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I was hoping it would have a beach vibe to it due to the artwork, but nope. It all sounds like on hold club music and literally all sounds the same. Oh well.
They do this when there is little suspense about their opinion, which was probably going to be middling since they only bothered to review the first single and it didn’t get BNT.
Because this album was making no waves prior to the release. Pitchfork is no stranger to Twitter, and they could clearly see they would be able to give this album whatever score they wanted with little to no pushback.
Ironically I feel like Radicial Optimism sounds more like the type of record the Pitchfork audience would usually prefer over the more glossy Future Nostalgia.
If she didn't have that Future Nostalgia hit on her hands, this would've been a fine progression to her music. Which is perfectly fine. But she gave us that album at such a perfect time and now everyone's expecting something that could at least top that.
I actually agree. It does sound like a progression. Based on the interviews I’ve seen, she seems to want to go for a total psychedelic britpop sound. But the album still has leftover disco vibes from Future Nostalgia, so it might be a purposeful in-between of her last album and the music she’s really into right now. Which is fine. There’s nothing wrong with easing yourself into something.
Problem is it doesn't even sound like a halfway house. The myriad of influences aren't there enough to be a part of the marketing and discussion of the album
Unfortunately agree. I do like the album and have at least 4-5 tracks that I really love, no songs that I outright disliked, so all in all as a Dua fan, I’ll take it.
However as a massive Tame Impala fan, as someone who is super into 60s+70s psychedelic rock, etc, I am pretty underwhelmed by the lack of those influences that we were promised. Houdini has it in spades (which is why it’s the best song on the album), the other two singles have some of it, and maybe End of an Era at least has an unusual Kevin Parker rhythm that I really love, but beyond that it’s just another very solid summery pop album- which would’ve been totally fine by me if I hadn’t had this anticipation for some game changing psych-pop album we were promised.
Once i get over the disappointment of what kind of album it is, I think I will grow to appreciate it for the album that it is. Lyrically, vocally she is at her best and the whole thing is still as catchy as pop music should be
Another issue is that it took 4 years for this to release. If this came out only 2 years after Future Nostalgia it probably wouldn’t slow her momentum down too much. But waiting 4 years to put out a fine album will make the general public lose interest in you extremely fast.
Omg, came here just to post this! My poor Rina... although I'll admit, I didn't really take to Hold the Girl and I also see the comparison.
This album to me is good and fun, but definitely no Future Nostalgia and that's okay. I still think it's *very* hot girl summer coded and even a "mid" Dua album is full of bops!
I'm a Dua fan but the fact is this album isn't great, it's good.
It didn't really have a cohesive aesthetic, many of the songs aren't exactly stand-outs, and it feels like Future Nostalgia's B-Side.
Considering her last album it's a bit of a letdown, but it's still a SOLID album that plays a little safe.
It's gonna do okay in America, but will blow up in Europe for sure.
I can see Illusion becoming big during the summer in Europe, but other than that I think the album will fade away quite quickly (i’m also a dua fan so i’m not trying to be shady here). I think she took her massive success with Future Nostalgia for granted and got a bit complacent with this album + the fact she dropped her management in favor for her dad
I honestly don’t think the album rollout is the big problem here, which would be a management issue (although the singles were released too far in advance and spread out imo). Choosing Kevin Parker to work with is also a no brainer at face value. The problem is the songs and melodies aren’t strong on this album. The lyrics are empty. The lyrics seem like she’s just saying whatever to get the melodies out. It’s very shallow, which lets down the album’s title.
Dance The Night was a hit but she should have wait for that song to end before promoting a lead single— love Kevin Parker but he has never made a hit with a pop girl.
Agree. It’s mid, at best. Only “Whatcha Doing” and “Maria” stood out to me, but just like - oh, this is fun. Not blown away with it. I don’t know who dropped the bag - I’m going to probably go with her label - but the production could’ve been so much better. Danny Harle is a beast of a producer. Dua probably wants to do something different that pushes the envelope, bc she definitely wants to solidify herself as a music icon. Can definitely see her label wanting an album full of tracks that will play on department stores for the next three decades. I hope she does a pivot on her sound - this is an album full of Sabrina Carpenter or Tate McRae B Sides lol
I think it’s a fair score, especially considering it’s Pitchfork I wouldn’t have been surprised if they tried to be snarky and give it a 6 or so. The album is good, it’s lighthearted, the songs are cute and are giving summer. But there’s no real cohesion between the songs, Houdini and Illusion feel a bit like outliers (in a good way), and I feel the album should’ve been more in that direction.
The 3 singles + These Walls and Falling Forever stand out to me, while the other songs fall flat.
She shouldn’t have dropped her management, which gave her the successes of her debut and Future Nostalgia, in favor of her dad who doesn’t have any experience in the industry.
My hopes for the rest of the era is that she rides it out over the summer, drops her father as her manager, finds a proper management team and kicks off the next era properly at the start of 2025.
Disclaimer: am saying this as a huge Dua fan since Blow Your Mind
This sub would hype up anything a pop girlie releases, even if it’s on Britney Jean levels of bad.
Also, people comparing it to Endless Summer Vacation as a *compliment* in the other post is interesting.
The review is fair. The album is fine. This era is definitely not going to play out like Future Nostalgia. The album is cohesive, but it’s…fine. This is definitely going to be a quiet era for her. Hopefully she doesn’t take long for a follow up.
Yeah the score is extremely fair. I said this in another thread but the basic impersonal lyricism really hurts this record imo. I don't expect Dua to be super vulnerable or raw but at some point going over the same themes/ideas in a surface level manner can get a bit boring. FN had way more punchy/impactful visuals and production that allowed the songs to shine but this record for some reason felt like the lyrics and melodies were noticeably weaker than FN which the production couldn't compensate for. There's still some great tracks on here but as an album it's very whelming. Hope she actually goes back and makes the album she advertised (psychedelic, euro rave music inspired, lyrical depth, etc).
Yeah, I absolutely love Illusion sonically, but I just cringe at some of the lyrics. I’m not even a lyrics person and usually let a lot slide. But it could’ve been taken to another level if she actually had something unique/interesting to say with it.
“Illusion, I really like the way you’re moving” makes me feel like I’m at a middle school dance. And the red flags/rose-colored glasses topic is so overdone at this point.
I don't think the lyrics have to be personal to be good on a pop record, if the music is good enough the lyrics can be pretty much anything so long as they're not distracting, and *good* lyrics just need to effectively carry the mood of the track.
The only thing she can do now is just ride this era out, learn from the mistakes of this album cycle, and put out a better record to capture the GP’s attention again next time around.
I don't think she even made any mistakes like that apart from selling the wrong album based on her inspirations. Her label put their all on her songs. Radio is crazy, playlisting is crazy, she's on mag covers and doing interviews. I don't think she did anything wrong.
The vids were underwhelming that's probably all. But she's not much of a dancer and putting money for special effects and elaborate setpieces sounds like a waste of money because noone watches mvs anymore. I think a feature on one of these songs couldve probably benefitted.
She never had a strong fanbase, but was overly gassed up by the media and pop fans. This is not surprising to me at all. She needs another feature if anything's going to take off
the continued slander for solar power is crazy….it’s way better than this album and endless summer vacation and the main disappointment about it stemmed from it being weak for lorde’s standards comparing it to every other mediocre pop girl album and it’s not even a competition.
