Top tracks — play these first
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Better Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its catchy chorus and empowering lyrics about personal growth and resilience.
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Cut Me Off — This song features a compelling beat and showcases BoA's vocal range, addressing themes of self-empowerment and emotional liberation.
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Gravity — An introspective ballad that highlights BoA's emotional delivery, this track stands out for its lyrical depth and atmospheric production.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production but has moments that feel less cohesive.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features a strong, rhythmic beat and layered vocal harmonies, setting an energetic tone.
- Several tracks incorporate unexpected tempo changes, such as 'Cut Me Off', which shifts from a slow groove to an upbeat chorus.
- The final track, 'Little Bird', features a stripped-down arrangement with minimal instrumentation, contrasting sharply with the preceding songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo flow for relaxation
- catchy hooks for sing-alongs
- uplifting energy for daily activities
- emotional depth for introspective moments
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek longer, immersive experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Demonstrates BoA's continued relevance and maturity in sound after two years.
- Career context
- Released on December 1, 2020, 'Better' marked BoA's first studio album in nearly two years, following her 2019 EP 'Feedback'. At this point in her career, she was solidifying her legacy as a K-pop pioneer while experimenting with new sounds that appealed to both domestic and international audiences.
Tracklist
- 1 Better Start here 3:19
- 2 Temptations 3:15
- 3 Cloud 3:46
- 4 All That Jazz 3:58
- 5 L.O.V.E 3:16
- 6 Cut Me Off 3:05
- 7 Got Me Good 3:04
- 8 Honey & Diamonds 3:54
- 9 Start Over 3:08
- 10 Gravity 3:31
- 11 Little Bird 3:27
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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