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I have no recollection of hearing such expressions of self-confidence that reflect such insecurities, the constant defining of oneself through the viewpoints of others. Her songs are about sex and love without soul or depth, or else she’s extolling various drugs (Valium, marijuana, magic mushrooms, and I think molly). The only thing that I pray (and the reason for an extra point) is that the songs seem to be an evolution of her moving from high school to getting a job, to where she ends in the late-twenties, ruminating on not having anyone solid in her life. If this is the case, then I interpret the work as an album-sized morality tale about superficiality and vapidness, and I am cool with that.

BEST – 4, 14

01. Supermodel - 6
02. Love Galore – 6.5 – The spoken part at the end, which I assume was performed by her mother or some maternal figure, “But see, Solana, if you don’t say something, speak up for yourself / They think you stupid, you know what I’m saying.” Ma’am, she’s not coming off too bright as it is. And the video is nuts; makes no sense.
03. Doves in the Wind – 6 - A bleeped-out section at 2:39? Are you sh---ing me?? One b-word, one s-word, one f-word, eight n-words, TWENTY-FOUR p-words, but with one of the two d-words, it’s as if she said, “Oh, I can’t be heard saying something so naughty. Could someone cover it up?” That, or someone thought, “We’re probably going to have to censor some of the language if we want this to get radio play.” (And yes, I counted. I can’t tell you how hard it was to find where I was when I lost my place: “N P P P P N P N P P… wait, which P was that…?”). That bleep pissed me the f-BLEEEEEP off.
04. Drew Barrymore – 8 – A good voice; good song.
05. Prom – 7.5 – The Wizard of Oz reference is good.
06. The Weekend – 7 - I like this song. Nothing shows greater responsibility than a man who is able to stick to a consistent schedule.
07. Go, Gina – 6.5 – The song is in reference to Gina from the show Martin, and SZA states that it was about how Gina was uptight and hardworking, and not having fun and living. This would be a fine message, except that SZA also explained in an interview that the stanza starting with, “I’ve been dropping out” was about how SZA went to three different colleges and failed out because she was high on weed all the time. Great message. Here’s to hoping that every one of the listeners that you influence will also get to be a famous recording artist, so everything works out for everybody. I do like the ending music, as with the last song.
08. Garden (Say It Like Dat) – 6
09. Broken Clocks - 7 - I liked the verse, “I moved on for the better / You moved on to whoever / I was down for whatever and then some.”
10. Anything – 6 - Opening line: “Maybe I should kill my inhibition.” I’m sorry; at what point does this lady feel she’s inhibited? Verbally? Sexually? Pharmaceutically? Is she contemplating killing somebody, and trying to rationalize it by thinking that not engaging in a murder spree would make her uptight like Gina? Yeah, you go, Gina. Get them all. I do like the beats that start at 1:50.
11. Wavy (Interlude) – 7.5 – Points added for the lack of length.
12. Normal Girl – 6
13. Pretty Little Birds – 7.5 – I will give the lyrics some credit. Contrasting pretty little birds with being a golden goose, and the Jack and the Beanstalk reference (“jack’n, bean’n, stalk’n”). Almost hit an eight; maybe on review.
14. 20 Something - 8 - Yeah, yeah, lady. Wait until you get to forty-something. It gets worse.

COVER – 8 – A nice look, vibrant and retro with the old computer monitors.