Jaguar (EP)

Jaguar is an extended play by American singer-songwriter Victoria Monét, released on August 7, 2020 via Tribe Records and Platoon LTD.[2] Stylistically an R&B project, with elements of funk and disco music, the EP was supported by three singles; "Ass Like That", "Moment", and "Experience" with Khalid and SG Lewis. A short film for the project was released on July 28, 2020.

Jaguar
EP by
Victoria Monét
ReleasedAugust 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
Recorded2018–2020
Studio
Genre
Length25:27
LabelTribe
Producer
Victoria Monét chronology
Life After Love, Pt. 2
(2018)		 Jaguar
(2020)		 A Jaguar Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements
(2020)
Singles from Jaguar
  1. "Ass Like That"
    Released: October 22, 2019
  2. "Moment"
    Released: February 6, 2020
  3. "Experience"
    Released: June 19, 2020

Monét initially intended Jaguar to be a trilogy of EPs.[3] However, as the second installment experienced a severe delay, the series was eventually reduced to only two parts, with Jaguar II now being her debut studio album.

Upon release, Jaguar received widespread acclaim from music critics, many of whom praised its musical direction and lyricism. The project was ranked in year-end lists by many publications. In support of both Jaguar and Jaguar II, Monét has embarked on The Jaguar Tour in 2023.

Background

After collaborating with Ariana Grande on the song "Monopoly" in April 2019, Monét revealed she had begun working on her next project. Monét was announced as Apple Music's Up Next artist in February 2020.[4] On June 26, 2020, Monét officially announced the project on her social media simultaneously unveiling the cover art.[5] On July 28, 2020, a short film was premiered with the album's track listing being revealed in the film, anticipating the album.

Singles

On October 22, 2019, Monét released the lead single from Jaguar, "Ass Like That". The song was about loving oneself and accomplishing their personal goals. On February 6, 2020, Monét released the second single "Moment" with its music video being released on February 20. Monét would perform "Moment" and make her late night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in March 2020.[6] This was followed by the promotional single, "Dive" on April 21, 2020. On June 19, 2020, Monét released the third official single, "Experience" with Khalid and SG Lewis, alongside the pre-order of the project.

A music video for the title track was premiered on the release date of the entire project.[7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash9/10[9]
The Guardian[10]
The Independent[11]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[12]
NME[13]
Pitchfork7.1/10[1]

Jaguar received widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 82 based on seven reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[8] Nicolas-Tyrell Scott of NME gave Jaguar a 4-out-5-star-rating, and said "this record heralds [Monét] as one of the most enticing acts in R&B’s contemporary canon, near-guaranteed to become a bonafide star in her own right."[13] Wongo Okon from Uproxx also gave the album a positive review, saying it "far exceeds her previous releases" thanks to her "sharp-as-ever pen and a sound that has been tweaked to accentuate her artistry."[14]

Robin Murray of Clash gave the album a 9 out of 10 score and called Jaguar "a daring yet highly finessed triumph". He goes onto say "It's a wonderful experience, with Victoria Monét's stellar artistry balancing the sensuality of sound with a killer lyrical flair that aims straight for the heart."[9] Dani Blum of Pitchfork gave Jaguar a score of 7.1 out of 10, noting that the project is "a sleek cocoon of funk-tinged R&B that excavates what it means to be in control."[1]

Year-end lists
Jaguar on year-end lists
Publication List Rank Ref.
Associated Press AP's Top Albums of 2020
9
[15]
The Line of Best Fit The Best Albums of 2020 Ranked
28
[16]
Noisey Music The 100 Best Albums of 2020
10
[17]
NPR The 50 Best Albums of 2020
20
[18]
Soul in Stereo The 50 Best Albums of 2020
24
[19]

Track listing
Jaguar track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Moment"
2:59
2."Big Boss" (Interlude)
  • Monét
  • Emile
D'Mile1:31
3."Dive"
  • Monét
  • Emile
  • Yonatan "xSDTRK" Ayal
  • Kyla Moscovich
  • D'Mile
  • xSDTRK
3:45
4."We Might Even Be Falling in Love" (Interlude)
  • Monét
  • Emile
D'Mile0:51
5."Jaguar"
  • Monét
  • Jamil M. Pierre
  • Emile
  • Deputy
  • D'Mile[a]
3:31
6."Experience" (with Khalid and SG Lewis)
2:56
7."Ass Like That"
  • Monét
  • Emile
  • Jeremy Alexander Uribe
  • Dillan Beau Baillard
  • Donnell Stephens II
  • Kennedi Lykken
  • Bregma
  • D'Mile
3:40
8."Go There with You"
  • Monét
  • Emile
  • Ayal
  • D'Mile
  • xSDTRK
3:03
9."Touch Me"
D'Mile3:11
Total length:25:27

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Charts
Chart performance for Jaguar
Chart (2020) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[20] 36
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[21] 14
US Billboard 200[22] 174
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[23] 26
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[24] 1

Release history
Release dates and formats for Jaguar
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various August 7, 2020
  • Tribe Records
  • Platoon
 [2]
September 28, 2020 LP [25]

References
  1. "Victoria Monét: Jaguar Album Review". Pitchfork. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020. The resulting project, Jaguar, is a sleek cocoon of funk-tinged R&B that excavates what it means to be in control. "I'm just living on instinct," she croons on the title track, as glossy disco beats skitter and pulse.
  2. "Jaguar by Victoria Monét". Apple Music. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  3. "Victoria Monét: On 'Jaguar' and Making the "Moment" Music Video in South Africa | Apple Music". Retrieved August 10, 2020 – via YouTube.
  4. Rearick, Lauren (February 11, 2020). "Victoria Monét Talks Songwriting, Representation in Apple Music Up Next Short Film". Teen Vogue. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  5. @victoriamonet (June 26, 2020). "Jaguar" (Tweet). Retrieved July 28, 2020 – via Twitter.
  6. "Victoria Monét – Moment - YouTube". Retrieved July 30, 2020 – via YouTube.
  7. Curto, Justin (August 7, 2020). "Victoria Monét Saved the Best Songs for Herself". Vulture. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  8. "Jaguar by Victoria Monét". Metacritic.
  9. "Victoria Monét – Jaguar". Clash.
  10. Kheraj, Alim (August 6, 2020). "Victoria Monét: Jaguar review | Album of the week". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  11. "Album reviews: Victoria Monet – Jaguar, and Another Sky – I Slept On the Floor". The Independent. August 6, 2020.
  12. "Victoria Monét's new project embellishes sexuality with a dazzling R&B sheen". The Line of Best Fit.
  13. "Victoria Monét – Jaguar album review". NME. August 5, 2020.
  14. "Victoria Monet Is Polished, Provocative, And Worth Paying Attention To On 'Jaguar'". Uproxx. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  15. "AP's top albums of 2020: Toni Braxton, Teyana Taylor, JoJo". AP NEWS. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  16. The Line of Best Fit Staff (December 3, 2020). "The Best Albums of 2020 Ranked". Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  17. "The 100 Best Albums of 2020". VICE. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  18. "The Best Albums of 2020". NPR. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  19. Bowser, Edward (December 12, 2020). "The 50 Best Albums of 2020". Soul In Stereo. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  20. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  21. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  22. "Victoria Monet Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  23. "Victoria Monet Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  24. "Victoria Monet Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  25. "🌙 Victoria Monét on Instagram: "***SOLD OUT 😭*** It's time🤎 go grab your signed JAGUAR VINYL!!! 🐆 link in bio"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
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