Not a good try. The production sounds like it's stuck in the middle between mainstream pop and indie pop. Its weird bedroom pop and chillout sound feels unfinished and immature, and her vocal performance is underwhelming too. Also the "midnights" theme doesn't feel strong and interesting enough. She definitely released way greater songs that conveyed the concept of sleepless midnights more effectively.
Strongest moments: Lavender Haze, You're On Your Own Kid, Would've Could've ... read more
Strongest moments: Blank Space, Style, Out of the Woods, Wildest Dreams, Clean, New Romantics
Weakest moments: Welcome to New York, All You Had To Do Was Stay, Bad Blood, How You Get the Girl, Wonderland.
She should've had New Romantics on the standard version because it is the strongest demonstration of the core theme of this entire album.
Fantasy will remain as one of the most game-changing and monumental songs in the 90s, for how it sounds so coherent and fresh despite drawing inspirations from different genres. The concept of fantasizing a fever dream and realizing how it ends up fading away is so iconic for how it actually depicts most teenage dreams starting with promosing visions but end up breaking down inevitably. A classic Mariah record. MUST HEAR.
This album is an immaculate fusion of so many different genres which blend so well that the album does not sound like a mixed bag. The theme is super art-approached yet it feels relatable.