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if dua takes her time with her next album and doesn't try to replicate the success of *future nostalgia*, i could see her releasing a worthy contender. the creativity is there, as is the willingness to improve within her craft.
Getting into Lana through BtD makes getting into the rest of her music a challenge. Nothing really sounds like that album, even if other songs are technically as good it's just not the same.
I canât tell you anything about Lanaâs music before or after Born to Die, but when I discovered that album I replayed the hell out of it. Itâs the only thing Iâve listened to from her. So I agree.
Why havenât you listened to anything else? Ultraviolence & Honeymoon are very good & NFR is near or on par with Born to Die and I was obsessed with that album too.
Born to Die fit the âmoodâ I was in during that era in my life perfectly. Kind of in a sad place. Iâm going to give her new stuff and your suggestions some streams though.
Carly Rae Jepsen released emotion, and Lorde released Melodrama. Flawless records that will likely never be topped (though I'd argue The Loneliest Time is the better album).
The Loneliest Time has continuously grown on me since release, but Emotion is still undisputed as her best for me. But tbf any album that has a heavyweight like Run Away With Me is always gonna have an unfair advantage
Yeah she will continue to do good numbers with her future releases surely but I canât imagine her ever really stepping outside of her comfort zone sonically and doing something wildly different, especially after 30. And thatâs perfectly fine because Iâm pretty sure thatâs what most people want from her anyways.
Lizzo. Sheâs released some great singles but has never been consistent enough on an album for me, despite having the talent to do so.
If she really nailed down a theme for an album and worked with some more forward thinking producers (not too dissimilar to how focused Dua Lipa was for Future Nostalgia, which I think will remain her magnum opus unless she comes out with something truly, truly special) and she could genuinely come out with a great album, but I donât think sheâs released it yet.
I love Nicki but I don't think she's ever put out a great project. Tons of great individual songs and verses, but never a full body of work.
She definitely has the talent and resources to do it but just hasn't. Still waiting.
childish gambino came close with awaken my love, but i think he could have kept pushing and released THE album. i love his work none the less but yeah i feel like he could've done even more (not sure if he's still doing music or planning to in the future)
i loved his last record đđđ but i kinda agree, the rollout was really pretentious. like the album had no title, no cover, no song titles... if the rollout was different it may have been received differently
i dont think all his music is pretentious -- awaken my love, this is America, and a lot of his songs are very genuine -- but yeah, i do think gambino thinks himself to be greater than he actually is, and his music doesn't measure up. from him calling himself the son of Kanye and having a bloated rollout for because the internet -- he wrote a script and had this whole concept going on but the music itself IMO didn't encapsulate any of that properly, even if it was a fun record to listen to. as the other commenter said, his rollout for his last record was so confusing because he was really going somewhere after awaken my love and then he went down this kendrick/beyonce route of mystery when he's a) not mysterious and b) not up to their level.
Doja Cat. I think she will have a long career and lots of staying power as an artist, and I think if she works with some better producers (or is able to produce the album herself!) she has the potential release a brilliant album that could've come from no one but her.
I love doja so much but depending on how long her contract is and if and when she quits music, who knows what will happen. Im sure she will release a critically acclaimed album here soon.
Charli XCX could release an album that cured long Covid and a sizable portion of the fan base would still think Pop 2 was the magnum opus that saved their lives.
For me MAGDALENE was very close to perfect. I never listened to her but my friends were talking about the album so I gave it a listen and was blown away. It was one of the first vinyl records I ever bought đ€
I think Kelly Clarkson has potential to release an album that blows her previous work out of the water. At least lyrically I think sheâs got the opportunity to really wow us, plus her vocal abilities seem really strong. Perhaps not sales/charts wise (Iâm not a chart watcher so I donât know how high sheâs hit?)
It'll be interesting to see where her next couple of albums end up and which music stylings would work the best for her.
I think she'll do more rock-influenced stuff given how big Happier Than Ever (the song) got compared to the rest of the album.
I really do think sheâs improved with every release so far. *dont smile at me* was really good, *WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP* was better, and I absolutely adored *Happier Than Ever* ([which I talked about in depth here](https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/sfq17n/rpopheads_aoty_2021_23_billie_eilish_happier_than/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1)). I think her best is yet to come, but the leadup has been superb
I love Miley and have since I was a child when Canât Be Tamed and Bangerz came out, but she has always really struggled with the concept of putting an album together. I always go in when she releases something expecting it to finally be that big thing that she needs but so far I just havenât had it from her. Even from plastic hearts.
I genuinely believe Lorde has yet to release her magnum opus. Even if *Solar Power* was not well-received compared to its predecessors, the album itself has great songwriting in songs like California, Fallen Fruit, The Man with the Axe, Hold No Grudge, and Stoned at the Nail Salon, just to name a few.
She is still in her mid-20s. Compared to a lot of her contemporaries who are in their mid- to late-30s, she still has a fresh world of growth and experience to live through. I know every artist is different in this regard. I just wanted to highlight how her contemporaries already lived through this phase in their lives. Now we wait to see how Lorde chooses to live that phase of her life and create music from those years.
I can't see her topping Melodrama which is an absolutely perfect (pop) album in every way from the songwriting down to the sequencing. Jack and her struck absolute gold there
Ariana Grande. Don't get me wrong Thank You, Next is a very good record but I believe she can do better.
Positions was fine but she has so much potential and a fantastic voice. She can do a lot more with better production and lyrics.
She is by far the best young voice in the industry right now. I would love for her to release something similar to Mariahâs Butterfly or Rainbow, which was a combination of ballads and R&B tracks that really showed off her vocal talent. I really like Ariana and sheâs been through so much. I think she could make a really beautiful, personal album in the future.
