Camila Cabello releases first solo album

  After being obsessed with Miss Movin’ On by Fifth Harmony in middle school and then witnessing Camila Cabello’s dramatic split from the girl band more recently, my interest was piqued when I heard that Cabello was releasing her first solo album, “Camila.” Because I liked the singles she released prior to the album, I expected to love “Camila.” After listening to it many times, I have discovered that this prediction is only half-true. How much I liked the songs varied vastly from track-to-track for me, so it’s hard for me to rate the album as a whole. Instead, I’m going to break it down song-by-song.

Never Be the Same:

 This is the single that really made me believe that I was going to love “Camila” in the first place. It’s not my usual type of song, but when I first heard it on Spotify, I immediately became obsessed. It’s been on my playlist for over a month now, but I’m not sick of it yet. It showcases her unique voice well, and that’s something that never gets old for me.

All These Years:

 All These Years is a nostalgic track in which Cabello explores her thoughts and feelings after seeing an ex-lover for the first time in years. Its light production is a fitting backdrop for the lyrics of regret and unspoken words. It’s possibly the only song on the album that I don’t feel strongly one way or another. If it comes on shuffle, I listen to it, but I never find myself seeking it out.

She Loves Control:

 At age 7, Cabello immigrated from Havana, Cuba, to Miami, and the musical influence of both of these cities is evident in the style of the music on “Camila.” This track is one of the tracks where it’s more prominent. It’s a song that I wanted to love, but I just didn’t. It’s repetitive, and I end up skipping it every time it comes on.

Havana:

A shout out to her birth town, this single reached No. 1 on the charts for a reason: its laid-back, Caribbean feel is a breath of fresh air next to the typical music on the Top 40 chart. It’s not my favorite song on the whole album, but I definitely enjoy it, and it’s a nice break from the usual songs on the radio when I’m driving in my car.

Inside Out:

 This is another song that reflects Cuban influence. The sound is very similar Barcelona by Ed Sheeran, which is ironic because I loved Barcelona, but Inside Out is one of my least favorites on the whole album. It has no substance, and it might say “I wanna love you inside out” more times than Trump stopped his state of the union address for clapping, and that’s saying something.

Consequences:

Consequences is the one of the most vulnerable songs on the album and also one of my favorites. The heartfelt lyrics mixed with the simplistic piano accompaniment remind me of some of Birdy’s ballads like Not About Angels or her cover of Skinny Love, and that’s always a good thing.

Real Friends:

 Even after listening to this entire album many times for this review, I had to go back and listen to this song specifically because I honestly still couldn’t tell you much about it. For me, it’s kind of a meh song, one that fills a space on the tracklist but doesn’t have much of an impact beyond that. Basically, long story short, Cabello has been “looking for some new friends.” There’s really not much to say about it besides that.

Something’s Gotta Give:

 Many artists try and fail to get the staple pop ballad right, but Cabello is not one of them. Something’s Gotta Give reminds me of Nobody and Camouflage by Selena Gomez, and that’s one of the highest compliments I can give. It’s a beautiful ballad with minimal production, yet the emotion infused in her voice and the thought-out lyrics prevent it from becoming boring. It is, without a doubt, my favorite song on the album.

In the Dark:

 “Who are you in the dark? Show me the scary parts,” Cabello sings in this track. This song explores wanting to know the dark sides of a lover, but you would never know if you weren’t paying attention to the lyrics. Cabello backs her darker lyrics with a bright, energetic, almost bubblegum-pop-sounding track. It’s strange and confusing and a combination that I prefer to pass on.

Into It:

 Into It is the perfect conclusion to “Camila.” The song is reminiscent of the songs Cabello sang back in her Fifth Harmony days and is the kind of song you dance along to while you’re doing your hair, because it’s just that catchy.