Tuesday 3 September 2013

[Album Review] Ariana Grande "Yours Truly"




Guest Reviewer: Brian Helms
Ariana Grande’s first musical project has finally come to its release date, and boy does she show a love of R&B with it. With the singles preceding the release of Yours Truly came a lot of comparisons to the young talent's favourite songbird, Mrs. Mariah Carey. With good reason too, as the young songstress can definitely sing. However, does the rest of the album continue to warrant these comparisons, or do we finally hear more of the artist’s individuality coming to the fore?


The reality is, it's a bit of both scenarios. The songs tend to be a frustrating listen to anyone searching for individuality from Ariana, as they house characteristics of both Ariana and her inspirations. The vocal stylings that lie within most of the album's twelve tracks are all too reminiscent of Mariah to this listener, and the excessive use of the whistle register is slightly irksome- being quite uncreative and repetitive.

However, songs like Honeymoon Avenue and Daydreamin’ that though still exhibit a Mariah-esque vocal, do temper it with a more “Broadway” style. It’s a smart move that showcases Ariana's background as a Broadway performer, but more interestingly offers a potentially, more individualistic, direction the singer could take with her music.

Overall this album is a good first musical attempt from Ariana. It’s loaded with catchy hits and vocal ballads, all of which mix together to form a good complete work of art.
Score: B+

Diva Devotee's Thoughts:
Hearing Yours Truly, I’m left with this immediate impression: this has got to be one of the lightest, fluffiest and sincerest album I’ve heard in a long while. Yes, Brian is spot on by saying the album comes strong with the Rnb influences- notably of the 90's kind which liked to build the bones of a track around a sample (hear: Baby, I , The Way, Lovin’ It and Right Here )- but it’s unashamedly a pop album through and through.

After the first listen of the album I almost find it impossible to dislike, and despite the Mariah influences both vocally and musically- Ariana herself called the Diva a "Queen" –Yours Truly is a consistent album no one should deride or avoid because of its influences. Besides, whereas Mariah Carey’s début came with a depth that belied her years- she was barely out of her teens- Ariana’s début actually plays to her youth; with a playlist full of fun, energy and an innocent exuberance for life- even at its "lowest" musical ebb, as in Honeymoon Avenue.

In a world where everyone seems to take themselves too seriously, have to come with a gimmick , and/or be controversial,  Ariana Grande’s début comes as a God send. Yours Truly is an album with no pretence; just an honest love of a certain era of music and singing-idol being its unashamed influence.And I admire it and  Ariana for that.

Rating: A-


55 comments:

  1. Why is DivaDevotee so hard on Ariana...

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  2. This album makes me happy. *continues listening to album*

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  3. I must admit... After having listened to this album this morning - I AM THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED.



    She is, without a doubt, one of the most striking, young, 'Soprano' singers ("Light-Lyric") in popular music at the moment and that I cannot, and will not, deny.

    There aren't many powerhouse- oriented, female singers in the 'mainstream aria' at the moment [and of this generation in particular] who are capable of singing 'well-to-do' in a 'live setting' as good as Ariana and, for that alone, she does interest me.

    I wish her all the best.

    Oh, by the way guys - check this out: What do you think?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH5B0TjSsRw

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  4. No where near as harsh as other blogs. DD seems quite lenient really.

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  5. Thanks for the blog post DD. Though I do wish your revision of my initial reaction didnt make it sound like all I could pull out were the mariah references. XD

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  6. Ricky Yong Chin Yuan3 September 2013 at 22:55

    Iloved the album, except the song with Mika. That song's annoying as hell!

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  7. Oh, sweetie, he wasn't harsh enough.

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  8. She's finally finding herself. I'm proud of Ariana xD. Although her voice is a bit nasally to me, I find that her as a songwriter is becoming more apparent. Especially after her breakup with her boyfriend Jai, she is becoming more of a musician and putting a bit more emotion into her songs. Favorite songs would be Honeymoon Avenue + Tattoed Heart + Almost is Never Enough -- mostly because I feel like they have the most meaning lyrically and their tempo and BG music fits nicely. Has that nice slow ballad which I feel is the best for her vocally. I feel like she should be in the R&B genre with a bit of upbeat pop here and there (but not mainstream -- all this dubstep electronic music sucks). Her background music fits nicely and differs from most songs today, mainstream that is, which is why I love the soundtracks (or atleast some)

    All in all -- great album, especially for an opener. Potential is there.