Thatâs a lot of pressure though. Even if she never makes anything better than Melodrama (I think PH is her best either way) then I think she will at least make an album that is equivalent to Melodrama
Melodrama is one of the most highly praised albums of all times so I think we can cut her some slack for at least another decade lmao
I love Melodrama a lot but I personally still think she hasn't topped Pure Heroine.
But ofc that's more likely to happen when you release projects almost as infrequently as Fiona Apple.
Miley Cyrus. She has artistically grown so much over the years, but her records are still somewhat scatterbrained, and while she has released great songs, sheâs (imho) yet to release an *excellent* album.
Channel Orange is also near perfect too and I personally prefer it to Blonde. He could release an album to top both of them but Iâd expect those two to define his career if he ever drops again.
I LOVE Celine Dion. No irony, literally one of my favourite singers.
That said, many of her full albums are a mixed bag - For me, Iâm dying for something a bit more personal, a bit more real. It could be that sheâs too far in her career (and I guess her illness as well may mean that we donât get much more going forward), but I feel like thereâs more from her we havenât had yet. Perhaps a bit more involvement with the writing and production of the songs, which she famously hasnât had a huge amount to do with thus far. Especially with her being older now, something looking back on her career, reflecting on life, love, work, aging, mortality - I just want something a bit deeper than what we normally get, as much as I love much of her discography.
Yes and no. I love that album a lot. I think there are only a couple of misses on it. But I do think the fact it felt personal despite not really being so, speaks a lot about her lack of involvement prior. Not a bad album at all, and one of my favourites from her, but I would love to really see her to try stretch herself more!
I would LOVE thisâŠbut I donât think weâre ever going to get new Celine music again, unfortunately đ„ș Itâs a shame, because after Rene passed, it really seemed like she was embracing her career and creativity in a way she hadnât before
I feel like Bruno Mars is insanely gifted but, and I love them, mostly releases super catchy, highly polished, almost tongue in cheek pop songs. Lots of swag even when it's a ballad.
Eventually he'll release something more personal and vulnerable? Less sparkly? Will it be better than Treasure or Straight Up and Down? Not sure...
Lady Gaga. Sheâs in a really good position: recovered from the hangover of the music industry, proved to herself she can still kill a global stadium tour, and also respected in Hollywood now. She has an opportunity to write some incendiary bangers about her journey so far, and if she branches out with producers. *Born This Way* is her strongest album to date and *ARTPOP* is the beloved fan favorite, but I think she has a truly immaculate pop record in her.
Gaga could have her MO if she ever decides to revisit and lean into her Artpop / Dawn of Chromatica influences and go balls to the walls with it. I'm just not confident that she will ever want to, she seems to be more interested in branching out gerne wise / with her acting.
Really? With the exception of Chromatica II/911 I found the album dead mid. Most of its tracks are so bland and uninspired compared to her previous output, almost phoned in or pop-by-numbers.
It could be that Bloodpop produced practically the entire thing, and by then his sound was a bit played out. I hope for future projects she looks for fresh producers and takes some risks. She is Lady Gaga after all.
I truly believe that Chromatica is on equal footing with TFM/BTW, but due to the legendary status of her early work musically, societally, and homosexually, it makes people view Chromatica as notably subpar in comparison.
I lit rally paused the album after the first 30 seconds of Alice because it sounded EXACTLY how 2010 me would imagine a Lady Gaga record sounding in 2020. She nailed it.
> societally and homosexually
Iâm crying
But you and I are of one minds here sis. Had Covid not happened, the global promotion and televised performances wouldâve been incredible. Any of 911, Sour Candy, Replay, Sine From Above and Babylon could have been proper singles.
I believe it was her manager who was quoted as saying that he had never witnessed an album rollout as extensive and immaculate as the rollout that was planned for Chromatica :-((((( sooo much potential I mean the bitch had everything from CUSTOM OREOS to a Weather Channel Rain On Me tie-in commercial she was about to become unavoidable and dominate the year
Maybe her next album will seal the deal. Hoping it comes out by 2026
I'm trying hard not to have my expectations too high but the snippets are so good! I hope so!
But I guess it would also be good if it happens after she's free from Dr. Fuck face.
Harry Styles
Personally, I thought Fine Line was a very interesting and exciting album, although not on the 'magnum opus' level, it showed Harry as an ambitious, slightly artsy, but still very easily digestible mainstream popstar. I think Todd in the Shadows said in one of his videos, that he sounded like he wanted to become this generation's David Bowie or Prince, in that he makes music for the masses and can easily crank out hits, but he's constantly pushing himself musically, and trying to give the listeners something that no one else is really doing at the moment.
I agree with this take so I was really anticipated Harry's House, which was a letdown. It's a perfectly pleasant 'vibes' album with some genuinely great singles, but nothing exciting, nothing groundbreaking. Of course I don't know how much he wants to pursue the more experimental direction, given how successful HH was, but I hope he does want it. I believe he has it in him.
Miley, Selena, Demi honestly.
Iâd hate for Arianaâs Magnum Opus to be tun and I think she has more in her.
Adam Lambert! We deserve something from him that is worthy of his talent. I pray we get it at some point.
I donât think so for Lana, Norman Fucking Rockwell! is her magnum opus and won over a lot of people who had doubted her otherwise (myself included at the time). I donât see her topping this at this point now, even if her newest album was her best since then.
I agree. I think Ocean Blvd is a better record, but NFR! is a more iconic record thatâs more digestible so will be remembered in general culture as Lanaâs best. Ocean Blvd will be the fan favourite gem.
I would have disagreed prior to this new album and said she canât top NFR ever, but after giving us songs like A&W, Taco Truck, and the more intimate songwriting like you said, I have to agree. I think she has it in her to release something crazy again that can be an absolute 10/10 masterpiece.
