Drake- If You're Reading This It's Too Late (2015)

Why did I review the album?  Was working on another album review when I found out this came out and immediately listened

Did I like it? No

Will I listen again? To select songs

I don’t like this album which shouldn’t be a surprise if you’ve read any of my previous rap album reviews. It’s an album full of chopped rapping that I’m not a fan of. The only exceptions are the last three tracks. So I’ll sum up my review of the first 14 tracks like this: Given my preferences, I was never going to like this offering. It’s a shame too because some of the songs has some potentially great content, but I was so distracted by the delivery that I couldn’t get as invested as I wanted to. As I review this album though I’d be remiss not to bring up one last point. During the song From Time Drake talks about doing something more with music. i.e. “ I want to take it deeper than money, P****, vacation.” I inferred from that line that he’d like to experiment and see how much further he can push himself and the music industry. This album is an exercise of that wish.

I feel the same way about this album as I did with Jay-Z’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail. There is a trend in the industry and rather than be swept away by sticking to norms, they agree to adapt and change.  As a person that asks artist to experiment, I can’t penalize him completely when he tries. I don’t like it, but I do understand why it was done and contend that it does hold some value.

My Favs

3. 6PM in New York

2.  Jungle

1.  You & the 6

Overall Rating: 1.5 of 5 spins

Top 5 of 2014

So, I’m going to do something a little different today. Instead of a review I’m going to do my top 5 favorite song of 2014. The only rule, one song per artist.

J.Cole- 2014 Forest Hills Dr. (2014)

Why did I review the album?  He’s my favorite artist (of the newer ones)

Did I like it? Still not sure (but I think so)

Will I listen again? Yes, for multiple reasons. I still don’t know exactly how I feel about this album.

I feel like Cole was going to have a hard time pleasing me with this album regardless of what he put out. Cole’s got a formula that he’s used to gain popularity in his mixtapes and his first two albums. So if he made the same type of music for this album, I’d have been a bit bored (not that the songs would be bad) because he’s made five collections of music using that formula. At some point, I’d want him to step out of his original niche and experiment a little bit. However, the other end of the spectrum is that he’d try something so foreign that there wouldn’t be a hint of the old J. Cole that made me love him as an artist. In this album he tried a mix of both, but leaned a little heavier on the experimental side. The problem is, I don’t like a majority of the experimental things he tried with this album.

I really want to give this album three spins, but considering that I gave Birdy and Sam Smith three spins, I can’t give this three stars with a good conscience. However I am very glad I got this album and would do it again in a heartbeat.  

My Favs

3. No Role Modelz

2.  January 28^th

1. 03’ Adolescence

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 Spins 

Young Jeezy- Seen It All:The Autobiography (Deluxe Edition) (2014)

Why did I review the album?  I liked his last album

Did I like it? Yes

Will I listen again? Yes

I got this album a few months ago and stopped listening after the first three sings I heard. Even now, I still find them subpar to Jeezy’s normal standard, but I’ve learned to find value in them regardless. After the rough start, it manages to find its way rather well.

Compared to the last effort, I find this one more impressive. This may be my prejudice coming to light, but I find this one much more personal. As a man that listens to rap for the stories it tells, I appreciates the rawness and real life experience spread throughout the album.He calls it an autobiography and while I wouldn’t go that far, it’s by far his most personal work.

As you will see in the longer version of this review, I fell in love with the beats too. I mainly focus on content and usually am indifferent to beats, but it seemed like every time I heard a track I was praising the beat.

Another thing to note is that Jeezy travels the same roads as previous albums (drug heavy content) , but finds a way to make it fresh. He describes his experience with drugs so vividly that I can imagine being there with him. That vividness allows you to be entrapped in the story he’s telling and separates him from all other drug rappers.  My favorite drug related album is still Pusha T’s My Name is My Name, but this is a valiant effort that serves a worthy runner up.  

My Favs

3. How I Did It (Perfection)

2.  Holy Ghost

1.  Seen it All

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Spins  

Shy Girls: "Under Attack" AUDIO

My sister introduced me to this artist and I must admit, I’m a fan.  I love his voice and his approach to R&B.

The thing that intrigues me the most is the sound and production. It’s definitely R&B based but throws in touches of Jazz (with an amazing solo), some electronic influences, and one-time-only sound effects that are perfectly placed. If most song had tried this, I’d normally say that it’s trying too much and should strip some parts/instruments to make it more cohesive, but in this case I wouldn’t dare suggest it.

As beautiful as his voice is, the cleverly crafted production really made this song stand out 5/5

What is he doing now?

He released an EP Timeshare in October of last year and is performing at various venues. To find out more about Shy Girls follow him on Twitter, Soundcloud, or on Youtube through Hit City U.S.A. I know that I only review albums, but i may make an exception for this artist.

Birdy- Fire Within (2014)

Why did I review the album? Not About Angels and her cover album convinced me to give her original content a chance

Did I like it? Eventually

Will I listen again? To some tracks

The majority of the problems I have with this album are my own and in no way Birdy’s fault. For some reason I was expecting an R&B type album. I didn’t get that, but looking back I shouldn’t have expected it. I believe that’s the issue though. I had preconceived notions that were misguided. Her first album was one based largely off covers of other artists, so I didn’t know what she specialized in.

I’ve found that most albums have a purpose, but I couldn’t find out what Fire Within’s purpose is. So, I felt like I was taking a journey with no end. I was listening to a random collection of songs that did not have a main theme to tie them together.

Despite all that, I still enjoyed the album. Birdy has amazing talent and listening to her sing is a pleasure every time. Add the fact that her songs are not over produced and I’m bound to be pleased. That’s the part I like best concerning this album. Many times when artists are signed to labels they run from the basics and instead opt for over produced beats that interfere with the quality that originally made the artist successful. Birdy doesn’t fall into that trap and the album is better because of that fact. I’d gladly listen to her next album. 

Is it what I envisioned? Not quite. Does that make it bad? Of course not.

If you like great singers and are willing to try something that’s not R&B I’d definitely give Fire Within a listen.

My Favs

3. All About You

2.  No  Angel

1. Strange Birds

Overall Rating: 3/5 Spins

Michael Jackson- Thriller (1983)

Why did I review the album?  Needed something that I knew I would like

Did I like it? Well…Yes

Will I listen again? It’s one of my favorites of all time.

 Thriller is a compact album at nine songs, but it packs as much punch as albums twice its length. Because it’s so short each song carries much more significance. It has something for everyone, There are danceable tracks (Wanna Be Startin Something, P.Y.T.,) creative tracks (Wanna Be Startin Somethin, Thriller) and some really solid pop (Baby Be Mine, P.T.Y.) 

My Favs

3. The Lady in My Life

2.  Thriller

1. Human Nature

Overall Rating: 5/5 Spins

50 Cent- Animal Ambition (2014)

Why did I review the album? It won the poll for August

Did I like it? No

Will I listen again? No

This album has no energy whatsoever. The end result is that he sounded extremely disinterested in the stories he was trying to tell. And, if he doesn’t care about the story, why should I?

I do like the beats on this album. Most of them are chill and toned down, an interesting choice for someone that is an extravagant lyricist. It’s a shame these beats are wasted on bad lyrics and horrifically bad delivery.

My Favs

3. Winning Circle

2. Hustler

1. Twisted

Overall Rating:  2/5 Spins

Common- Nobody's Smiling (2014)

Why did I review the album? I like Common

Did I like it? Indifferent

Will I listen again? No

This is the first time I’ve disliked an album without taking issue with the headlining artist. I take issue with the features on the album. Simply, they aren’t good rappers. Some needed to work on flow, others used chopped rapping which I am not a fan of. If there were only two or three features on this album, I wouldn’t mind, but there are several.   

Common’s formula hasn’t changed much. It works in fine form here. In my opinion it’s the features that destroy the album.

My Favs

3. Young Hearts Run Free

2.  Real

1. Rewind That

Overall Rating: 2/5 Spins

R. Kelly- Black Panties (2013)

Why did I review the album?  I told my friend I would do it, and I am fond of R. Kelly’s music

Did I like it? No

Will I listen again? No

I think this experience was doomed to fail from the onset. My expectation of the album and Kelly’s were clearly different. I expected classic 90’s Kelly or adult R&B that he’s favored in the two previous albums. But, maybe that’s the reason he’s wandered in this direction. Kelly’s been “in the game” for 20 years now, so he’s bound to try other things. He transitioned from R&B to a slightly more mainstream sound. Then experimented with a largely gospel sound that transitioned into adult R&B career. This might be the next phase in Kelly’s career. So, I shouldn’t be angry with him, but I wish I knew his intention beforehand.

In my defense, this album delivers sleaze by the bucket load. If this kind of music you like, then you’ll love this one, but if not, it’ll be a struggle to get through this offering from Kelly.

My Favs

3.  I have no idea (that’s not the name of the song, I seriously couldn’t find a third song)

2. Shut Up  

1. All the way

Overall Rating: 1/5 Spins

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis- The Heist (2012)

Why did I review the album? My sister asked me about a song named “Same Love” and I loved it so I listened to the whole album

Did I like it? It’s either my favorite or second favorite album since 2012

Will I listen again? I will listen to this one forever

The two sides of Macklemore the funny guy and serious Mack. Both are on display in this album.

The crowning achievement of this album is Macklemore’s ability to step in the shoes of the person in that situation. He does it multiple times in songs like Same Love, Neon Cathedrals and Wing$. The reason I love JoJo is her ability to accomplish this. It’s also the reason I was somewhat critical of Love Marriage and Divorce, the lyrics were there, but I didn’t feel the emotion that I felt necessary. This is the first time I’ve noticed a rapper achieving the same feat. It makes the music stronger because the audience notices how deeply the artist feels about the issue, so every lyric carries more weight and significance.

I constantly complain that “fun” music tends to force me to “turn my brain off” in order to enjoy it. This isn’t the case with Macklemore. Like Gaga he manages to have fun, but maintain a level of seriousness. Considering the pulverizing nature of some of his other work, it’s interesting that he can pull off “fun” so well. It proves that he is truthfully versatile and can handle both radio worthy tracks and thought provoking material.   

My only complaint is that the track listing could have been organized a bit better. Towards the end, there were about five fun songs in a row without a thought provoking song to balance out the silliness and I found my patience waning. It’s a small complaint and something that would only hurt the album when comparing it to my favorites.

There’s something here for everyone. There’s more than enough “fun” for people to enjoy, but also has some material that might make you think about the stances you hold concerning certain topics. It’s an album that touches on many different topics and shares it’s opinion without apologizing. It’s a versatile album from a strong artist that can hold its own against many of my favorite albums and is one of my favorite albums in recent memory.

My Favs

3.  Thrift Shop

b. Badaboom

2.  Same Love

1. Neon Cathedral

Overall Rating: 5/5 Spins 

Sam Smith- In the Lonely Hour (2014)

Why did I review the album?  Was looking for a new artist

Did I like it? Yes

Will I listen again? Yes

Do I recommend? Yes  

This album started a bit wobbly for me, but by the end I was very happy I decided to take a chance on Sam Smith. My favorite thing about him is his ability to transition from the higher octaves to lower ones seamlessly without the song feeling disjointed.

For me, a first album is supposed to show the person’s skill and leave the audience believing there is room for growth in future work. This album did that for me. The writing for some of the songs (especially in the beginning) need more work, but his voice is definitely a solid one that I want to see evolve as his career progresses. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on his career.

My Favs

3. I’m Not the Only One

2.  I’ve Told You Now

1. Lay Me Down

Overall Rating:  3 out of 5 Spins  

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Robin Thicke- Paula (2014)

 Why did I review the album? I like Robin Thicke

Did I like it? Unfortunately not

Will I listen again? No

My Favs

3. You’re My Fantasy

2.  Forever Love

1. Get Her Back

This album suffers from a lack of focus. In the past I’ve said that albums should have a level of variety and I believe that, but when a silly song like Tippy Toes that sounds like a sing along for Tele tubbies is in a professional album, we have a problem.

I can see what each song was trying to achieve, but almost all fail for various reasons.

I will commend him for using a myriad of sounds and trying to merge them into a cohesive album, but using sounds from different genres and eras added to the lack of focus. It was a good idea that was poorly executed.

Overall Rating: 30 with a Not For Me recommendation

The Fault In Our Stars I Birdy -- Not About Angels I Official Video

I haven’t watched the movie or read the book, but I’m considering it after hearing this track. At the beginning it follows the simple formula that I like; an instrument and a voice. That way the audience can enjoy both aspects equally.

This song reminds me of JoJo’s Note to God in that every verse is delivered more urgently. In the last verse both the music and voice reach the same urgency after minutes of buildup. It’s a formula I really like because it allows the producer and singer to show off his talents without either taking away from the other. In fact it’s the combination of both that makes the climax of these songs so special.

I love the way the piano and violin work off of each other in this song. The violin comes in about half way through, and fades in and out of the song. But, it chooses its spots well. Sometimes it softens the song, adding a tinge of beauty, but at other points it adds suspense. 5/5

What is she doing now?

She released her second album this year named Fire Within. I listened and was very happy with it. If you like this track, I suggest giving her album a try. 

Ed Sheeran- X Deluxe Edition (2014)

Why did I review the album?  My sister sent me the song “I See Fire” about a month ago and I loved it so much I listened to both + and X

Did I like it? Yes

Will I listen again? I already have

Everyone keeps classifying this album as a pop album, and sure some of the lyrics are “poppy”, but it’s a mistake to consider this a pop album. The only reason I would consider this a pop album is due to his rise in popularity. That is a different type of pop than the way he is categorized.

There is a definite urban influence that infects this album, which may hint at his musical direction in subsequent works.

 There are SO MANY different sounds on this album. He features typical Ed Sheeran sounds (One), then displays his vocal range on tracks “I See Fire” & “Thinking Out Loud” and adds a urban kick to “Runaway” and “The Man” and raps for the entirety of “Take it Back”.  

The only thing that gave me pause is his interest in rapping on several tracks. I like artist that choose to experiment, but he doesn’t have nice flow and his rap isn’t (for me) enjoyable to listen to. The first time I listened to the album it drove me insane. With subsequent listens, I have to admit that most of his raps do provide a lot of content which makes it bearable. If you can handle his rapping, the album is definitely worth a buy.

This album displays further variety that Sheeran has to offer as well as his willingness to experiment with his own sound.  

I don’t think Ed Sheeran has reached his full potential, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

My Favs

3. I See Fire

2.  Thinking Out Loud

1. Even My Dad Does Sometimes

Overall Rating: 80 with a recommendation to Listen then Decide

Ledisi- The Truth (2014)

Why did I review the album?  Trying something new

Did I like it? Not Really

Will I listen again?  Nope

I listened to this because Ledisi has done work with artists that I like and I always appreciated her contribution to the songs. So I thought I’d listen to her solo work.  

Her vocal range is questionable. Whenever she hits the higher notes her voice suffers noticeably

Of all the songs on the album only one has content.

The album doesn’t perform any aspect poorly, but it doesn’t try anything noteworthy either. It’s a perfectly average album.

If you are looking for new artist to listen to, then maybe you should give this one a listen, but if you skipped this album I don’t think you’re missing anything.

My Favs

3. 88 Boxes

2.  Lose Control

1. Can’t Help Who You Love

Overall Rating: 57 with a recommendation to Neutral

Mariah Carey- Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse (2014)

Why did I review the album?  It was on my list of top five albums I want to hear in 2014

Did I like it? Yes

Will I listen again? Absolutely

I’ve listened this album seven times, and each time I listen I uncover more hidden gems.

