GENRE: Pop/R&B

LABEL: confessions

REVIEWED: 29 September, 2025

RATING: 7.4/10

George Riley’s More Is More arrives as a vibrant declaration of identity and sonic ambition. On platforms like Pitchfork, the mixtape is praised for its bold reimagining of early-2000s R&B and pop tropes—melding chopped acoustic guitar samples, housey synths, and rhythmic drive into something contemporary and effervescent.  Riley wears her influences openly—Janet Jackson, Timbaland, Kylie Minogue—but does not feel derivative; instead, she leans into nostalgia as a launching pad for her own voice. 

One hallmark is her vocal versatility: she delivers in playful, effervescent tones on tracks like “Something New,” yet in “Forever” (co-produced by Mura Masa) she fuses sensuality with anthemic sweep, reshaping the hypnotic synth pulse of “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” into something fresh.  The frequent use of UK garage breakdowns—especially in the title track “More”—underscores her groundedness in the British dance tradition while refusing to be boxed in. 

Critics beyond Pitchfork echo this confidence. Out Now Magazine highlights her exploration of femininity, ambition, and performative excess as a conceptual through-line: More Is More is not just a sonic statement but a philosophical one, interrogating consumer culture, digital overwhelm, and the contradictions of desire.  Some user reviews are enthusiastic: community feedback at AlbumOfTheYear places the user score around 72/100, pooling 46 ratings.  Other independent reviewers call it her strongest work since Running in Waves and commend her for being “lush in parts, filthy hot in others.” 

That said, the mixtape’s reliance on overt references sometimes feels heavy-handed, and a few transitions between styles can seem abrupt. But Riley’s audacious spirit, vocal panache, and knack for merging past and present create a compelling portrait of an artist staking a clear claim to her era. More Is More heralds not just more songs, but more confidence.