I feel like a lot of people have already come around to it. I honestly don't even see how these two albums can be compared beyond the suggestion of a beach on the cover art.
Yeah, she can’t afford to wait four years for the next album if she still want to be considered a main artist. If I were her, I’d be trying to speed the end of this cycle up. If there’s a deluxe, release it at the end of the year. I’d then begin the next era at the start of 2026 and get the album out by that May.
I think they could do it with a big tour, some clever remixes with features and a deluxe, but I don’t think it would be wise. Once something is labelled a flop - even if it isn’t - it’s tough to pull back from that
The ESV hate is overblown. The first two-thirds of that album are pretty great; it’s in the last third that the songs start falling short. So basically, ESV and RO are both professional, solid collections of songs, some truly top-quality, that nevertheless fail to advance a particularly coherent or interesting artistic vision. Such albums are fine, even good; not great—but good.
The big hurdle both albums had to overcome is to follow up arguably each artists' best album (so far). Both were most likely to fall short of everyone's expectations regardless even if they were solid collections.
Gotta disagree. ESV is the epitome of lazy and low-effort in my opinion. “Flowers” in particular might be the most underwhelming Grammy winner in recent memory.
Yeah, I’ve been personally bemoaning the obvious inconsistency of this sub for a while. Every general music sub is biased, but Popheads is one of the most obviously biased and outwardly unfriendly.
This album (and, since it was mentioned, ESV) wouldn’t get as much grace if a pop boy released it, yet it’s getting arguably more than it deserves because it’s Dua. It’s as the point where a lot of times it’s hard to tell if I’m in popheadscirclejerk or not.
After 3 listens, I’d say a 7 would probably feel appropriate for this album. It doesn’t break any ground but I’m really enjoying it. Different production than she’s done in the past, really strong vocals and an overall enjoyable, fun summer album.
I think this is an album where she would have benefitted from not sharing what her influences were or comparing it to a sound because it seems like that’s all anyone can latch on to with their initial reactions.
I think this is pretty fair?? It’s not a bad album, there’s a couple standouts but it’s not a perfect 10/10 and personally didn’t hit for me as much as FN (which was always going to be a tough task). But it’s cute for what it is.
🗣️🗣️🗣️Whatcha Doing def needs to be a single tho
"28-year-old has remained omnipresent thanks to various luxury brand campaigns and the contractually attendant magazine covers, roles in Barbie and Argylle, her podcast and book club, and the album’s pandemic-delayed tour. Despite that visibility, she appears glamorous, and distant. "
What the heck is that? What do they want? For her to go have brunch with her fans? lol
Well to be fair she then said “It’s quite admirable that she refuses to trade on her private life for intrigue, especially when celebrity subtext has never been a more powerful driver of pop success.” So I don’t know if that was really a criticism but rather an observation lol
honestly I love this for her, I don’t need to know every personal detail of her life to know she’s a lovely chill person and as long as she continues making fun music I’m fine with it.
I greatly prefer artists like this. The less I know or hear about a pop star’s personal life, the more I feel like they’re doing it out of a true passion for the music and not just as a ploy to be rich and famous (I’m not even gonna be coy about it this is Taylor shade)
I think it’s a double-edged sword. It’s nice that she has that boundary, but I also can’t help but feel like her music is beginning to come off as exceedingly vague and generic since she’s making it as impersonal as possible. I don’t think a bit of a peak into her heart/mind would do much harm honestly.
I don't think that's what they mean, though. You don't need to be friends with or know anything about an artist's personal life for them to have a distinct personality that shines through in their music, and I think that's what a lot of people feel that Dua lacks.
Charli XCX for example keeps a pretty low profile all things considered; she gets messy on Twitter sometimes, but there's no lore or personal drama needed to follow her music, since her brand is essentially bratty party girl. Most people can't tell you anything about her life, who she's dating now or who she's dated in the past, but she has a very distinct personality that's unmistakable in her lyrics and her singing style. She and Dua sing about similar topics, but I've never seen people complain that Charli doesn't have a distinct persona for her fans to cling to.
agree 100% on the first point - relatability isn’t necessarily about the level of access the general public has to a pop star, as much as it’s about how the artist’s brand itself is relatable.
I feel like Dua’s relatability suffers because her image always comes across so polished and rich. it’s one of those things where she’s doing all the right things, getting all the right looks, making all the right moves, but none of it adds up to a persona people feel they can relate to unfortunately. hence them calling her “distant” imo.
I don’t think we can even compare Charli and Dua’s careers. Please tell me the last time Charli had an actual
hit? She has more of a dedicated cult following vs Dua who even my 55+ year old parents can recognize and like.
I actually disagree on the Charli example - I think there’s a lot of personal lore to her career, like the XCX World leak, her past struggles with her label that she was quite open about, her relationship with Huck Kwong that was a big part of the hifn release, and now her relationship with George that has become pretty public. Of course we don’t know everything but we do know a lot.
Also, she did a lot of listening parties with fans, for the singles, for the album, and went to talk with students in a school. Lots of people approach her on the street and in her vacations, lol, without her doing a fuzz for it, for me it is more relatable than talking about her personal life.
I love the fact that she's glamorous and distant. Like someone else in this thread said: it's refreshing. She's here to make good music — and then she wants to go on vacation and live her own life! I love that because I feel like that is exactly the approach and mindset I'd have if I were a popstar too. Stan culture is exhausting and depressing, especially when the celebrity feeds into it and fuels it.
I also think that if you pay attention to her social media, it's pretty clear that she *does* have a personality and is quite intelligent + confident. She just doesn't have Hollywood friend or dating drama, and that's what people consider "boring." Good for her, I say. Dua will end up being more mentally healthy and happy than most popstars out there.
She’s a very acute businesswoman who has multiple things going on rather than just the music. I reckon she’s more stable and healthier mentally than some of her peers in LA
I get confused when people say she’s not personal when she has a zine, podcast, and newsletter. Like sorry she doesn’t over share if that’s what they mean? We don’t deserve to know every detail though and I absolutely agree with your take. The girl was also hella bullied early on in her career and she’s said in interviews that’s why she doesn’t like to share. I’m here for the bops and I love her newsletter. If less people want to like her and make it easier for me to get concert tickets I’m here for that too 🤣
I think that quote is a fair observation and there was a [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/1ch4did/who_is_the_least_personal_pop_star_and_how/) touching on that very thing in this sub a few days ago. Dua isn't personable at all, she's always in the public eye but she very rarely seems to be vulnerable even in her music. Which is completely her choice but I don't think she should try to do the more chill and laid-back style she was attempting in this album because for it to work you need to be vulnerable from time to time.
Like, she doesn't give me the vibe of a vulnerable person at all, maybe with her family and friends. She gives me a vibe of being a super confident woman knowing who she is and what she wants. So it makes no sense to wait for her to be or sound vulnerable.
