MY EVERYTHING (CD) | Mint (M) Mint (M)

BRAND NEW

Label: Republic Records – B0021395-02
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2014
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Europop, Pop Rap, Ballad, Contemporary R&B

1    Ariana Grande–    Intro
Written-By – Ariana Grande, Tommy Brown (8), Victoria McCants
1:20
2    Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea–    Problem
Written-By – Iggy Azalea, Ilya*, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha
3:13
3    Ariana Grande–    One Last Time
Written-By – Carl Falk (2), David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort, Rami Yacoub, Savan Kotecha
3:17
4    Ariana Grande–    Why Try
Written-By – Ammar Malik, Benjamin Levin, Noel Zancanella, Ryan Tedder
3:31
5    Ariana Grande–    Break Free
Featuring – Zedd
Written-By – Anton Zaslavski, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha
3:35
6    Ariana Grande–    Best Mistake
Featuring – Big Sean
Written-By – Ariana Grande, Dwane Weir II*, Sean Anderson (3)
3:53
7    Ariana Grande–    Be My Baby
Featuring – Cashmere Cat
Written-By – Benjamin Levin, Magnus August Hoiberg*, Peder Losnegård, Theron Thomas, Timothy Thomas
3:36
8    Ariana Grande–    Break Your Heart Right Back
Featuring – Childish Gambino
Written-By – Andrew "Pop" Wansel*, Bernard Edwards, Christopher Wallace, Donald Glover, Kirby Dockery*, Mason Betha, Nile Rodgers, Sean Combs, Steven Jordan, Warren "Oak" Felder*
4:13
9    Ariana Grande & The Weeknd–    Love Me Harder
Written-By – Abel Tesfaye, Ahmad Balshe, Ali Payami, Max Martin, Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha
3:51
10    Ariana Grande–    Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart
Written-By – Harry Styles, Johan Carlsson (4)
3:56
11    Ariana Grande–    Hands On Me
Featuring – A$AP Ferg*
Written-By – Adrianne Birge, Alicia Renee Williams, Darold Ferguson Jr.*, Rodney Jerkins
3:13
12    Ariana Grande–    My Everything
Written-By – Ariana Grande, Taylor Parks*, Tommy Brown (8), Victoria McCants
2:48
13    Ariana Grande, Jessie J, Nicki Minaj–    Bang Bang
Written-By – Max Martin, Nicki Minaj, Rickard Göransson, Savan Kotecha
3:18
14    Ariana Grande–    Only 1    3:14
15    Ariana Grande–    You Don't Know Me    3:52
 

Recording information: Chalice Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Conway Recording Studios, Hollywood; Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Kinglet Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Larrabee North Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Matzah Ball Studios, New York, NY; P.S. Studio, Stockholm, Sweden; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Studio At The Palms, Las Vegas, NV; Vietom Studios; Wake Up Work Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Wolf Cousins Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Zeddi Studio, Santa Monica, CA. When My Everything arrived as the summer of 2014 drew to a close, it was clear that Ariana Grande was poised to be the reigning pop diva of the mid-decade. Possessed with greater vocal chops than any of her peers -- her effortless runs revealed the limitations of Katy Perry and Rihanna -- she luxuriated in her debt to Mariah Carey on her 2013 debut Yours Truly, working mainly with Babyface to re-create the vibe and feel of the '90s. On My Everything, Grande takes a decisive step into the future, breaking away from Babyface so she can bring in a host of modern producers -- Max Martin, Shellback, David Guetta, Benny Blanco, Ryan Tedder, Darkchild, and Pop & Oak among them -- not to mention a parade of guest stars highlighted by Iggy Azalea, A$AP Ferg, the Weeknd, Childish Gambino, Zedd, and Big Sean. All this suggests Grande is resolved to inhabit her time, which is true. She remains anchored in '90s soul on My Everything -- and it's hard to deny her love of Mariah, although Ariana rarely indulges in the high-flying melisma that's her idol's specialty -- but there are serious EDM flourishes and a facility with hip-hop, something that's showcased via the countless cameos that eat up the midsection of the album. With the exception of Iggy swooping in on "Problem" or the Weeknd on "Love Me Harder," these cameos are often used as flair -- not dissimilar to the washes of analog synths, the "I'm Coming Out" sample on "Break Your Heart Right Back," or stuttering EDM beats -- on songs that keep the focus on the melodies Grande delivers with exacting grace. Ultimately, this emphasis on song is to the benefit of My Everything. Perhaps Grande doesn't overwhelm the songs the way an old-fashioned diva would, but she functions as a likeable pop ringleader, stepping aside when the track calls for it and then unleashing a full-throated wail when it's her time to shine. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

• Media Condition: Mint (M)
• Sleeve Condition: Mint (M)
• Format Detail: CD
• Format: CD
• Genre: POP
• Format Type: CD
• Released: 8/25/2014