Even though it's not set for release until Sept. 3, Nickelodeon star Ariana Grande's debut album "Yours Truly" has made its way to the web early thanks to an anonymous leaker.
Filled with catchy, R&B-infused pop tracks, Grande does vocal gymnastics all over the album, recalling superstar Mariah Carey with her impressive pipes and vocal range. So far, critics have been praising the track "Piano" as one of the album's stand-out songs, unsurprising considering the success of Grande's latest singles "The Way" featuring Mac Miller and "Baby I," Idolator praising the latter as "sparkling and jazzy, and probably the purest pop song on 'Yours Truly,' eschewing the neo-soul and '90s R&B influence for a straight-up radio pop vibe."
Indeed, the entire album is packed with catchy hooks that recall bygone times and bittersweet romance. Impressively, Grande had a hand in co-writing many of them, including the lovely opener "Honeymoon Avenue" and the critic's pick, "Piano." Grande's duet with Nathan Skyes, "Almost Is Never Enough," is featured on the official soundtrack of the new teen fantasy film "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones," alongside celebrity pal Demi Lovato's rock ballad "Heart by Heart."
In fact, when Grande's official album hits stores, a special duet with Lovato called "Direct Contact" will be available on the deluxe version, which the two are very excited about releasing. Grande has also collaborated with rapper Big Sean on a new '90s-inspired track called "Right There" for the album, and the deluxe version will also include collabs with Justin Bieber and Fabolous.
Grande has said previously in an interview with Just Jared Jr. that her new project is "Motown inspired pop and soul," completely different from her first, commercial pop single "Put Your Hearts Up," released in 2011. Although the singer has been recording a number of songs for years, including the bubbly, fan favorite "Pink Champagne" that sadly did not make the album, this is the first time she's released official music, and so far she's been charting quite well.
"The Way," for instance, helped propel Grande to musical stardom, topping the iTunes chart within seven hours of its release and debuting at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The catchy track about the early stages of falling in love has garnered overall positive critical reception and helped secure Grande's place as an equal competitor among fellow teen-pop and young adult singers like Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez.
Make sure to pre-order your copy of Ariana Grande's debut album, "Yours Truly!"
Click here to listen to a LQ sneak peek of Grande's new album!
