I Want to Grow Up
by Colleen Green
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
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  1. Spin
    Feb 27, 2015
    80
    I Want to Grow Up involves aspirations rather than answers, and thus little is resolved of the album's many inner conflicts. Only the sweet-and-sour music they're set to offers any kind of relief, deep-fried in fuzz and totally stoked for that Juliana Hatfield Three reunion.
  2. The Line of Best Fit
    Feb 23, 2015
    75
    Green's lyrics are a 140 character pop song. They are hyper-condensed. This can make them seem lazy and tropey--but she knows what she's doing.
  3. Consequence
    Feb 23, 2015
    75
    It’s an exploration of a day in the life of a 30-year-old with an infectious punk rock soundtrack.
  5. Pitchfork
    Feb 24, 2015
    74
    Her blasé delivery might seem impenetrable at first, but there is warmth and wit to her work that rewards those who are patient enough to hear its message.
  6. AllMusic
    Feb 24, 2015
    70
    Taken altogether, the various sounds and moods on I Want to Grow Up are a nice progression from her debut, and show Green wrestling with some pretty big issues while still dishing out really good pop songs that'll have you singing along after the first spin.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    Feb 23, 2015
    70
    While I Want To Grow Up doesn’t exactly break new ground, it compensates by being affecting, relatable and having occasional gnarly solos.
  8. Rolling Stone
    Mar 6, 2015
    60
    She kisses off her twenties with fuzz-pop guitars and breathy sighs in the Nineties mode of Juliana Hatfield or the Muffs.
  9. DIY Magazine
    Feb 23, 2015
    60
    What seems to work best--in the fact that it stands out from other pop-punk solo artists--is the more hypnotic, vintage cuts.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Dennonyx
    Feb 25, 2015
    8
    With 'I Want To Grow Up' Green has fun showing good skills in handling the pop genre without overdoing it. Deeper Than Love (that's actuallyWith 'I Want To Grow Up' Green has fun showing good skills in handling the pop genre without overdoing it. Deeper Than Love (that's actually different from the other ones in its futuristic taste) is my favorite track, and many others would easily sound like movie soundtracks. She is a sort of a punk/rock version of DEV.

    Undecided between 7 and 8, but this is better than her previous works, so...    … Full Review »
  2. nirvanafreak
    Nov 23, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Favourite Songs: Deeper Than Love, Wild One, I Want To Grow Up, Things That Are Bad For Me (Part 1)
    Least Favourite Songs: Some People
    I can't remember how I came across this album but it was a few months ago that I did and I left it pretty much instantly when I realised it was pop punk because 99% of pop punk is **** I kind of regret it now though; if I'd just given it more than a ten second listen I would have realised that it's, ironically, an instantly likeable album. The production feels a bit sugary at points but she has this ear for a great melody which there is on nearly every song here. Instrumentally it's not any more progressive than a lot of pop punk, in fact it might be a bit less, but Colleen expands on the usual pop punk theme of not growing up by trying to bring it to a conclusion which is that there's not much point in trying to grow up because it's just not worth it. This is best demonstrated with the two parts of 'Things That Are Bad For Me' where the first half is pretty optimistic about stopping doing the things that are bad for her then the second half is her just giving in to these things. Another example like this is the starting track 'I Want To Grow Up' and the final track 'Whatever I Want'. They seem like two contradictory thoughts but the final song almost concludes the point the first one was making. I just thought this was a more interesting way of covering the topic of growing up (instead of just whining and sounding like a spoiled brat.) As well as the lyrics expanding on frequently covered themes, they are also very relatable to pretty much anyone who's grown up in the modern world.
    Better Than Previous Project?: idonotknow
    Try This If You Like: Nimrod by Green Day    … Full Review »
  3. MarcDoyle
    Mar 14, 2015
    9
    Great album. The addition of Jake Orrall's guitars really makes it. Though I like the mentronomic pace of Cujo, this is a more mature,Great album. The addition of Jake Orrall's guitars really makes it. Though I like the mentronomic pace of Cujo, this is a more mature, full-bodied sound. Almost a mix of old Colleen and Jeff the Brotherhood, which is a great lineup - with, perhaps, the Music Band opening.… Full Review »
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