Blackheart
by Dawn Richard
  • Record Label: Our Dawn
  • Release Date: Jan 15, 2015
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
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  1. Fact Magazine (UK)
    Feb 9, 2015
    90
    If Goldenheart was a monumental but monolithic edifice of an album, Blackheart is a shape-shifting house of mirrors in permanent flux, light where its predecessor was heavy, welcoming instead of forbidding.
  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Mar 2, 2015
    80
    Blackheart is ongoing and nearly seamless, unselfconscious in its refashioning of 80s guitar licks, steel drums, 256-bit EDM, flutes, and trap snares.
  3. The New York Times
    Feb 9, 2015
    80
    Ms. Richard makes slow, deliberate movements; sometimes they undersell her talent, but just as often they showcase a different side of it.
  5. NOW Magazine
    Feb 9, 2015
    80
    Blackheart is refreshingly unbeholden to the convention that requires R&B singers to balladeer non-stop at top volume.
  6. Pitchfork
    Feb 9, 2015
    80
    Blackheart is the singular, visionary work that she's been hinting at since she struck out on her own post-Diddy in 2011.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Dennonyx
    Feb 18, 2015
    7
    As a member of Danity Kane, Dawn Richard couldn't get the opportunity to fully express her personality through music, a thing she finally didAs a member of Danity Kane, Dawn Richard couldn't get the opportunity to fully express her personality through music, a thing she finally did in this album, which sounds really interesting and really risky too. It shows a significant evolution from Goldenheart, and in some sense it tries to manifest its yang and the complex, dark side of Dawn's personality. The more relevant merit of the album is that tribal elements are well fused to the electronic ones (and it's not an easy thing to well render!) but some tracks are a bit monotonous and unfortunately devalued by the excessive variety of the comprehensive album. Some others, like Projection, are sublime as well.
    While some people found in Blackheart an analogy with 'Broke With Expensive Taste' I'm tending to disagree, saying it's certainly closer to the hypnotic FKA twigs style.
    The only difference is that Richard's voice is more immersive and deep (better) than FKA's.    … Full Review »
  2. johnbrenner
    Apr 16, 2015
    8
    This was the first thing by Dawn Richard I'd ever listened to. I thought the production was the highlight of this album. For what isThis was the first thing by Dawn Richard I'd ever listened to. I thought the production was the highlight of this album. For what is essentially an R&B album, it felt very experimental on the production end and helped emphasize the emotional part of the music (Richard's lyrics). It blends fun and serious tracks well. Blow, Billie Jean, Projections, and Adderall/Sold were my favorite tracks. The only track I wasn't crazy about the first time I heard it was Calypso, but as I've listened to the album more and more, it has definitely grown on me.… Full Review »
  3. miley
    Sep 22, 2015
    10
    Um dos melhores álbuns r&bs atuais. A cada música eu mais me impressionava. Pensava eu que Blow seria a melhor do álbum: me enganei. A voz daUm dos melhores álbuns r&bs atuais. A cada música eu mais me impressionava. Pensava eu que Blow seria a melhor do álbum: me enganei. A voz da Dawn é tão diferente, a produção do álbum também... Uma junção que só ajudou.… Full Review »
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