G I R L
| Pharrell Williams
G I R L
Girl (stylized as G I R L) is the second studio album by American singer and record producer Pharrell Williams. The album was released on March 3, 2014, by Columbia Records and Williams' label i Am Other. Girl was Williams' first studio album since his 2006 debut, In My Mind. It contains appearances by Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk, JoJo and Alicia Keys. --Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
Show All-
Pitchfork
An immaculately blended pop smoothie bound for ubiquity.
-
Rolling Stone
Girl plays like a concept album, the concept being that Pharrell likes girls a lot. But he’s never pushy or gross about it.
-
The Guardian
You can't deny that this is the sound of an artist thoroughly enjoying himself. Sometimes that's the most important message of all.
-
Consequence of Sound
Those who aren’t giving him the time of day are missing out on some of the richest, most tasteful pop of a generation. And G I R L, his first solo album since 2006’s In My Mind, is 47 more minutes to back that up.
-
NME
By the mirrorball moment that heralds the lengthy coda to the closing ‘It Girl’, you’re left giddy and breathless, applauding a 20-year veteran who’s finally found his voice.
-
Clash Music
He isn’t raising the game on this album – it’s a thoughtful, imaginative unit-shifter with some sincere themes running through it. But “different”? Not quite.
-
Soul Tracks
Though it has its share of noticeable drawbacks, especially with his vocal pitch and depth, the content by far offers a stronger musicality than his predecessor.
-
AV Music Club
At what point does his disco pep begin to wear out its welcome? Probably around the 50-minute mark, but that isn’t an issue, since G I R L only runs 47.
-
The 405
Here is a record that should act as a shining light of how pop music should be done.
-
Red
A limit of 10 tracks makes you feel as if you're missing something. Expect the revolutionary? You won't find it here. But an album that'll sell? You've got it.
-
Slant Magazine
May have benefited from a few more introspective trips back to the drawing board.
-
The Chicago Tribune
For most of it, the singer reins in his freakier side for something more accessible, a logical, frothy if somewhat risk-averse follow-up to last summer's chart-topping singles.
-
Student Life
Regardless of how you feel before putting this album on, you will leave feeling a bit brighter and a bit more willing to dance your way down the sidewalk, and that’s all you can really ask for from a great set of songs.
-
Time Out
The hitmaker shows his age with a conservative but brilliantly groovy pop album
-
Roobla
Just when you thought he couldn’t continue to dominate the music world anymore, he releases a new album that proves that he truly is an unstoppable force right now.
-
Las Vegas Weekly
Paradoxically, it is most compelling (and focused) when he stays in the spotligh... without the added cushion of a musical foil, he has only himself on which to rely, and more often than not, he rises to the occasion.
-
USA Today
Pharrell stays happy, and groovy, on 'G I R L'
-
Cherwell
At the age of 40, he is perhaps the most ‘current’ and forward-thinking mainstream pop-act today showing us youngsters exactly how it’s done.
-
Digital Spy
The singer's positivity radiates through his collection of slick R&B-funk.
-
The Orion
If you need some new dance or car jams, this upbeat album won’t disappoint.
-
Music OMH
May not be breaking many new boundaries, but it’s guaranteed to keep him in ludicrously large hats for some time to come.
-
Off the Tracks
A breezy, rather pointless album. And to get to those decent moments we have to pass through a lot of pop-dross that’s masquerading at new-soul.
-
Drowned In Sound
Musically, this is a pleasant record, one that’ll soundtrack many a packed yet ultimately sensible party ... but any lingering hopes that he may be wishing to morally reconcile for his part in Thicke’s mess with something so tentatively titled as G I R L should be extinguished right now.
-
Pretty Much Amazing
Calculated to death and buffed to an immaculate sheen, all dressed up with no motivation to go anywhere: that’s G I R L.
-
Female First
A stellar record with some moments of brilliance.
-
Tiny Mix Tapes
All of this is borderline insulting to its target audience, myself included.
-
Hip Hop DX
While it is too surface-level at times, it hits the target it’s aimed for.
-
Pear Shaped Dexter
A good effort, but he has produced better.
