Positions
by Ariana Grande
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Oct 30, 2020
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5940 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,157 out of 5940
  2. Mixed: 417 out of 5940
  3. Negative: 1,366 out of 5940
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. jevom
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    It's a strong album overall, but it lacks innovation. The lyricism can be kind of redundant sometimes. Compared to her past three albums, 'positions' is definitely the weakest.
  2. Kinda
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    it's a good album, but the songs look the same. There is nothing very innovative or different on the album, it’s just that album with good songs to listen to while driving.
  3. Fernanmaxi
    Nov 6, 2020
    5
    Ariana Grande has not yet reinvented itself, has been making the same sounds, lyrics and rhythms since 2018, we are still waiting for her Music Box, which for longer to spend Ariana Grande has still not reinvented itself, has been making the same sounds, lyrics and rhythms since 2018, we are still waiting for her Music Box, which for longer that passes is not coming, hopefully in futureAriana Grande has not yet reinvented itself, has been making the same sounds, lyrics and rhythms since 2018, we are still waiting for her Music Box, which for longer to spend Ariana Grande has still not reinvented itself, has been making the same sounds, lyrics and rhythms since 2018, we are still waiting for her Music Box, which for longer that passes is not coming, hopefully in future works exploits more her voice as she did in her early recording works.… Expand
  4. Dracoshi
    Oct 23, 2022
    5
    I really want to love this album, but any time I think about it critically, all I do is compare it negatively to how incredible Ariana's past albums were. Positions isn't necessarily a bad album, it just feels stale to me. There's a severe lack of stand-out songs, the majority of the songs feel too short, the beats all feel too similar, and the lyrics are average. Ariana Grande has one ofI really want to love this album, but any time I think about it critically, all I do is compare it negatively to how incredible Ariana's past albums were. Positions isn't necessarily a bad album, it just feels stale to me. There's a severe lack of stand-out songs, the majority of the songs feel too short, the beats all feel too similar, and the lyrics are average. Ariana Grande has one of the greatest voices of our generation, and I can't help but feel like that is being wasted on an album like this. Dangerous Woman and thank u, next were both masterpieces. I even felt that half of Sweetener was incredible too. And unfortunately Positions can't even hold a candle to them. But hey, at least this album gave us Safety Net, one of the greatest songs Ariana Grande has ever released!… Expand
  5. MARTINCARDENAS
    Jun 9, 2021
    6
    "Positions".... what can we say, this album could have been better if Ariana had kept the magic that she used in her previous work. Most of the songs do not make sense and get confused, they sound similar, or like a single and long song
  6. Jobobolo89
    Nov 5, 2020
    5
    I love her career as a whole but i dont enjoy this piece of work !! To me this is her worst album alongside sweetner
  7. mathic
    Mar 21, 2021
    4
    It’s very sad to see a incredible artist like Ariana release a poor album like this one, nothing works well on positions. Seems clearly that this album is made for radios and for play in every supermarket. The production is literally the same song by song, changing some melodies and vocals. Positions is more one of that horrible generical premolded albums, i hope that’s will be the lastIt’s very sad to see a incredible artist like Ariana release a poor album like this one, nothing works well on positions. Seems clearly that this album is made for radios and for play in every supermarket. The production is literally the same song by song, changing some melodies and vocals. Positions is more one of that horrible generical premolded albums, i hope that’s will be the last Ariana’s work like this.… Expand
  8. AalexB
    Mar 26, 2021
    6
    Not as catchy and immediate as her previews works. But perhaps her most mature album. The vocal production, lead by Ariana herself, shows her talent and how much she does enjoy her work. But the music... it almost seems like a one 40 minutes straight song (not to mention that each song lasts less than 3 minutes... too short). I don't know, I'm not fully convinced.
  9. ninamusic11
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    Boring and predictable. Ariana sounds amazing as always but her lyrics are forgettable, the beats are unoriginal, and the songs as a whole don't make an impression (except for Just Like Magic and POV). I don't mind that there are no pop "bangers" here, that's not the issue - the issue is that it feels like there was zero effort put into these songs and there doesn't seem to be much growthBoring and predictable. Ariana sounds amazing as always but her lyrics are forgettable, the beats are unoriginal, and the songs as a whole don't make an impression (except for Just Like Magic and POV). I don't mind that there are no pop "bangers" here, that's not the issue - the issue is that it feels like there was zero effort put into these songs and there doesn't seem to be much growth or experimentation happening. All of these songs sound like leftovers from Sweetener or TUN. I wish she had taken a longer break and come back with something truly exciting and fresh. This is the same old same old.… Expand
  10. Samukelo
    Oct 30, 2020
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Uhm the album is pleasurable but majority of the tracks sound the same nothing really stands out.... The critics called this one.… Expand
  11. miljanamixi
    Oct 31, 2020
    5
    I really love Ari, but this album is not it... I miss her Dangerous Woman era.
