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CTRL Image
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 570 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut full-length release for the New Jersey alternative R&B artist features guest appearances from James Fauntleroy, Kendrick Lamar, Isaiah Rashad, and Travis Scott.
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Top Track

Love Galore
I need, I need I need, I need I need, I need I need, I need I need, I need Love, love, love, love 'long as we got Love, love, love 'long as we... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. 100
    From start to finish, CTRL os nothing less than outstanding - the late arrival of a very important artist.
  2. Dec 14, 2017
    90
    In Ctrl, SZA draws on her personal experience and explores women’s sexuality in a direct and honest way which was so far mostly reserved to male R&B and pop artists.
  3. Jul 25, 2017
    85
    On Ctrl, SZA proves that you can be confident yet insecure, sexual yet crave affection and genuine connection, and empowered and still prone to falling for bad boys and all the drama that entails. SZA is the real deal and yet another example of how some of the most interesting, complex, sophisticated art being made today is being made by R&B artists.
  4. Jun 14, 2017
    80
    The music is equal parts aching, brazen and gorgeously honest.
  5. Jul 19, 2017
    80
    Ctrl is a languid, cavernously soulful debut that is never anything but assured--a collection of delicious jams that are equal parts fragile, cozy and piercing.
  6. Jun 28, 2017
    80
    Featuring savage and often heartfelt, diary-like ruminations, CTRL pushes against the borders of convention lyrically and sonically, placing it on the upper echelons of potential ‘Best Of ’17’ lists.
  7. Sep 26, 2023
    70
    Ctrl is a Facebook-photo album of opinions and behaviours that probably shouldn’t be broadcasted online. It’s also an assembly of tracks that prevail as mantras of self-affirmation, and it balances the two sides of its character with an awareness that feels like an accident, though it's welcomed all the same. But even if we disregard what it all means, these tracks are still jams, tunes, or any other blasé term people attach to music that you can throw away your dignity to.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 79
  2. Negative: 1 out of 79
  1. Jul 10, 2018
    10
    SZA shows a beautiful range of colorful taste, and unique writing skills in her debut LP Ctrl.
  2. Jun 13, 2017
    10
    Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before,Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, **** on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it. Expand
  3. Nov 3, 2020
    10
    they don't make rnb albums like these anymore. sza , an icon of rnb truly. Ughhhhh mf queen!
  4. Aug 16, 2023
    10
    When I think of a debut album that defines an artist the best, I think of ctrl. SZA perfectly opens the door to a therapeutic, honest and warmWhen I think of a debut album that defines an artist the best, I think of ctrl. SZA perfectly opens the door to a therapeutic, honest and warm way of expressing her true feelings. Some songs feel confident as others talk about how loneliness can make or break a person, with standout tracks like Drew Barrymore and Supermodel. CTRL wraps you in a warm aura, and feels like a warm blanket on a cold winter night. The definition of a perfect debut album Expand
  5. Oct 14, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Favorite rnb album of the decade for me!!! This album has absolutely no skips and I can play it for hoursssss and hours!!!!! Expand
  6. Jun 17, 2018
    9
    /Ctrl/
    1-Supermodel - 10/10
    2-Love Galore - 10/10 3-Doves In The Wind - 10/10 4-Drew Barrymore - 10/10 5-Prom - 10/10 6-The Weekend -
    /Ctrl/
    1-Supermodel - 10/10
    2-Love Galore - 10/10
    3-Doves In The Wind - 10/10
    4-Drew Barrymore - 10/10
    5-Prom - 10/10
    6-The Weekend - 10/10
    7-Go Gina - 7/10
    8-Garden (Say It Like Dat) - 10/10
    9-Broken Clocks - 10/10
    10-Anything - 8/10
    11-Wavy (Interlude) 8/10
    12-Normal Girl - 9/10
    13-Pretty Little Birds - 8/10
    14-20 Something - 8/10
    Cohesion: 10/10
    Lyrics Quality: 9/10

    Final Score: 9.1/10

    This is one of the best female R&B albums of the decade imo
    Expand
  7. Jun 23, 2017
    0
    SZA releases yet another mediocre album that will get ridden to death by TDE stans who for some reason can't be assed to post in the Kenny sxnSZA releases yet another mediocre album that will get ridden to death by TDE stans who for some reason can't be assed to post in the Kenny sxn of KTT, instead spamming Music with their trash opinions. If she was signed to another label, like young money, she would be bashed for being the uninspired and bland artist she is. Instead, because she's signed to the trendy "indie" label with Kendrick Lamar we pretend she's something special. :jordanlaff: Expand

See all 79 User Reviews

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