-
The National
Flawed, idea-filled and, ultimately, feel-good. He continues to ride a rich creative wave.
-
Cultured Vultures
“It’s better to burn out than to fade away,” said Neil Young, years back. On the back of hearing this new album by Pharrell Williams, it’s fair to say that he should have set himself on fire years ago.
-
Renowned for Sound
Sees him stylistically jumping here, there and everywhere and while it’s really impressive, it lacks a lot of the soul we know he’s more than capable of providing.
-
Blast Magazine
He clearly knows what the audiences want, and delivered with a fun, light album that favors simplicity and effective communication over complex sounds and jumbled concepts.
-
Hot Press
Both musically innovative and commercially huge ... a masterclass in brilliantly produced pop.
-
Daily Beast
Even if it does not represent his most boundary-pushing, genre-defying work, it is perhaps the truest to his voice as a veteran.
-
Good Black News
A non-stop fun and a timeless keeper which should capture audiences of various ages.
-
NZ Herald
The smoothest man in the music biz has brought the goods with this, combining his funk, hip-hop, Motown, and even world music inspirations, with some Michael Jackson-worthy riffs, Marvin Gaye grooves, and his own honeyed vocals.
-
Mind Equals Blown
The album is funky however, and that’s pretty neat. For his first release in eight years, he's made a strong, if slightly skewed, solo comeback.
-
Cleveland
A solid pop record that's up there with some of his best work ... Most importantly, the album affirms Williams' as a viable pop artist.
-
The Star
Pharrell Williams offers airy, retro fun on GIRL
-
Thomas Bleach
Worth the wait and hype with Pharrell delivering on all eleven songs.
-
Time Magazine
Pharrell Is Eager to Please on 'G I R L'
-
Minnesota Daily
Pharrell's Midas touch makes "G I R L" golden.
-
Spin
Pharrell Walks on Pop-R&B Sunshine With the Daring, Infectious ‘G I R L’
-
Xavier Voigt-Hill
There’s a genuinely enjoyable album that serves up a refreshing dose of funk and is just about enough to make me forgive the man for his part in ‘Blurred Lines.’
-
The Line of Best Fit
If however, you want to hear an artist at the height of his popularity who’s all up in this place for a good time, then grab a hand and raise a cup (if you must), this will keep you entertained throughout.
-
Beat
In A Word: Celebratory
-
Neon Tommy
The fantastic production behind the album stands out in every song. it is packed with potential radio singles, hand-clappy tunes, and successfully takes listeners back to groovier times.
-
WIUX
With the exception of “Happy,” the entire album is about the same pace and doesn’t deserve more than a few listens.
-
Gigwise
His transformation from oddball producer to popstar is complete
-
Nappy Afro
The best way to describe this album is that it’s perfect ambiance music. It would make a perfect backdrop for a celebrity filled after-party, or for a hipster wine and cheese get together.
-
Rob's Wall of Music
Short and sweet but very little by way of filler. This is the kind of album I’d been hoping he would eventually put out.
-
Genius
At 45 minutes in length featuring 11 songs (if you count Freq) the disco infused, pop effort takes you on a feel good journey.
-
Burn FM
The album is very strong and has a number of very catchy songs that show a maturing of his typical R&B and funk influences that haven’t been seen brought to the fore for a number of years.
-
The Roundup
The overall stylistic aim for retro-modern-pop is present on this album, but he struggles to connect the blatant lyricism of 21st century pop with the unblemished music of the past.
-
NY Daily News
Luckily for him, fun melodies and bouncy beats take precedence over vocal depth. If those elements make it an undeniably pleasing album, it's also an aural potato chip: irresistible at first, but, ultimately, something that leaves you wanting more.
-
Graeme O'Neil
He has been handed the opportunity to be a solo artist again, and he doesn’t mess it up.
-
The Pop Culture Rainman
No-one can have it all…and this album is representative of an artist who has spread himself too thin, unfortunately.
-
Hoot
Everything about his latest album feels celebratory.
-
Compulsive Reader
It has a light, contemporary dance sound. Its attitude is open, flirtatious, and confident. The singer-songwriter’s persona is that of a smart urbanite.
