FROOT
| Marina and the Diamonds
FROOT
Froot is the third studio album by Welsh singer and songwriter Marina Diamandis, professionally known as Marina and the Diamonds. It was originally scheduled to be released on 3 April 2015 by Neon Gold Records and Atlantic Records, although it was ultimately released on 13 March 2015 in reaction to unauthorised Internet leaks. Written entirely by Diamandis, she collaborated with David Kosten for production. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
The strength of Marina Diamandis’ work, historically, has been her lack of subtlety and her playful Technicolor self-presentation. And yet on Froot, her focus is inward. Here, she ditches the mega-star collaborators and writes not only by herself, but about herself.
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Rolling Stone
Diamandis’ attitude falls flat on the slut-shaming anthem “Better Than That” and the misanthropic “Savages.” In the end, Diamandis can’t quite shape Froot into a coherent vision.
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Consequence of Sound
Once the next track begins, it’s hard to recall a lyric or chorus that came before it, and the result is an album that grows boring, albeit filling, by the time it reaches its end.
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The Line of Best Fit
This is Diamandis at her best. It’s almost worrying that she’s got to follow it up at some point.
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Drowned in Sound
Two years ago, it looked like her career was over, but with her triumphant third album, she's set to go places she could previously only dream of. 8/10 stars.
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The Guardian
Marina’s whooping, swooping mannerisms add to the sense of dislocation – but if you allow yourself to be swept into her world, it’s an intriguing place.
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DIY Mag
‘FROOT’ finds Marina at her most accomplished and intriguing.
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Umarced
Marina and The Diamonds third album, FROOT, is different from her previous two. There are no pop delicacies like How to Be a Heartbreaker or Hollywood, but it has some perfectly crafted indie/synthpop tunes.
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Digital Spy
There's much on Froot to love and even the tracks that dip into oft-chartered waters still have a playful spark that's hard to dislike, but three albums in, it's still difficult to see where Marina's collage of influence fits in pop's spectrum.
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the 405
It might not be the flashiest pop record we'll hear this year but it will prove to be a highlight.
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CLASH Music
Third album doesn't answer the burning questions.
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SF Gate
The synthesizer-heavy music still vibrates with glimmering, radio-friendly melodies, but the subject matter is much heavier; from “Savages,” which was written as a reaction to the Boston Marathon bombings, to “Happy,” which addresses Diamandis’ struggle with depression. On the album’s forceful climax, “Can’t Pin Me Down,” she pulls her contradictions into one compelling, giddy manifesto: “I am never going to give anything you expect.”
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Sputnik Music
Electra Heart went in hard on the fleeting mania of its concept, and maybe it burned out pretty fast, but the core of it will live considerably longer.
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Breathe Heavy
Marina and the Diamonds’ ‘FROOT’ is not only her best album yet, it’s an effort which is going to be nearly impossible for any pop artist this year to top.
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WPGM
It already feels a lot more real and reflective than anything off her electro pop predecessor Electra Heart and is challenging like her debut album The Family Jewels. Infact as a whole, Froot combines the best of both albums, it keeps the lyrical clarity of Electra Heart but the music is a lot more willing to divert into left field territories like on The Family Jewels, and it doesn’t need to adopt alter egos or wear wigs to appear interesting.
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Golden Plec
Given the miasma Marina found herself in following ‘Electra Heart’, this album’s focus is to reclaim her voice that she initially set our with. There’s no doubt made it with conviction too. Despite the fact that ‘FROOT’ is brimming with the singer’s personality, some of the music and productions begs to be pushed further sonically, which may have transformed the songs from the pleasant into the profound.
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Gutter Bubbles
Let the album end. Sit for a moment and think about how anyone’s voice can really be that incredible. Press play again.
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Gigslutz
Inarguably full of colourful identity and an inescapable wonderfully eccentric identity, artistically Marina has never seemed to be one for blending into the background with vanilla songs on relationship breakdowns, and her newest offering is no different.
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SPIN
Throughout the album’s concise, hyper-aware songs, the Welsh star (born Marina Diamandis) offers keen insights on love and self-worth, while maintaining the well-crafted blend of pop, dance, and instrumentally driven rock she’s become known for.
