‘Petal’ album review: Thank God for Ariana Grande’s feminine rage
Ariana Grande's new album 'Petal' is reviewed as a sophisticated exploration of feminine rage and industry pressures. The review highlights the album's complex production and thematic depth compared to her previous work.
Why it matters
The review provides cultural commentary on how major pop artists are evolving their sound and lyrical themes to address personal and professional challenges.
Don’t let her soft vocals fool you — Ariana Grande is simmering with rage. Two years after the release of Eternal Sunshine and the filming of Wicked , Grande is back with a sultry 12-track album created with a smooth anger and slick conviction that reverberates with every synth, lyric and breath. Written and produced by Grande and Ilya Salmanzadeh, Petal is filled with the rage a flower must feel as it gets plucked, slowly, intentionally and is left on the pavement, trying to remain beautiful as it gets trampled over. “I will find my way from you, like flowers from a tomb,” she croons in hate that i made you love me, a dreamy composition that isn’t about the pain of heartbreak, but rather, a matter-of-fact composition that lays out the facts.
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