-
The Highlander
All in all, it is about fun. Lyrically, these songs lack depth and prove that this album is to be enjoyed during times of blind glee — perhaps cruising down the coast with friends, sweating on the dance floor or simply choosing the soundtrack to a happy day.
-
Alessandro Diosi
A beautiful and emotional tribute to women. It has very little commercial sleaze and hopefully it inspires other artists to draw from the same energy and values.
-
qmunicate
This is not a feminist album. To be brutally honest, it’s barely even an album. It is a mishmash of sometimes half-good ideas, neatly produced but lacking any kind of substance.
-
The Illixer
The album is full of upbeat and festive production.
-
Independent
It’s an enjoyable dance-pop album lacking a central focus. But one whose diffident charm makes a pleasant change from the overwrought wailing that routinely afflicts R&B.
-
The Communicator
There’s almost nothing on it of serious value or weight, but one is content to forget that because of the innovative, earnest, downright sweet way that he attacks it.
-
The Musical Hype
Mature and enjoyable, it is definitely a winner worthy of numerous spins… or a high play count on the iPod.
-
NPR
I find Pharrell Williams — and particularly the Pharrell on display throughout G I R L — an exhilarating performer. His big hat can barely contain his radiant braininess.
-
The Boombox
It’s exactly like the Roman philosopher Seneca said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Pharrell's never been lucky, only prepared.
-
The Gizzle Review
After the success of Daft Punk, Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke, this new album just feels dated ... It’s only fair to say, Pharrell you’ve lost your touch.
-
Tell Tales
With a combination of guitar jabs, groovy licks and smooth beats, it is an impressive, recommended album.
-
Sac Cultural Hub
When he trusts himself to truly stretch out solo, he scores.
-
Media Hype
It is refreshing to finally hear a record where each song is positive, rhythmic and still has a level of soul, which most artists lack today. Sometimes you just need that one record that will get you out of that funk you’re in and to keep you going, and this is definitely it!
-
A Girl and Her Hip Hop
The only track that made me happy was "Happy" and maybe the collab with Alicia Keys "Know Who You Are", "Lost Queen", "Gush" and "Marilyn Monroe." In all it just seemed a bit rushed to me.
-
The San Diego Union-Tribune
A definite change from his raspier, more alternative first album, which wasn't particularly successful, it proves Pharrell — a member of N.E.R.D. and the hit-making Neptunes — is a true, and exceptional, frontman.
-
The Beau
All ten tracks bring remarkable rhythms, intoxicating instrumentation and vivacious vocals.
-
Eric Mac Attacks
It’s a fun album, and even if it doesn’t change the world, it will still rank as one of the more enjoyable mainstream pop albums of 2014.
-
Rebel Rebel Music
Whilst it might not be pushing any boundaries in its lyrical content or even musical direction, this album is just good fun.
-
WGMU Radio
It adds to his eclectic catalogue that he has been building since the mid 1990s, and it should be a refreshing break from some of the other music on pop radio today. It is pretty darn good for what it is and is certainly worth a listen.
-
Mad Betty
I’m just crazy about Girl as a body of work. A great listen in its entirety, which is rare.
-
Now Toronto
The lyrics are full of the sort of cheesy pickup lines only someone as attractive and wealthy as he is could pull off in real life. It's high-quality pop, but also highly disposable.
-
Vibe
It might not be a devastating colossus like Random Access Memories or Clipse’s Neptunes-produced Hell Hath No Fury, but it’s an awful lot of fun.
-
Super Helsinki
Musically and production wise, it's excellent. Very slickly put together with some great sounds and really nice tracks. It's just let down slightly by what seems a rushed release and the lyrics (or lack thereof).
-
El Broide
He has found a sound he is comfortable with and has created the album fans around the world have been expecting.
-
ABC 7
He continues to redefine current popular music, straying from heavy EDM beats for beautiful, organic and overall joyful R&B and orchestral sounds. The 40-year-old also continues to tell unique and vivid stories lyrically, many of which contain playful innuendo and themes of self-motivation.
Rate This Album and Leave Your Comments