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Flood Magazine
With the exception of the sumptuous first, title track single and the fierce “Savages,” this LP’s songs don’t ignite a sense of longing for repeated plays—Diamandis’s powerful voice is all that keeps them from rotting on the vine.
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The Interns
In short I suppose Marina has offered us up a platter of Froot and each and every piece on the platter is a treat. She’s showing off her artistry with this album, avoiding the big names and collaborations, FROOT feels like it’s more a real piece of her soul that she’s offering to us. It’s got soaring pop melodies and even some tender moments that’ll bring a tear to your eye.
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Beat
root is the strongest album from Marina and the Diamondsto date and showcases Diamandis’ unusual vocal delivery, but there are a few tracks that fall flat.
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The Electricity Club
Froot is ultimately an album that manages the tricky task of straddling intimacy and reflection with some full-on power pop bangers. The polished production, with its use of space and mood, finishes the job with style and delivers yet another classic Marina And The Diamonds effort.
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AXS
The fresh batch of 12 tracks veer into electronic and pop-rock territory thanks to the set's sole producer, David Kosten. Marina makes this more of a personal effort having penned the entire set alone. There's moments of triumph and heartbreak but it's the searing social commentary that makes this her sweetest record yet.
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Ranting About Music
FROOT is a solid pop album despite a few bad apples.
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The Upcoming
Perhaps the artist merely tries too hard to be individual. Yet, her 2015 album of pure innovation, Froot, appears posed to finally propel Diamandis to a glistening utopia of victory.
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Alt Music Box
Marina and the Diamonds’ third LP is a success: it’s the type of record that will appeal to new and old fans alike, and may even win over some casual radio listeners with its tuneful hooks and melodies.
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musomuso
Froot' is her most artistic, consistent and colourful collection yet, unravelling further joy and beauty with each listen.
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Mind Equals Blown
Marina and the Diamonds’ Froot is an amazing representation of a female vocalist who is working her hardest to not be pinned down as one thing.
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Renowned for Sound
Froot is sweet, delicious, ripe and juicy; Marina and the Diamonds just keeps getting better and better with each album release, and her third album exists as a great example to that statement. 5/5 stars.
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The WP Wire
The third album from artist Marina Diamandis, also known as Marina & The Diamonds, has proved you don't need a million co-writers and producers to create a successful album.
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HTF Magazine
“Froot” is a, well, fruity pop album filled with lots of easy-to-listen-to songs, aided by Marina’s tremendous voice – but it’s not revolutionary.
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Pretty Much Amazing
In the end, FROOT emerges from its bloated fifty-minute run an adequate, yet unoriginal album. For another artist that would be a decent effort, but for someone like Diamandis, who has proven her capability for much better material, her third album is a disappointment, an awkward #tbt that overstays its welcome and never really returns to the present day.
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A Bit of Pop Music
Listening to Electra Heart sometimes felt like witnessing Marina playing a character and chasing a hit (not that it was a bad thing, because the album was filled with loads of brilliant pop songs), but FROOT gives you the feeling you really get to know her, both as an artist and as a person. She completely follows her own path on this one and good for her. She delivers an honest, consistent, cohesive and above all convincing third album.
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Cultured Vultures
Froot is not fantastic pop in a package like her earlier work, but the point is, that it doesn’t have to be. You can’t ignore Marina’s skill at engineering pop jewels, and creative ballads so pick it up for the must have tracks alone and make Froot worth your money.
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Aus Pop
Marina, and her Diamonds, has always been quite good at delivering pop hooks with soulful electronic influences and vulnerable lyrics. And happily she continues this trend with her third album ‘Froot’.
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Digital Journal
Marina and The Diamonds released her brand new album, "Froot," on Atlantic Records and it is absolutely perfect from start to finish.
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Head Stuff
It falls short of its lofty ambitions and features many of the same traits that she has been criticised for in the past.
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All Music
Ultimately, with Froot, Diamandis has crafted an arch, swaggeringly impressive album that balances its pop sweetness with a deep-rooted maturity.
