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!!

                                    

Ariana Grande and Nathan Sykes Almost Is Never Enough Review

In Ariana Grande's new duet with Nathan Sykes for The Mortal Instruments soundtrack, she tones down the speed of her Mariah Careyesque R&B vocals for a much more down tempo track. The song is very down to earth, featuring only a piano and a slow clap beat to accompany her beautiful vocals.

Switching it up from her normal R&B pop songs, Ariana goes for a much slower, down tempo-ed track, showing us a side of her we've never seen. In this song Ariana is able to show us just how much vocal ability and range she has.

As I had never heard of Nathan Sykes before, this was my 1st impression of him. While his parts of the song were good, they didn't really match up with Ariana's, and while they harmonize beautifully together, Ariana totally overpowers him (but honestly who doesn't she overpower), causing you to hear a lot more of her than him.

Overall, the song is good, but that's just about it. There's nothing memorable about it, and while it was enjoyable while you were listening to it, there's nothing keeping you from forgetting it right after it's over.

Jessie J- Excuse My Rude Review

            

Over the past week British singer Jessie J unveiled the fourth song from her upcoming second album. Check out a review and download links down below.

Over the past few weeks Jessie J has unveiled three other songs from the upcoming album including Wild, which while it was ok, didn't really wow me, It's My Party, the bubblegum pop song that just didn't feel like Jessie J at all and really underwhelmed me, Magnetic, the power ballad which restored my faith in Jessie J after the mess that was It's My Party, and now the new upbeat urban pop track Excuse My Rude. Excuse my rude is reminiscent of Do it like a Dude and Wild  as the beat is fierce and flows well with Jessie's on point, fierce, hard vocals. Another great up to this song is that it features Jessie's quick, almost rap like vocals, along with her softer, more soulful vocals. giving the song a lot of variety.

Jessie is absolutely flawless on this track, however, there is one annoying little detail to this song, Becky G. She has absolutely no reason to be in the song, and adds nothing to it.  Her bland rap honestly comes close to killing the song for me. Honestly, Jessie J could have done her verse for her (not to mention make it 10x better) and actually made it worth being in the song.

Overall, this song is a total improvement over (most) of the other songs being released off her sophomore album, and I hope her label will scrap It's My Party and instead go for Excuse my rude.

Katy Perry- Roar Download+Review

Throughout the past month Katy Perry has been unveiling many new teasers for her single Roar, in which she burns her trademarked Blue Wig, signaling the end of the Teenage Dream era. Was all this for nothing, or did Perry move on to a more mature style of music from her old bubblegum pop persona? Find out after the jump.

Turns out Perry wasn't lying. While Roar's style isn't drastically different from past hits like Teenage Dream, it was different enough to signal that we can expect something different from her upcoming album Prism. Roar is an upper mid-tempo track, featuring more traditional instruments as apposed to the synth drums and electronic beats we've become accustomed to in modern pop.

Lyrically, Katy Perry is also holding true to her promise, claiming she is going to roar, showcasing a more mature side of Perry, while also serving as an uplifting song, claiming she's going to Roar, and she's not going to take it anymore.

Overall Roar is definetly different for Perry, and displays a more mature, grown up sound, that I expect we're going to hear a lot more of on her upcoming album Prism. Tell me what you think of the song in the comments below, and I'll see you next time! 

                                    

Chris Brown Ft. Nicki Minaj Love More Download+Review

Oh hey, remember that one time when I didn't post for like 6 years? Stop judging me. Anyways, I'm back now with a review of Love More by Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj.

Love more features a fast paced beat full of marching drums and heavy bass, coupled with Brown's fast paced, smooth R&B vocals. The innuendo filled song offers little variety, only having two verses besides the chorus. However, soon after the track starts to get redundant, Nicki Minaj starts in with a quick paced, swaggerish (which is just as innuendo filled as the rest of the song) verse that's over as quickly as it began.

Overall the song is just... pretty ok. While it's incredibly short (barely clocking in at 3 minutes) the track manages to pack 3 hardcore verses, coupled with a swaggerish, bass heavy beat, perfect for an R&B track. So while the song is good, it is in no way Brown or Minaj's best work, and I expect only moderate radio rotation before Brown moves to his next single.

                                    

Ariana Grande- Baby I Review+Download

On July 22nd Ariana Grande released the follow up to her highly successful single The Way. Does this single have the potential to garner the success The Way did? Find out here.

Baby I has a similar feel to The Way as it is a throwback R&B Pop song featuring her powerful vocals over a soulful R&B instrumental track. However, while Baby I has its fair share of similarities to The Way, at the same time it has enough differences to differentiates itself as its own song, as well as differentiating itself from the majority of the pop landscape heard on the radio today.

In this song Ariana again shows off her incredible range, from calmly singing a verse to belting out runs that would make dogs bark, again confirming the opinion that Ariana could be the new Mariah Carey.

Overall, this is a wonderfully composed song that's similar to The Way, but's different enough to offer a whole new experience from The Way, and is a great followup to the first single, and will garner even more hype for her debut album, Yours Truly.

                                    

Ciara- Ciara Review+Download

On Tuesday, the 9th, Ciara released her self titled 5th album Ciara. Followed up from her less than successful 2010 effort Basic Instinct, Ciara has a lot to prove in her new 11 track album. Does she have what it takes to regain the airplay that her hit singles like Goodies and 1,2 Step had? Find out in the review below.

Ciara starts out strong with club banger I'm Out, which features a verse from Nicki Minaj. Nicki starts the album out strong with a fast paced, hard hitting verse. Ciara doesn't let the energy die there though, delivering swaggerish verses over the bass heavy beat of the summer pop girl anthem.

          

While Ciara starts out strong with I'm Out, from there the album fluctuates all over the place. Featuring beautiful ballads that showcase Ciara's incredible voice like Body Party, and then other songs such as Sophomore, that really don't differentiate themselves except for being just another song on the album. Like most albums Ciara has its ups (Body Party, I'm Out, Overdose) and its downs (Sophomore, Super Turnt Up, Keep on Lookin') unfortunately the downs really outweigh the ups, and throughout most of the album I was just waiting to get to the next song, hoping for something that didn't feel like filler until we get to one of the highs of the album.

However, while most of the album falls into the category of mediocrity, the album does have its high spots. And these high spots really are diverse, and the album has pop, R&B, and and even electric feels throughout its 11 tracks, all of which exceed in their own right.

Overall, this album is a definite hit and miss, with unfortunately, most of it being a miss. However on this album, just like on all of her previous efforts, she is moving closer to finding out what her true sound is, and I would recommend Ciara to any R&B fan.

Are you a fan? Tell me below in the comments, and if you like it, make sure to check it out on iTunes or Amazon MP3 below!

                                    

                                                                                                                                    -Colby