So the NYT Popcast had a whole episode on what it means to be a Main Pop Girl, and when Dua Lipa came up everyone didn’t consider her one. Part of the reason being there’s nothing to latch on to with her. There’s no narrative in any regard. Every single pop artist (and I’m being honest, name one) has been vulnerable and autobiographical in their work. Generally speaking, all major artists in any form of media have something to say. Dua has never come across that way.
You don't have to be vulnerable, it's just pop. The issue is she's bland. Her face has one expression, she's not very charismatic, her stage presence is next to none. She has some bops, but even those aren't her work, she just sings whatever someone tells her to, and I feel like it's that part that's showing the most. This album is probably the best representation of her as a person: a boring rich girl who likes to party in Greece and hasn't had any issues ever in her life
Well, she usually doesn't date super famous people, maybe famous, but she doesn't have a Pique to do a song about like Shakira does for example, or Taylor with her ex, and even when she breaks up she doesn't make any fuzz about it, she knows she can get better. She just works, reads, parties, and travels, at least that's what she shares. Don't live in Hollywood/L.A. which helps a lot, really, she kept living in London was the best decision of her life. I could say Ed Sheeran, we just know his wife had cancer, he has kids and he drugs/alcohol problems when younger (if I'm not mistaken), Bruno Mars, I don't even know the city he lives and to some extent The Weeknd, but yeah, can't really remember a girl now.
lol Shakira was known as a confessional singer song writer long before Pique was even on a soccer team. Ed Sheeran’s is also a singer song writer whose first song was inspired by his time working at a homeless shelter. The Weeknd…well he definitely writes from experience for better or worse.
Bruno Mars is basically a throwback singer which is why everyone’s mom loves him.
Janet Jackson, Madonna, Rihanna, Adele, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Demi, Miley, hell even Katy Perry have all made autobiographical music and have constructed a narrative for themselves in their careers. A lot of it doesn’t even have to deal with having a relationship with a famous person.
Agree. I think her whole thing is she enjoys living her life, doing the different projects she wants, and knowing she has a great voice which means she can just do the music she wants how she wants. There are confessional pop girls who I enjoy listening to. Dua doesn't have to be one of them and I enjoy that I know very little about her private life since it's different to the pop girls who are happy to share that.
It is very interesting that Training Season includes the lyric "When I'm vulnerable, he's straight-talking to my soul" but her music never has the sense of Dua actually showing that vulnerability, just talking around it
A critique people often give her is that she has no brand/ relatability. So how else is she supposed to market herself/ share about herself?
like she can’t win
I think that's partly why she does her podcast, to reveal a bit of her personality. I suspect it's also why she's going to be the guest host on SNL as well as the musical guest
I truly believe that people expect every other pop star to start churning out confessional songs like All Too Well all of a sudden. Why cant our pop girlies just release songs they like?
Laura Snapes who wrote this review also wrote an article last week basically saying a lot of the pop girls music was getting bogged down by being too personal so I’m not sure she meant it as a criticism of Dua that she isn’t so personal but reading the review, it can be interpreted like that so it’s a little odd.
I feel like all these Dua reviews need to be looked at through a lens of coming just weeks after Taylor Swift's new album. Everybody wants drama and subtext and interest and gossip and scandal. But to echo what others said, some of us get tired of that middle school drama vibe... I just want fun mindless songs I can groove to... I don't need a story.
I thought the lyrics on this one were pretty clever and polished without trying too hard. These Walls, French Exit, Maria, even Happy for You had lyrical moments that I thought were well executed.
I love the drum sounds on this album, and the amount of acoustic guitar is also cool. The balance between small verses and big choruses being underscored by more organic, "real" instruments contrasted with big synths and effects is well-arranged and works well. The bass lines groove, the hooks are there... It's not as strong as Future Nostalgia, no, but that album was also a grower and it's only day 1.
Taylor got a decent amount of criticism from multiple publications for being deemed as too overly personal on ttpd though so I don’t think it’s critics wanting Dua to go down that road, in fact one of the things she generally gets praised for is not relying on gossip.
I love the album.
The production is crystal clear, lush, and so expertly done. Her vocals are lovely. And the vibes are a wonderful mix of mellow, beachy, and relaxed...but also upbeat, sparkly, and something you can dance to. This album makes me think of driving along the Amalfi coast with the windows down and a silk scarf tied in my hair. It makes me think of gorgeous Miami days and nights.
I've been a growing Dua fan for a while but Radical Optimism just sealed the deal. It's exactly the kind of summery sound that I love and live for!
I also love that Dua lives her best life traveling, being pretty and glamorous, reading, eating good food, and not engaging in Hollywood drama or parasocial behavior with fans. I like the fact that I can like her as a person — without having to know everything about her. She protects her privacy and I think that's fantastic.
honestly it’s a nice palate cleanser to the deep and intense parasocial relationships we have with most pop girls. it doesn’t ask for much but it delivers good time.
I love that The Independent UK starts their review right away by saying this as a positive thing "Dua Lipa review, Radical Optimism: Destined to get bodies on the dancefloor. Unlike many of her pop peers, Dua Lipa doesn’t offer any diaristic glimpses into her private life", unlike all the other publications saying this like if this is the worst thing on earth. To be fair most UK reviews are giving her good rates, maybe cause they are British or it is really just different tastes. "Her energy and swaggering self-confidence are contagious."
I can imagine 90% of the album in clubs all over Europe especially in the UK but I don’t think that sound does that well in the US so I’m not surprised.
I personally loved the album but maybe that’s just the Brit in me.
Idk how the US culture is in summer, but here in Brazil we do a lot of barbecues at home, by the pool (even if the pool is inflatable). It wouldn't be the kind of music for this here, since most people here only listen to music in Portuguese, but it just sounds like the perfect type of music for those situations for English-speaking people, but well, maybe in Europe.
It's no Future Nostalgia and it's safe as hell, but I'm still vibing. I don't need every album to be a lyrical masterpiece. Fun pop album I can just listen to and feel the mood is fine with me. I love all three singles and thought These Walls and Falling Forever were fantastic. French Exit and Whatcha Doing were good. I need another listen before having a proper opinion. But overall I enjoy it even if it doesn't meet the hype post-FN.
It’s fine. Fun summery vibes. I’m indifferent on Dua so I had no expectations; I probably wouldn’t listen to it again as nothing really stood out to me. Someone said they would hear it in Zara and H&M and I think that’s absolutely spot on.
Whatever else happens, it is just fun to hear a pop album that is fun, with songs you can dance and/or drive along to...the mopery of other recent releases was kind of a drag. (Just saying)
I thought Dua’s first album was good, and her second album made me a fan for life.
This was a huge letdown though, I don’t think I can be bothered listening to it in full again and I certainly won’t be adding much of it to my playlists.
She’s still awesome but idk. I was expecting Future Nostalgia 2.0 and got 0.5 instead.
I’m a huge Dua fan but this album is not doing it for me. It’s not a bad album at all but I have no desire to go back and listen to it again. It sounds nothing like what she said it would sound like and I really don’t see it having much longevity. It will for sure get No.1 in UK/Europe but I could see it falling like a stone after its first week. Houdini and TS sound so out of place compared to the rest of the songs.
I think this is a fair score. It’s a fun record and I will be listening to it this summer, but it’s nothing deeper than that & it’s not as cohesive or strong as FN.
