Radical Optimism by Dua Lipa | Album Review
So what is it: Pop? Dance-Pop? Psychedelia? or just Dua Lipa’s 3rd studio album.
It was already about time. Guess what? Dua Lipa just released her 3rd studio album after 4 years of making us groove to Future Nostalgia. That last record is seriously one of my top pop picks. On her previous album, Dua has shaped her sound, persona & style much better and more implicitly since her debut self-titled.
With this album, as we might see, Dua took her time. Was it justifiable?
I gotta be real. This might be one of the weakest moments in her career, but it’s not because her music is trash.
The radical optimism started with “Houdini” — a cool, super groovy bop. Then came “Training Season” and “Illusion” — not as strong, but still had some fresh vibes from Dua. So based on this, my main expectation and hope for this record was that she just does not replicate the Future Nostalgia formula, and uses the potential of her vocals more.
Well, she definitely surpassed at least one.
After my 1st listen, I had certain doubts that it slightly reminded me of Future Nostalgia, but it took a few more listens to realize that this album is not Future Nostalgia. There are certainly some elements that might remind of her previous record, especially on cuts such as “Illusion”, and “Whatcha Doing”. But the only thing that’s alike is the energetic drums with disco vibes. “Houdini” and “Training Season”, which were lead singles, feel a little out of place. Considering Dua’s declaration of focusing on synth-pop and psychedelic pop for her new album, we don’t see that much of it.
The tracks on this record are great, but it’s not even close to being psychedelic pop. Dua Lipa is doing something different here with “End of an Era” and “Anything For Love.” Especially with the latter one, it’s unexpected, going from melancholic piano to disco vibes. It’s like two sides of her on one song. I dig that.
On this record, she kinda blends her previous styles together, but she’s not really breaking out of her comfort zone. Whenever she does, she nails it with experimental turns and futuristic, distorted sound effects, curated by top producers. But here is the catch, it is not enough of it.
The album mostly sounds like a disco-pop or dance-pop record with more particular elements of pop that we heard Dua on.
Is it a bad thing? Not necessarily, but it is frustrating.
One positive thing is that Dua doesn’t have that sleepy delivery like on “Cool” from her previous album. She brings all her energy to tracks like “Whatcha Doing” and “Happy For You” or “End of An Era”.
The sound on this record is so polished, but some of the production choices feel off, like the Latin-ish music vibes on “French Exit” and “Maria” just don’t work for me. The guitar loops on both of them are a bit distracting and annoying from everything that happens on the track. Danny L Harle’s production is a good choice ’cause it lets Dua show off her vocals and energy, but those 2 tracks just don’t do it for me.
You know, even with some songs that don’t really stand out, or stick to the regular Dua Lipa sound, I cannot underestimate the energy that she gives you on those tracks. I feel like we might see Deluxe in the near time on which she may put some more risky songs. Overall, I really dig the album’s direction and production when she herself isn’t afraid of it. I just feel like she focused more on the commercial success part than on the experimental one.
The album has a great flow, but towards the end, it’s a bit hit or miss with tracks like “Maria” and “French Exit” mixed in with some good ones like “Falling Forever” and “Happy For You” as a solid closer.
To sum everything up, this is not a Future Nostalgia, or her debut Dua Lipa. It is something different, but this is an instance when you want to hear more of this peculiarity. Overall, I enjoyed it because of the noble quality of the records, and phenomenal energy from Dua, but some moments here really put it below the level it deserves.
FINAL RATING: 7.8/10 (GREAT)
FAVORITE TRACKS: End of An Era, These Walls, Houdini, Training Season, Whatcha Doing, Falling Forever.
LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS: Maria, French Exit
Scores guideline:
0–2 (dramatically bad)
2.1–4.5 (bad)
4.6–6 (mediocre/mid)
6.1–6.9 (Ok)
7–7.5 (good)
7.6–8.6 (great)
8.7–9.9 (amazing)
10 (perfect)
