#offthetable

Will I ever love somebody like the way I did you?

Ariana Grande - Positions (Album Review):

So Ariana Grande dropped an album last year titled ‘Positions’ with a short notice prior to release. It came as a surprise and had everyone excited to hear what she had to offer on her sixth studio album. She a week after the announcement released the title track as the lead single to the album, the song added to the anticipation for the album as it was a strong lead and one of her best single releases. 

When the album finally came out it received a mixed reaction in which some loved it for what it was and others weren’t that impressed. Now the album as a whole isn’t much, it was rather disappointing as you’d expect someone this far in their career to now have found their footing. The album makes it seem as though Ariana didn’t bother to put in much effort when it came to the creative aspect of the record. 

The majority of the album lyrically indulges in sexual exploration, though there are a few tracks that explore moments of more substance. Also the features being Doja Cat, The Weeknd (who she had previously collaborated) & Ty Dolla $ign added to the anticipation for the album. ‘Safety Net’ the collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign was the one that surprised everyone the most, since it was one of the strongest moments on the album and the two made for an unexpectedly great combination. ‘Off The Table’ a track most expected a lot from since how well their previous collaboration on ‘Love Me Harder’, which is referenced in The Weeknd’s verse on the track, turned out. The track has a more mature feel to it, yet it doesn’t standout in the way many hoped it would. ‘Motive’ which features Doja Cat was a track that even before the collaboration being announced there had been talks of the two collaborating and that in itself built up excitement for it. However it ended up being rather lacklustre. What seems to be the pre-chorus which switches the mood up was the strong point of the track, whereas the other parts prevent it from being a standout moment on the album. Doja Cat did however deliver on her verse.

As mentioned before the album does divulge in sexual exploration quite a bit, there are moments on the record where it is done right and others where its rather vulgar in a mannerism that is off putting. For example ‘34+35’ which oddly people seem to be quite into, more so because of how in your face the lyrical content is, was cringeworthy on most part. Her vocals were its only redeeming moment. However you come to ‘Nasty’ and this track showcased how a track of that nature should be executed. 

The moments that venture outside that realm ended up providing the album with its strongest tracks. Ariana does however do really well on showcasing her vocals on this album, more than she has done on her past records. Not only the extent, but the different sides to her range/vocals that she hasn’t done so in the past. Particularly on the stellar closing track ‘POV’ that is about her wanting to be able to see things from the prospective of her lover. On the track the vocals during the final chorus take you by surprise, the fullness in the projection is beautiful with this sense of rawness to it. Her vocals on ‘Love Language’ are intriguing as well, although the tracks dated opening throws you off as it interrupts the cohesion of the record. 

She recently released a deluxe version of the album including the remixed version of ‘34+35’ which features Doja Cat & Megan Thee Stallion and four other tracks. The tracks thematically and sound wise work well with the album. They even are of a greater strength than some of the tracks featured on the standard edition. Which in turn makes you question how tracklists are determined and why they often leave behind the tracks with much more potential for tracks that are just fillers. Maybe it is so that they hold back some of the greater tracks to add to the record for a deluxe release in hopes for a greater boost for the album.

It isn’t a terrible body of work, however Ariana Grande has the capability to offer so much more and that is why this comes across as a little underwhelming. It is an album that you can enjoy, however not one that leaves a strong enough impression that will make you want to run to listen to it when picking from all the other releases in 2020.