Sweetener
by Ariana Grande
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Aug 17, 2018
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
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  1. Sputnikmusic
    Aug 24, 2018
    60
    Grande is adding herself to several distinct sonic palates, putting her own indelible stamp on fundamentally disparate productions while letting them exist in different spaces. It doesn’t sound as free and natural as much of her previous work, but maybe that awkward hollowness is the point.
  2. Exclaim
    Aug 20, 2018
    60
    Ultimately, beatmaker Tommy "TBHits" Brown outshines the veterans, co-producing two of the record's more engaging tracks--"Better Off" and "Goodnight n Go"--which are inexplicably relegated to the end of the record. Those songs manage to accomplish what the rest of the album attempts: bringing a new fire to pop-R&B's familiar formulas.
  3. The Independent (UK)
    Aug 17, 2018
    60
    Seven of the 15 tracks here have been drowned in producer Pharrell Williams’ bubblemint bounce – at points, it’s in danger of sounding more like his record than Grande’s.
  5. The Guardian
    Aug 17, 2018
    60
    It sounds like the work of an artist torn between doing exactly what she pleases and, perhaps understandably under the circumstances, giving her audience what they want. But there’s no doubt which of these impulses is more successful artistically.

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2018
2
#2 Most Shared Album of 2018

User Reviews

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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
  1. Pandlr
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    sem dúvidas é o trabalho mais diferente da Ariana, ao contrário de seus álbuns anteriores, Sweetener explora outro lado da voz dela,sem dúvidas é o trabalho mais diferente da Ariana, ao contrário de seus álbuns anteriores, Sweetener explora outro lado da voz dela, literalmente algo mais "sweet". Grande com este álbum assume riscos em sua carreira ao unir-se com Pharrell Williams que vem de um vasto histórico de canções "fora de sincronia" do que está fazendo sucesso hoje em dia, explorando outras formas, como por exemplo em the light is coming que é totalmente diferente do que está no topo dos charts hoje em dia… Full Review »
  2. godisawoman
    Aug 17, 2018
    10
    Sweetener is the perfect mix of pop and R&B. The album has a very special massage, where she sings about her anxiety and honouring the victimsSweetener is the perfect mix of pop and R&B. The album has a very special massage, where she sings about her anxiety and honouring the victims of the Manchester attack in May 2017. The album consists of powerful bops such as ”no tears left to cry” and ”breathin”. Nothing can go wrong when one of the worlds most famous music artists collaborates with top producer Pharrell. This masterpiece is really different from her previous albums and is definitiely worth a listen.… Full Review »
  3. sammyanthony
    Aug 20, 2018
    7
    Brave move from Ariana to work with Pharrell. Her vocal still on point in several tracks, and Pharrell gave many spectrum track by track,Brave move from Ariana to work with Pharrell. Her vocal still on point in several tracks, and Pharrell gave many spectrum track by track, giving different taste, even though he already boasted those tunes not long ago (in Pharrell's previous project). For the impact, Ariana redeemed her vocal for the sake of production, and in return, we reminded how good her vocal is, compared to the low-key sound she gave in some tracks like Sweetener and The Light is Coming.… Full Review »
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