Ariana Grande is the Little Engine That Could. When she first burst onto the scene a year ago I wasn't having it. "She's a Mariah Carey wannabe," I said. "She's trying too hard," I said. Ariana has an incredible voice, there's no denying it, but I saw her as another tween TV star turned bland pop singer. But now, only a year after the release of her debut Yours Truly, it's incredible to see just how far she has come. Her rebirth is complete; the phoenix has risen.

Earlier this summer Ariana released the banger 'Problem' with Iggy Azalea and that was the beginning of her evolution. Since then she has racked up three songs in the Billboard Top 10, she hosted a one-night revival of Total Request Live, and even opened the MTV Video Music Awards this past Sunday. She is quite the little pop star and I'm proud to call myself an Arianator.

This week Ariana released her sophomore album My Everything, and it's a tried and true pop record. Yes, it has its ups and downs. There are some problems with the order of songs and it's not the most cohesive record out there. It's a case of too many cooks in the kitchen but every song is worth a listen, and there are too many gems too pass them up. She establishes herself as a dance-floor pop queen, and while I love her as she is, Ari still has some growing up to do.
'Intro' opens the album and shows off Ariana as the incredible vocalist she is. It's simple with swelling strings and her breathy voice floating over the beat. That then leads into her global smash 'Problem'. The pairing of these tracks doesn't make much sense, but it's clear you're meant to get roped in by 'Problem' and stick with it. With it's horn-heavy backing and Iggy Azalea's fierce rap, this song was meant to slay.

'One Last Time' would have been better suited to 'Intro' leading into it, but on its own it is a strong offering. This is the first time we're getting a better sense of her maturity as a person as reflected in the lyrics. With the driving synth beat and pummeling drums, the song gets you dancing. 'Why Try' is one of the biggest moments of the record, and with Ryan Tedder at the helm it's no wonder. This is her diva moment as she blows away the listener with her supreme vocals over top-notch production. Beyoncé's 'Halo' this is not, but it could seriously do well on radio.

Next up is 'Break Free', and what else really needs to be said? This is my favorite song Ari has ever released. It's the EDM banger that every pop princess needs, and assisted by Zedd it reads as a dance-floor banger record for the gays. A liberation call to arms at its finest. Slowing down the tempo for some relief is the moody piano ballad 'Best Mistake' with Big Sean. It's saving grace is that it reminds me of Alicia Keys' 'Fallin', but other than that it's largely forgettable.
'Be My Baby' featuring Cashmere Cat is up next, and it's okay. It's definitely giving me old school R&B Mariah Carey teas, which is something I've ragged on Ari for in the past. It's a cute song, but really the insanely catchy chorus is what I love the most. It's an earworm, but unfortunately the rest of the track isn't that great.

'Break Your Heart Right Back' is one of the most talked about tracks because it sees Ariana at her most playful. The song is about her boyfriend breaking up with her to date another boy, and she cleverly interpolates Diana Ross's 'I'm Coming Out' into her song. It shows her affectionate love to the LGBT community, and it's probably, more than anything, a song for her brother, the Big Brother power-player, Frankie. Childish Gambino's rap is one of the better ones on the album, and it's actually clever and fun.
And now we've arrived at the climax. 'Love Me Harder' is a song that should not work on paper. But it's a Max Martin production. Over lush synths, Ariana coos on the slow-burner, and then The Weeknd comes in with his gorgeous R&B crooning, and the marriage is perfection. This is a sensual paradise, and if it doesn't get released as a single it'll be a mistake. Following this, 'Just a Little Bit of Your Heart' is Ari's attempt at a power ballad on this album. But ultimately it falls short. Written by Harry Styles, it shows that the boy's got skills, but the song doesn't do much for Ariana which is unfortunate.

Finally we're getting somewhere! 'Hands On Me' is essentially Ariana's 'I'm a Salve 4 U' as she declares her emancipation from her Nickelodeon roots. It's a Rihanna-esque urban banger that is easily one of my favorite tracks off the album, and with lyrics like "Shirt off, keep the high heels on / Might be a little thing but I like that long, yeah / Don't let these eyes fool ya / I can take it, hold nothing back, give it to me" it's safe to say we're entering a new era of sexual empowerment with Ari. I love when artists push the envelope, and thankfully we get a taste of that on this record.
And then the album closes with the title track 'My Everything'. The song recalls 'Intro' and provides a full circle closure, and ironically it's a better ballad than the Harry Styles-penned tune. Accompanied by just a piano, Ari's sweet vocals cascade over the piano which makes for an emotional moment. This shows her potential, but unfortunately it comes too late.

Some of the best moments actually come in the bonus tracks (à la Britney Spears). 'Bang Bang' is of course quite the banger, despite Ari singing very little on it. 'Cadillac Song' probably most recalls Yours Truly as she whispers over a slick R&B-piano driven beat. However, it's 'Too Close' that really gets things pumping. It's another urban banger that I could see someone like Tinashe or 'Pon De Replay'-Rihanna singing it. If anything, this album shows how versatile of an artist Ariana can be, but this versatility is also the album's biggest flaw.


Tracks to Check Out: 'Break Free', 'Break Your Heart Right Back', 'Love Me Harder', 'Hands On Me'