Radical Optimism (studio album) by Dua Lipa

I was really surprised by how little I heard about “Radical Optimism”. After the giant “Future Nostalgia”, I thought her next work would be everywhere. I may have heard “Illusion” once, but nothing more. After listening to the album, I’m no longer surprised. Fundamentally, it is a plain project. The indulgent disco grooves and big vocals are replaced with dry electronic touches. Kevin Parker’s production here is the least ambitious of his career. Dua Lipa, herself sounds checked out on the vocals for most of the album. The only thing of note is the vocal run at the beginning of “Falling forever”. There are no big stumbles either, just mediocre consistency. Unseasoned chicken and rice in album form.

Album Rating: 67.91
(747/11)

03.05.2024

Dua Lipa (UK): Radical Optimism

1.End Of An Era 61
2.Houdini 70
3.Training Season 73
4.These Walls 67
5.Whatcha Doing 67
6.French Exit 67
7.Illusion 67
8.Falling Forever 67
9.Anything For Love 69
10.Maria 70
11.Happy For You 69

In order:

Dua Lipa (RO) - Training Season 73
Dua Lipa (RO) - Houdini 70
Dua Lipa (RO) - Maria 70
Dua Lipa (RO) - Anything For Love 69
Dua Lipa (RO) - Happy For You 69
Dua Lipa (RO) - These Walls 67
Dua Lipa (RO) - Falling Forever 67
Dua Lipa (RO) - Whatcha Doing 67
Dua Lipa (RO) - Illusion 67
Dua Lipa (RO) - French Exit 67
Dua Lipa (RO) - End Of An Era 61

From corenfro 05/03/2024 20:25

In before this record get torn to shreds by this site. People are acting like it's Solar Power 2.0. It's not. It sounds a lot like you'd expect from Kevin Parker and Danny Harle although I'd say it sounds a lot closer to "Dua Lipa on a Tame Impala track" roughly the slow rush era, than it does anything to do with any of the recent Caroline Polachek records.

It was not as good as it could have been and not as bad as everyone is making it out to be. It's decent, and more importantly, it's palatable and short. It's better than TTPD just by virtue of I don't want to listen to 2 hours of evermore b-sides.

Hopefully Dua Lipa is not done yet as she basically didn't take any risks on this. It's not awful but it's not going to push forward the boundaries of synthpop.

From HoldenM 05/03/2024 19:39

Dua Lipa has yet to make a revelatory album, but I will settle for very good, finely tuned pop music that has enough wit to put her above average, and enough punch and swagger to have fun with. Radical Optimism is no exception, and frankly, that's fine.