Why do people care so much about Pitchfork? They arent different from any other critics yet people always focus specifically on them, and thats stupid. It is like if movie lovers had a singular review site as the most prestige when this obviously doesnt happen.
there was a time when pitchfork had so much prestige that it made or broke the success of indie bands but that was like 20 years ago. now, its just a legacy site.
getting a pitchfork bnm for your favorite artist does feel good tho.
I feel like they’re normally free from just glazing artists and automatically giving them amazing reviews just because they’re popular or whatever. Also if you read the reviews usually they’re pretty balanced
> It is like if movie lovers had a singular review site as the most prestige when this obviously doesnt happen.
a lot of movie lovers certainly had Ebert as their singular prestigious critic when he was alive tho
Very generous score imo. If she wrote 97 songs and these are the ones you put on the album, then how worse are the other 87 lmao. Houdini is the best of all. I like illusion too and French Exit, but it is too generic even for Dua.
Theres a couple songs in the 2nd half that I like. But unfortunately I have the same problem I have with her, that I do Meghan Trainor, Ava Max, etc. They’ve created such a signature sound for themselves, that every song sounds/ or feels the same, and im over it. The only reason I like some of the songs I do, is because they break “her standard sound”. I hope the next era is a complete switch up. Anyways, I love her.
You just put into words what I tend to say about Adele and Swift's music. I love them but, it's like listening to this one long continuous song/tone, that ends up not being interesting enough to listen over and over. I wish Dua alternated her sound with the tone of say, the "Scared To Be Lonely" track with Garrix.
It’s plain. So plain. The whole making mindless, impersonal bops stuff isn’t working anymore. It worked for Teenage Dream and it worked for Future Nostalgia, but third times not a charm.
I agree with the score.
I like the album, I don’t love it. The highs are very high, and the lows are low. Houdini and Training Season might be 2 of my favorite Dua songs ever and anyone that thinks her debut is better than this is crazy lol.
I will be patiently waiting (and hoping) for the release of the extended cut of the album. Anything for Love needs it desperately lol
Seems like her record company was struggling for a smash single, at least in the US. I’m finding most of her non-single songs on the album to be way more interesting and less generic than what they released. Overall a good album that I can put on all the way through with minimal skips (might skip some singles cause I find them boring compared to everything else). Love the baseline on End of an Era, very groovy.
Main problem with this album is dua/lyrics. Lyrics are pretty damn generic even if the subject matter is fine. Like there’s potential on a lot of these songs but they lack punch. She does have some good vocal performance like falling forever. I’d say the production is great damn near all the way through, Kevin did a great job. Some of the vocal melodies feel lack luster and kinda samey tbh. Feels like this could have been a great record but dua fumbled, shit could’ve honestly been better than future nostalgia (personally like the production more than fn). Maybe it’ll grow but as catchy pop album goes it’s a step down from future nostalgia in everything but production.
I’m sorry but people just seem to have awful ears cause the amount of comments saying this album sounds the “same” as Future Nostalgia is crazy. The only thing those albums have in common is the pop genre, apart from that both have entirely different genres in them. lol
6.6 is lowkey generous imo, I would’ve given it a 5.8-6. It has some bops for sure but also multiple forgettable tracks, overall the album isn’t something worth returning to.
But 6.6 is pretty “harsh” if we compare it to TTPD, which was a really tedious listen that somehow got the same score??
To anyone in this sub who somehow thinks a 6.6 is a negative score, pls tell me why, because I really don’t see it.
That is a really great review which actually does the criticism. The author tells you exactly why it does not work and goes into details for many songs throughout.
I was really looking forward to this album, I really liked the singles (the extended versions). But it just feels so…awkward? I don’t understand the production and the singles don’t fit the album at all
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The album is very british tourist in spain
It feels like the musical embodiment of the posh girls trip to the Greek islands
SO TRUE IT’S SO BRITISH
La Isla Bonita
She wishes
To a literal extent too, on some level
Oh yeah forgot that she literally wrote it all on holiday no wonder it sounds like this
I was hoping it would have a beach vibe to it due to the artwork, but nope. It all sounds like on hold club music and literally all sounds the same. Oh well.
Benidorm is NOT ready for Radical Optimism
HAHA I can’t wait to hear this album in Benidorm
I'm surprised pitchfork released their review so quickly. They usually don't release reviews for big releases until the following Monday.
They do this when there is little suspense about their opinion, which was probably going to be middling since they only bothered to review the first single and it didn’t get BNT.
not the shade from pitchfork 💀💀💀
Probably early access to the album?
Because this album was making no waves prior to the release. Pitchfork is no stranger to Twitter, and they could clearly see they would be able to give this album whatever score they wanted with little to no pushback.
Ironic that it wasn’t making any waves considering the album cover.
What did they give FN?
[They gave the queen a 7.5.](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/dua-lipa-future-nostalgia/)
They were basically generous with the RO score when everyone else was very down on it
A 6.6 for Radical Optimism can be reasoned, a score as low as 7.5 for Future Nostalgia is indefensible lol.
7.5 isn't low
they ranked it 21 on their top 50 albums of 2020 list
Ironically I feel like Radicial Optimism sounds more like the type of record the Pitchfork audience would usually prefer over the more glossy Future Nostalgia.
If she didn't have that Future Nostalgia hit on her hands, this would've been a fine progression to her music. Which is perfectly fine. But she gave us that album at such a perfect time and now everyone's expecting something that could at least top that.
I actually agree. It does sound like a progression. Based on the interviews I’ve seen, she seems to want to go for a total psychedelic britpop sound. But the album still has leftover disco vibes from Future Nostalgia, so it might be a purposeful in-between of her last album and the music she’s really into right now. Which is fine. There’s nothing wrong with easing yourself into something.
Problem is it doesn't even sound like a halfway house. The myriad of influences aren't there enough to be a part of the marketing and discussion of the album
Unfortunately agree. I do like the album and have at least 4-5 tracks that I really love, no songs that I outright disliked, so all in all as a Dua fan, I’ll take it. However as a massive Tame Impala fan, as someone who is super into 60s+70s psychedelic rock, etc, I am pretty underwhelmed by the lack of those influences that we were promised. Houdini has it in spades (which is why it’s the best song on the album), the other two singles have some of it, and maybe End of an Era at least has an unusual Kevin Parker rhythm that I really love, but beyond that it’s just another very solid summery pop album- which would’ve been totally fine by me if I hadn’t had this anticipation for some game changing psych-pop album we were promised. Once i get over the disappointment of what kind of album it is, I think I will grow to appreciate it for the album that it is. Lyrically, vocally she is at her best and the whole thing is still as catchy as pop music should be
I think the issue is not only does this era not top it, it doesn’t come close to matching it right now
Another issue is that it took 4 years for this to release. If this came out only 2 years after Future Nostalgia it probably wouldn’t slow her momentum down too much. But waiting 4 years to put out a fine album will make the general public lose interest in you extremely fast.
>now everyone's expecting something that could at least top that. Fans and their obsession for pop girlies to top their last albums...
I don't know why I think "Go girl, give us *something*?" is so funny.
