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. buriedwrng
    May 21, 2020
    8
    it’s really hard for me to love all the songs, as i expected it didn’t happens in here. however, i literally loved 5 of the 12 of them. i found “dynasty” and “who’s gonna save u now?” amazingly thrilling and boosting. “chosen family” is absolutely beautiful, periodt.
  2. Izanglez
    Jun 7, 2020
    8
    This is a roller coaster. I was living during the first songs. It was a mix of pop, rock and personal touches that made it impeccable. However, she lowered the originality and energy right after the first tracks, and that let me down. Musically, it is still a really solid project and I love it. I would give it a personal 85.
  3. Indiebicth
    Apr 29, 2020
    8
    At its best, Sawayama redefines pop tropes on tracks like akasaka sad and the album’s best, most complex track, snakeskin.However at it’s worst it can fall into these pop tropes on tracks like XS.
    Dynasty 9/10
    XS 6/10 STFU 8/10 Comme Des Garçons 6.5/10 Akasaka Sad 9.5/10 Paradisin 6.5/10 Love me 4 me 7/10 Bad friend 8.5/10 **** this world 6/10 Who’s gonna save you now? 9/10 Tokyo Love    At its best, Sawayama redefines pop tropes on tracks like akasaka sad and the album’s best, most complex track, snakeskin.However at it’s worst it can fall into these pop tropes on tracks like XS.
    Dynasty 9/10
    XS 6/10
    STFU 8/10
    Comme Des Garçons 6.5/10
    Akasaka Sad 9.5/10
    Paradisin 6.5/10
    Love me 4 me 7/10
    Bad friend 8.5/10
    **** this world 6/10
    Who’s gonna save you now? 9/10
    Tokyo Love hotel 7.5/10
    Chosen family 7.5/10
    Snakeskin 10/10    … Expand
  4. Masterlime
    May 18, 2020
    8
    This album is pretty divisive for me. The good songs are great but there are some songs that just dont hit at all in my opinion. I just wish this was a full length album made out of songs like 'XS, 'STFU' and the needed emotional cuts like 'Akasaka Sad'. To my disappointment there are some songs that just dont emphasize her capabilities. Nearly half of the songs here could have been cutThis album is pretty divisive for me. The good songs are great but there are some songs that just dont hit at all in my opinion. I just wish this was a full length album made out of songs like 'XS, 'STFU' and the needed emotional cuts like 'Akasaka Sad'. To my disappointment there are some songs that just dont emphasize her capabilities. Nearly half of the songs here could have been cut and replaced in my opinion.

    She is a pop queen even though this is her debut album but she has to get better in choosing the gems that go into her crown.

