Andrew’s Judgmental Album Reviews: Ava Max – Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023)

As you should all know, I like to mix up the reviews on occasion. With the last 8 reviews being some variant of Rock or Metal; it seemed like a good time to change the station. So I noticed a Ava Max released a new album earlier in the year.

If any of you know of her, its probably for the Sweet but Psycho song, that got some nice traction around the end of 2018. With a vocal styling akin to Lady Gaga and falling in that same Dance Pop genre; she’s bound to stay somewhat relevant for a while. Also it should be noted that much like our esteemed PC Tunney and DPP, she’s from Milwaukee.

Lets see if this album measures up to her debut, or if the sophomore slump is real!

• Artist: Ava Max
• Album: Diamonds & Dancefloors (2023)
• Label: Atlantic Records
• Total Track Time: 39:39

Million Dollar Baby is thankfully not about Clint Eastwood or Hillary Swank. Its got this really retro 80s synthwave vibe and the hook is layered very similar to old Michael Jackson and maybe a touch of Donna Summers. The song is catchy, danceable and its got a sexy club beat, so even if the lyrics are little forgettable its not meant for your ears, its meant for your feet. Sleepwalker, aside from being a very overused song name, this definitely continues that heavy 80s influence. I do like the little story the lyrics tell, basically she’s the revenge addiction for a playboy. She’ll keep the guy dreaming about her, or chasing her to exhaustion but she’s toying with him as punishment for heart’s he broke. Nothing deep or unique, but again, catchy and danceable. Plus, I love me some pettiness, and this is petty and spite all in once Dance Pop song. Maybe You’re The Problem is a breakup/toxic relationship song. The partner claims she’s the problem but she realizes maybe its them. While I’ve defended the first two songs cliché lyrics with ‘shut up and dance’, this is less catchy and danceable. Still very 80s, but with more focus on the song itself, its a little grating. Sounds like a Taylor Swift song with an 80s arrangement (not a compliment).

Ghost damn she opens with the Casio keyboard immediately. Lyrically it flips the affection addiction of Sleepwalker to her craving this other person. Musically it honestly sounds like Baltimora and Technotronic had a baby. Jury is still out on if that’s a compliment, but I don’t hate it. Hold Up (Wait A Minute) a little too much weird retro inspired phone noise and synth effects. The song is about the current partner being shady with a side chick and making excuses on who’s sending texts. I suppose the song is okay, but the excessive 80s computer noise and impotent lyrics make the song just straight filler. Weapons so far has the largest real point lyrically. “Stop using your words as weapons, They’re never gonna shoot me down, Stop, it’s time that you learned a lesson, My love is gonna drown you out” – the chorus gets the point across and it really feels like a sequel to one of her singles from her debut So Am I. I do really like one line, ” got a bulletproof vest, under my dress”, it actually has pretty good imagery.

Diamonds & Dancefloors sounds like something Adam Lambert would write. Which see, THAT’S a compliment. Its simple, covers the imagery in glitter and gold, and its just a very easy song about wanting to dance. Feels a little more late Disco era than synthwave, but its still good. In The Dark is actually a little interesting. It plays in a middle ground of the retro sound and more current Dance Pop, but the lyrics could be about a person, thing or activity. The concept of asking “why do you only love me in the dark, when I wake up you’re gone”, could easily just be an analogy for an exhilarating nighttime hobby, maybe dancing, and then having to face normal day time before you can ‘come alive’. Simple concept of having an escape that gives you life, solid enough. Turn Off The Lights plays a little to close to the last song lyrically. While a euphoric dance bop is always nice, like 3 songs in a row about dancing being your life makes this feel like a bad pitch for a Saturday Night Fever sequel, or Flashdance. Also a much weaker song than the last two in general.

One Of Us is a relationship deteriorating to the point of being only one person trying. Staying with a mid tempo dance beat works surprisingly well since it gets across a level of desperation and somewhat manic energy, which in these kinds of situations, applies perfectly. Get Outta My Heart  is a little bit of a play on the Billy Ocean Get Outta My Dreams, and Into My Car. In a vacuum the song is fine, and has that anthemic early 80s end of Disco/Dance energy. A little bit of an empty calories song on the album, but again, in a vacuum…its a bop. Cold As Ice sadly is not a Foreigner cover. Instead its the Tsundere theme song (for anime fans, you’ll get it). The whole song is about her building up walls and keeping people at a distance.

Last Night On Earth very typical love me like we’re dying style of dance song. Arrangement wise it tries to go for something like an 80s Driving montage, feels like it attempts that Cannons dreamwave kind of thing…but honestly it mostly goes nowhere. I understand what its going for, it just fails in every conceivable fashion. Dancing’s Done is an aptly titled song given the album. As for musically, we finally have the Lady Gaga kind of flash mob dance party song. “I wanna give into your dark temptation, I wanna touch you like nobody does, oh, People like you and me were born to run, So where we going when the dancing’s done?”- easily the best and catchiest chorus. Plus if you’re looking for club banger to end a night on, this is perfect.

Well, with a 14 song album, there’s a few expected clunkers. Granted the album is a very fast 14 clocking in at under 40 minutes. I think my main issue with the album, is even the better songs are good, but not a lot of great tunes to spin into infinity.

While I wouldn’t say the album qualifies as a Sophomore slump musically – it definitely feels like she has less real topics to write about. Which happens with second albums. You have your entire to life to write your debut album; subsequent albums have time constraints and pressure that really weren’t present previously. So this is weaker than her first album, but its not bad by any stretch of the imagination. Cliché, empty calories and vapid at times, yes. But you’ll be hard pressed to not find yourself dancing along to most of the album.

Final Judgment: 6.55/10