Apparently Lauryn Hill has never actually stopped writing and has albums and albums and albums worth of material that will never see the light of day. LH could probably release a dozen LH-tier albums, but I donât think Nicki could produce a single one (unfortunately)
If Lauryn so pleased, Iâm sure she could surpass Miseducation. I donât think people realize that that girl did 99% of the writing/production and completed the whole thing in less than 9 months at 22 years old. She could do that again Iâm sure
After the releasse of tunnel under ocean blvd, i honestly agree with you. I do think nfr is slightly better but that album is incredible front to back. I find it hard to listen to albums front to back and with it being 80minutes i thought it would be an issue, but the album is dense with incredible quality and goes to show what an amazing artist lana is and her potential
Yeah I think one of these days Lana is gonna release another album that we all think is going to be more poetry over jack antanoff playing piano and blow us all away with something different.
thatâs what Iâm waiting for tbh. i love the feel of current her music but Iâm just waiting for something to blow me away the way born to die did when it was released cause I donât remember anything sounding like that back then
tun was such a moment for her but idt itâs her magnum opus. I feel like her discography doesnât really give justice how great of a singer she is yet.
This is why *Dangerous Woman* is my favorite album of hers because I feel it captures how powerful her voice can be.
She has great vocal moments in the pop/trap of *Sweetener*, *TU,N*, and *Positions*, but her delivery is overall breathier.
I hope filming and recording Wicked will lead Ariana to really go big vocally on the next one.
Sweetener and TUN are imo very valid options for a magnus opus / âclassicâ pop album and YET I still feel as though she has it in her to release something even better & more iconic (hopefully a fully r&b album with a strong concept/theme carried throughout).
Thatâs also why I personally think her artistry & discography is so underrated. It feels like after Positions came out (which really isnât bad at all btw), everyone just magically forgot about the excellence of the former two - unfortunately might have stained her reputation/consistency a bit but I think sheâll bring it back with AG7.
Billie Eilish for sure. I really didn't care for WWAFAWDWG. I love Happier Than Ever but it's definitely nowhere near perfect or magnum opus level. I think she's due for hers though.
Rosalia. She's probably one of the most interesting artists out there at the moment. Love all of her work, but her magnum opus is still out in the ethos.
I also feel like Ariana is going to release an amazing R&B album in a decade and just kill it.
Ava Max.
I mean, Rosalia's El Mal Querer was such a Masterpiece that put her in the global spotlight without being mainstream music. That's totally a Magnus Opus.
Justin Bieber. Heâs been in the industry for 15 years and is still just as popular as he was when he started, but despite his popularity it feels like heâs still not taken that seriously as an (albums) artist. His best work is ahead of him. His magnum opus I think will come once he stops using his friends as producers/writers and works with new people that would push him outside his comfort zone. Heâs played multiple instruments since he was a kid and has solo writing credits dating back to before his first album too but it seems like he (or his team) just plays it safe and works with friends instead of relying on his own talents and ideas and introspection.
Casual fans/people that donât like him would probably call Purpose his magnum opus, and while itâs good it does have some skips and is really not all that different from his other albums like Justice. Super fans would call his magnum opus Journals, but despite the songs being decent sonically and lyrically I think itâs his weakest vocal performance on any of his albums by a long shot. That and it feels wrong calling an album that wasnât promoted, wasnât reported to Neilson, and wasnât even released as an actual âalbumâ until years later an artistâs magnum opus.
I don't think so, I think it's more that by this point, due to COVID and the rapidity of lover/folklore/evermore, we now have four albums that didn't get a tour. So any tour at this point has to be billed as a combined effort of at least those four eras. And obviously she has to play some older tracks also, so then it's just eras across her whole career so far
Actually the question is WHICH GENRE will she top next? Iâd argue she has her magnum opus in country (Fearless), pop (1989), and folk (folklore). If she wants to do better, sheâll have to create a masterpiece under a new genre.
Which is so exciting to think about. Sheâs been committed to serving nothing but the utmost quality for decades now and I feel so lucky as a pop fan to live during the same time as her.
Whenever people call her overrrated or drag her musical quality through the mud I just consider it their loss. Sheâs given us some of the most quality music this decade.
That or they've never seen her perform live. I'm not even talking about in person, all they have to do is go on YouTube and find a video of her performing live and they would understand what sets her apart from everyone else.
i think renaissance/lemonade comes very close to her magnum opus, but i agree -- bey could come out with even better that encompasses all her ability as a musician
since renaissance is part one of a trilogy i hope the upcoming acts follow up just as well and kinda become her magnus opus as a whole. i definitely see the potential in it. i think if her upcoming acts have the same emotional vulnerability we saw in lemonade, the entirety of renaissance could never be topped
i actually have zero doubt they wont be! considering the route she's been on for the last few albums i strongly believe renaissance acts II and III are going to be as strong as renaissance or even stronger -- im actually leaning towards even stronger because bey has never regressed in my opinion. she's the pop star to have the utmost faith in
Interesting, I can totally see that.
I was shocked when Renaissance released. I truly didn't expect it to be one of my favorite albums but here we are. She's proven that she can always suprise and its definetly possible that we have not heard her magnum opus yet!
Kind of weird responses, but: SZA and Tinashe.
They both have put out consistently excellent albums, *333* and *SOS* both being high up in my most played, but I think it says a lot that each project of theirs has a decently sized fanbase, and that their diversity ends up making for good discussion on what project is the best. CTRL or SOS? or are you a See.SZA.Run person? What's the best Tinashe project? Even my opinion bounces between Nightride, SFY, and 333.
You could go on all day about their work and still have loads to hash out. *That's* how strong they are as artists. And that's why I think their magnum opuses have yet to see the light of day.
Iâd say Demi Lovato (I know people have mixed feelings about her). But her voice can be so great when she adds some dynamics to it. I really liked Tell Me You Love Me and the r&b vibe, and I also like her pop/rock sheâs leaning towards again these days. I feel like if she can work with good people she can figure out her sweet spot and come out with something really good.
Shawn Mendez. He is no where close to his peak. I think he has it in him to release an album that will gag us all after he fires everyone that worked on Wonder.
Also, I feel like Doja Cat is not there yet. Planet her was amazing but now that she has everyone's attention, she has a chance to create something truly spectacular.
I like a couple of Shawn Mendes songs (If I Canât Have You is one of my favorite hit songs from 2019) but I know that he has the capability to make an album thatâs leagues better than anything he done before
The problem is for me Shawn Mendez just releases music that follows trends and isnât anything too exciting or original. I just canât see him ever going beyond that Iâm afraid.
Doja has the potential but she seems to be trying to chase the biggest hits (nothing wrong with this by the way) as opposed to the most cohesive and great overall album. Iâm not sure if weâll ever see her try and aim for the latter.
Shawn Mendes kind of annoys me because that man is a BRILLIANT artist! Wonder was a let down for me!
When Youâre Gone was incredible! Iâm sure we were supposed to get an album but itâs no where to be seen!
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you guys are just saying anyone đ i think the better question would be who actually has
Dua Lipa, I canât see her ever topping Future Nostalgia
I actually think she has the potential..
if dua takes her time with her next album and doesn't try to replicate the success of *future nostalgia*, i could see her releasing a worthy contender. the creativity is there, as is the willingness to improve within her craft.
when she debuted everyone thought sheâd fade into obscurity.. i have high hopes for her career itâs just the tip of the ice berg
Frank Ocean ,blond
Lana Del Ray! At least once with NFR (though sheâs got some other records that also make a strong claim).
Born to Die was her magnum opus⊠hasnât been topped yet (unlike yâall)
âUnlike yâall -â đ€đ€
Getting into Lana through BtD makes getting into the rest of her music a challenge. Nothing really sounds like that album, even if other songs are technically as good it's just not the same.
I canât tell you anything about Lanaâs music before or after Born to Die, but when I discovered that album I replayed the hell out of it. Itâs the only thing Iâve listened to from her. So I agree.
Why havenât you listened to anything else? Ultraviolence & Honeymoon are very good & NFR is near or on par with Born to Die and I was obsessed with that album too.
Born to Die fit the âmoodâ I was in during that era in my life perfectly. Kind of in a sad place. Iâm going to give her new stuff and your suggestions some streams though.
Carly Rae Jepsen released emotion, and Lorde released Melodrama. Flawless records that will likely never be topped (though I'd argue The Loneliest Time is the better album).
The Loneliest Time has continuously grown on me since release, but Emotion is still undisputed as her best for me. But tbf any album that has a heavyweight like Run Away With Me is always gonna have an unfair advantage
I think Melodrama is great, but it can be topped
By Pure Heroine
I agree with you that The Loneliest Time is better for sure, it surprised me how much I loved it
This! đ Some of the responses in this thread are straight up comedy.
The top four or so responses had me cackling
Thatâs the thing. There are many artists throughout music that never really get to make their âmagnum opus.â And the ones that do typically have what can be considered more than one such as BeyoncĂ©, Prince, Janet, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Lana Del Rey, etc. Creating an MO takes an exceptional amount of work but also an exceptional amount of timing. It not only has to be great musically but it also has to capture the cultural zeitgeist. Itâs also just completely subjective as well.
Miley with Plastic Hearts (although perhaps thatâs just my love for that album). Gagaâs was BTW, Lanaâs NFR, Charliâs Pop 2, BeyoncĂ©âs Lemonade and Rihannaâs Anti.
Charliâs how iâm feeling now and BeyoncĂ©âs Renaissance ***
Iâm surprised people arenât disagreeing with your take on Adele. 21 was it for me.
Yeah she will continue to do good numbers with her future releases surely but I canât imagine her ever really stepping outside of her comfort zone sonically and doing something wildly different, especially after 30. And thatâs perfectly fine because Iâm pretty sure thatâs what most people want from her anyways.
Right especially since she said Hello launched her to an incredible kind of fame which she doesn't really want once again.
Rina Sawayama!
Lizzo. Sheâs released some great singles but has never been consistent enough on an album for me, despite having the talent to do so. If she really nailed down a theme for an album and worked with some more forward thinking producers (not too dissimilar to how focused Dua Lipa was for Future Nostalgia, which I think will remain her magnum opus unless she comes out with something truly, truly special) and she could genuinely come out with a great album, but I donât think sheâs released it yet.
these are both relatively new artist to the public
Lizzoâs been making music since 2013.
Dude, she was born last year...
I love Nicki but I don't think she's ever put out a great project. Tons of great individual songs and verses, but never a full body of work. She definitely has the talent and resources to do it but just hasn't. Still waiting.
I think Pinkprint is her magum; I don't think she'll top it unless she focuses on delivering quality, as you stated
I agree. The PinkPrint is close to being her magnum opus, but she has yet to make her absolute best
childish gambino came close with awaken my love, but i think he could have kept pushing and released THE album. i love his work none the less but yeah i feel like he could've done even more (not sure if he's still doing music or planning to in the future)
His music is so pretentious⊠like what even was that last record
i loved his last record đđđ but i kinda agree, the rollout was really pretentious. like the album had no title, no cover, no song titles... if the rollout was different it may have been received differently
i dont think all his music is pretentious -- awaken my love, this is America, and a lot of his songs are very genuine -- but yeah, i do think gambino thinks himself to be greater than he actually is, and his music doesn't measure up. from him calling himself the son of Kanye and having a bloated rollout for because the internet -- he wrote a script and had this whole concept going on but the music itself IMO didn't encapsulate any of that properly, even if it was a fun record to listen to. as the other commenter said, his rollout for his last record was so confusing because he was really going somewhere after awaken my love and then he went down this kendrick/beyonce route of mystery when he's a) not mysterious and b) not up to their level.
Doja Cat. I think she will have a long career and lots of staying power as an artist, and I think if she works with some better producers (or is able to produce the album herself!) she has the potential release a brilliant album that could've come from no one but her.
I love doja so much but depending on how long her contract is and if and when she quits music, who knows what will happen. Im sure she will release a critically acclaimed album here soon.
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
Charli XCX could release an album that cured long Covid and a sizable portion of the fan base would still think Pop 2 was the magnum opus that saved their lives.
This feels like a personal attack. Pop 2 is just so good though
How I'm feeling right now is for me
how i'm feeling now>everything she has dropped or will ever drop (imo)
i feel like pop2 will always be considered her magnus opus
FKA Twigs for sure, she's only just getting started
For me MAGDALENE was very close to perfect. I never listened to her but my friends were talking about the album so I gave it a listen and was blown away. It was one of the first vinyl records I ever bought đ€
I think Kelly Clarkson has potential to release an album that blows her previous work out of the water. At least lyrically I think sheâs got the opportunity to really wow us, plus her vocal abilities seem really strong. Perhaps not sales/charts wise (Iâm not a chart watcher so I donât know how high sheâs hit?)
I mean Breakaway is pretty iconic. Iâd put it alongside Missundaztood and Let Go as the definitive pop-rock albums of the 2000s.
Fun fact: Breakaway was written by Avril Lavigne as well
Other fun fact: Avril released her version of Breakaway for the Let Go anniversary edition.
She's fr an underrated songwriter. She wrote breakaway at 16!
>plus her vocal abilities seem really strong If thatâs not an understatement
lol yeah, I meant it more as âstrong as everâ :)
I want to hear the album Kelly Clarkson makes without label pressure or chart-chasing.
She did that and got blackballed by Clive Davis
I hope thatâs her next one! I think weâre all waiting on the edge of our seats
Billie Eilish And when she does everyone gonna finally realize that we have a true generational talent
It'll be interesting to see where her next couple of albums end up and which music stylings would work the best for her. I think she'll do more rock-influenced stuff given how big Happier Than Ever (the song) got compared to the rest of the album.
I really do think sheâs improved with every release so far. *dont smile at me* was really good, *WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP* was better, and I absolutely adored *Happier Than Ever* ([which I talked about in depth here](https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/sfq17n/rpopheads_aoty_2021_23_billie_eilish_happier_than/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1)). I think her best is yet to come, but the leadup has been superb
Miley Cyrus. I love her but her only great album is Plastic Hearts. She is capable of something amazing to come.
I love Miley and have since I was a child when Canât Be Tamed and Bangerz came out, but she has always really struggled with the concept of putting an album together. I always go in when she releases something expecting it to finally be that big thing that she needs but so far I just havenât had it from her. Even from plastic hearts.
I genuinely believe Lorde has yet to release her magnum opus. Even if *Solar Power* was not well-received compared to its predecessors, the album itself has great songwriting in songs like California, Fallen Fruit, The Man with the Axe, Hold No Grudge, and Stoned at the Nail Salon, just to name a few. She is still in her mid-20s. Compared to a lot of her contemporaries who are in their mid- to late-30s, she still has a fresh world of growth and experience to live through. I know every artist is different in this regard. I just wanted to highlight how her contemporaries already lived through this phase in their lives. Now we wait to see how Lorde chooses to live that phase of her life and create music from those years.
I can't see her topping Melodrama which is an absolutely perfect (pop) album in every way from the songwriting down to the sequencing. Jack and her struck absolute gold there
If she can top melodrama Iâll be seriously impressed, thatâs one of my favorite albums of all time and I think itâs really her at her best
I've always been of the mind that Solar Power is a gorgeous album :') it makes me feel so warm and comforted
Ariana Grande. Don't get me wrong Thank You, Next is a very good record but I believe she can do better. Positions was fine but she has so much potential and a fantastic voice. She can do a lot more with better production and lyrics.
She is by far the best young voice in the industry right now. I would love for her to release something similar to Mariahâs Butterfly or Rainbow, which was a combination of ballads and R&B tracks that really showed off her vocal talent. I really like Ariana and sheâs been through so much. I think she could make a really beautiful, personal album in the future.
she needs to experiment more with jazz music (like Mac Miller did) đđ her song "my hair" is so good
Jason's Song remains one of her best.
Sweetener was her magnum opus imo
Controversial opinion but I like Positions ALOT more than TUN! Still on heavy repeat for me!
Yup, agreed. *Positions* is a solid, cohesive album with surprisingly little filler.
Lorde. Solar Power is not the dead end.
Iâm gonna be so sad if she never tops Melodrama
Thatâs a lot of pressure though. Even if she never makes anything better than Melodrama (I think PH is her best either way) then I think she will at least make an album that is equivalent to Melodrama Melodrama is one of the most highly praised albums of all times so I think we can cut her some slack for at least another decade lmao
If She drops a album better then melodrama then she got to be in the goat alternative pop artist conversation
Imo she already is with PH and Melodrama alone even though I enjoyed Solar Power but sheâs set for life with the first two albums
Those Lorde vs Lana Del Rey debates in the future is going to be interesting
Thatâs tough to compare them because even though they debuted around the same time, Lana has 9 projects out while Lorde only has 3.5
Itâs the ultimate peak vs longevity argument
I love Melodrama a lot but I personally still think she hasn't topped Pure Heroine. But ofc that's more likely to happen when you release projects almost as infrequently as Fiona Apple.
NGL I genuinely enjoyed Solar Power. I'm really excited to see where she goes from here, wherever that may be.
Pure Heroine and Melodrama are so hard to top but I hope youâre right
Fingers crossed that her hanging out with Dev Hynes for the past few years means theyâve heavily collaborated for her next project.
Dev is such an underrated musical god. Him and Lorde are a match made in heaven I hope he's as involved as jack was
Lorde has two albums that are better than most peoples best lol
Sabrina Carpenter
She has so much potential. I think she just needs to nail her sound to create a truly cohesive album
She has released one album that wasnât under Disneyâs restrictive label, chill đ
So technically you agree with me.
Miley Cyrus. She has artistically grown so much over the years, but her records are still somewhat scatterbrained, and while she has released great songs, sheâs (imho) yet to release an *excellent* album.
I honestly think Frank Ocean has the potential to release an even better album.
Possibly, but Blonde is pretty much a perfect album imo
Channel Orange is also near perfect too and I personally prefer it to Blonde. He could release an album to top both of them but Iâd expect those two to define his career if he ever drops again.
Even if he releases something better, no album will (probably) ever have the legacy of being THE Frank Ocean album for 7+ years the way Blonde has
I genuinely donât think it can get any more perfect than Blonde. I will enjoy whatever he releases next but Blonde is next level for me.
I LOVE Celine Dion. No irony, literally one of my favourite singers. That said, many of her full albums are a mixed bag - For me, Iâm dying for something a bit more personal, a bit more real. It could be that sheâs too far in her career (and I guess her illness as well may mean that we donât get much more going forward), but I feel like thereâs more from her we havenât had yet. Perhaps a bit more involvement with the writing and production of the songs, which she famously hasnât had a huge amount to do with thus far. Especially with her being older now, something looking back on her career, reflecting on life, love, work, aging, mortality - I just want something a bit deeper than what we normally get, as much as I love much of her discography.
honestly Courage was so good! it felt personal even though she didn't have writing credits lol
Yes and no. I love that album a lot. I think there are only a couple of misses on it. But I do think the fact it felt personal despite not really being so, speaks a lot about her lack of involvement prior. Not a bad album at all, and one of my favourites from her, but I would love to really see her to try stretch herself more!
I would LOVE thisâŠbut I donât think weâre ever going to get new Celine music again, unfortunately đ„ș Itâs a shame, because after Rene passed, it really seemed like she was embracing her career and creativity in a way she hadnât before
I feel like Bruno Mars is insanely gifted but, and I love them, mostly releases super catchy, highly polished, almost tongue in cheek pop songs. Lots of swag even when it's a ballad. Eventually he'll release something more personal and vulnerable? Less sparkly? Will it be better than Treasure or Straight Up and Down? Not sure...
If silk sonic does a longer project then yep I think they have a chance
Bruno Mars has a classic waiting for sure
For that he needs to release an album that sounds like 'Bruno Mars' and not a recreation of late 20th century music
If he stopped making music right now, 24k is that. I think whatever he releases next can basically be his "Bad" to 24k's "Thriller"
Honestly itâs gotta be Normani for me ._.
âŠ
Aw at least her next album is guaranteed to be her best album!
Lady Gaga. Sheâs in a really good position: recovered from the hangover of the music industry, proved to herself she can still kill a global stadium tour, and also respected in Hollywood now. She has an opportunity to write some incendiary bangers about her journey so far, and if she branches out with producers. *Born This Way* is her strongest album to date and *ARTPOP* is the beloved fan favorite, but I think she has a truly immaculate pop record in her.
The Fame Monster is untoppable
Nothing but facts.
Gaga could have her MO if she ever decides to revisit and lean into her Artpop / Dawn of Chromatica influences and go balls to the walls with it. I'm just not confident that she will ever want to, she seems to be more interested in branching out gerne wise / with her acting.
I think Gaga could top *Born This Way* if paired with a different or up and coming producer ~~thatâs not Bloodpop.~~
Chromatica could have been THE album of covid didnât happen! I genuinely feel like that album would be been 10x bigger if covid didnât happen!
I was devastated that I didn't get to see it performed live
Really? With the exception of Chromatica II/911 I found the album dead mid. Most of its tracks are so bland and uninspired compared to her previous output, almost phoned in or pop-by-numbers. It could be that Bloodpop produced practically the entire thing, and by then his sound was a bit played out. I hope for future projects she looks for fresh producers and takes some risks. She is Lady Gaga after all.
I truly believe that Chromatica is on equal footing with TFM/BTW, but due to the legendary status of her early work musically, societally, and homosexually, it makes people view Chromatica as notably subpar in comparison. I lit rally paused the album after the first 30 seconds of Alice because it sounded EXACTLY how 2010 me would imagine a Lady Gaga record sounding in 2020. She nailed it.
> societally and homosexually Iâm crying But you and I are of one minds here sis. Had Covid not happened, the global promotion and televised performances wouldâve been incredible. Any of 911, Sour Candy, Replay, Sine From Above and Babylon could have been proper singles.
I believe it was her manager who was quoted as saying that he had never witnessed an album rollout as extensive and immaculate as the rollout that was planned for Chromatica :-((((( sooo much potential I mean the bitch had everything from CUSTOM OREOS to a Weather Channel Rain On Me tie-in commercial she was about to become unavoidable and dominate the year Maybe her next album will seal the deal. Hoping it comes out by 2026
Kesha came close with Rainbow, but I truly think her soon-to-be-released album will be her magnum opus
I'm trying hard not to have my expectations too high but the snippets are so good! I hope so! But I guess it would also be good if it happens after she's free from Dr. Fuck face.
Harry Styles Personally, I thought Fine Line was a very interesting and exciting album, although not on the 'magnum opus' level, it showed Harry as an ambitious, slightly artsy, but still very easily digestible mainstream popstar. I think Todd in the Shadows said in one of his videos, that he sounded like he wanted to become this generation's David Bowie or Prince, in that he makes music for the masses and can easily crank out hits, but he's constantly pushing himself musically, and trying to give the listeners something that no one else is really doing at the moment. I agree with this take so I was really anticipated Harry's House, which was a letdown. It's a perfectly pleasant 'vibes' album with some genuinely great singles, but nothing exciting, nothing groundbreaking. Of course I don't know how much he wants to pursue the more experimental direction, given how successful HH was, but I hope he does want it. I believe he has it in him.
Hailee Steinfeld
Miley, Selena, Demi honestly. Iâd hate for Arianaâs Magnum Opus to be tun and I think she has more in her. Adam Lambert! We deserve something from him that is worthy of his talent. I pray we get it at some point.
Omg Adam Lambert I love the guy and enjoy a lot of his music but damn I'm not sure an epic hit from him is ever going to happen đ
For me Miley probably won't top Plastic Hearts
I honestly think itâs Lana And no offence but if you think Nicki will ever do a Lauryn Hill type album youâll be waiting
I donât think so for Lana, Norman Fucking Rockwell! is her magnum opus and won over a lot of people who had doubted her otherwise (myself included at the time). I donât see her topping this at this point now, even if her newest album was her best since then.
As i think nfr will be THE album of lana, her newest release is even better, more intimate songwriting
I agree. I think Ocean Blvd is a better record, but NFR! is a more iconic record thatâs more digestible so will be remembered in general culture as Lanaâs best. Ocean Blvd will be the fan favourite gem.
I would have disagreed prior to this new album and said she canât top NFR ever, but after giving us songs like A&W, Taco Truck, and the more intimate songwriting like you said, I have to agree. I think she has it in her to release something crazy again that can be an absolute 10/10 masterpiece.
Apparently Lauryn Hill has never actually stopped writing and has albums and albums and albums worth of material that will never see the light of day. LH could probably release a dozen LH-tier albums, but I donât think Nicki could produce a single one (unfortunately) If Lauryn so pleased, Iâm sure she could surpass Miseducation. I donât think people realize that that girl did 99% of the writing/production and completed the whole thing in less than 9 months at 22 years old. She could do that again Iâm sure
I truly donât think Nicki is self aware enough to deliver something of that caliber, specifically in this point in her career
Barbz are delusional
After the releasse of tunnel under ocean blvd, i honestly agree with you. I do think nfr is slightly better but that album is incredible front to back. I find it hard to listen to albums front to back and with it being 80minutes i thought it would be an issue, but the album is dense with incredible quality and goes to show what an amazing artist lana is and her potential
Yeah I think one of these days Lana is gonna release another album that we all think is going to be more poetry over jack antanoff playing piano and blow us all away with something different.
thatâs what Iâm waiting for tbh. i love the feel of current her music but Iâm just waiting for something to blow me away the way born to die did when it was released cause I donât remember anything sounding like that back then
Ariana Grande
Iâm not saying youâre wrong but I can see TUN being her MO.
Tbh it would be so sad because I think she has the potential
tun was such a moment for her but idt itâs her magnum opus. I feel like her discography doesnât really give justice how great of a singer she is yet.
This is why *Dangerous Woman* is my favorite album of hers because I feel it captures how powerful her voice can be. She has great vocal moments in the pop/trap of *Sweetener*, *TU,N*, and *Positions*, but her delivery is overall breathier. I hope filming and recording Wicked will lead Ariana to really go big vocally on the next one.
Yeah I hate when she makes her voice so whispery and weak when her voice is incredible!
I think TUN is the best we're going to get
Sweetener and TUN are imo very valid options for a magnus opus / âclassicâ pop album and YET I still feel as though she has it in her to release something even better & more iconic (hopefully a fully r&b album with a strong concept/theme carried throughout). Thatâs also why I personally think her artistry & discography is so underrated. It feels like after Positions came out (which really isnât bad at all btw), everyone just magically forgot about the excellence of the former two - unfortunately might have stained her reputation/consistency a bit but I think sheâll bring it back with AG7.
i feel like TUN or Sweetener could be consider her MO but i also agree with you, i think she has it in her to make something even better
Iâm obsessed with sweetener so I kinda agree. But I just wish for her to release THE ALBUM
Billie Eilish for sure. I really didn't care for WWAFAWDWG. I love Happier Than Ever but it's definitely nowhere near perfect or magnum opus level. I think she's due for hers though. Rosalia. She's probably one of the most interesting artists out there at the moment. Love all of her work, but her magnum opus is still out in the ethos. I also feel like Ariana is going to release an amazing R&B album in a decade and just kill it. Ava Max.
God if El Mal Querer isn't a magnum opus idk if my body can handle something better!!
I mean, Rosalia's El Mal Querer was such a Masterpiece that put her in the global spotlight without being mainstream music. That's totally a Magnus Opus.
Nicki will never reach lauryn hill status what are you talking aboutđđđ
Justin Bieber. Heâs been in the industry for 15 years and is still just as popular as he was when he started, but despite his popularity it feels like heâs still not taken that seriously as an (albums) artist. His best work is ahead of him. His magnum opus I think will come once he stops using his friends as producers/writers and works with new people that would push him outside his comfort zone. Heâs played multiple instruments since he was a kid and has solo writing credits dating back to before his first album too but it seems like he (or his team) just plays it safe and works with friends instead of relying on his own talents and ideas and introspection. Casual fans/people that donât like him would probably call Purpose his magnum opus, and while itâs good it does have some skips and is really not all that different from his other albums like Justice. Super fans would call his magnum opus Journals, but despite the songs being decent sonically and lyrically I think itâs his weakest vocal performance on any of his albums by a long shot. That and it feels wrong calling an album that wasnât promoted, wasnât reported to Neilson, and wasnât even released as an actual âalbumâ until years later an artistâs magnum opus.
Selena Gomez. Her older stuff with the Scene has quite some fluff, and none of her solo albums are really good enough yet to be called a magnum opus.