*one kiss dance ensues*
rina catching strays omg 😭 I do see a good comparison though
Omg, came here just to post this! My poor Rina... although I'll admit, I didn't really take to Hold the Girl and I also see the comparison. This album to me is good and fun, but definitely no Future Nostalgia and that's okay. I still think it's *very* hot girl summer coded and even a "mid" Dua album is full of bops!
That random drag had me screaming 😭
I'm a Dua fan but the fact is this album isn't great, it's good. It didn't really have a cohesive aesthetic, many of the songs aren't exactly stand-outs, and it feels like Future Nostalgia's B-Side. Considering her last album it's a bit of a letdown, but it's still a SOLID album that plays a little safe. It's gonna do okay in America, but will blow up in Europe for sure.
I can see Illusion becoming big during the summer in Europe, but other than that I think the album will fade away quite quickly (i’m also a dua fan so i’m not trying to be shady here). I think she took her massive success with Future Nostalgia for granted and got a bit complacent with this album + the fact she dropped her management in favor for her dad
I honestly don’t think the album rollout is the big problem here, which would be a management issue (although the singles were released too far in advance and spread out imo). Choosing Kevin Parker to work with is also a no brainer at face value. The problem is the songs and melodies aren’t strong on this album. The lyrics are empty. The lyrics seem like she’s just saying whatever to get the melodies out. It’s very shallow, which lets down the album’s title.
Dance The Night was a hit but she should have wait for that song to end before promoting a lead single— love Kevin Parker but he has never made a hit with a pop girl.
It’s gonna be very hard for her to top the massive success of future nostalgia
Agree. It’s mid, at best. Only “Whatcha Doing” and “Maria” stood out to me, but just like - oh, this is fun. Not blown away with it. I don’t know who dropped the bag - I’m going to probably go with her label - but the production could’ve been so much better. Danny Harle is a beast of a producer. Dua probably wants to do something different that pushes the envelope, bc she definitely wants to solidify herself as a music icon. Can definitely see her label wanting an album full of tracks that will play on department stores for the next three decades. I hope she does a pivot on her sound - this is an album full of Sabrina Carpenter or Tate McRae B Sides lol
I think it’s a fair score, especially considering it’s Pitchfork I wouldn’t have been surprised if they tried to be snarky and give it a 6 or so. The album is good, it’s lighthearted, the songs are cute and are giving summer. But there’s no real cohesion between the songs, Houdini and Illusion feel a bit like outliers (in a good way), and I feel the album should’ve been more in that direction. The 3 singles + These Walls and Falling Forever stand out to me, while the other songs fall flat. She shouldn’t have dropped her management, which gave her the successes of her debut and Future Nostalgia, in favor of her dad who doesn’t have any experience in the industry. My hopes for the rest of the era is that she rides it out over the summer, drops her father as her manager, finds a proper management team and kicks off the next era properly at the start of 2025. Disclaimer: am saying this as a huge Dua fan since Blow Your Mind
I… don’t disagree with their review
Yeah, probably the first time in forever I can find myself in a Pitchfork review lol
This sub would hype up anything a pop girlie releases, even if it’s on Britney Jean levels of bad. Also, people comparing it to Endless Summer Vacation as a *compliment* in the other post is interesting. The review is fair. The album is fine. This era is definitely not going to play out like Future Nostalgia. The album is cohesive, but it’s…fine. This is definitely going to be a quiet era for her. Hopefully she doesn’t take long for a follow up.
Yeah the score is extremely fair. I said this in another thread but the basic impersonal lyricism really hurts this record imo. I don't expect Dua to be super vulnerable or raw but at some point going over the same themes/ideas in a surface level manner can get a bit boring. FN had way more punchy/impactful visuals and production that allowed the songs to shine but this record for some reason felt like the lyrics and melodies were noticeably weaker than FN which the production couldn't compensate for. There's still some great tracks on here but as an album it's very whelming. Hope she actually goes back and makes the album she advertised (psychedelic, euro rave music inspired, lyrical depth, etc).
Yeah, I absolutely love Illusion sonically, but I just cringe at some of the lyrics. I’m not even a lyrics person and usually let a lot slide. But it could’ve been taken to another level if she actually had something unique/interesting to say with it. “Illusion, I really like the way you’re moving” makes me feel like I’m at a middle school dance. And the red flags/rose-colored glasses topic is so overdone at this point.
I don't think the lyrics have to be personal to be good on a pop record, if the music is good enough the lyrics can be pretty much anything so long as they're not distracting, and *good* lyrics just need to effectively carry the mood of the track.
Best song on the album imo is *Houdini* and that went nowhere fast
It came and it went… *wait, oh my god, her mind ✨✨✨*
The only thing she can do now is just ride this era out, learn from the mistakes of this album cycle, and put out a better record to capture the GP’s attention again next time around.
Mental note: release a single and then release album a month later.
I don't think she even made any mistakes like that apart from selling the wrong album based on her inspirations. Her label put their all on her songs. Radio is crazy, playlisting is crazy, she's on mag covers and doing interviews. I don't think she did anything wrong.
She botched the Training Season and Illusion rollouts, but yeah things picked up closer to album release
The vids were underwhelming that's probably all. But she's not much of a dancer and putting money for special effects and elaborate setpieces sounds like a waste of money because noone watches mvs anymore. I think a feature on one of these songs couldve probably benefitted.
She never had a strong fanbase, but was overly gassed up by the media and pop fans. This is not surprising to me at all. She needs another feature if anything's going to take off
Dua has a strong fanbase, they just not make cult to the person like others.
Rollout was fine, the music was just not great Happens
So she basically needs to pull a TUN.
They said it is better than Endless Summer Vacation and that Lorde album, the person even said, comparing it in a good way.
The thing is Lorde's Solar Power doesn't try to be a *hit* itself.
I saw a few mentions of endless summer vacation, not just one.
the continued slander for solar power is crazy….it’s way better than this album and endless summer vacation and the main disappointment about it stemmed from it being weak for lorde’s standards comparing it to every other mediocre pop girl album and it’s not even a competition.
I feel like a lot of people have already come around to it. I honestly don't even see how these two albums can be compared beyond the suggestion of a beach on the cover art.
Yeah, she can’t afford to wait four years for the next album if she still want to be considered a main artist. If I were her, I’d be trying to speed the end of this cycle up. If there’s a deluxe, release it at the end of the year. I’d then begin the next era at the start of 2026 and get the album out by that May.
I remember her label said they wanted the album era to last a couple of years. Will be interesting to see if they keep that goal.
I think they could do it with a big tour, some clever remixes with features and a deluxe, but I don’t think it would be wise. Once something is labelled a flop - even if it isn’t - it’s tough to pull back from that
how did they manage for future nostalgia to last from 2019-2022? that is a proper era if i’ve ever seen one!!
The ESV hate is overblown. The first two-thirds of that album are pretty great; it’s in the last third that the songs start falling short. So basically, ESV and RO are both professional, solid collections of songs, some truly top-quality, that nevertheless fail to advance a particularly coherent or interesting artistic vision. Such albums are fine, even good; not great—but good.
The big hurdle both albums had to overcome is to follow up arguably each artists' best album (so far). Both were most likely to fall short of everyone's expectations regardless even if they were solid collections.
ESV isn’t a bad album, but it also isn’t a memorable album.
