Selena Gomez, Rare | Album Review 💿

Selena Gomez steps up her game on her sixth studio album, Rare, simultaneously conveying emotion and honesty and dropping pop bops.

Prior to 2020, the last time that a Selena Gomez album arrived was in 2015.  That’s when Gomez unleashed her Revival, which included hits “Kill Em with Kindness”, “Hands to Myself”, “Same Old Love”, and my personal favorite, “Good for You”.  Here’s the thing. I’ve rarely been able to personally connect to Gomez, even if she’s an artist not marketed to me as a music enthusiast. The main rub I’ve had personally has been the vocals. In the past, she’s admitted that she’s not the best vocalist, which in my book, elevates my respect level.  She also gets a bit more respect from me because her sixth studio album, Rare, has plenty of selling points, something I never thought I’d say.

“Rare”

“It feels like you don’t care / Why don’t you recognize I’m so rare?” Title track ✓ “Rare” successfully kicks things off, finding Selena Gomez schooling her lover how special – how rare – that she is. Ultimately, she’s NOT going to let him bring her down: “I’m not gonna beg for you / I’m not gonna let you make me cry.” The percussion, with its retro sensibilities, and bass line stand out in particular, on the first of a couple productions courtesy of Sir Nolan and Simon Says. As for Gomez, even being assertive in attitude, she’s as cool as a cucumber atop the backdrop.

“Dance Again” is another emotional, minor-key cut, but with some tempo and a feel-good groove behind it. Notably, it’s co-written by one of pop’s ‘it’ songwriters, Justin Tranter.  Gomez switches producers this go-round, opting for the skills of Mattman & Robin.  Like opener “Rare,” the results are positive, finding Gomez asserting, “Feels so, feels so, feels so good to dance again / With my emotions undressed, I’m going in with everything.”

“Look at Her Now” 

✓ “Look at Her Now” checks off some of the usual boxes for a Selena Gomez record.  Vocally, she isn’t flashy, focusing more on gimmickry and subtlety.  Never a particular flashy vocalist, let alone ‘prodigious,’ she gives a respectable performance all in all.  Because “Look at Her Now” opts for a quicker tempo and embraces urban-electro-pop, the playful, gimmicky vocals served up are sufficient.  Additionally, backing vocals and colorful harmonies that help make the record satisfying.  The most satisfaction occurs on the repetitive chorus: “Mm-mm-mm… / Look at her now, watch her go.” The song won’t change your life, but it’s enjoyable, with lovely production by Ian Kirkpatrick, and a star-studded team of writers including Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter once more.

“I saw the signs and I ignored it / Rose-colored glasses all distorted / Set fire to my purpose / And I let it burn / You got off on the hurtin’ / When it wasn’t yours.” Selena Gomez is reflective on standout ballad ✓ 🤩 “Lose You to Love Me”, where she parts ways with her lover to ultimately learn to love herself.  On this particular single, she sounds respectable, not overreaching or underwhelming vocally. The performance is balanced, suiting the piano and pad-driven backdrop well.  On the chorus, she gets a boost from backing vocals, elevating the intensity level. Ultimately, there are plenty of things to like about “Lose You to Love Me.” That includes the message made by Gomez, which is thoughtful and quite relatable. It’s a noteworthy moment for the pop singer.

“Ring”

Following up the likes of “Rare,” “Look at Her Now,” and “Lose You to Love Me” is a tall task. ✓ “Ring” is up to the challenge.  This is a playful, if subtle, tongue in cheek record that suits Gomez’s personality well.  As usual, she takes a more low-key approach, yet still manages to be quite effective in execution. Co-produced by once more by Sir Nolan and Simon Says, Sean Douglas and Johan Lenox join the production team as well. The backdrop features some lovely touches, led by the groove, Spanish guitar, and lovely strings.

“If I show you all my demons, and we dive into the deep end
Would we crash and burn like every time before?
…If the only other option’s letting go
I’ll stay vulnerable.”

