Ariana Grande Sweetener 2LP

Ariana Grande released her fourth studio album, Sweetener, in August 2018 via Republic Records. Certified double-platinum by the RIAA, it features the Top 10 singles, "No Tears Left to Cry," and "God Is a Woman." 2 LP set.

The love songs carry weight, there's gravity in the effervescent re-creations of disco; the sparkling EDM surfaces of 'Good Night N Go' coalesce into a sweet romanticism, and the big club beats seem elastic, not rigid. Similarly, Grande never pushes these songs too hard. Instead of favoring vocal pyrotechnics, she demonstrates restraint, which isn't merely an indication of stylistic maturation but how her songs resonate without such tricks. Such concentration doesn't simply result in a stronger set of songs, but an album that coheres in a way other Ariana Grande albums don't, which means Sweetener is something of a double triumph: she's come through a tough time stronger and better than before.