Premature Evaluation: Ariana Grande petal

Ariana Grande seems eager to leave pop-music royalty behind in favor of theater-kid acting roles. Her announcement of an arena tour and album earlier this year came with a sense of noblesse oblige. The lead single, "hate that i made you love me," was subdued and lacked the usual pop-music presence. Grande's shift away from her usual pop persona feels muddled and passive-aggressive.

She has been way too famous for her entire adult life, and making this album might be an intentional downsizing. The album functions as an anti-pop move on Grande's part, with a quiet and introspective tone. Her recording process involved trusted collaborator ILYA, and Max Martin also co-wrote three tracks. Grande's voice is unmatched, but she downplays her abilities on petal, delivering everything in a half-asleep whisper-purr.

While some of her choruses may sneak up and embed themselves in the listener's consciousness, her overall approach on the album is to make sure her songs don't hit with the euphoric fizz of her past bangers.