Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

8.6

With just her brother Finneas on production, 17-year-old sensation Billie Eilish manages to surpass common critics and stereotypes to come up with a debut album which is a fantastic exploration and depiction of how it feel to be young, depressed and fulled with existential angst against the world and its people. The bassy, magnetic beats melt with the singer's whispery, heavily-manipulated, demonic vocals in pretty original and diverse ways, making the record both an entertaining experience and a constant, ever-growing adventure. Moreover, it feels the perfect artistic statement for a star on the rise.

Highlights

- The production is otherworldly, thick and thoroughly crafted.

- Billie's voice is a gravitational force on its own, going up and down with every emotion.

- There's an amazing sense of cohesion connecting the songs and topics altogether.

Lowlights

- Some tracks overuse space and melancholy a bit (especially on the second half).

Standouts

- bad guy

- xanny

- my strange addiction

Country: USA

Released: March 29, 2019

Length: 42:56

Bring Me The Horizon - amo

6.2

While it occasionally blossoms, the main problem with amo is that its ambitious ideas hardly ever match up with its repulsively generic lines, lyrics and performances. There's potential for change and versatility; there are not great ways to achieve them, nonetheless.

Highlights

- The production (while at times suffering from overload) is risky, detailed and multi-faceted.

- On some tracks, the vocals feel expressive and in-the-point.

- As long as concept albums go, this pretty much stands in the line.

Lowlights

- We've heard this heavy-pop crossover on Twenty One Pilots and The 1975 already, and much better-performed.

- Some tracks contain cheesy ideas that are executed in an even more underwhelming manner.

- The record is at least 3-song too long.

Standouts

- wonderful life

- MANTRA

- nihilist blues

Country: UK

Released: January 25, 2019

Length: 51:59

Ariana Grande - thank u, next

6.8

Outbursts of empowerment, reflection and resilience are stubbornly paired up with underdeveloped and redundant trap pop tracks. But despite its turbulence and hurry, thank u, next stands as Ariana's most down-to-earth, sonically consistent and laid back record in her ever-ascending career.

Highlights

- It's good to know it's her first album with all songs co-written and produced by herself, and with no vocal guests at all.

- Most of the tracks are greatly formed and are undeniably catchy.

- The artist's emotional versatility and vulnerability pay off, especially on the slower parts.

Lowlights

- As tightly packed as it seems, there's little coherence in motifs and well-thought connectivity between songs.

- Some less impressive standouts seem equal between one another.

- Ariana's voice doesn't seem to be catching up with her full potential, not even by a half.

Standouts

- thank u, next

- needy

- ghostin

Country: USA

Released: February 8, 2019

Length: 41:10

Dawn Richard - New Breed

7.8

Dawn delivers an effortlessly whimsical record that pays homage to her hometown New Orleans, her newly re-found empowerment, her blackability and her unquestionable desire and knack for woozy R&B. It's a subtle triumph for both heart and pace.

Highlights

- The tracks flow wonderfully from each other, making up for a tight concept record.

- Dawn's muscular voice that mumbles and drops whenever she pleases to.

- Tacky production mixed with solid themes and topics.

Lowlights

- At first glances, some tracks may not seem to have an impactful development.

- I would have personally have all the voiced interludes as separate tracks, so that they can flow on the album but let the proper songs be enjoyed without them, just as in "A Seat At The Table" by Solange.

Standouts

- shades

- vultures | wolves

- jealousy

Country: USA

Released: January 25, 2019

Length: 32:32