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Sawayama
by
Sawayama Image
Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 1138 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length studio release for the Japanese-British pop artist features production from Clarence Clarity, Nate Company, Bram Inscore, and Nicole Morier.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    Apr 16, 2020
    100
    From the raucous nu-metal to glittering R&B, ‘SAWAYAMA’ is an honest, genre-exploding self-portrait.
  2. Q Magazine
    Apr 15, 2020
    100
    Perspicacious and personal, cool and colossally enjoyable, Sawayama is both a triumph over trauma and a paean to the power of effervescent pop in practically all its forms. [Jun 2020, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. 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.
  4. DIY Magazine
    Apr 16, 2020
    80
    It’s a smart pop record that’s doused in self-awareness but still direct in its assertiveness - and never not compelling.
  5. Rolling Stone
    Apr 17, 2020
    80
    Combining crunchy nu-metal guitar riffs with a penchant for early-aughts R&B-pop production in the vein of Aaliyah and ‘NSync, Sawayama sounds like Britney Spears’ Blackout by way of Korn — and it inexplicably works.
  6. The Independent (UK)
    Apr 16, 2020
    80
    Rina’s mini album may have marked her out as one to watch, but SAWAYAMA stakes her claim as one of the boldest voices in pop today.
  7. 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.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 320 out of 337
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 337
  3. Negative: 11 out of 337
  1. FatLadRoss
    Apr 22, 2020
    10
    WOW....blown away!

    Recently I've been listening to all the top rated albums as per Metacritic and roughly 92% of them have been truly    WOW....blown away!

    Recently I've been listening to all the top rated albums as per Metacritic and roughly 92% of them have been truly woeful. No flow, proper singing, talent or anything redeeming.

    I can honestly say this album is a breath of fresh air, I've never heard of Rina before but wow this girl can sing. Great tunes, catchy, fresh and different all at the same time.

    Highly recommend this.......124 out of 10 on the 'You should listen to this now' scale!

    *Edit* I've listened to this none stop since writing the review and it's got even better, increased to a 10. Nuff said    … Expand
  2. Tigg
    Apr 17, 2020
    10
    What a debut! All the expected appeal of an excellent pop album, mixed with the unexpected complexity brought by an intelligent, wokeWhat a debut! All the expected appeal of an excellent pop album, mixed with the unexpected complexity brought by an intelligent, woke songwriter. It’s somehow nostalgic, contemporary and futuristic all at the same time - it sees you, it raises you.… Expand
  4. tombritlle
    Apr 20, 2020
    10
    This is one of the best pop albums of all time. There's a lot of people who are coming to claim the title of 'pop music saviour' but thatThis is one of the best pop albums of all time. There's a lot of people who are coming to claim the title of 'pop music saviour' but that person really is Rina Sawayama. Nobody else manages to infuse pop music and politics the way she does, and this is what we need our pop music to do: we need it to say something. Finally, the saviour has arrived!… Expand
  5. dvmendes
    Jul 30, 2020
    10
    It's not an album you'll like the first time you listen to it. You'll have to sit on it and hear it 2 or 3 times and by then its the albumIt's not an album you'll like the first time you listen to it. You'll have to sit on it and hear it 2 or 3 times and by then its the album that saved your life and you don't want anything else.
    P.S. Imagine making one of the best albuns of 2020 and not being nominated for any award in UK just because a stupid reason. And I won't even talk about the VMA's... Rina Sawayama deserves more, a lot more, for the great artist she is. #SAWAYAMAISBRITISH    … Expand
  6. Coppeddem
    Apr 26, 2021
    10
    Absolutely amazing... Best album of 2020... hopefully she gets more attention soon because she's deserves it greatly
  7. Davidsister
    Feb 19, 2021
    10
    Rina’s debut album has a lot of different genres contrasting. Although it can be very tricky and risky to use a combination of contrastingRina’s debut album has a lot of different genres contrasting. Although it can be very tricky and risky to use a combination of contrasting styles, the attempt is 100% successful. Sawayama talks about a lot of different themes, from consumerism to Rina’s experience as an asian woman and the microagressions she has faced.… Expand
  8. Maxsteelmomo3
    Sep 25, 2020
    0
    Overrated, the same songs that other artists, nothing new, I don't understand why people like her music

See all 337 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

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

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