Wildfire
by Rachel Platten
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Jan 1, 2016
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 57
  3. Negative: 20 out of 57
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  1. colourthesmallo
    Apr 6, 2016
    0
    another trash marketing album, this songs are boring and repetitives it seems like a one hour song
    i'm sorry rachel but this album it's pure garbage...
  2. ahmedimran
    Jan 28, 2016
    2
    The album pretty much sucks. She just got lucky with Fight Song thats it. No offence she's one of those artist who only have ONE good year in their career like Carly Rae, Robin Thicke, Mackelmore and Iggy Azalea
    Sorry Stand by You is also disappointing!
    Better luck next time Rachel!
  3. Vapour
    Jan 14, 2016
    0
    I don't really know on why the GP likes this girl so much. Her songs are beyond basic and dated. This album as a whole was just really dreadful. Girl, empowerment songs are so 2010. Move on!
  4. jaredpierson
    Jan 18, 2016
    3
    Wow, this album is so bland and forgettable, no wonder this was released in January. Rachel's singing does have some personality, but she just can't carry the weight of the subject matter. She isn't a great songwriter either, it can be passable at some points, but it mostly just sounds like bad high school poetry. The production and instrumentation isn't interesting at all, its the sameWow, this album is so bland and forgettable, no wonder this was released in January. Rachel's singing does have some personality, but she just can't carry the weight of the subject matter. She isn't a great songwriter either, it can be passable at some points, but it mostly just sounds like bad high school poetry. The production and instrumentation isn't interesting at all, its the same percussion heavy pop production that's popular. I doubt that I will remember that this album even exists in about a month.… Expand
  5. Sadblee
    Jan 15, 2016
    7
    Normalmente cuando algún artista decide grabar un disco debido al éxito de un single "de prueba" no espero nada muy grande y "Wildfire" no fue la excepción, lo escuché únicamente por recomendación y por ser el primer disco del año. Quizá no es lo mejor que pudo hacer pero fue bastante agradable encontrar un par de canciones que no se olvidan de un día a otro. Es su primer trabajoNormalmente cuando algún artista decide grabar un disco debido al éxito de un single "de prueba" no espero nada muy grande y "Wildfire" no fue la excepción, lo escuché únicamente por recomendación y por ser el primer disco del año. Quizá no es lo mejor que pudo hacer pero fue bastante agradable encontrar un par de canciones que no se olvidan de un día a otro. Es su primer trabajo discográfico y es bastante completo, Rachel no se arriesgo, se mantuvo en su zona de confort y eso está bien porque le funcionó.

    Highlights:

    Better Place
    Stand By You
    Lone Ranger
    Beating Me Up
    Astronauts
    Congratulations    … Expand
  6. Kaleido
    Feb 3, 2016
    3
    This album is basically the result of a car crash between Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. Rachel took the worst from both and mixed it into a collection of impersonal, bland, forgettable songs that are supposed to be the work of several years, but that don't even manage to sound better than a rushed album recorded in three months. I don't exactly understand what Rachel is trying toThis album is basically the result of a car crash between Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. Rachel took the worst from both and mixed it into a collection of impersonal, bland, forgettable songs that are supposed to be the work of several years, but that don't even manage to sound better than a rushed album recorded in three months. I don't exactly understand what Rachel is trying to convey to the listener with these songs, but it certainly left me with nothing. It was a rather boring experience, you know. The lyrics are also pretty bad on most songs, with an abuse of clichés (something Katy Perry and Taylor Swift do too, but they use the clichés in a smart way). But now let's move on to the positive things about the album. The cover.… Expand
  7. LegendaryMau
    Jan 12, 2016
    10
    Oh this holy record sent me to the pop heaven. The melodies are so catchy and happy that you'll want to replay the songs over and over, her vocals are amazing. When will my faves?
  8. DanielSaldanaG
    Nov 10, 2017
    9
    A really fantastic album, even if there are moments when it can become monotonous, you can appreciate the empowering songwriting in every song. Explosive at the beginning, although I would rather replace Congratulations and Superman for songs of a different scope, since they blow the fuse of the album. You can clearly see that she was inspired by Carrie Underwood, Carly Rae Jepsen, and LeaA really fantastic album, even if there are moments when it can become monotonous, you can appreciate the empowering songwriting in every song. Explosive at the beginning, although I would rather replace Congratulations and Superman for songs of a different scope, since they blow the fuse of the album. You can clearly see that she was inspired by Carrie Underwood, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Lea Michele's album Louder.
    Best song: Astronauts
    Worst song: Angels in Chelsea or Congratulations    … Expand
  9. HolyFloWelch
    Jan 12, 2016
    10
    WIG OFF Underrated masterpiece, every song slayed me. I love the lead single. Listen it You'll be amazed that her vocals will snatch your boo. Guaranteed I swear.
  10. Norgizfox
    Dec 7, 2016
    4
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  11. CriticMLT
    Jul 3, 2016
    5
    i am quite disappointed with this album. She may have the vocals but this album for me is one of those album that you really think is good but than it sucks. There are only like 4 songs which are wrote listening to. Unfortunately i don't think that she will make a huge success in the music industry and i think she is a one hit wonder.
    my score:
    1. stand by you 8/10 2. Hey Hey Hallelujah    i am quite disappointed with this album. She may have the vocals but this album for me is one of those album that you really think is good but than it sucks. There are only like 4 songs which are wrote listening to. Unfortunately i don't think that she will make a huge success in the music industry and i think she is a one hit wonder.
    my score:
    1. stand by you 8/10
    2. Hey Hey Hallelujah ft Andy Grammer 5/10
    3. Specchless 6/10
    4. Beating me up 5/10
    5. Fight song 8/10
    6. Better place 9/10
    7. Long Ranger 4/10
    8. You don't know my heart 5/10
    9. Angles in Chelsea 5/10
    10. Astronauts 4/10
    11. Congratulations 5/10
    12. Superman 5/10
    overall: 57.5    … Expand
  12. Kerndog
    Dec 13, 2016
    9
    Holy smokes, this beautiful lady has the voice of an angel. Yes, there are 3-4 songs that stand out. No, it's not super deep, but who looks for answers to the universe in pop music. Just listen to her soar on those best tracks. The rest of them may grow on you too. Great to see years of hard work pay off, and I hope to hear more of her in the future. Kudos.
  13. LuissDt
    Apr 1, 2022
    8
    Wildfire may be forgettable but it's very iconic and surprising when you first hear it.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Boston Globe
    Jan 11, 2016
    50
    The wounded “Better Place” and soothing “Superman” stand out, showing how Platten’s songwriting skills can be used to tease out emotional subtleties. But too often here she’s battling stuffed-to-the-gills arrangements.
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  2. AllMusic
    Jan 11, 2016
    60
    Wildfire is the work of a determined singer/songwriter who prizes craft over poetry or introspection. Platten specializes in skyscraping melodies and big, bombastic surfaces and these are the elements that not only fuel Wildfire, they distinguish it from the singer/songwriter's clear antecedents.
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  3. The Guardian
    Jan 11, 2016
    40
    Efficient in conjuring intense emotion, the album has the hallmarks of a temporary success, but Platten’s identity gets lost. This chameleon-like character is a mutant of pop artistry--a country twang occasionally slips into her intonation, and the ghosts of Carly Rae Jepsen, Shakira and Katy Perry haunt the lofty choruses.
    Read full review
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