Apollo XXI

Steve Lacy - Apollo XXI
Critic Score
Based on 17 reviews
2019 Ratings: #464 / 805
User Score
2019 Rank: #703
Liked by 91 people
May 24, 2019 / Release Date
LP / Format
AWAL / Label
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CRITIC REVIEWS

90
Exclaim!

An intoxicating mix of celestial soul, sprightly funk and glossy, luxurious rock'n'roll, Apollo XXI is a self-assured and sonically robust exploration of love, lust and identity politics.

85
Earmilk

Overall, considering the effortless transitions, range of sound production, and important topics discussed through his lyrics, Apollo XXI is a musical project that positively surpasses several expectations many had for Steve Lacy's first major album.

80
AllMusic

Apollo XXI, his first album, is a little more refined, advancing his lazing, heartfelt mix of soul and funk with minimal varnish and no evident fuss.

80
Albumism
It is refreshing to listen to an R&B album that bares only the DNA of its creator—normally these affairs are crowded with writers, producers and guest spots, but this, this is all Steve Lacy and it shines with his principles and influences. And that is a good thing, a very good thing indeed.
80
Highsnobiety

Even if this record is a little rough around the edges, it feels like the starting point of something very special and has enough sparky originality to ring off all through your summer.

80
The Guardian

This casual approach is what perhaps stops this album short of being an all-time classic, but it’s also what makes it such a joy. Lacy is a man wise enough to leave rough edges on his perfectly rounded talent.

80
Clash

While it’s perhaps not as artless as his earlier releases, nor was it recorded on an iPhone, it retains much of their charm, and builds upon it.

80
DIY

His first record with his name above the door, ‘Apollo XXI’ makes for the ideal CV.

80
NME

On his likeable debut album, the Internet member and prolific collaborator balances wistful musical throwbacks with authentic lyricism and attitude.

76
HipHopDX

Lacy’s solo effort is filled to the brim with ideas even when it sometime sounds as if he’s creatively a little too all over the place. Thankfully, even when he fails, listeners should be fascinated by even those attempts.

75
Spectrum Culture

Despite Lacy’s frequent collaborations outside of his solo work, Apollo XXI is mostly a solitary affair, a chance for him to take the spotlight and figure his shit out.

70
Crack Magazine

It would be a powerful debut for any young musician, but for someone as hyped as Lacy, it’s a bullseye that hints at many moments of magic to come.

70
The Sydney Morning Herald
A blur of funk and Prince-inspired textures all melt together, succeeding at times, and swirling incomprehensibly at others.
69
Pitchfork

The singer and guitarist’s debut solo album offers an introspective blend of R&B, hip-hop, & lo-fi pop but feels reluctant to claim the spotlight.

60
Loud and Quiet

It all makes ‘Apollo XXI’ an intriguing statement, albeit a flawed one: as a scrapbook of a record, and glimpse into Lacy’s voracious musical appetite, it’s fascinating.

60
The Observer

On this sprawling, often horizontal record, Lacy’s default setting is a blissful Los Angeles funk that bleeds easily into punchier hip-hop passages.

30
The Needle Drop

Steve Lacy still sounds as if he's in demo mode on Apollo XXI.

PipePanic
69

2019 is the year of the soul-funk apparently.

Talk about no expectations. I had no idea what I was getting myself into on this record. Steve Lacy is a name i’ve heard a lot and nothing about. All I know is that he was a collaborator on the latest Vampire Weekend album, he’s the guitarist in the band The Internet, and that this is his debut project. That’s it. But, Sunflower was one of my favorite tracks off of FOTB, and curiosity got the better of me, and decided to listen to ... read more

mediocre_feet
50

Apollo XXI has fun and interesting sounds. I can sense some improvement in Steve's singing and falsetto. Overall, I'm kind of disappointed in this album. The songs feel incomplete and would fit better on an EP or mixtape, not an album.

mongoose109
70

1.Only If: 7
2.Like me (feat. DAISY): 7.5
3.Playground: 7
4.Basement Jack: 6
5.Guide: 6
6.Lay Me down: 8
7.Hate CD: 6
8.In Lust We Trust: 5.2
9.Love 2 Fast: 8.5
10.Amandla's Interlude: 7
11.N Side: 7.5
12.Outro Freestyle/4ever: 8.5

Apollo XXI: 7

100

WHY IS THIS RANKED SO LOW??
Favorite: Only If, Hate CD
Least favorite: In Lust We Trust

86

this is better than gemini rights idc what yall say.

cosmophire
73

[first listen - sun18/4/21]
-
it’s not an album that i come back to often but it’s one in which i never regret doing so. i recognise almost every song that starts playing, like someone you haven’t seen in a while it’s a very chill neo soul album. there isn’t too much diversity but it doesn’t matter to me here.

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Track List

1Only If
1:40
75
2Like Me
9:04
74
3Playground
3:33
75
4Basement Jack
1:49
80
5Guide
2:21
72
6Lay Me Down
3:03
75
7Hate CD
2:40
76
8In Lust We Trust
2:00
68
9Love 2 Fast
3:42
78
10Amandla's Interlude
3:10
71
11N Side
3:44
77
12Outro Freestyle/4ever
6:14
65
Total Length: 43 minutes
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Added on: May 15, 2019