    7.5/10    … Expand
  5. voxluxangels
    May 30, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sawayama is a great full-lenght debut album for Rina. It's refreshing, bold, rebel and vocally stunning in some tracks.… Expand
  6. adamdavids
    Jul 17, 2020
    8
    SAWAYAMA is a powerful pop album, combining elements from metal, rock, and disco to create an incredible debut. The orchestral opener Dynasty is loud and hypnotic, with lyrics discussing her family and her background over a heavy guitar - which are prevalent themes throughout the album. The next song XS very catchy, and is about capitalism and the culture of always wanting/needing moreSAWAYAMA is a powerful pop album, combining elements from metal, rock, and disco to create an incredible debut. The orchestral opener Dynasty is loud and hypnotic, with lyrics discussing her family and her background over a heavy guitar - which are prevalent themes throughout the album. The next song XS very catchy, and is about capitalism and the culture of always wanting/needing more (lyrically similar to 7 rings). STFU however grates on me a bit with the childish 'shut the **** up' refrain in the chorus being a bit cringe. But the album picks itself up with the disco inspired Comme Des Garcons which is a self-confidence bop. Akasaka Sad again deals with her childhood in Japan and her experiencing the same pains as her parents. Paradisin' is alright, it sounds more like an interlude than a proper song in the context of the album, as it lacks any buildup and remains quite loud and busy throughout. Thankfully Love Me For Me is an absolute tune that I wanna sing along to at the top of my lungs. The production on Bad Friend is amazing and the song itself is self-reflective and personal. **** This World (Interlude) is forgettable imo and could have been replaced with a better song. Who's Gonna Save U Now? is an arena rock song that hits different if you're in the mood for some solid guitar. Tokyo Love Hotel and Chosen Family are just good ass songs, and the lyrics on Chosen Family are so beautiful that it could have been the album closer. But, the album ends on Snakeskin which is probably the most experimental song here, and imo is an alright closer but not as powerful an end as I'd have liked. Overall, a great album.… Expand
  7. Saraafn
    Nov 1, 2020
    8
    such a good album and underrated artist. The tracks are well produced.
    Favorites: snakesin, love me 4 me bad friend, **** this world
  8. Mobina1
    Mar 21, 2021
    8
    Well done album. Deserved a nomination in Grammys. I hope she'll get the recognition she deserves
  9. diegofg
    Aug 28, 2020
    8
    It's a pretty good album, specially for a debut. I love how she mixes all her influences (Gaga, Britney, Xtina, Madonna, Evanescence and rock bands) and the songs are so catchy and go from one genre to another. The concept, exploring her japanese roots is interesting and very well done. The best songs for me are dinasty, xs, and chosen family
  10. 911911
    Sep 1, 2020
    8
    Fun album, one of the best of 2020 and deserves more visibility. XS music video is fun you should watch it.
  11. CarLoL
    Oct 7, 2020
    8
    Me surpreendeu bastante,Rina soube usar bem os gêneros e fazendo que Pop,R&B e Metal funcionassem juntos,além da nostalgia do pop japonês que ela trouxe
  12. aristoncosta
    Oct 24, 2020
    8
    Rina had a big challenge: show us who she is. Sawayama does this job in the best possible way: showing us all the possibilities that Rina is. From Pop Rock, to House, from J-Pop to Electro. Rina is thirsty to shine, and this album is proof.
  13. MrSanchez
    Jan 14, 2021
    8
    To be completely honest, I think I myself overhyped this album to be something that just wasn't it. I enjoyed the first 6 songs a lot. Dynasty reminded me of the edginess of the early 2000s, XS is an anti pop song that rants on late stage capitalism, STFU is... damn, Commes des Garçons is a androgynous critic to traditional masculinity, Akasaka Sad is her own analysis of her own culturalTo be completely honest, I think I myself overhyped this album to be something that just wasn't it. I enjoyed the first 6 songs a lot. Dynasty reminded me of the edginess of the early 2000s, XS is an anti pop song that rants on late stage capitalism, STFU is... damn, Commes des Garçons is a androgynous critic to traditional masculinity, Akasaka Sad is her own analysis of her own cultural identity and heritage with a banger beat and superb chorus, and paradisin sounds like an 80s girly pop song but with realistic lyrics that show that teenage years are just that and nothing out of the ordinary

    From this point on the journey through different genres fused with pop narrows significantly. Yes, it still goes around different styles of music, and while none of them are bad by any means, they just do not feel as special as the first half. And don't get me wrong, I really mean it when I say none of them are bad, songs like Chosen Family or Bad Friend are great, but they don't quite hit the stylish and over the top feeling of the first half, and it doesn't quite feel like the style and sound are connected with the lyrics as good as it did on the first songs.. until Snakeskin, which returns to the first half's feeling but, does not feel like an ending at all, despite being a great song.

    But what confuses me the more, is that Sawayama herself apparently did this intentionally, releasing this songs as singles to give the impression that this album was different, but apart from those songs, the rest, while to an extent they're different, do not feel as experimental and stylish as the others.

    Overall, it's a great record, even with its flaws, and I'd recommend it a lot.    … Expand
  14. rjrjuddhhdh
    Dec 12, 2020
    8
    I'm calling it from now : Rina Sawayama will grow as an artist to become a mainstream pop sensation. For a new artist to have such a rare talent with songwriting, production and to even be somewhat "brave" enough to have political views and share them in her art, this album was a nod for her career and success. She has alot of greatness coming.
  15. TheJaym
    Dec 12, 2020
    8
    She is a new force that needs to be listened to and be praised . Amazing vocals . Unique artistic view and attention to details .
  16. 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
  17. WindowsPeak
    May 2, 2020
    7
    Good voice,crazy and funny efects,is a good debut album and she is a interesting artist
  18. tasby
    May 30, 2020
    7
    so many Portuguese reviews! please keep it in english. I did like this album.
  19. cornjuice1992
    Oct 30, 2020
    7
    album of the year, period, Rina voice/vocals shocked me! this is an experience.
  20. 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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