  12. Penguu
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Lyrics are kind of like the same thing. I still prefer Dangerous Woman and thank u, next over this though.

    pov is such a good song too. Definitely my favorite off the album.
  13. lilman
    Oct 30, 2020
    4
    I get the intention of going a more flowy and chill way with her music, I just don’t think she’s there yet. This is not r&b, it’s pop. It sometimes got too simple and repetitive. I think she’s going the right way. The lyrics are REALLY bad
  14. blackpopgirl
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    I thought this album was actual quite enjoyable for the most part. I did think it needed an extra kick though, it’s an overall mediocre body of work with very few songs i’d go back to. This record didn’t really give me anything I didn’t already get from her previous album & therefore shows no real artistic growth.
  15. clementinnne
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    I mean we suffer to much because of this pandemic , i don't want to be **** by an album that isnt suited for healing 2020
  16. miapar10
    Oct 30, 2020
    4
    Very high highs but very low lows. Love Language and pov are excellent and unique songs, while a good portion of the others sound fairly similar with generic beats. Had a lot of potential, but feels rushed.
  17. j1train
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Could have made a great EP with half of these songs, like real high points 34+35, Just Like Magic, the title track, Love Language and POV, which could all fit in well on her best album, Sweetener. But most of this is low-impact and feels unfinished.
  18. whatsasydney
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    There are some standout tracks, like safety net, my hair, love language, & pov, but overall the album feel uninspired & bland. A lot of the tracks blend together and don't have memorable aspects. It feels half-baked and rushed out, like Ariana was focusing more on quantity than quality. Not bad, but certainly not as good as thank u, next & sweetener.
  19. beysdragon
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    She took a step back with this album... I thought she can’t make worse album than Sweetener but here we are.
  20. Vitor_Eros
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Not that it's bad, but the album sounds more like a big 42-minute song is 14 seconds. Positions the only one we can venture to say is different.
  21. alfonlbs
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    En si el álbum no es malo, pero cuando sale un álbum tan rapido esperas algo diferente y no algo que parezca lo mismo que antes has lanzado, deberia esforzarse un poco mas en hacer cosas nuevas aunque se tarde mas.
  22. robbiegarcia
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was cool, but i really wait more :// the fact it’s that i just liked 7 of 14 songs, this is why i graded it with a 5 of 10 .… Expand
  23. GalderJr
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    It doesn't feel like a great album for me. The lead single was fine but I don't see any song as a possible hit. The lyrics are quite basic and all the songs sound similar, which is not necessarily bad but in this case it makes the album boring.
  24. nauflm
    Oct 31, 2020
    6
    positions is the only bop song on the album, motive is kinda bop because doja's verse. the rest of the album is boring and sounds like ariana's old discography
  25. raresrevenge
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Some tracks of this album, for example “pov” and “nasty” are for the books, but alot of the songs on this album are mainly fillers/skips. I do think that the album doesn’t deserve the hate that it’s receiving though.
  26. lmfaohaha
    Oct 30, 2020
    4
    So generic and nothing new. Boring and is pure pop with r&b elements yet her fans wanna call it "r&b" sis..
  27. Robertguzman
    Oct 30, 2020
    4
    Ok, but so boring. It's the same, we need something new, good voice, bad lyrics, boring music
  28. emotions1991
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    This album looks like it was made in less than 24 hours with all the unreleaseads and demos Ariana have been keeping in the drawer for the past 4 years. Completely forgettable, mediocre and identical to her last albums. Silly lyrics, generical instrumentals and no identity at all.
  29. waahid
    Oct 30, 2020
    5
    Its not a bad album, just not arianas best.Feels rushed and no track in particular caught my attention.
  30. viniciussawate
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    This album is lyrically the best representation of her enviable joviality and her ability to swing between genres at will gives life to everything, an aureolar invocation that so much anticipates the end of a cycle that makes it clear that she still has a lot to say to us. But the production she tries to be a polished version of Lil peep without emo rock and herself.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Paste Magazine
    Dec 2, 2020
    72
    Grande is making no effort to be discreet, instead explicitly owning her sexuality—the album is called Positions, after all. The juxtaposition of beautiful violin sounds and risqué lyrics has become one of Grande’s signature sounds, and it suits her well.
    Read full review
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Nov 9, 2020
    80
    Grande laid bare may well be seen as a stopgap in her canon, using taboo to checkmate her past trauma, but it does pull off the rare feat of at least sounding effortless.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    Nov 5, 2020
    80
    With little conflict and few psychological insights, Positions zeroes in on the enviable confidence that only pop stars on top of the world and with nothing to lose can afford. It's easy to write it off as empty calories, but pop has always been described in such terms: cake, candy, chocolate, confection. Positions isn't a "sweetener" but pure sugar.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »