It really is a shame that despite the extremely delayed release date of this album, and indeed the entire VULTURES series, little to no quality shines through across the track list. Kanye West seems to have lost the creative spark that made him such a unique and enjoyable artist in both the 2000s and 2010s decades, certainly in the lyrical aspect. Additionally, the production on the album is hardly any better than the dry lyrical content, with all the tracks sounding like a half-baked, ... read more

'Rodeo' is easily still Travis Scott's best work to date. There is such a high level of consistency across the LP, along with an impressively dark and diverse range of sounds, which has not quite been replicated to the same level on any of his later projects. 'Pornography' introduces the album's theme of a multifaceted journey with both highs and lows in mysterious fashion, with the second half after the beat switch almost serving as a reality check from the ... read more

What an incredible album from Tame Impala, which hooks you with its dreamy, psychedelic qualities right from the off. The fantastic sound is maintained throughout the LP, continuing to bless your ears with beautiful guitars, synths and drum beats. 'Currents' kicks off with the sensational 'Let It Happen' which introduces the main theme of the album: 'letting go' and embracing the natural flow of life rather than bothering yourself with pointless tasks. The ... read more

Kendrick Lamar announces himself to the world of hip-hop with an excellent debut album in 'Section.80'. His local world of Compton is vividly described throughout, along with the struggles which many people are facing, and Kendrick is the narrator of the events he is witnessing (and is sometimes tied up in) on a daily basis. Kendrick presents himself as an open and respectful rapper on 'F*ck Your Ethnicity' and is here to spread the truth about society through his music and ... read more

Charli xcx returns with a very fun and surprisingly (for me at least) enjoyable record in 'BRAT'. The more and more you listen to this album the more infectious and addictive its electronic dance beats become, making it a true hyperpop experience from start to finish. The ambitious production, great delivery and catchy lyrics work very well together to deliver a really consistent LP. There is a diverse mixture of themes throughout the album too, ranging from the self-confident feel of ... read more

Perfect.

I am not a huge fan of the cloud rap genre, but that did not stop me from enjoying parts of this album. Playboi Carti's flows, delivery and good energy are complemented very well by the great production from Pi'erre Bourne and others across the LP. The intro track 'Long Time' is fantastic in its simplicity, but the rest of the album does not quite live up to its ethereal beats. Although I appreciate that for artists of this genre paying close attention to lyrical content ... read more

Not a single beat on this album fails to infect you with pure joy. The sampling and mixing throughout the album is excellent, with even instrumental tracks such as 'Veridis Quo', 'Voyager' and 'Nightvision' being intoxicating just through their funky beats. Then there are some of the most iconic disco songs of all time in 'One More Time' (one of the most feel-good songs of all time) and 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' (although I do think ... read more

Lil Yachty explores the realms of psychedelic art pop with his latest collaborative LP with James Blake. The styles of the two artists complement each other to great effect on the album, and the harmonising between their vocals is at points ethereal, particularly on the strongest track on the album, 'Midnight'. The production of the project is also excellent, making the album a dreamy listening experience throughout, with the use of synths really contributing to the smoothness of most ... read more

What a fantastic way for The Beatles to conclude their magnificent and influential recording career! This album holds high sentimental value for me as I listened to many of the tracks repeatedly throughout my childhood on long car journeys, and those memories with my family I will cherish forever. There is not much more I can say about this album which hasn't already been said - it is a masterpiece from start to finish (although I still do not know why the hidden track 'Her ... read more

This is a fantastic album from JID. From a pure rapping perspective these are some of the best flows and bars I have heard from any MC, and the consistency of JID's performance across the LP is very impressive. The incredible rapping is accompanied by thoughtful and frequently introspective songwriting, however, which culminates in an enthralling listen. On the sensational 'Raydar', JID discusses the corruption of the system in the USA, and the tribulations which black people ... read more

Kanye West's sophomore album is one of my personal favourites of his. It contains some of Kanye's best flows and lyrics from his career in countless excellent verses, and along with the unsurprisingly fantastic production, produces a fantastic project. The features on the album are all on point, with the strongest verses from Lupe Fiasco on 'Touch the Sky', Nas on 'We Major' and Cam'ron on 'Gone'. There are also gorgeous vocal features scattered ... read more

Overall an enjoyable listening experience from Travis. The album starts off strong and is fairly consistent bar a few forgettable tracks such as 'K-POP' and 'PARASAIL'. These could definitely have been cut from the final track list to deliver a tighter project. 'FE!N', although the most streamed song on the album, gets old very quickly for me, particularly the chorus. The final two tracks close the album in impressive fashion, with the production from Metro Boomin ... read more