Album Review: Ava Max - Heaven & Hell

Ava Max’s long awaited debut album is an exercise of futility. Fifteen tracks, many of which don’t even run to three minutes, of tightly produced pop bangers, but if there’s an album that could desperately have done with a second draft, it’s probably this one, the songwriting frequently being the weak link that compromises an otherwise decent album. That being said, Ava Max and her many collaborating songwriters and producers certainly didn't make a boring pop album, and Ava Max certainly has the charisma and attitude to sell these songs with considerable ease. As for her unique style, think something like Zara Larsson by way of Dua Lipa and you've pretty much got it - just more frequently obnoxious than the former and devoid of the consistently strong songwriting of the latter.

On the topic of both of those things, however much I like Ava Max as a vocal presence on this album, there are moments on this album where the attitude Max presents rides right up to the line of obnoxious. The most obvious of these moments being the bratty spoken word bridge on the aggressively unlikeable 'OMG What's Happening', a song where Ava Max admits to lying to her partner on the first verse before spending the rest of the song flailing to try and win them back, where her blatant emotional insecurity and overall clinginess is probably a fair reason why her ex might be hesitant to approach her again. But another song that falls into this category is 'Who's Laughing Now'. I feel like it's trying to be empowering, but Ava Max's playing the mindless bitchy pretty girl pointing and laughing at some ex she left behind is not an interesting lane for her.

But they're the minority of songs here, so I won't hold it against the album too much. What I will hold against this album is the frequently underwhelming songwriting on songs I otherwise like. Whether it's the repetitive hook and underdeveloped central metaphor on 'Belladonna' or the declarative and obvious pandering of 'So Am I' (a song I liked until I realised it was a copy paste of Jess Glynne's 'All I Am'), flimsy songwriting plagues this album, with by far the biggest example being 'Kings & Queens'. I love the pounding synths and Ava Max sells the hell out of the song, but the clunky chess metaphor that she tries to crowbar into working on the third verse makes less and less sense the more you think about it, especially with how celebratory the line is both phrased and delivered.

Putting those moments aside, when this album works, it really works, either by playing into relationship melodrama against blaring but melodic production ('Tattoo', 'Sweet But Psycho'), or with lyrics that play in broader empowerment territory like 'Born To The Night', a song I like until that disgusting filmy vocal effect is lathered over Ava Max's voice on the third verse. Then there's 'Torn' which might as well be a more fun version of 'OMG What's Happening' with Ava Max even saying on the second verse that she kinda secretly loves the drama - charming in a slightly weird way. But if you're looking for the album standout, that would be 'Naked', a straightforward song about opening up to someone who you know you want to get closer to, but might not have the confidence to take the next step with. It might might be most rewarding song here as, by the third verse, she does learn to let go of her insecurities and just surrender to this person. Probably the sole moment of emotional vulnerability on this album.

If you like pop music, you'll probably find at least something to like on this album. Sure, it's underdeveloped, doofy, inconsistently written, but there are enough good songs here that remind me why I fell in love with 'Sweet But Psycho' when I heard it on the radio for the first time. Take those and get out.

3 / 5

Best Songs: 'Naked', 'Tattoo', 'Born To The Night', 'Torn', 'Sweet But Psycho'

Worst Songs: 'OMG What's Happening', 'Belladonna'