Grande's petal marks a quiet pivot from pop stardom

Stereogum reviewer Tom Breihan calls Ariana Grande’s petal a cohesive, subdued, anti-pop move, crafted with ILYA and with self-written lyrics, presenting a 12‑track, half‑hour album that signals a transition toward artful, film-friendly music. It’s technically impressive and intimate, but not as immediate or explosive as Grande’s peak pop bangers, leaving Breihan with a sense of disappointment rather than disaster.