Ariana Grande - thank u, next ALBUM REVIEW

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Ariana Grande is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. There’s no denying that at all. She has the looks, the talent, and the FANBASE to back her up. I’ve wanted to review an Ariana Grande record eventually, but throughout her discography, it was a hard choice which one to review first because of how consistent she has been. Well, to decide it, I went on a random generator, typed in all of her studio albums, and her latest release thank u, next ended up on top. So, let’s get into it.

thank u, next is a contemporary R&B and pop record with soul and trap influences. Made in just 8 months after her album Sweetener, I was very worried about the turnaround on this record. This record was made in a rough spot in her life. The Manchester bombing, the sudden death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, and her very public relationship with Pete Davidson were all life-changing for Grande, and thank u, next is her moving on from those events while still honoring them. Ariana is already known to be a force to be reckoned with on the block, but while thank u, next has some incredible highs like the title track, the R&B-trap fusion “imagine,” and the EDM-inspired “bad idea,” there is one incredible low as well that has soured the album to me. “7 rings” is an earworm, but that doesn’t make it better. It’s a cheesy track that feels more like a song that was cut from the Mean Girls musical because it matched Regina George a little too much. A good amount of the tracks blend together instrumentally, but while it isn’t the best writing I’ve heard, this is certainly Grande’s best writing of her career hands down.

The media has seen Ariana Grande go through so many traumatic experiences that you have to feel sorry for her, and I see thank u, next as the next stage for her career. I don’t think this is her best record, but it’s within her top 3, maybe even top 2. It’s weirder and more out there than her other albums, but it feels so much more accomplished. This is just the beginning for Grande. The only way she can go is up.


7/10


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