Sawayama
by Rina Sawayama
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 1138 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,056 out of 1138
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 1138
  3. Negative: 57 out of 1138
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  1. Eduardmc13
    Dec 24, 2020
    10
    The mix between R&B and Pop is widely used in the album but Riña knows how to use them to her advantage and makes the album a work of art, I think it has a lot of potential.
  2. Cluz825
    Dec 28, 2020
    10
    Easily one of the best albums of the year! The songs from this project are so well written, well produced, and contain amazing vocal delivery from Rina. Such a queen!
  3. LISOCHIKOTOSA
    Feb 9, 2021
    10
    SAWAYAMA is just an awesome pop album. It was probably the greatest surprise for me in 2020. It has a wide range of themes including love, heartbreak, wealth, pain, friendship and identity. She tells interesting stories about generational sadness, self-love, youth and also sings about her Japanese roots.She also makes very interesting social and political commentary about our desire forSAWAYAMA is just an awesome pop album. It was probably the greatest surprise for me in 2020. It has a wide range of themes including love, heartbreak, wealth, pain, friendship and identity. She tells interesting stories about generational sadness, self-love, youth and also sings about her Japanese roots.She also makes very interesting social and political commentary about our desire for wealth,the state of the world and unity Sonically, each song sounds very different from the next as she draws inspiration from the pop of the early 2000's pop, pop rock, R&B and so many other genres. She still manages to make a very cohesive album which makes for an exhilarating listen every time. Her vocal perfomace is unimpeachable .My personal favorites are all of them. Seriously , cuts like Dynasty, Akasaka Sad, Bad Friend and FTW (the more melancholic songs) really hit the spot for me.… Expand
  4. Codybb73
    Jan 3, 2021
    10
    A cultural reset. A post modern melange. A truly relevant pop album. The real winner of 2020.
  5. Diversinho
    Jan 4, 2021
    10
    As músicas são extremamente diversificadas, conseguindo oscilar entre vários estilos músicais com sucesso!
  6. Csuanr
    Jan 8, 2021
    9
    Mejor descubrimiento de 2020. Sonidos nuevos y exóticos, con ganas de ver mas
  7. matthewmod
    Mar 4, 2021
    10
    Best. Album. Ever. This album is astonishing with a late 2000s feel ALL IN ONE PACKAGE with various forms of genres. AMAZING 1000/10
  8. andrelopes
    Mar 16, 2021
    10
    The best album from 2020 so far! She has the power to mix a lot of music styles and still sound beautiful and original! She make me feel anger, love, passion, on ever single track from this album! My favorites is (Akasaka Sad, Lucid, Who's Gonna Save You Now, Bad Friend, Chosen Family, XS and Love me 4 Me)
  9. jaredsolana
    Mar 20, 2021
    10
    Rina siento que utilizo muy bien las problemáticas de hoy en día para crear letras con un gran impacto tales como "XS", Rina tiene una gran inteligencia y la está aprovechando para hacer canciones increíbles y de gran impacto
  10. deivcouto
    Aug 25, 2022
    10
    A wild debut album, she captured the 90s-00s vibes in different genres (bubble gum pop, pop punk, r&b) with your genealogical tree
  11. MikitoRates
    Mar 19, 2021
    10
    The entire album is truly a masterpiece. Even for the songs that I don't particularly favor, I can admire their excellent production and delivery. Rina truly outdid any other album I've listened to in 2020. She blends genres so masterfully, from rock to metal, to R&B, to pop and back again. Somehow she makes every song sound completely different without sacrificing the cohesiveness thatThe entire album is truly a masterpiece. Even for the songs that I don't particularly favor, I can admire their excellent production and delivery. Rina truly outdid any other album I've listened to in 2020. She blends genres so masterfully, from rock to metal, to R&B, to pop and back again. Somehow she makes every song sound completely different without sacrificing the cohesiveness that albums should strive to have. This isn't just an album - it's an experience.… Expand
  12. xavieraugustine
    Apr 10, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. talent won when this album was released. rina girl is just in her debut and yet she already showed her versatility by doing pop rock r&b and more in this record. so amazing… Expand
  13. BillboardPH
    Apr 9, 2021
    10
    This is such a huge statement as an album. The lyrics are brilliant, incredible instrumental, incredible production, incredible everything. It feels almost like a new statement for music in general, it got too much going on and everything just works incredibly well, nothing like it. It feels like a huge fresh air of a completely original, innovative and refined masterpiece.