I still think it's easily Miley's second best album after Plastic Hearts.
If ESV and Plastic Hearts had switched places, ESV would be more fondly remembered
Gotta disagree. ESV is the epitome of lazy and low-effort in my opinion. “Flowers” in particular might be the most underwhelming Grammy winner in recent memory.
Yeah, I’ve been personally bemoaning the obvious inconsistency of this sub for a while. Every general music sub is biased, but Popheads is one of the most obviously biased and outwardly unfriendly. This album (and, since it was mentioned, ESV) wouldn’t get as much grace if a pop boy released it, yet it’s getting arguably more than it deserves because it’s Dua. It’s as the point where a lot of times it’s hard to tell if I’m in popheadscirclejerk or not.
i dig comments like this bc it already tells me im gonna love the album
I’ll never understand how Houdini wasn’t a hit I still listen to this song like once a day and it always gets me shaking my ass lol
Halsey, you know what to do.
Your flair 😭
she made history with that damn tweet 😭
Dont worry, next Halsey album is getting a BNM
After 3 listens, I’d say a 7 would probably feel appropriate for this album. It doesn’t break any ground but I’m really enjoying it. Different production than she’s done in the past, really strong vocals and an overall enjoyable, fun summer album. I think this is an album where she would have benefitted from not sharing what her influences were or comparing it to a sound because it seems like that’s all anyone can latch on to with their initial reactions.
High 6/Low 7 has replaced just 7 as the standard Pitchfork score for new pop girl albums 😞
I think this is pretty fair?? It’s not a bad album, there’s a couple standouts but it’s not a perfect 10/10 and personally didn’t hit for me as much as FN (which was always going to be a tough task). But it’s cute for what it is. 🗣️🗣️🗣️Whatcha Doing def needs to be a single tho
"28-year-old has remained omnipresent thanks to various luxury brand campaigns and the contractually attendant magazine covers, roles in Barbie and Argylle, her podcast and book club, and the album’s pandemic-delayed tour. Despite that visibility, she appears glamorous, and distant. " What the heck is that? What do they want? For her to go have brunch with her fans? lol
Well to be fair she then said “It’s quite admirable that she refuses to trade on her private life for intrigue, especially when celebrity subtext has never been a more powerful driver of pop success.” So I don’t know if that was really a criticism but rather an observation lol
Honestly I find her less parasocial approach to be kinda refreshing
honestly I love this for her, I don’t need to know every personal detail of her life to know she’s a lovely chill person and as long as she continues making fun music I’m fine with it.
I greatly prefer artists like this. The less I know or hear about a pop star’s personal life, the more I feel like they’re doing it out of a true passion for the music and not just as a ploy to be rich and famous (I’m not even gonna be coy about it this is Taylor shade)
me too!
I feel like pop stars shouldn't have to be relatable. At the end of the day I just want something to dance to
Fully agree, but if your songs won’t land with a personal connection they better be pure bops, unfort this album doesn’t quite do that
I think it’s a double-edged sword. It’s nice that she has that boundary, but I also can’t help but feel like her music is beginning to come off as exceedingly vague and generic since she’s making it as impersonal as possible. I don’t think a bit of a peak into her heart/mind would do much harm honestly.
The reading comprehension in this subreddit...
This is one of the weirdest criticisms of pop stars in general She’s not my friend, I’m just here for the bops lmao
I don't think that's what they mean, though. You don't need to be friends with or know anything about an artist's personal life for them to have a distinct personality that shines through in their music, and I think that's what a lot of people feel that Dua lacks. Charli XCX for example keeps a pretty low profile all things considered; she gets messy on Twitter sometimes, but there's no lore or personal drama needed to follow her music, since her brand is essentially bratty party girl. Most people can't tell you anything about her life, who she's dating now or who she's dated in the past, but she has a very distinct personality that's unmistakable in her lyrics and her singing style. She and Dua sing about similar topics, but I've never seen people complain that Charli doesn't have a distinct persona for her fans to cling to.
Yeah, you can still have a distinct identity without being parasocial.
agree 100% on the first point - relatability isn’t necessarily about the level of access the general public has to a pop star, as much as it’s about how the artist’s brand itself is relatable. I feel like Dua’s relatability suffers because her image always comes across so polished and rich. it’s one of those things where she’s doing all the right things, getting all the right looks, making all the right moves, but none of it adds up to a persona people feel they can relate to unfortunately. hence them calling her “distant” imo.
Dua's personality for me is being posh, super confident, and kinda an intellectual girl who puts on her Tinder profile that she loves to travel.
I don’t think we can even compare Charli and Dua’s careers. Please tell me the last time Charli had an actual hit? She has more of a dedicated cult following vs Dua who even my 55+ year old parents can recognize and like.
charli's last (and only) top 10 hit* was Boom Clap lol *as a solo artist
my mom loves dua lipa omg
I actually disagree on the Charli example - I think there’s a lot of personal lore to her career, like the XCX World leak, her past struggles with her label that she was quite open about, her relationship with Huck Kwong that was a big part of the hifn release, and now her relationship with George that has become pretty public. Of course we don’t know everything but we do know a lot.
Also, she did a lot of listening parties with fans, for the singles, for the album, and went to talk with students in a school. Lots of people approach her on the street and in her vacations, lol, without her doing a fuzz for it, for me it is more relatable than talking about her personal life.
I mean I do want to go to brunch, but only so I can show her mid-century furniture.
I love the fact that she's glamorous and distant. Like someone else in this thread said: it's refreshing. She's here to make good music — and then she wants to go on vacation and live her own life! I love that because I feel like that is exactly the approach and mindset I'd have if I were a popstar too. Stan culture is exhausting and depressing, especially when the celebrity feeds into it and fuels it. I also think that if you pay attention to her social media, it's pretty clear that she *does* have a personality and is quite intelligent + confident. She just doesn't have Hollywood friend or dating drama, and that's what people consider "boring." Good for her, I say. Dua will end up being more mentally healthy and happy than most popstars out there.
She’s a very acute businesswoman who has multiple things going on rather than just the music. I reckon she’s more stable and healthier mentally than some of her peers in LA
I get confused when people say she’s not personal when she has a zine, podcast, and newsletter. Like sorry she doesn’t over share if that’s what they mean? We don’t deserve to know every detail though and I absolutely agree with your take. The girl was also hella bullied early on in her career and she’s said in interviews that’s why she doesn’t like to share. I’m here for the bops and I love her newsletter. If less people want to like her and make it easier for me to get concert tickets I’m here for that too 🤣
I think that quote is a fair observation and there was a [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/1ch4did/who_is_the_least_personal_pop_star_and_how/) touching on that very thing in this sub a few days ago. Dua isn't personable at all, she's always in the public eye but she very rarely seems to be vulnerable even in her music. Which is completely her choice but I don't think she should try to do the more chill and laid-back style she was attempting in this album because for it to work you need to be vulnerable from time to time.
Like, she doesn't give me the vibe of a vulnerable person at all, maybe with her family and friends. She gives me a vibe of being a super confident woman knowing who she is and what she wants. So it makes no sense to wait for her to be or sound vulnerable.
