Kasbo's debut album sounds like nature with an electronic tint. Places We Don't Know has a mysterious, mellow aura. Colorful, Eerie background voices echo across its playtime. Most tracks feature a consistent female vocalist that compliments the project's thematic instrumentation. This is the type of electronic music I'd listen to in the woods.

I find the album's first 3rd very inconsistent, but afterwards shines with back to back highlights, as well as a spectacularly fitting outro.

Favorite ... read more

"Starting Over" rarely misses, but infrequently hits a bullseye. Chris has great stories and vocals. The album thematically syncs too. While I enjoy the album's consistency, I wish more tracks caught my attention.

Favorite Tracks: Starting Over, Devil Always Made Me Think Twice, You Should Probably Leave

Least Favorite: Old Friends

Favorite Tracks: Let Go, Hollywood, Cheap Sunglasses

"Changes" has 5-6 standout songs, yet collectively, it is flooded with formulaic clichés.

Favorite Tracks: Confirmation, Forever, Intentions, E.T.A

Least Favorite: Yummy

Quinn XCII's debut studio album is reflective and gentle. Quinn writes with sincere intentions over simplistic beats, which either click or drag depending on the artist's performance. The content is thin, yet still enjoyable. The highlights marginally shine above the filler, thanks to oddly pleasant vocals.

Favorite Tracks: Walls, Flare Guns, Straightjacket
Least Favorite: Worst, Fake Denim, 60 seconds

Eternal Atake's spacey production drives my interest to finish the album. Despite Uzi's charisma that has marked his footprint on trap-rap, Uzi's energy sounds recycled from his previous albums. I don't believe Uzi has progressed much since his mixtape that put him in the spotlight. Furthermore, I think he's holding too tight to his debut sound. As a result, it sounds like I've heard the album before even reaching the halfway mark.

While I admire the artist's desire to deliver the album with ... read more

The deeper I dive into The Slow Rush, the more I appreciate it. Kevin Baker continues to pursue the experimental psychedelic synth-rock from his previous album, Currents. While The Slow Rush does not indulge in as many risks as Currents, Baker's 2020 release is intentional, well-paced, and enlightening. Baker's meticulous instrumental composition is evident upon both a skim and an in-depth listen.

Despite my respect for this project, the instrumental moments are not as progressive as the ones ... read more

Ella Mai's self-titled debut provides several groovy hits. From start to finish, her voice drives the project. I love her fashionable flow, especially when combined with her echoic background vocals. The album's lows are filler tracks that fail to make a name for itself. I am not a fan of her acronym interludes sowed within the tracks either.

Favorite Tracks: Sauce, Shot Clock, Boo'd up, Easy, Naked
Least Favorite: Run My Mouth, Gut Feeling, Close

Consistency is difficult to attain with a 24-track project. Young Thug's official debut suffers from it. Even with the 19-track standard edition, there are several forgettable tracks that could have been removed from this 80-minute project. Still, this is his most complete project to date. I enjoy the bopping instrumentation, especially when accompanied by his unique energy.

Favorite Tracks: Bad Bad Bad, Whats the Move, Mannequin Challenge, Diamonds

Least Favorite: I'm Scared, Pussy, Ecstasy

Dark Lane Demo Tapes lies at the bottom of Drake's discography. When drake announced the release of another mixtape, I was hopeful of a release similar to "If Youre Reading This It's Too Late" (IYRTITL). That critically acclaimed 2015 tape carried the raw, punch-for-punch flows that take the listener away from his typical radio anthems. This latest release, however, fails to accomplish any sound other than filler. Demo Tapes aims at multiple different paths at once, and fails to step ... read more

Walker has a powerful voice. Her debut, however, contains an underwhelming set of beats that sound identical, which make the bulk of the 18 tracks forgettable.

Favorite Tracks: Come Thru, Playing Games, I'll Kill You, Girls Need Love

Least Favorite: Potential

Considering the degree of anticipation I had for this album, from the level of enjoyment I received from his debut, to the hype built up after hearing his prequel EP that released 6 months before this sophomore release, "What You See is What You Get" lived up to all my frightenly high expectations, giving me an opportunity to document my first 90+ rating since 2016. Luke Combs crafted a relatable, humble, sentimental, consistent, and honest work that's been on repeat for nearly 4 ... read more

Monster carries some of Future's most energetic moments. The title is certainly fitting, and I only wish that every track reciprocated the fire that tracks like "Gangland" and "Throw Away" encapsulate. Similar to most of my opinions conclude with Future, his tracks are hit / miss. His highs are some of the best of his career, even today, considering how old this mixtape is within his discography. A solid handful of forgettable tracks plague this project from being considered ... read more

This is the only album Kanye has released that revolves around a central theme both thematically and instrumentally, however I don't believe that directly correlates to a positive reception. While I appreciate the focus, this album fails to keep me entertained. With an average track length of less than 3 minutes, I often feel like the songs end without ever developing.

Favorite Tracks: Everything We Need, Use This Gospel

Least Favorite: Water

The first two tracks are great. The last two are forgettable. He has a solid voice that is very catchy when he makes it flow.

Favorite Tracks: If We Never Met, Rum & Tequila

Least Favorite: Chill, 1999

"Solace" sounds excellent. The production on each track is perfectly intertwined with the other songs on the album without sounding too similar. Every detail in the instrumentation keeps me entertained from start to finish. I dont think there is one beat I dislike. I'd have to say it may be one of my favorite sounding albums I've heard in the past year or two.

With all this said, the vocalist is a little disappointing to my ears. It feels like wasted potential. There are certainly ... read more

severely uninteresting and unoriginal. Every song sounds like something you have already heard, making them feel repetitive even on the first listen.

Favorite Tracks: Heaven

Least Favorite: The rest of the album

I noted my love for Luke Combs' songwriting on his debut "This One's For You Too". That satisfaction does not drop one bit with this recent EP. "The Prequel" sounds so complete, and I'm highly anticipating the release of his next full length album.

Favorite Tracks: All of them... Refrigerator Door, Lovin' on You

Least Favorite Tracks: None of them... Beer Never Broke My Heart (If I had to choose)

one of the most unoriginal releases I've heard to date.

Favorite Track: Waste It on Me

Least Favorite: the rest of the album

Summer Anthems is fun and simple. All the content is warming, but lacks depth on both of lyrical and sonic level, resulting in a set of repetitive songs that can get rather annoying if played on a frequent basis.

Favorite Tracks: Wade in Your Water, 24/7, Alcoholic

Least Favorite: Your Turn, She's A Professional, The Light