Album Review: Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine

The modern social media-verse features hundreds if not thousands of allegedly licensed therapists doling out mountains of sage wisdom, which would otherwise be obtained through years of talk therapy, clinical studies and interactions with mental health services. These people package mental health into a product, which you can either like or subscribe to, and consume within 3 minutes flat in the form of a Tiktok video.

It is in this climate that Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine graces the shelves of digital music streaming services, and it is this sensibility that precisely lets the album down. Eternal Sunshine covers too many emotionally charged subjects in the most skimming of fashion; with three minutes of pop sound bites.

At 35 minutes long, Grande’s seventh LP is short, sweet and is an of R & B and pop persuasion fused with dance music, and synth-pop. Track’s like ‘We Can’t be Friend’s’ and ‘Supernatural’ will remind listeners of my vintage of the euphoric electronic sounds of 2014 era Lorde and Halsey.

The production of Eternal Sunshine, gracias a la Swedish pop producing maestro Max Martin is impeccable. Elsewhere, Grande’s vocals are as always superb, but she now knows when to hold back, and has great control of the sonic capabilities of her lungs.

Ariana Grande’s four octave vocal range is of legendary fame, with her capacity for belters to high notes to saccharine tones well established, but this  EP delivers a more restrained, poised use of her vocal faculty.

The difference in vocal performance in tracks like her breakout 'Problem' versus more demure 'The Boy is Mine' shows her confidence in her best instrument; Grande doesn't need to show off at this stage in her career.

Accompanied with simple strings and a paired back beat, 'The Boy is Mine' how much Grande can do with so little.

As a half hour intoxicating  R & B offering, Eternal Sunshine will envelop you in the slick sleek world of Martin's production and the sensual potent honey that is Ariana's Grande's vocals. It's not all crooners either, with lead single 'yes, and?' jolting listeners with it's Madonna's 'Vogue' -like melody.

Traversing career milestones, a deeply personal divorce, a highly public infidelity and the unforgiving scrutiny of the general public, Eternal Sunshine deals with all manner of themes, quickly, and in a digestible and sanitised format.

To say that this album is profound would be to confuse vulnerability and emotional depth as the same thing. If you listen to Eternal Sunshine for what it is and not what it purports to be there's a lot to be gained from the artists' latest LP, a delectable piece of pop R & B to melt into.

7/10

Listen to Eternal Sunshine Below: