Revival

About

“I’m reborn in every moment, so who knows what I’ll become,” Selena Gomez declares at the outset of <i>Revival</i>, her second album as a solo artist. Gomez had gone through a lot since the 2013 release of her first full-length, <i>Stars Dance</i>: She had moved on from Disney-owned Hollywood Records to pop powerhouse Interscope; her on-and-off relationship with fellow ex-teenpopper Justin Bieber was under scrutiny from the press and fans; and she had been diagnosed with lupu, which resulted in her canceling part of <i>Stars Dance</i>’s attendant world tour. In the run-up to <i>Revival</i>’s release, Gomez told <i>Women’s Wear Daily</i> that the album would have “a little darkness in it.” Compared to the brightly hued <i>Stars Dance</i>, <i>Revival</i> does represent a shift in mood, with Gomez—credited as one of the album’s co-executive producers—bringing together electro beats and brooding vibes in a way that shows her evolving artistry and maturity. Even on tracks where she unleashes her voice at full force, like the spiky kiss-off “Same Old Love” and the powerful “Sober” (a swirling broadside at a lover struggling with addiction), Gomez is coming from a cooler, more questioning place, with the singer guarding herself against reliving the painful experiences she’s already endured. .

via Apple Music

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