Even though Selena Gomez is “Vulnerable,” she does so with another awesome groove fueling her emotional fire.  Again, one of the big selling points of Rare is how SG manages to be emotional and honest, while also dropping some catchy, totally enjoyable bops.  “Vulnerable is notably co-written by Jon Bellion, a pop production/songwriting force, as well as an intriguing solo artist in his own right (Remember, he had an “All Time Low”). He co-produces with another respectable production team, The Monsters & Strangerz.  Again, the results are successful.  “People You Know” switches up the producers again, bringing Jason Evigan, Billboard, and Alex Hope.  The background is a sleek as anything else, yet never too busy to crowd Gomez’s thin but colorful vocals.  The emotionally charged script continues, as two people have drifted apart.

“We used to be close, but people can go
From people you know to people you don’t.”

“Let Me Get Me”

“Let Me Get Me” marks Rare’s second production courtesy of Mattman & Robin.  The groove is utterly infectious (the case throughout the album, if you couldn’t tell), while the synths are hypnotic.  Even with the rhythmic, quick pace of “Let Me Get Me,” Gomez continues a cool, calm, and collected approach.  The premise of “Let Me Get Me” is for Gomez to get out of her head: “I need to let my mind rest / While my body reflects.” Some kind of “dance floor therapy” to say the least.

In addition to featuring Grammy-nominee 6LACK, standout ✓ “Crowded Room” features co-songwriting by Grammy-nominated pop artist, Bebe Rexha.  Produced once more by Sir Nolan and Simon Says, “Crowded Room” has more of an urban contemporary sound and vibe. Quite sensual in sound, I love the way that Gomez uses her upper register. Sure, the falsetto may be thin, but it’s pretty sweet.  Sort of patterned after one my favorite SG songs, “Good for You,” 6LACK plays the role of A$AP Rocky in this edition. 

“Hey, you started out sweeter than hard candy / Words were like licorice to the taste / But slowly, all the sugar, it went to waste.” Uh-oh – trouble in paradise! “Kinda Crazy” once again brings on an entirely different production team: Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark, and Rami Yacoub. Ultimately, it’s another catchy, playful, and inoffensive number.  Furthermore, Selena Gomez continues get her love problems off her chest.

“Fun”

“Fun,” produced by Ojivolta, marks the second record co-written by Grammy-nominated artist/songwriting Julia Michaels.  “Fun” is a lighthearted, flirty cut where Gomez just can’t resist a potential troublesome lover: “But my kind of trouble likes your trouble too.” Penultimate record ✓ “Cut You Off” is the sole culprit for the parental advisory, explicit lyrics classification of Rare.  The offending lyrics? “Professionally messin’ with my trust / How could I confuse that shit for love?”  Despite exhibiting a ‘potty mouth,’ Gomez is quite effective on the feisty cut, without losing to much of her chill.  David Pramik gives her a relatively soulful backdrop to end – rather “cut off” – the relationship.

✓ “A Sweeter Place” finds Selena Gomez as the participate in an unlikely collaboration.  Being honest, did anyone envision SG and Kid Cudi making a record together?  The lengthiest song off of Rare is produced by a team including Cudi himself, Mike Dean, Patrick Reynolds, Oladipoo Omishore, and Ian Kirkpatrick.  The results are quite unique with ‘sweet’ synths, those signature hums from Cudi, and breezy, but tasty vocals from Gomez.  Furthermore, listeners get a lovely chorus out of it as well.

“Is there a place where I can hide away?
Red lips, French kiss my worries all away
There must be a sweeter place
We can sugarcoat the taste
Sweeter place…”

Final Thoughts

Going into Rare, I honestly can’t say that I had high expectations.  Admittedly, I’ve had my fair share of criticism for Selena Gomez, specifically regarding her vocal abilities.  That said, I think Rare is an enjoyable, well-rounded album that works quite well for Gomez.  She’s still not a prodigious vocalist, but the cool, calm, and collected approach is quite successful, coupled with productions tailor-made for her, and emotional, honest, and relatable songwriting.  I guess you could say this is the Rare album by the artist that I approve of.

✓ Gems: “Rare,” “Look at Her Now,” “Lose to Love You,” “Ring,” “Crowded Room,” “Cut You Off” & “A Sweeter Place”

Selena Gomez • Rare • Interscope • Release: 1.10.20

Photo Credit: Interscope