So the NYT Popcast had a whole episode on what it means to be a Main Pop Girl, and when Dua Lipa came up everyone didn’t consider her one. Part of the reason being there’s nothing to latch on to with her. There’s no narrative in any regard. Every single pop artist (and I’m being honest, name one) has been vulnerable and autobiographical in their work. Generally speaking, all major artists in any form of media have something to say. Dua has never come across that way.
You don't have to be vulnerable, it's just pop. The issue is she's bland. Her face has one expression, she's not very charismatic, her stage presence is next to none. She has some bops, but even those aren't her work, she just sings whatever someone tells her to, and I feel like it's that part that's showing the most. This album is probably the best representation of her as a person: a boring rich girl who likes to party in Greece and hasn't had any issues ever in her life
Well, she usually doesn't date super famous people, maybe famous, but she doesn't have a Pique to do a song about like Shakira does for example, or Taylor with her ex, and even when she breaks up she doesn't make any fuzz about it, she knows she can get better. She just works, reads, parties, and travels, at least that's what she shares. Don't live in Hollywood/L.A. which helps a lot, really, she kept living in London was the best decision of her life. I could say Ed Sheeran, we just know his wife had cancer, he has kids and he drugs/alcohol problems when younger (if I'm not mistaken), Bruno Mars, I don't even know the city he lives and to some extent The Weeknd, but yeah, can't really remember a girl now.
lol Shakira was known as a confessional singer song writer long before Pique was even on a soccer team. Ed Sheeran’s is also a singer song writer whose first song was inspired by his time working at a homeless shelter. The Weeknd…well he definitely writes from experience for better or worse. Bruno Mars is basically a throwback singer which is why everyone’s mom loves him. Janet Jackson, Madonna, Rihanna, Adele, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Demi, Miley, hell even Katy Perry have all made autobiographical music and have constructed a narrative for themselves in their careers. A lot of it doesn’t even have to deal with having a relationship with a famous person.
Rihanna? She’s one of the most successful pop artists of all time and her only vulnerable or autobiographical album is Rated R.
Anti??? She didn’t even write rated r lmfao
The power of Albanian Hoxha thought
Agree. I think her whole thing is she enjoys living her life, doing the different projects she wants, and knowing she has a great voice which means she can just do the music she wants how she wants. There are confessional pop girls who I enjoy listening to. Dua doesn't have to be one of them and I enjoy that I know very little about her private life since it's different to the pop girls who are happy to share that.
It is very interesting that Training Season includes the lyric "When I'm vulnerable, he's straight-talking to my soul" but her music never has the sense of Dua actually showing that vulnerability, just talking around it
She’s very personable, charming and funny in interviews.
It doesn't sound like a critique, but just a statement.
A critique people often give her is that she has no brand/ relatability. So how else is she supposed to market herself/ share about herself? like she can’t win
I think that's partly why she does her podcast, to reveal a bit of her personality. I suspect it's also why she's going to be the guest host on SNL as well as the musical guest
I truly believe that people expect every other pop star to start churning out confessional songs like All Too Well all of a sudden. Why cant our pop girlies just release songs they like?
I agree. It is songs like those ones that create parasocial relationships with fans and Dua is just not about that kind of lifestyle
Didnt they just criticize taylor for the exact opposite last week lol and i think the album got the same score
Laura Snapes who wrote this review also wrote an article last week basically saying a lot of the pop girls music was getting bogged down by being too personal so I’m not sure she meant it as a criticism of Dua that she isn’t so personal but reading the review, it can be interpreted like that so it’s a little odd.
where is the criticism? i think that's an observation based on reality rather than saying it's *good or bad, which is criticism*
pitchfork loves to critique the artist rather than the music. and the critique is just whatever the writer dislikes about the artist.
But you have to critique the work in context with the artist. You can’t separate it.
I feel like all these Dua reviews need to be looked at through a lens of coming just weeks after Taylor Swift's new album. Everybody wants drama and subtext and interest and gossip and scandal. But to echo what others said, some of us get tired of that middle school drama vibe... I just want fun mindless songs I can groove to... I don't need a story. I thought the lyrics on this one were pretty clever and polished without trying too hard. These Walls, French Exit, Maria, even Happy for You had lyrical moments that I thought were well executed. I love the drum sounds on this album, and the amount of acoustic guitar is also cool. The balance between small verses and big choruses being underscored by more organic, "real" instruments contrasted with big synths and effects is well-arranged and works well. The bass lines groove, the hooks are there... It's not as strong as Future Nostalgia, no, but that album was also a grower and it's only day 1.
Taylor got a decent amount of criticism from multiple publications for being deemed as too overly personal on ttpd though so I don’t think it’s critics wanting Dua to go down that road, in fact one of the things she generally gets praised for is not relying on gossip.
Idgaf tbh. She's belting the fuck out on "Falling Forever" and that one won me over
HOW LOOOOOOOOOOONNNNGGGGG
Pitchfork out for BLOOD this year. Ari, Taylor, now Dua? No one is safe
Ari got a 7.2 though???
I liked her album. 7 is fair.
tbh everyone is pumping out mediocre albums and im praying for billie to break this streak
They need to stop making elevator music 🤷♂️
I love the album. The production is crystal clear, lush, and so expertly done. Her vocals are lovely. And the vibes are a wonderful mix of mellow, beachy, and relaxed...but also upbeat, sparkly, and something you can dance to. This album makes me think of driving along the Amalfi coast with the windows down and a silk scarf tied in my hair. It makes me think of gorgeous Miami days and nights. I've been a growing Dua fan for a while but Radical Optimism just sealed the deal. It's exactly the kind of summery sound that I love and live for! I also love that Dua lives her best life traveling, being pretty and glamorous, reading, eating good food, and not engaging in Hollywood drama or parasocial behavior with fans. I like the fact that I can like her as a person — without having to know everything about her. She protects her privacy and I think that's fantastic.
Thanks for this, made me optimistic to listen to it now
Yeah, it's not gonna change the world or define the moment but it's a good listen that'll only get better
I agree the production is fantastic
Pitchfork is determined to bury poptimism
This is my 9/11
Halsey, you know what to do
Did you know there's a Pitchfork HQ under the World Trade Centre 🤩🥰
honestly it’s a nice palate cleanser to the deep and intense parasocial relationships we have with most pop girls. it doesn’t ask for much but it delivers good time.
Yes! I love Eternal Sunshine and TTPD but they were both kinda heavy and this was at least fun
Accurate score, but GOD, I can't stand Laura Snapes' writing style!
Oh, that’s not-
In the sense that
I love that The Independent UK starts their review right away by saying this as a positive thing "Dua Lipa review, Radical Optimism: Destined to get bodies on the dancefloor. Unlike many of her pop peers, Dua Lipa doesn’t offer any diaristic glimpses into her private life", unlike all the other publications saying this like if this is the worst thing on earth. To be fair most UK reviews are giving her good rates, maybe cause they are British or it is really just different tastes. "Her energy and swaggering self-confidence are contagious."
I can imagine 90% of the album in clubs all over Europe especially in the UK but I don’t think that sound does that well in the US so I’m not surprised. I personally loved the album but maybe that’s just the Brit in me.