  14. Coppeddem
    Apr 26, 2021
    10
    Absolutely amazing... Best album of 2020... hopefully she gets more attention soon because she's deserves it greatly
  15. harryioannou23
    Jun 9, 2021
    10
    Arguably the best album of 2020, each song is particularly characterful yet the whole record manages to be cohesive. Unique story-telling and show-stopping production.
  16. brao
    Jun 14, 2021
    10
    um dos melhores álbuns que já ouvi na vida.
    a sonoridade retro e ousada são muito bem usadas. as composições que fazem desse album uma caminhada pela história de rina.
  17. SandyMusi
    Jul 22, 2021
    10
    Amazing album, in my opinion this is the best album of 2020. There is not even a single skip as all the songs are total bangers. Everything in the album is very good from start to finish, the production, the lyrics, everything there is. Rina Sawayama is a criminally underrated artist and I hope she gets more attention because this shows her ability to make fantastic music.
  18. maremegwle
    Aug 2, 2021
    10
    Absolutely perfect, from the beginning to the end. It is personal and you can feel the power, heritage and politics Rina sings about, never being boring. Very experimentalist, mostly pop-ish, with hints of ballads and even rock, it travels between genres beautifully. Her lyrics are catchy and meaningful. Personally, a masterpiece.
  19. bidenbussyqueef
    Sep 1, 2021
    10
    This is one of the best albums I have ever heard. The way Sawayama is so versatile in her sudden shifts in genre whilst keeping the album cohesive throughout is spectacular and I adore the lyricism of the album - highlighting several imperative societal issues in her anticapitalistic sentiment whilst perfectly illustrating how she straddles between both Japanese and British culture isThis is one of the best albums I have ever heard. The way Sawayama is so versatile in her sudden shifts in genre whilst keeping the album cohesive throughout is spectacular and I adore the lyricism of the album - highlighting several imperative societal issues in her anticapitalistic sentiment whilst perfectly illustrating how she straddles between both Japanese and British culture is astonishing - showcasing the originality of her music and the legitimacy of her art and talent. It's honestly a shame that this album did not become anywhere near as popular as it deserved to be.… Expand
  20. Wanesta
    Feb 2, 2022
    9
    On "Chosen Family", Rina Sawayama ponders where she belongs. It's easy; in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. Not only is her debut studio album grandiose, but it's also brutally fresh. It sounds like nothing before, a blend of everything at once ever so deliciously cooked by Rina. Yes, it can be somewhat daunting at times and amateur-ish, it's simply because she's preparing the blueprint forOn "Chosen Family", Rina Sawayama ponders where she belongs. It's easy; in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. Not only is her debut studio album grandiose, but it's also brutally fresh. It sounds like nothing before, a blend of everything at once ever so deliciously cooked by Rina. Yes, it can be somewhat daunting at times and amateur-ish, it's simply because she's preparing the blueprint for the next level of music and it seems not everyone has caught up to it yet.… Expand
  21. lunaticdumbass
    Feb 6, 2022
    10
    Without exaggeration, one of the greatest, most ingenious albums I think I’ve heard in years.
  22. NickyTaylor13
    Jun 28, 2022
    10
    Every song is uniquely different. There’s a bit of rock influences which is incredible. Yet the best parts of the albums are the softer songs like Bad Friend, Tokyo Love Hotel, and Chosen Family. Overall a impeccable album. 100% recommend
  23. rhmdkurniawan
    Nov 24, 2021
    8
    Salah satu album terbaik di tahun 2020.

    Ini pengalaman pertama saya mendengarkan karya Rina Sawayama, yang saat itu baru saja merilis albumnya di bulan April. Saya sama sekali tidak tahu mengenai Rina Sawayama sebelumnya, hingga akhirnya ada rekomendasi video di YouTube mengenai lagu XS. Saya langsung jatuh cinta. Saat mendengarkan album penuhnya, kepala saya benar-benar meledak!    Salah satu album terbaik di tahun 2020.

    Ini pengalaman pertama saya mendengarkan karya Rina Sawayama, yang saat itu baru saja merilis albumnya di bulan April. Saya sama sekali tidak tahu mengenai Rina Sawayama sebelumnya, hingga akhirnya ada rekomendasi video di YouTube mengenai lagu XS. Saya langsung jatuh cinta.

