Raven
by Kelela
  • Record Label: Warp
  • Release Date: Feb 10, 2023
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 63 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 63
  3. Negative: 3 out of 63
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  1. sandazu93
    Feb 10, 2023
    10
    A return to form and excellent sophomore LP. This belongs in anyone's catalog that takes R&B seriously. Takes experimental sounds to create a universe where you feel surrounded and lonely at the same time.
  2. Evic21
    Feb 14, 2023
    10
    Arguably her most accomplished record to date. It's dark, mysterious and murky textures elevate her sound to more a compelling and immersive territory; one that makes you feel her music more deeply than ever before.
  3. Oscales
    Feb 11, 2023
    10
    This record is incredible, easily one of the best albums I’ve heard sonically. Kelela’s buttery vocals are intoxicating and meshed with hypnotic beats makes for a sultry, sexy experience that stays with you. Really outdid herself here
  4. Sliverlysounds
    Feb 10, 2023
    10
    Electric, Moody, and Dynamic. No b b be. V V.
  5. lookaslookas
    Feb 12, 2023
    10
    Absolutely perfect vibe album! All you need to do is breath the energy of sound and chill
  6. musicbox
    Feb 22, 2023
    10
    kelela delivers a masterclass in dance and r&b on 'raven'. it is truly immersive thanks to a combination of captivating lyricism, stunning melodies and angelic vocals intertwined with tight largely ocean themed production. it will be nothing short of a tall task for anything to come close to this level of quality in 2023.
  7. salesbwe
    Feb 10, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. É um álbum coeso muito muito bom me senti no céu cada segundo que escutava, me emocionei em “far away”. tudo no album é lindo, simplesmente perfeito… Expand
  8. deIuxedition
    Feb 10, 2023
    10
    Yet another beautiful body of work by mother Kelela, the album flows beautifully and just works so well together. An eargasm/
  9. gypsyface
    Feb 11, 2023
    10
    Incredibly emotionally intelligent and sonically immersive. Kelela continues to build of the most impressive musical discographies out there.
  10. Emilio1000000
    Feb 11, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Increíble. Sin duda uno de los mejores álbum de la historia. Es notorio como evoluciona en sus sonidos, altamente hipnóticos y adictivos una artista en su totalidad. Sumamente talentosa… Expand
  11. crz4tay
    Feb 17, 2023
    0
    Plz! Good content please i beg, these girlies be trying to be so bad like taylor but theyll never be
  12. Erickp13
    Feb 10, 2023
    5
    Muito bom, com letras profundas mas parece de uma nota única, tive a sensação de que todas as músicas pareciam uma só, destaque para as transições que são impecáveis.
  13. LISOCHIKOTOSA
    May 3, 2023
    9
    Some songs are not as memorable as others but overall she is a great singer and Enough for Love is like the song of the year so
  14. itsmiguelbee
    Feb 10, 2023
    10
    the queen is back and she sounds better than ever. she gave us boots-and-cats and a little bit of oontz-oontz with a sprinkle of healing whale sounds in between. the world is healing.
  15. leogarcia132002
    Mar 23, 2023
    8
    Vulnerable, deep and exquisitely unique, Kelela brings us one of the most underappreciated works so far this year, it deserves more recognition.
  16. Shaban98
    Feb 19, 2023
    10
    It's as much a work of craft, a work of feel. Though subtle and serene at first, the album is a immersive experience that is well worth to be listened for its whole more than 60 min running time.
  17. arekwarren
    Feb 10, 2023
    10
    album of the year, mother kelela has done it again. worth the 6 year wait definitely
  18. Foremoth3r
    Feb 11, 2023
    10
    Beautiful story, truly captivating and provoking. Sonically pristine, consumable and still experimental. Completely worth the wait and a natural progression for an artist that’s very concerned about the marginalized
  19. folie
    Feb 25, 2023
    10
    Raven is a boundary-pushing, transforming piece of art that defies classification. It is a broad and epic trip through numerous sonic landscapes that fuses house and ambient music with soul and dance while existing in liminal spaces of emotion, culture, and erotica.

    The opening track, "Washed Away," makes it abundantly evident that Kelela is taking us on a highly intimate and emotional    Raven is a boundary-pushing, transforming piece of art that defies classification. It is a broad and epic trip through numerous sonic landscapes that fuses house and ambient music with soul and dance while existing in liminal spaces of emotion, culture, and erotica.

    The opening track, "Washed Away," makes it abundantly evident that Kelela is taking us on a highly intimate and emotional journey from the very first sounds. The album's delicately crafted diaphanous ballads, throbbing, bass-heavy slow jams, and contemporary street soul bangers are all performed with a raw emotional strength that is nothing short of astonishing.

    The use of water and buoyancy metaphors throughout the album creates a strong sense of continuity and thematic cohesiveness. Kelela wrestles with the complexity of relationships in songs like "Closure" and "Happy Ending," delving into the subtleties of love, desire, and longing with an honesty and sensitivity that is both uncommon and profound.

    But this album's uniqueness isn't due solely to its words. The production is absolutely phenomenal, with Kelela and her collaborators creating a rich and deep musical environment. The tracks are multi-layered and intricate, with varying textures and rhythms that captivate and entice the listener.

    "Raven" must be seen as an artistic and imaginative achievement. The record defies categorization by genre or tradition, and Kelela deserves all the acclaim that will undoubtedly be directed her way. She firmly established herself as one of the most significant and avant-garde voices in modern music with "Raven”.    … Expand
  20. nanonante
    Apr 27, 2023
    8
    En su segundo álbum de estudio, Kelela nos envuelve en una atmósfera de beats y sintetizadores, acompañándolos con su voz suave y única. Un gran punto a destacar es la secuencia que sigue a través de todo el álbum, en donde está más que claro el deseo de mostrar su vulnerabilidad a través de canciones, tanto dance, como R&B y ambient pop.
  21. Blueice
    Jul 7, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Do Dreampop , softpop ao House, R&B contemporâneo com mergulhos no ambiente pop, Raven é surreal, suave e provocador! Os vocais de Kelela estão angelicais as transições musicais são avassaladoras e o conjunto da obra é pra ninguém botar defeito a não ser que a pessoa seja completamente surtada. Impecável!… Expand
  22. aletspulido
    Jul 8, 2023
    9
    Electric, sexy and dark. This albums takes you on a ride of a perfect combination of R&B and Electronic music. It feels so cohesive that flows from start to end.

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Album of 2023
28
#28 Most Discussed Album of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. The Wire
    Mar 21, 2023
    80
    Raven is full of powerful earworms that mobilise every inch of soul and flesh. [Feb 2023, p.52]
  2. HipHopDX
    Feb 21, 2023
    94
    Brimming with synth undercurrents, transfluid melodies, and delightfully jarring production shifts, Raven is a transfixing ode to human connection, interpersonal communication, and Black femininity.
    Read full review
  3. Exclaim
    Feb 17, 2023
    80
    Raven's unstructured, experimental feel may be unsettling for some, but the project's only other downside is that eventually, it ends.
    Read full review
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