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Taking Over The Universe
Lyrically, this album may be the best collection of songs I have ever heard. It's definitely my favorite new release so far this year, but with it's slower paced feel overall, it's definitely not for everybody. Hell, for those stuck in the time of Electra Heart, it may not even be for all of Marina's fans. But for those willing to open their minds, or those who just love her siren-esqu voice, this is definitely an album you are going to want to get your hands on ASAP.
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Exepose
This juxtaposition of melody and meaning is characteristic of the well-thought out lyrics which set Marina & the Diamonds aside from other pop music. The problem is, whilst Froot may be lyrically interesting it’s not all that great to dance to, and that was always the bit Marina & the Diamonds did best.
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The AU Review
Diamandis's style and talent is evolving on every album in an interesting way. It does trail off a bit towards the end ('Weeds' is a much slower song), but even then the songs are still enjoyable. They're just less high-energy than the start of the album. Diamandis writes pop music for clever art girls who want to dance, and she does it well.
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Entertainment Weekly
The Welsh chanteuse’s first two records were rooted in clubby dance-pop, but on her latest, she tosses off the dubstep like cheap cubic zirconia. The change highlights her brightest facet—that limber voice, which swings from voluptuous alto to fluttering soprano in one swoop. But there’s good fun in Froot, too, with its smirking quips (“You think I’m like the others/Boy, you need to get your eyes checked”) and bubbling beats.
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The Harborlight
I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I liked that it carried a happier and almost more complete mood that made for less heavy listening. However; I did end up in tears after hearing “Happy” for the first time, (and many times after).
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Album Confessions
Welsh artist Marina and the Diamonds is a peculiar pop star specimen with tremendous vocal abilities. With two diverse albums already under her belt, it sounds as if the "Primadonna" singer has ripped various influences from her first two efforts to carefully form her third, more cohesive, offering, the succulent FROOT.
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TN2 Magazine
For Electra Heart, Diamandis was playing a character, an amalgamation and exaggeration of all things “quirky” and the focus was very much on the general image. But what makes Froot better is that the spotlight is well and truly back on the music as Diamandis presents us with this mature and honest, yet wonderfully poppy album.
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The Hawk Eye
I expect fans to have to adjust their ears a bit to become comfortable with all that is new about “FROOT,” but I have no doubt that they will adore the album.
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Derek Please
9/10. It’s safe to say that FROOT is something that lyricism snobs and club kids alike can enjoy.
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Rolling Stone
"Froot" lives from Marina's incomparable gallop through the keys - just kiekenend, now again in the role of Brummbären. Kate Bush meets Shirley Manson and Brody Dalle. In this form, Marina Diamandis is the largest serious female pop star in the universe (under 30).
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The Intrepid
Regardless of if listeners are past fans of Diamandis, emerging fans or are uninterested in her catchy tunes, most agree that she has most definitely rocked the music industry [with FROOT].
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Sound Of Brit
If Froot is not an unforgettable album in which each title would be a nugget of ingenuity, it offers a form of coherence that brings together. Everyone will identify with the titles that best illustrate it, and we will be surprised to love this sensitive and touching heroine. Because finally this heroine, it is perhaps Marina Diamandis. It shows the impression that the pop character created by Diamandis was more bare than ever, and that the beautiful brunette has opened a new chapter of a career that we hope beautiful and rich.
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The Breeze
“Froot” is the work of an artist who’s charting her own path. It’ll be interesting to see where she ends up. Wherever it is, it’ll be a fun trip to take with her.
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Alter The Press!
After mixing in equal parts of grapes, lemons, blueberries, cherries, and apples, the resulting smoothie is a space-disco exhibition exploring the long road to our imminent demise and the struggle to leave our mark on the way there.
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Rob's Wall of Music
Even though I haven’t listened to Electra Heart for a while, I think I enjoy this album more. Rather than making a point by making an example out of a caricature, this album looks inside for questions and answers and is one of the more thought provoking pop albums out there.
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Spectrum Pulse
Marina is still a solid singer with real personality and she can definitely write good hooks, which is enough to elevate this album
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Musik Express
The third album of the pop singer reveals well-known blemishes.
