Blonde

Tried really hard to get into this and gave it way more chances than most albums. Some sections are legitimately interesting but they're sandwiched between long stretches of tedium. Not worth the effort for most listeners.

Competent and often enjoyable, but feels like it's missing something to make it truly special.

This grew on me a lot. First listen I thought it was good, not great. By the fifth listen I was completely hooked. The subtlety of the arrangements really rewards patience and close attention.

I wanted this to be better than it is. The ingredients are all there — the talent, the ambition, the production budget — but it never quite gels into something greater than the sum of its parts. Still a pleasant enough listen though.

Enjoyable but not groundbreaking. Good for what it is.

The kind of album that makes you want to pick up an instrument.

There are about six really good songs here buried in an album that's twelve tracks too long. The edit would be excellent but as presented, it's a patience-testing listen that rewards skipping around.

One of those albums where you can hear the artist really pushing themselves.

I played this for my partner who doesn't even like this genre and they were blown away. That's the sign of a truly great album — it transcends taste. The hooks are undeniable, the depth is real, and the replay value is infinite.

I respect the ambition but this doesn't work for me.