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  9. "A-" is harsh???
    Seems extremely flattering a rating actually.

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  10. I have to admit, I didn't like that song either.

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  11. SAY WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAT! Lol.

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  12. Love to hear your thoughts, matey!

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  13. Lol! Sorry. Just send me the amendments! Thanks for doing this, though!

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  14. It is just some of the songs she recorded gave me hardcore R&B vibes but didn't quite take me there as far as delivery goes, particularly "Almost is never enough" ( Maybe it was because of the duet IDK...But I do like the song a lot). When it comes to R&B it is mostly about the vocal delivery and less about the lyrics which I think she took note of, because the lyrics are good for R&B songs but upon sampling a few songs from the album I wasn't quite enthralled over it all.


    However, I have to remember that this is a first effort so I must keep my harshness somewhat at bay. But the lowest I could possibly give this album score is a C+ based off of what I heard so far but I could swing the other way around and give it a B-.


    I'll listen to it all the way through but so far, she is getting R&B right but barely (I guess because I hold her up to such a high standard). Also that little enunciation issue of hers... I think it is because her voice is on the thicker side, and she tries to enunciate in a mix of that theater and R&B sound and can't just get it right. But it only becomes a bit bothersome live.


    P.S. Check your email ;-) lol

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  15. You can hear the Mariah and India Arie inspiration in her songs but in my opinion, she actually has a very unique thing going for her. She doesn't sound like she's trying to be anyone else. I actually love the whole image she has going. It's not about being perfect but she says a lot of things about just loving yourself and then bettering yourself because you deserve it. She's gorgeous and talented and I love her style. Every time I listen to her music, it makes me feel like she is much more original than the preconceived ideas about Mariah mimicking make it seem.

    Also, the Mika song was recorded for his album. I suppose she put it on the album because she didn't wanna seem like she was ashamed of the song. I actually sorta like the song but it doesn't really fit in with the album. I listened to it a bit when it first came out last year (I think it was last year already).

    She's grown a lot. She never even put "Put Your Hearts Up" on the album because it was slightly too Broadway/happy/youthful. I love the song but she is definitely finding her balance quickly. Her next album will be an A+ in my opinion.

    Also, I think Harmony Samuels is such a legend and I put my stamp of approval on the work he has done with Ariana

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  16. Also. I just wanted to add that my favorite songs on the album are actually "Better Left Unsaid" (next single material) and "Piano" (it's so catchy. If this is the next single I will be very happy. My personal favorite)

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  17. Review Natalia Kills Trouble !!! That is amazing album too !

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  18. This girl really gets on my nerves. She said that has no proplem with people comparing her to Mariah, cuz when Mariah came out, people used to compared her to Whitney. Really? Is this hoe puting herself one that same golden category? Shut up!

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  19. Oh my goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooof! She's putting herself on the same golden category where Aretha, Whitney and Mariah stand? heheheheheeh LOL! She really think she's the next on the line.... kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

    kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

    lkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

    What do you think, Mariah?

    http://cdn.arwrath.com/1/114784.gif

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  20. Did you just reference her show?

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  21. Considering how much this girl sounds like Mariah, I think he just insulted Mariah didn't he? LOL

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  22. The song with Mika wasn't originally for her album, it was a single version of a Mika song. So I forgive it's addition on the album haha.

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  23. I feel like this post says all my thoughts haha. Even though her voice is kinda mimicky sometimes, she definitely has a great set of pipes and no one can say she has no individuality at all. I'm actually surprised a lot of people liked Piano, as that seemed to be the most "basic" song to me. I found that Honeymoon Avenue and Tattooed Heart were the ones that got me the most. Although some parts on Tattooed Heart sounded very similar to the first half of her cover of Rihanna's Only Girl in the World.