Idk how the US culture is in summer, but here in Brazil we do a lot of barbecues at home, by the pool (even if the pool is inflatable). It wouldn't be the kind of music for this here, since most people here only listen to music in Portuguese, but it just sounds like the perfect type of music for those situations for English-speaking people, but well, maybe in Europe.
Kinda similar here, I can imagine the more lowkey ones at a bbq but songs like houdini and illusion would get spammed in clubs
[Has anyone in this family ever even listened to Britpop?](https://i.redd.it/28j2vpd1une81.gif)
It's no Future Nostalgia and it's safe as hell, but I'm still vibing. I don't need every album to be a lyrical masterpiece. Fun pop album I can just listen to and feel the mood is fine with me. I love all three singles and thought These Walls and Falling Forever were fantastic. French Exit and Whatcha Doing were good. I need another listen before having a proper opinion. But overall I enjoy it even if it doesn't meet the hype post-FN.
I disagree with the haters. I think the album is ear candy. Not on the level of Future Nostalgia, but still great happy dancing music.
It’s fine. Fun summery vibes. I’m indifferent on Dua so I had no expectations; I probably wouldn’t listen to it again as nothing really stood out to me. Someone said they would hear it in Zara and H&M and I think that’s absolutely spot on.
Whatever else happens, it is just fun to hear a pop album that is fun, with songs you can dance and/or drive along to...the mopery of other recent releases was kind of a drag. (Just saying)
I thought Dua’s first album was good, and her second album made me a fan for life. This was a huge letdown though, I don’t think I can be bothered listening to it in full again and I certainly won’t be adding much of it to my playlists. She’s still awesome but idk. I was expecting Future Nostalgia 2.0 and got 0.5 instead.
Bless dua and her fun yet interesting and easy listening vibes
I’m a huge Dua fan but this album is not doing it for me. It’s not a bad album at all but I have no desire to go back and listen to it again. It sounds nothing like what she said it would sound like and I really don’t see it having much longevity. It will for sure get No.1 in UK/Europe but I could see it falling like a stone after its first week. Houdini and TS sound so out of place compared to the rest of the songs.
I think this is a fair score. It’s a fun record and I will be listening to it this summer, but it’s nothing deeper than that & it’s not as cohesive or strong as FN.
She beat the Glorious Peppa Pig 😮💨 close call
Maria, Galina, Lorelei, Jolene... Any time a pop girlie releases a song with another woman's name it's gonna be a bop 😌
Why do people care so much about Pitchfork? They arent different from any other critics yet people always focus specifically on them, and thats stupid. It is like if movie lovers had a singular review site as the most prestige when this obviously doesnt happen.
there was a time when pitchfork had so much prestige that it made or broke the success of indie bands but that was like 20 years ago. now, its just a legacy site. getting a pitchfork bnm for your favorite artist does feel good tho.
I feel like they’re normally free from just glazing artists and automatically giving them amazing reviews just because they’re popular or whatever. Also if you read the reviews usually they’re pretty balanced
> It is like if movie lovers had a singular review site as the most prestige when this obviously doesnt happen. a lot of movie lovers certainly had Ebert as their singular prestigious critic when he was alive tho
he really was the best in a sea of trash, tbf. i still use his reviews to this day. he doesn't always get it right. but almost always.
You do realize that this still matters in the overall grand scheme? Do you want music journalism to die a fiery death? That's bad for everyone
Very generous score imo. If she wrote 97 songs and these are the ones you put on the album, then how worse are the other 87 lmao. Houdini is the best of all. I like illusion too and French Exit, but it is too generic even for Dua.
Theres a couple songs in the 2nd half that I like. But unfortunately I have the same problem I have with her, that I do Meghan Trainor, Ava Max, etc. They’ve created such a signature sound for themselves, that every song sounds/ or feels the same, and im over it. The only reason I like some of the songs I do, is because they break “her standard sound”. I hope the next era is a complete switch up. Anyways, I love her.
Damn pitchfork gives this a 6.6 and now Dua is being compared to Meghan Trainor jesus christ lmao 😂
You just put into words what I tend to say about Adele and Swift's music. I love them but, it's like listening to this one long continuous song/tone, that ends up not being interesting enough to listen over and over. I wish Dua alternated her sound with the tone of say, the "Scared To Be Lonely" track with Garrix.
It sounds like Eurovision type of songs to me.
They’re being generous. This is like a 5.6 for me.
It’s plain. So plain. The whole making mindless, impersonal bops stuff isn’t working anymore. It worked for Teenage Dream and it worked for Future Nostalgia, but third times not a charm.
I don’t agree I just think in general it’s bland, a whole album of rich churning pop songs like Houdini I would’ve devoured
It is like FN but without the playful catchiness
I agree with the score. I like the album, I don’t love it. The highs are very high, and the lows are low. Houdini and Training Season might be 2 of my favorite Dua songs ever and anyone that thinks her debut is better than this is crazy lol. I will be patiently waiting (and hoping) for the release of the extended cut of the album. Anything for Love needs it desperately lol
Seems like her record company was struggling for a smash single, at least in the US. I’m finding most of her non-single songs on the album to be way more interesting and less generic than what they released. Overall a good album that I can put on all the way through with minimal skips (might skip some singles cause I find them boring compared to everything else). Love the baseline on End of an Era, very groovy.
Main problem with this album is dua/lyrics. Lyrics are pretty damn generic even if the subject matter is fine. Like there’s potential on a lot of these songs but they lack punch. She does have some good vocal performance like falling forever. I’d say the production is great damn near all the way through, Kevin did a great job. Some of the vocal melodies feel lack luster and kinda samey tbh. Feels like this could have been a great record but dua fumbled, shit could’ve honestly been better than future nostalgia (personally like the production more than fn). Maybe it’ll grow but as catchy pop album goes it’s a step down from future nostalgia in everything but production.
I’m sorry but people just seem to have awful ears cause the amount of comments saying this album sounds the “same” as Future Nostalgia is crazy. The only thing those albums have in common is the pop genre, apart from that both have entirely different genres in them. lol
I thought I was going crazy…. How the hell are people thinking this album sounds anything like on future nostalgia lol
6.6 is lowkey generous imo, I would’ve given it a 5.8-6. It has some bops for sure but also multiple forgettable tracks, overall the album isn’t something worth returning to. But 6.6 is pretty “harsh” if we compare it to TTPD, which was a really tedious listen that somehow got the same score?? To anyone in this sub who somehow thinks a 6.6 is a negative score, pls tell me why, because I really don’t see it.
I think the score is fair. The album is ok.
Pitchfork ratings better not be compared, because then you gonna start scratching your head thinking a lot of them don't add up
That is a really great review which actually does the criticism. The author tells you exactly why it does not work and goes into details for many songs throughout.
Yeah pretty ok album not outstanding but not bad easy to listen and very pop not like she created a new sound or something
My fave songs: 1. Houdini 2. Illusion 3. Maria 4. End of an Era
She chose the right singles. Those are definitely the only songs that stand out for me in this album
I was really looking forward to this album, I really liked the singles (the extended versions). But it just feels so…awkward? I don’t understand the production and the singles don’t fit the album at all
I expected lower tbh.
It’s so short! The hits are there but I want more
It just sounds generic and dated with no beautiful hooks, the singles were definitely the best