garner them a new group of fans in the long run.

Overall, this diverse album full of pop, hip-hop, and downtempo tracks has a wide range of musical variety that can appeal to the public if promoted correctly by their label, Epic. The album features a new, maturer side of the duo, but also retains the same Karmin I fell in love with from the beginning. Make sure to tell me what you think about the album in the comments, and make sure to download Pulses below!

Ariana Grande- Yours Truly Download + Track By Track Review

On Friday, Ariana Grande's debut album, preceded by two top 40 singles, Yours Truly was released. How does the Nickelodeon star's album stack up in today's pop landscape? Find out after the jump in this track by track review.

Honeymoon Avenue- Honeymoon Avenue opens the album up with an orchestraic instrumental track quickly followed by an awkward robotic chorus that Ariana riffs over. The instrumental track then moves into a more modern, smooth, bass led beat. The uptempo song gives Ariana a chance to show off her versatility, as through out the song she switches off from pop vocals to R&B riffs on a dime. While not her best, the song is overall a fun pop R&B song, however, multiple times through out the five minute track the lyrics seem out of place, as if Ariana's trying to fit lyrics into a line that they shouldn't be in, overall giving the song an awkward feel.

Baby I- View my full Baby I review here.

Right There- Right There was the third single off the album, featuring rapper Big Sean. While as always Ariana's vocals are very powerful, this song is just a redux of The Way. While Big Sean does add some variety, overall the vocals, instruments, and even the riffs at the end of the song are very similar to The Way, and while it's ok as a standalone song, when included in the rest of the album it doesn't stand out as its own song.

Tattooed Heart- Tattooed Heart skips the uptempo, urban led instrumentals present in most of Ariana's songs, in favor for a much more down tempoed, symphonic feel. The 50's inspired instrumental track is complimented by Ariana's powerful vocals. In this song Grande focuses on the vocals, letting her powerful voice shine through. However, the song is over as quickly as it began, lasting only a few short minutes before we move onto the next track, Lovin' It.

Lovin' It- Wow. I'm Definitely Lovin' Lovin' It! Hahahaha get it... no? Ok. Lovin' It is a very uptempo urban song, featuring a bass heavy, smooth instrumental track coupled with a quick paced verse from Ariana, before the song picks up even more at the chorus. Overall this urban pop track is definitely one of the stand outs of the album, and I could see this on the radio any day.

Piano-  Piano is the purest pop song off the entire album. The entire song is incredibly catchy, and the piano led instrumental track adds another level to this fun, light summer jam. Grande's vocals are incredibly fun and breezy, and every part of this song is definitely a sing a long, to the point where every verse could be the chorus. This song has everything we've heard from Ariana before, powerful Maria Carey-esque vocals, a great beat, and more. The jazz-pop beat compliments the great vocals and just vsdjklvmajfklsdmanfkmvlasf I can't even this song is epic. The only way this album could have gotten better was if it was just Piano 10 times.

Daydreamin- Immediately when I heard this song, it just captured me. I don't really know how to explain it in other words, but I just loved the soft yet powerful instrumentals, and Ariana's vocals in this song are just enchanting. Maybe it's just me, because I can't explain what it is about this song I love. But everything about this song just flows together in perfect harmony, making for a near flawless track.

The Way- View my full The Way review here.

You'll Never Know- You'll never know is another uptempoed song, featuring the most modern, urban instrumental track off the entire album. The song is an urban pop song, featuring plenty of hooks to sing along to. The song doesn't sound like anything off the album, and is definitely one of the more radio songs off the album.

Almost Is Never Enough- View my full Almost Is Never Enough review here.

Popular Song- The Popular Song is an already critically acclaimed song off of British singer Mika's 3rd studio album, The Origin of Love. As the song was originally his, I expected Ariana to change the song around a bit, as the song features much more of Mika than Ariana, however, the song doesn't change at all on Yours Truly, making it sound as if Ariana is featuring in her own song. However, the song is overall a fun, uptempo pop song that has been on repeat on my phone for the last few months. Just try to not get this song stuck in your head.

Better Left Unsaid- I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this track. It starts out as a down tempoed power ballad, but then quickly changes form, with the instrumental track becoming some sort of a dubstep track and the vocals become a more uptempo urban song. However, as quickly as that happens, it goes back into power ballad mode. wat. Like idk. The song is good but makes absolutely no sense at all. Basically Better Left Unsaid is a song that just punched itself in the face 10 times.

I had very high expectations for this album, and honestly, my expectations were blown out of the water. The album is near flawless, with almost every song being incredible. Another great plus of this album is the diversity of it. The album features pure pop songs, uptempo and downtempo R&B songs, and even ballads, there's a song for every mood, and besides one or two songs like Right There, no song sounds exactly like another. With a less than stellar opening and a clusterf*ck of an ending, the album exceeds almost everywhere, making it one of my favorite albums over 2013.

What do you guys think of Yours Truly? Post your review down below in the comments, and I'll see you guys next time!!