"It's been a little under a year since her boyfriend, rapper Young Thug, was released from jail following a 2022 arrest on gang-related charges and the longest criminal trial in Georgia history. Through it all, Mariah appeared faithfully by his side, even when others' faith might have wavered, like when Thug's jail call with another woman leaked last Christmas. Matters like these test the heart, and it's this experience and others that helped to fuel Mariah's fourth album, HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY."
"Its chilly production envisions a frozen landscape with Mariah's voice radiating warmth from its center, trying to burn her way through to clarity. On "Sacrifice," when she sings, "I'm all out of pages to turn/So I'll read this out loud," her following vocal run shimmers like eyes watering with tears of frustration. The song's production evokes 1980s synth-pop, with twinkling keys, a steady heartbeat pulse, and airy backing vocals that seem to lift Mariah up while she's down."
Mariah the Scientist channels real-life relationship strain, including Young Thug's arrest and leaked jail call, into the emotional core of HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY. Mariah remained publicly supportive during legal and personal turmoil, and those experiences shape the album's narratives. The new record corrects the overreach of 2023's To Be Eaten Alive by tightening production while preserving vocal ambition. Chilly, minimalist arrangements create a frozen sonic landscape that lets Mariah's voice radiate warmth and seek clarity. Songs like "Sacrifice" blend 1980s synth-pop elements, shimmering vocal runs, and airy backing vocals to elevate the emotional stakes.
Read at Pitchfork
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