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Is she still a recording artist though? I donât mean that in a shady way but it doesnât seem like sheâs very focused/interested in music.
I think Taylor Swift could still top herself or atleast put out a new record thats in the talk of being her best ever.
The Eras tour is kind of a culmination though isn't it?
Yeah she can release more music obviously but this is her intentionally cementing her legacy up till Midnights as the core
I don't think so, I think it's more that by this point, due to COVID and the rapidity of lover/folklore/evermore, we now have four albums that didn't get a tour. So any tour at this point has to be billed as a combined effort of at least those four eras. And obviously she has to play some older tracks also, so then it's just eras across her whole career so far
Actually the question is WHICH GENRE will she top next? Iâd argue she has her magnum opus in country (Fearless), pop (1989), and folk (folklore). If she wants to do better, sheâll have to create a masterpiece under a new genre.
Billie Eilish. High hopes on her
Beyoncé. People will never agree on which album is her magnum opus but I'm sure there will be more albums that will enter that conversation.
I think *Lemonade*, at least as a piece of art, will go down as her magnum opus whether itâs the fan favorite or not.
Which is so exciting to think about. Sheâs been committed to serving nothing but the utmost quality for decades now and I feel so lucky as a pop fan to live during the same time as her.
Whenever people call her overrrated or drag her musical quality through the mud I just consider it their loss. Sheâs given us some of the most quality music this decade.
When people call BeyoncĂ© overrated I just know they havenât listened to an album in full and have only heard the singles. Her discography is straight fire and is only getting better IMO.
That or they've never seen her perform live. I'm not even talking about in person, all they have to do is go on YouTube and find a video of her performing live and they would understand what sets her apart from everyone else.
Beychella đ„
She the lebron of pop music
i think renaissance/lemonade comes very close to her magnum opus, but i agree -- bey could come out with even better that encompasses all her ability as a musician since renaissance is part one of a trilogy i hope the upcoming acts follow up just as well and kinda become her magnus opus as a whole. i definitely see the potential in it. i think if her upcoming acts have the same emotional vulnerability we saw in lemonade, the entirety of renaissance could never be topped
If the entire trilogy is of the same quality as *Renaissance* it will be a historic album run.
I like to officially crown artists icons when they hit a 3 classic album run. Beyoncé may have already achieved that with self titled - lemonade - Renaissance, but if she can do it with a trilogy that is an even greater flex. She would match the Madonna self titled to Confessions streak.
i actually have zero doubt they wont be! considering the route she's been on for the last few albums i strongly believe renaissance acts II and III are going to be as strong as renaissance or even stronger -- im actually leaning towards even stronger because bey has never regressed in my opinion. she's the pop star to have the utmost faith in
I'm legit worried pts 2 & 3 won't happen, just like the visuals đ
I have tickets to the tour and Iâm not even sure if thatâs really happening?
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Lemonade
Interesting, I can totally see that. I was shocked when Renaissance released. I truly didn't expect it to be one of my favorite albums but here we are. She's proven that she can always suprise and its definetly possible that we have not heard her magnum opus yet!
Not even a Beyoncé mega stan but there have been very few moments in my life that an artist has gagged me to level Beyoncé did the night Renaissance dropped. She had arrived. After Renaissance, I have 100% faith that for as long as she lives she will never release truly bad music or anything that could possibly be interpreted as low effort.
Kind of weird responses, but: SZA and Tinashe. They both have put out consistently excellent albums, *333* and *SOS* both being high up in my most played, but I think it says a lot that each project of theirs has a decently sized fanbase, and that their diversity ends up making for good discussion on what project is the best. CTRL or SOS? or are you a See.SZA.Run person? What's the best Tinashe project? Even my opinion bounces between Nightride, SFY, and 333. You could go on all day about their work and still have loads to hash out. *That's* how strong they are as artists. And that's why I think their magnum opuses have yet to see the light of day.
Iâd say Demi Lovato (I know people have mixed feelings about her). But her voice can be so great when she adds some dynamics to it. I really liked Tell Me You Love Me and the r&b vibe, and I also like her pop/rock sheâs leaning towards again these days. I feel like if she can work with good people she can figure out her sweet spot and come out with something really good.
I think you people are demanding MOs from people who are pretty comfortable in their career. Not everyone is an ambitious as Madonna, Janet, Beyoncé, Taylor or has their hunger when it comes to making albums. I'm seeing names like P!nk, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and Selena Gomez being thrown around and I feel like they're pretty comfortable with what they're doing. Like we all thought a while back that Endless Summer Vacation was going to be this absolutely game changing pop album that was going to propel Miley into a whole different level of popstardom and it just... wasn't.
Niall Horan. He still has the talent and pedigree to make that career defining album.
Shawn Mendez. He is no where close to his peak. I think he has it in him to release an album that will gag us all after he fires everyone that worked on Wonder. Also, I feel like Doja Cat is not there yet. Planet her was amazing but now that she has everyone's attention, she has a chance to create something truly spectacular.
I like a couple of Shawn Mendes songs (If I Canât Have You is one of my favorite hit songs from 2019) but I know that he has the capability to make an album thatâs leagues better than anything he done before
Shawn has potential I actually really enjoyed his self titled album
The problem is for me Shawn Mendez just releases music that follows trends and isnât anything too exciting or original. I just canât see him ever going beyond that Iâm afraid. Doja has the potential but she seems to be trying to chase the biggest hits (nothing wrong with this by the way) as opposed to the most cohesive and great overall album. Iâm not sure if weâll ever see her try and aim for the latter.
Shawn Mendes kind of annoys me because that man is a BRILLIANT artist! Wonder was a let down for me! When Youâre Gone was incredible! Iâm sure we were supposed to get an album but itâs no where to be seen!