This album reminded me of Beyoncé, but each track isn’t nearly as solid.

There is something on this album for everyone. There are 90’s influenced tracks (Cry), some lighthearted and upbeat tracks (Meteorite, Money  & You Don’t Know What to Do), Gospel (Heavenly).

The most impressive part is that she managed to integrate a myriad of sounds and covered many bases with her music choice, but still managed to create an incredibly personal album.

My Favs

3. Meteorite

2. Dedicated

1. One More Try

Overall Rating: 79 with a recommendation to listen then decide

Michael Jackson- Xscape (2014)

Why did I review the album?  MJ is my favorite artist

Did I like it? Yes

Will I listen again? Yes, I’ll replay this one for years

This album is the most intriguing one I’ve listened to in a while. The regular version has 8 tracks produced mainly by Timberland (there are others, but he is the headlining producer). The deluxe version features the original version of the song plus an additional version of Love Never Felt So Good featuring Justin Timberlake.

 The reason that I like this album has nothing to do with music. Forgive the example, but it bears relevance. I once read a book by Brandon Sanderson. He released the book for free on his website, Along with the final edition of the book he also allowed readers to download several drafts that led to the final edition.  Through releasing several copies of the book in its various stages of drafting, the reader gets a process of writing a book. Although not completely the same (because Timberland is not MJ) we are offered the same opportunity with this album. I see the first tracks as covers of the originals (technically they are reworked) performed by MJ. We are given a chance to see how different artist would attack the same content which is fun. Additionally we are exposed to the idea that the sound of music changes over time. The MJ songs were recorded anywhere from 89-03 while the standard edition ranges from 13-14. How much of the changes were based off Timberlands own feel with music and how much did the time of recording affect the overall product? I don’t think we’ll ever find out exactly, but it was fun to ponder these ideas while listening.

For me, classic albums need to have at least two tracks that transcend time, or speak to issues of the time period. This album doesn’t quite have that. It’s missing the Thriller, Man in the Mirror, You are Not Alone, and songs of that ilk. If I were generous, I could say that Do You Know Where Your Children Are and Slave to the Rhythm fit the requirements, but I think I’d be giving the songs a BIT too much credit. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the album and recommend it 

My Favs

3. Loving You

2.  A Place With No Name

1. Xscape

Overall Rating: 87 with a recommendation to Buy

Big K.R.I.T. - The Vent

I’ve known about Big K.R.I.T. for a while because he’s featured on tracks for artist that I like, but this is the first time I’ve listened to an exclusively K.R.I.T. track.

I’m glad I chose this song to listen to because it was worth every second of my time. Part of the reason I hadn’t looked into his music before is that I thought he was a stereotypical rapper (he may still be, but I’ll hold off judgment until I listen to more of his work). The important thing is that he isn’t during this track.

The beat is a perfect fit for this track because it’s simple, but still manages to add to the atmosphere his lyrics create. Its simple beat also forced me to listen to the lyrics which is good because that is the selling point of this song.

I love this song because it lets go of the pretense that many rappers use in song and displays a thoughtful K.R.I.T. That works to the songs advantage because it humanizes K.R.I.T. and makes you believe that he is truthfully pondering the situations he discusses in the song. So whether he is angry, sad, or lost in the song, the audience empathizes with him

Normally a song this deep earns a 5 star rating, but this one doesn’t. A few of the lines felt a bit forced as though he was trying to make the lyrics deep (i.e.  I’ve never seen a star in a red rug, if I want to see a star I just look above). There is one other instance of this in the song. So, I couldn’t give it a 5, but I HIGHLY recommend it. 4.5/5

What is he doing now?

He is working on his second studio album Cadillactica that will be released sometime in 2014. He has released the first single for the album which is called Mt. Olympus. Production for the album will include Jim Jonsin, Rico Love, and DJ Toomp.