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LSU Now
Marina and the Diamonds’ new album “Froot” features fun pop but doesn’t quite live up to the fiery legacy of its predecessor, “Electra Heart.” Despite this, “Froot” still proves to be ripe.
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PressPLAY OK
[Marina] doesn’t really have anything new to say, nor a particularly exciting way to say it.
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Thomas Bleach
This is an album you need to go into listening with an open mind as it is nothing like her last bubblegum pop record but the essence of her quirkiness is still there. I’m glad she’s taken full creative control for this album because we have gotten to know her on a deeper connection and haven’t lost her to the machine.
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SceneSisters
Rare in its cohesive nature and overall quality of concept, FROOT doesn't just settle for a few massive hits, but offers up plentiful supplies of pop perfection. Diamandis' latest album shows that it has the heart and emotive content to compel its listeners and the catchy choruses to keep them hooked. Likely to satiate fans for a few years, FROOT is a rare gem amongst some desolate pop shores.
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Pop U Love
If you aren’t anticipating the April 3rd release of the new Marina and the Diamonds album, FROOT, then you should be. This mellow follow-up to Electra Heart shows a less energetic, more personal side of the “How To Be A Heartbreaker,” and nearly every song has a chance to be your favorite.
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The Panther Press
Overall, the album being Diamandis’ third proves to be a memorable one which unravels her genuine voice and abilities to create meaningful songs with such a complexity to them that make them lasting in her musical career.
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Los Angeles Times
Three years later, Diamandis has taken a different approach for the new Marina and the Diamonds album, "Froot." Written entirely by the singer and co-produced by her and David Kosten, the record trades the knowing characterizations of "Electra Heart" for more personal material about relationships and self-fulfillment. Sonically too, it's more intimate, with lots of tolling piano and dreamy guitar.
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UKMIX
The album stands as a body of work that could win over even Marina's staunch critics, and if Marina has proven anything with this album, it's that you can still make a compelling pop record without compromising your integrity.
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KK's Music Box
FROOT is the perfect album for the listener who appreciates and relates to a diary-like style of growth in themselves, or preferred an even more candid version of Marina’s writing; but if you are looking for the bubblegum chewing homewrecker, she no longer resides in Marina. No, Marina has grown, and FROOT is her musical diary show casing just that.
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Entertainment Monthly
Froot shows the growth of Marina and the Diamonds as an artist and a woman by completely shifting tones from her previous record.
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Maria's POV
This album will be one of the best albums of 2015, because of it’s raw, special connection to Marina Diamandis. This album shows her honesty and sincerity during her development into herself, creating a personal experience for any listener.
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Lady I and J
“FROOT” is an album you should definitely give a chance to. Filled with strong statements and extraordinary sounds, this record marks a noteworthy start for this years’ spring.
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The Circular
Marina and the Diamonds is a girl’s best friend.
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Mixtapes and Monuments
Marina has done more than just set FROOT up to be one of the best albums of 2015. She’s also set it up to be one of the most down-to-earth, personal pop albums of the decade.
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Saad Hameed Photography
It's nothing groundbreaking, it's just pop done really well. It's rather bright for a breakup record, and sometimes it does get very rudimentary, but it has enough spice and edge that it rises up from the mundane. It's better than it has any right to be, and caught me hook, line and sinker.
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The Paw Print
'FROOT’ is a brilliantly composed album that features thoughtful and compelling lyrics paired with catchy beats.
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Reading Malone
Beautiful starry CD with a rainbow edge.
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The Irish Times
The arrangements vary from polite club bangers (title track) to stripped-back ballads (Happy, Immortal) to glorious pop, but what connects everything is Dia- mandis’s assured creative bent, which remains original, singular and ridiculously poptastic.
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The Daily Cougar
“Froot” is Diamandis’ most successful album to-date, giving listeners something new and nutritious to chew on.
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Redbrick
Not only Marina’s most coherent and confident offering, Froot sees her entering a new stage of her career; no longer concerned with commercial success (another 'Primadonna' wouldn’t hurt though right?) or the trappings of a 21st century pop icon (but I would pick up the phone if Max Martin came calling). It’s not only a delight from start to finish, it shows that you really shouldn’t doubt Marina and the Diamonds, or pin her in a corner.
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