It could be bias, it could be everyone else underrating it, but something about The Fall-Off is really working for me. This may be J Cole's most experimental work yet, and as far into his career as he is, I find that really impressive.
This entire project listens like a love letter to hip hop, as told by his exploration of various styles he uses throughout the album. As a concept, I think this has to be his most cohesive work since Forest Hills Drive. The two-disc layout seemed risky at ... read more
Isaiah Rashad's storytelling has developed masterfully over the years, and he puts it on full display on IT'S BEEN AWFUL with more introspective and reflective lyrics than I would have expected from him. It actually gets a little dark at times, but Isaiah clashes it with more upbeat production and sometimes you really lose track of the contents of the tracks. The vibes in general are really good, it's a super laid back album at most points and it creates an easily digestible, ... read more
FINALLY, Kacey Musgraves is back to making the music she is best at. Middle of Nowhere feels more honest and vulnerable than anything she's released in nearly a decade and it pays off big time. This feels like a return to making proper, authentic country in a space she thrives in. I loved the instrumentals being filled with Mexican influence and it makes it a more unique listen while keeping the production simple enough that her voice still gets to shine. I do wish she'd use less ... read more
A step behind some recent releases, but nonetheless still pretty solid work.
It grew on me a little bit, but I still think Your Favorite Toy is a pretty underwhelming follow up to But Here We Are.
Mitski's newest album is a bit too one-dimensional in my opinion, but it's still pretty solid. I just wish she'd dive a little deeper into her experimental side.