    Saat mendengarkan album penuhnya, kepala saya benar-benar meledak! Wah! Ini benar-benar album yang memiliki aliran musik pop, dansa, dan rock. Dibuka dengan lagu Dynasty yang super-grand. Hingga saat ini, saya masih kurang suka dengan penutup di album ini, lagu Snakeskin. Meskipun ada sentuhan drama di piano (yang saya suka), tapi drop musik di lagu ini membuat saya benar-benar drop. Sayang, tapi secara keseluruhan album ini benar-benar epik!    … Expand
  24. Estaneck
    Jul 31, 2022
    10
    this debut album by rina is a spectacle it pleases me in everything, a very well worked album with rina's vocals that are spectacular remains a mega current album
  25. giovannifreitas
    Feb 10, 2023
    10
    The BEST debut that I've ever heard! It's FANTASTIC! Sawayama's literally a refreshing pop album that the industry needed. With nuances, mixes, and different genres that only Rina Sawayama would could combine in an album. THE BEST! (and plus: the colored vinyl is FCKING BEAUTIFUL)
  26. jbelzero
    Jul 16, 2022
    10
    This album is such a masterpiece! I don't know why people hates this and hates Rina. I discovered her music a month ago and I don't regret it. FAV songs:
    XS
    Dynasty
    (But I love all the songs)
  27. jv_ithk
    Aug 21, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Rina's debut album is better than some artists peaks- from the opener "Dynasty" a goosebump inducing song about generational trauma to the incredible production of the closer "Snakeskin", this album will be remembered as one of the greatest debuts of all time - it just needs (along with Rina) the recognition it deserves.… Expand
  28. oNewYorker
    Sep 16, 2022
    9
    A mix of many genres, I never thought could ever be good together! I just love this album, a wonderful song for the opener too! One of the best albums of 2020, in my opinion.

    There are some skips in the album, but other than that, great album!
  29. leyy
    Aug 22, 2022
    0
    one of the most overrated album to date. it’s not even that good. she is an insane artist and she has done better after that and i couldn’t be happier
  30. kinsen
    Aug 23, 2022
    0
    Arte de combinar los sonidos en una secuencia temporal atendiendo a las leyes de la armonía, la melodía y el ritmo, o de producirlos con instrumentos musicales.
  31. RayIF
    Sep 15, 2022
    9
    A thrilling adventure through genres and production styles that also explores personal stories of pain and loss while also keeping the catchiness of pop music. The only drawback in my mind is the lack of progression in some songs, making them stale to listen to more than a few times.
  32. aleom_hx
    Sep 18, 2022
    10
    9.8/10
    Dynasty,Xs,Bad Friend are the best singles in this album.The songs mixed with pop,rock,dance and alternative.Wonderful!
  33. Xiaowang
    Sep 19, 2022
    10
    wow this album is sooo excellent, our talented Rina really leads us to a 2000s y2k tour
  34. leogarcia132002
    Mar 15, 2023
    9
    An almost perfect album, so neat and dance. Rina approaches and exceeds Grimes-like productions for example, but I think Rina made a true cult album.
  35. killingboys_
    Dec 11, 2022
    10
    Absolutely amazing. She took inspiration from pop icons like Britney and Gaga but took her artistry to another level with this body of work. Easily one of the best albums of all time.
  36. kevrr
    Mar 4, 2023
    10
    this is the best album i have heard. rina slayed with every song in this beautiful álbum i really like her and how she can create a amazing feeling in you just listening a song.
  37. Newstead544
    Sep 9, 2023
    7
    One I remember enjoying quite a bit, for what it is. Definitely an underrated artist.
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Album of 2020
20
#20 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. AllMusic
    May 19, 2020
    80
    On this stunning debut, Sawayama captures Dua Lipa's future nostalgia and Poppy's metal-meets-pop savvy, rightfully making it her own with more depth, bigger thrills, and a limitless palette.
    Read full review
  2. Consequence
    May 4, 2020
    91
    SAWAYAMA appears poised to be one of the best pop albums of the year and sets Sawayama up as a pop force to be reckoned with.
    Read full review
  3. Under The Radar
    Apr 30, 2020
    75
    The album is a complicated picture of Swayama’s past, present, and future. It is rare to see a debut album with such a fully realized voice and vision behind it. What’s more, she exorcises her personal demons amid some of the year’s best dancefloor-filling pop.
    Read full review
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