After non-stop radio spins from her summer hit "2 On," Tinashe released her highly anticipated debut Aquarius to critical acclaim. After being dubbed the next Beyoncé by a critic from the New York Times, the Los Angeles-based songstress received a slew of praises from various other outlets. Check out a round-up of what critics are saying below.
Complex rated the album 3.5 stars out of 5 and gave kudos to the 21-year-old for honing her ability to sing, dance, and entertain.
If only going by "2 On," the infectious yet unimaginative track produced by DJ Mustard, hitmaker of the moment, we might easily dismiss Tinashe as a one-hit wonder; at the very least, another so-so singer adept at the eight-count but not quite sustaining your attention. She is, however, far more interesting vocally, sonically, and subjectively than her Top 40 hit single might suggest, and her debut album, Aquarius, makes that apparent.
Idolator gave the album the same rating.
Tinashe's solid and slinky debut album Aquarius largely works for the same reasons: It's smart, it's confident and it feels very now. The moments Tinashe spells out her growing ambitions is when she's most convincing.
Billboard offered up a track-by-track review giving the album an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. The entertainment outlet calls "How Many Times" featuring Future the album's "true centerpiece."
Yet even within the ranks of emerging women singers showing just how quirky and eccentric they can be (Jhené Aiko,Kelela, BANKS), Tinashe may be the songbird best primed for superstardom. Aquarius is mostly an emotional tug-of-war of thigh-shaking highs or starting-all-over lows. While there are definite follow-up hits ("How Many Times" is an essential), the project is a moody affair, a sum that's greater than its parts. With interludes that are sometimes complementary ("Indigo Child") and other times unnecessary ("Nightfall"), the project often nods to the past with direct influences from Janet Jackson and Aaliyah. Yet still, Tinashe is brightly blazing a trail for music's future.
Tinashe's debut album Aquarius is available on iTunes now.
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