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; little mix "lm5" album review

                  It's time.

Can y'all believe I've been reacting to Little Mix music here since 2015? It's been a journey, that's for sure.

In the days leading up to LM5, I was convinced this was going to be the best album of 2018. I don't know why I was so sure, but I just was. I felt it in my bones. I finally listened to it late Thursday evening (last week – November 15), and to my great surprise, I wasn't completely sold?

I'm reviewing now several days later. I've listened to the album both in order and on shuffle many times, in my car and in my headphones, over a loud stereo in my house while I was home alone, etc. I've listened to it just about every way that I could think to. My initial reaction no longer stands.

Let's talk about it:

01: THE NATIONAL MANTHEM – 10/10

This is how you know Little Mix isn't here to mess around anymore: in the first lyric of the entire album, they've dropped an UN-CENSORED curse word. From the word go they're letting us know – through perfect harmonies and every sweet note you can think of – that things are about to be different this time around. And what perfect timing? They're finally free of Syco and preparing to take control of their own careers again. I love when Little Mix gives us acapella, and I love it even more as an opening track. Favorite lyric: She is a bad bitch / made up of magic

02: WOMAN LIKE ME feat. Nicki Minaj – 9/10

The first time I heard this song, I didn't dislike it, but for some reason it wasn't very memorable. It felt like a really lackluster first single in comparison to "Black Magic" and "Shout Out to my Ex", which were both incredible first singles in my opinion. It reminded me of when Ariana dropped "God is a Woman", and everyone loved it but I was kind of like? That's it? (Please bear in mind that this was upon first listen – I now love that song.) THAT BEING SAID, I feel differently now. I had begun to enjoy "Woman Like Me" before the album was fully released, but once the entire tracklist was here, I liked it even more. Do I think it's their strongest single ever? No. But it's a strong track, Nicki's verse is awesome like usual, and now that I've sat with it a while I can see that it's much better than I thought it was initially. Favorite lyric: Insecure but I'm working with it

03: THINK ABOUT US – 10/10

I knew from Perrie's opening chorus that I would love this song. I loved the instrumental and the tune from the word go, and obviously Perrie sounded incredible, but the beat that kicks in for the verses? Didn't expect that, and it's probably my favorite part of the entire song. Anybody who knows me knows that I'm not really into dancing, don't do it at weddings, don't even go to clubs or parties, but I know a club hit when I hear one. There's something here that reminds me a little of "No More Sad Songs", I think more so in the verses than in the chorus or bridge, but unlike its predecessor, this doesn't feel like a filler track. It feels like one of the stars of the show. Favorite lyric: Do you think about us? / 'Cause I do / think about you

04: STRIP feat. Sharaya J – 9/10

I straight up did not like this song the first time I heard it. I couldn't follow the structure of it – didn't understand what was a verse, what was a chorus, etc. I liked the lyrics in theory, but I just couldn't wrap my brain around it. So naturally, I just kept listening to it until I Got It. I'm not always a huge fan of talk-singing, but I'm fine with it here (now), and the lyrics are important enough to really help. I also loved Sharaya's feature? I know nothing about her and wasn't even sure what to expect, but she did a great job. Overall, I'm not sure I would have chosen this as a single – not sure how well it'll do on top 40 radio – but as a regular album track? Love it. Favorite lyric: I'm a woman don't test me / Baby I'm growing my stretches are sexy