Days 9 and 10 of Album-pril: Dangerous Woman and 77

Day 9

Dangerous Woman (2016) – Ariana Grande

Can you believe I dressed as Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman for Halloween 2019, yet hadn’t heard the whole album? I can, because I didn’t listen to albums. If you’re into slightly edgy pop rather than sensual R&B, this album could be considered peak Ariana. It’s every bit as good as I expected. There’s filler, as with any album, but nowhere near the level of Sweetener or Positions. I knew some of the songs I’d like from this album (‘Side to Side’, ‘Dangerous Woman’, and ‘Into You’), but I was super happy to discover a bunch more lowkey bops in the form of ‘Moonlight’, ‘Greedy’, ‘Bad Decisions’, and ‘Touch It’. This album also has my new favourite Ariana Grande number, ‘Jason’s Song (Gave It Away)’ – so jazzy, so fun, with incredible vocals (it’s no wonder she didn’t write it, no shade). The only thing that would make this album better is if it included a bonus track of the a cappella version of ‘Dangerous Woman’, complete with Ariana Grande vocalising the guitar solo. This recording actually is on Spotify, although not through the official Ariana Grande account.

Cover art: 10/10 for the greyscale, the frame, the leather bunny character, the font, chef’s kiss.

Album name: 10/10 we are so far from the bubblegum pop Nickelodeon days

Bangers: 8/17.

Overall vibe: Party, either the regular kind with guests and drinks or just a solo one where you celebrate the divas and what a time it is to be alive.

Day 10

Talking Heads: 77 (1977) – Talking Heads

The Talking Heads song ‘And She Was’ is the theme for the Freakonomics podcast No Stupid Questions. I’d never heard the song before but I really enjoy that podcast and grew to like the chorus of the song after hearing clips of it twice a week. When I realised the absolute unit of a tune ‘Psycho Killer’ is by the same band, I knew I wanted to delve deeper into their discography. I think I chose this album because it was the one with ‘Psycho Killer’, but I should have realised that was a mistake – these old albums rarely have more than one banger, and this is no exception. Other than ‘Psycho Killer’ which remains certified bop, the album was bitterly disappointing. I’m starting to think the only reason people rave about ’80s music so much is because 1970s music was so terrible. The only other song I kind of appreciated was ‘Don’t Worry About the Government’ but I think years of listening to Tim Minchin has just endeared me to what I assume is heavy lyrical sarcasm.

Cover art: 1/10 I mean how lazy can you get? The font is okay but the colour of the text is indescribable which makes me uncomfortable.

Album name: 2/10 firstly I think it’s weird to name one album after a year and not the others, especially the first because what if they never made any more? that’d be embarrassing. Really though, I think the reason I hate this name is because I’m comparing it to their second album More Songs About Buildings and Food which I think is a brilliant title.

Bangers: 2/12

Overall vibe: Regretting the structure of this project because I’ve boxed myself in and have nothing funny to say here.

Next time: Albums by a glam rock icon and a bizarrely soulful modern pop duo.