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  24. Ricky Yong Chin Yuan4 September 2013 at 23:30

    My favorite was Honeymoon Avenue and Baby I.

    Piano was one of the songs I liked in the first listen, but after a few times... Kinda goes like ".... meh."

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  25. Her voice is so annoying. It sounds like Xtina had a baby with Mariah, but they both abandoned her, and she was reised by a family of cats. She's horrible.

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  26. It actually got better for me the more I listened to it. It's never gonna be a hit in my mind but it's not bad.

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  27. While Ariana isn't a legend she's pretty good for a 20 year old. That guy is crazy.

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  28. Mariah has a more mature tone imo. Butt I'll role with the insult. :)

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  29. I agree. I have my criticism towards her lack of musical personality but there's absolutely no denying.... girl can sing up a storm.
    To say she sounds "like a cat in a getto" is just ridiculously beside the truth.

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  30. LOL of course. For one thing Mariah is older. IMO the similarities with Mariah anyway mostly go to how she chooses to phrase and her choice of material and such.
    Just thought it was funny this Mariah stan making such a ridiculous claim ...all things considered.

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  31. Honeymoon Avenue is the best song on the album IMHO.... But I HATE...I mean I HATE the lyrics...I love the delivery and instrumentation though...it is a perfect example of R&B...I just wish her voice was a lower key though...And only the falsetto reminded me of Mariah...the rest of the song, her nasal bight, her ornamentation, her thickness, her warmth, it reminded me a bit of Brandy but 2 thirds of an octave higher.

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  32. Did he really just say a cat in a ghetto? A cat? Really he disrespected my felines? Somebody hold my weave. I'll show him ghetto!!!!

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  33. I gotcha. Idk maybe.

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  34. Personally I was not aware cats sound different in a ghetto than they do anywhere else but you know maybe a "getto" is some Brazilian sound distorting room or something? ;-)

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  35. You gonna review Tamar's album too or...

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  36. she's mediocre, just like your comment.

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  37. What is your problem? Anyone that has a brain and ears can tell that she has talent. I never said nor will i say she is better than Mariah. In fact I highly believe that Mariah in her prime was one of the best singers ever. Ariana is very good for her age and come on she's better than Demi or Selena gomez.

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  38. Sir, your response made no sense. I enjoy toying with you for a response but sometimes your dumbness shows...this is one of those times.

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  39. yeah! That's a point.

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  40. calm down, dolly. lol

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  41. It's a good thing he likes to laugh at himself ain't it. I dare say he is the only one who thinks his responses are humorous. ;-)

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  42. Yeah at this point, he's a one man wrecking crew without the crew. Though that is generous still.

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  43. Baby I Teaser video if anyone is interested.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdKS4DuNNHU

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  44. Diva Devotee, I think it is only fair that you write a review on her recent performance of Tattooed Heart at the Today Show. The music was so low that it almost sounded like an a Capella. This showed off her pipes and powerhouse voice. Here is the video...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4_fZwxfwwk

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  45. She didnt place herself there. In ALL of her interviews everyone keeps asking her about her inspirations and comparisons which always points to MARIAH. Its not her fault that everywhere she goes thats all shes faced with.

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  46. but it seems like she's telling she's the next big thing. poor her!

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  47. This album was actually pretty good, nothing substantial, but it was enjoyable. I think the Mariah comparisons are getting old now though. Mariah at 20 was nothing like Ariana; musically and vocally, she was a lot more mature. Also, Mariah was a much better songwriter. Although in recent years her songwriting capabilities seem to have declined.

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  48. Is it just me or does she always where the same kind of dress?

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  49. I agree with every word. Even about Mariah.

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  50. I find that when she is singing, her passion is toward performing, and that she doesn't give a crap about what she is saying. She is sometimes illegible though. Not saying she's bad though.

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  51. How about the actual music video haha. It's like people don't know it's been released yet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJuWlMFToNo

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  52. Yupp, knew it was released, too lazy to post it :P

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  53. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32rVxVXdZ58

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