second studio album american recording artist released january group dirty money disbanded richard continued develop musical identity worked creative partner manager wrote planned trilogy albums richard love loss redemption eccentric album draws dream pop alternative dance genres songs strong grooves feature synthesizers string settings vintage keyboards array sounds post breakup concept album richard songwriting poses relationships personal subjects epic tales magical medieval imagery allusions high fantasy science fiction album released independently richard promoted lead single debuted number billboard chart sold copies week release received universal acclaim music critics praised grand musical scope richard theatrical personality background different musical groups wanted develop musical identity pursue solo recording career richard promoting album train paris member sean musical project dirty money released free prelude tell tale heart registered million downloads month group disbanded worked producer manager creative partner scott released armor sold copies richard marketed social media self funded music videos youtube planned trilogy albums richard love loss redemption followed wrote songs albums course years written minute songs richard edited avoid long overwhelming music lyrics eccentric musical style incorporates spare beats synthesizers dream pop textures allmusic andy_kellman characterizes music largely pop oriented contemporary slant_magazine finds aligned intensifying style alternative albums structured thematic marcus interview observes atmospheric aesthetic blends alternative like 80s pop prince richard grew listening collins prince genesis cites song influences album draws heavily dance music melodic urban contemporary sound incorporates elements electro house european dance pop ambient step eyes riot house pretty wicked things features production pitch shifted vocals scott production incorporates synth pads string settings vintage keyboards varied beats music writers compare scott partnership richard album producer work david_bowie berlin period atlantic writes scott serves similar role creating dense richard altered voice wash pierce sudden emotion production opening song hearts tonight begins seconds strings solo flute ringing line self voices album closing title track meditation nostalgia built solely performed altered voice piano richard singing restraint expressions return queen richard vocal trip hop songs strong grooves occasionally emphasize drums sounds include bass drums beginning eerie music box loop northern lights builds gradually drum machine beat layered stereo drum loop buried mix yield urgent half time obscure chamber strings drumming tribal african influenced sound richard attributes music native new_orleans marching band second line music influence kick snare drives album marches return queen eyes inspired song richard felt south african vibe observes 70s 80s soft rock influence art school classic 60s soul including album cover post breakup concept album explores themes imagination dreams discussing trials relationships portrays personal subjects epic tales battle salvation los_angeles_times writes stories romantic professional heartbreak tightly richard imagery lyrics employ religious imagery battle motifs allusions high fantasy science fiction including heroic stands world dominating parted oceans lovers military deployment metaphors internal landscape personal conflict northern lights frequency feature space travel imagery respectively song featuring references signal found home makes flow slant_magazine observes kind album views concerned magical imagery self properties human heart titled slang term oneself barriers richard views album medieval literature calls lyrics literal contemporary pop music lyrically portrays queen acts guarding fighting surrendering conquering intro fight battle day fear forever guard track title taken television series game declares faced beast bare hands eccentric spelling glow referring narrator wants lover night war concludes conflicted quest dominance expense lover power power ballad break dawn richard promises love interest break dawn richard wanted album end hopeful note said title track speaks moment felt possible according song concludes lyrical arc retrospect relationship began richard declaring champion hearts tonight shifted war champion release reception originally intended release october richard delayed release signing distribution deal independent company release physical copies retailers provide wider marketing reach album lead single released digital download september released united_states january richard released album independently felt record labels taking bit longer want sold copies week debuted number billboard number albums number album reached itunes_store chart prompted music retailer release physical received widespread acclaim critics hailed richard best new acts pop metacritic assigns normalized rating reviews mainstream publications album received average score based reviews guardian gave stars called dazzling richard array sonic weapons matches epic vision spin praised eclectic music versatile singing credited finely placed surprises listeners navigating tricky spots mask mastery writing npr found altogether joyful mythological atlantic wrote inspired lyrics richard remains true oldest important standards musical genre charts human heart critic felt album conventions like channel orange said richard distinguishes contemporaries exceptional creativity mixed review slant_magazine gave stars wrote despite interesting musical palette personality richard falls tired conventional acts feel familiar found album lyrics wrote functions hypnotic distraction little new_york_times characterized times self obsessed good don know attraction ventured confident sound normal giving half stars allmusic andy_kellman called grand exceptional songs compensate intensity pitchfork_media critic called richard wrote slightly earnest personality work track listing songs produced noted samples composed personnel credits adapted metacritic scott producer vocals producer producer charts release history
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