My Everything
There\'s a long history of teens becoming pop stars after gaining fame on TV. What sets Ariana Grande apart from the Justins and Britneys of the world is her force-of-nature voice, which rivals Mariah Carey\'s in its strength and range. While Grande\'s first album was an R&B-pop effort helmed by Babyface, *My Everything* enlists almost *every* A-lister in music (Zedd, Iggy, Nicki, etc.) for an EDM&B hybrid that showcases the full breadth of Grande\'s talents. This is a perfect picture of pop in 2014, from the soaring Ryan Tedder–penned ballad \"Why Try\" to Zedd\'s Vegas-bright \"Break Free\" to the pulsing midtempo groove of \"Love Me Harder,\" featuring The Weeknd. Even One Direction\'s Harry Styles gets a writing credit on \"Just a Little Bit of Your Heart.\" That Grande ably anchors such an all-star lineup is a testament to her gifts, not to mention her staying power.
On My Everything, Ariana Grande ditches the manic-Disney-dream-girl ballads that made up her debut and goes straight for the bangers. As a whole, the album feels like Grande’s arrival as a true pop fixture, not just a charming novelty. The Weeknd, Childish Gambino, Big Sean, and others guest.
<p>Apart from a burst of hi-NRG this is a rather dull, slick vehicle for Grande's undoubted vocal talents, writes <strong>Kitty Empire</strong></p>
My Everything tries to expand Grande’s horizons with headache-inducing electro-pop and darker, edgier shades of R&B.
<p>It's difficult to engage with the synthy froth of My Everything, despite an impressive cast of voice and production talent, writes <strong>Caroline Sullivan</strong></p>
Ariana Grande - My Everything review: An unsettling definition of maturity.