Supermodel: This one started off a bit eerily, but it quickly turns into a really light song with some really raw, passionate lyrics about one of SZA’s ex-lovers. I also love her vocals on this one, and her delivery on the song actually feels pretty emotional. I really like this track!
Love Galore (ft. Travis Scott): On this one, SZA talks about her ex-lover against a very nice, tropical beat. I really love her vocals a lot, the instrumental is very head-noddy, and I also love the vocals from featured artist Travis Scott on this one. I don’t have so much experience with his music, but his vocals sound great, and I feel like the two work well together on this one. I think this is a track I’ll definitely come back to in the future.
Doves In The Wind (ft. Kendrick Lamar): In what was described as a “dedication to vaginas,” this song talks more about how some people will lose their minds over sex and do whatever they possibly can to have sex with someone. SZA vocals on this one are very interesting, I like her vocal delivery, and the instrumental reminds me a lot of Kendrick Lamar’s “YAH.,” to be honest…and that was also a terrible segue into the point that Kendrick is featured on this track, and he and SZA both work well with each other. The lyrics are unapologetic, and they serve to make this song even more enjoyable.
Drew Barrymore: On this track, SZA discusses her self-esteem, and wonders about her own self-worth throughout the track. She talks about how she doesn’t feel like she’s “ladylike,” and she does that over a very light but still pounding beat, and her vocals are really powerful on this one. Another really great track.
Prom: A more electronic, poppy, disco-esque track, the beat on this one is really punchy and fun, and the instrumental as a whole is really bright and head-noddy. I also love SZA’s vocal performance on this track. It feels like she shows some of her range on this track, and her vocals sound extremely nice! I also love how she continues to delve into her insecurities on this track, and how she talks about forgetting what her future looks like because it’s Prom season and she’s just deep in the moment. Really great track!
The Weekend: Another more electronic track that feels kind of Rihanna-esque, SZA talks here about how she only has her man on the weekends, and then he goes off to other women on the weekdays. It honestly feels rather emotional, and once again, I really love SZA’s vocals. She’s got a really great voice and she shows that on this track. Definitely a really enjoyable song!
Go Gina: A song with a more heavy beat and a louder vocal performance from SZA, I really like her vocals on this one, I once again get some Rihanna vibes here, and I like how she makes some lyrical connections to the character Gina from the sitcom Martin (not because I know the show, I just think it’s clever). It does end a bit too quickly for me, and I don’t know if this is one I’ll come back to as often in the future, but I still enjoyed it.
Garden (Say It Like Dat): A very bright song with a more trap-inspired beat, SZA talks on this track about her experiences being with a man who doesn’t really love her. I once again love her vocals and I think they nicely compliment the trap-flavored beat on this one. Not one of my favorite tracks on the album, and I don’t know if I’ll return to it as often as some of the others, but it’s still a good track overall.
Broken Clocks: Keeping the beat very trap-esque on this one, this song talks about balancing love life with work life, which is something I’m sure is very relatable for many. Her vocals remain very powerful and really beautiful overall, and the beat flows nicely on this one. Really enjoyed this track a lot, I feel like I’ll be coming back to it quite a bit!
Anything: A song that deals with themes of acceptance and legitimacy in your partner, this song feels like a less trap-flavored continuation of the last track, and it features another really interesting performance from SZA. Her vocals remain powerful and the hook on this one is pretty fun, too. Again, this one ends a bit sooner than I would’ve liked, and the outro does start to feel repetitive, but it’s still an enjoyable track.
Wavy (Interlude) (ft. James Fauntleroy): You guys know I’m usually not all that crazy about the short, 1-minute long interludes, but this is definitely an interlude done right. There’s definitely some solid substance to this track (it doesn’t just feel like it was thrown in), there are some good lyrics on this one (talking about looking for a way out of relationships), and I love the vocal performances from SZA and featured artist James Fauntleroy, who both work very well together. The energetic trap beat and bright sound are also great. Very good interlude.
Normal Girl: A song that discusses SZA’s wishes to just be a “normal girl,” this track is lead by a pounding drum beat and an all-around lighter instrumental, as SZA’s vocals (and the beat) are front and center on this one. Once again, her vocals are gorgeous, and I like her flow on the verses on this one. It’s a pretty emotional track that I found myself really enjoying, and wanting to come back to more and more in the future.
Pretty Little Birds (ft. Isaiah Rashad): A lot is going on in this track. I think SZA’s vocals on the hook are some of the best on the album, and on this one, she talks about how, despite her struggles, she still trusts and wants to fly away with her lover. She does this over a really ethereal instrumental with a pretty head-noddy beat. I’m not as crazy about Isaiah Rashad’s verse on this one, but his vocals still sound pretty good. I probably won’t revisit this track as often as the others, but I did still enjoy it, for sure.
20 Something: SZA finishes things off by just bearing it all, admitting that she doesn’t really have full control of her life, and how she wants to keep all her friends and successfully makes it out of her 20’s. She talks about this over a very light acoustic guitar melody, and the more quaint instrumental makes it feel extremely personal. The combination of the instrumental and SZA’s very beautiful, angelic vocals honestly nearly brought tears to my eyes. Really beautiful finish to the album.
Overall, I can definitely see the hype with this album. SZA explores a ton of themes like self-esteem, her youth, her relationships, and her life in general, and she does a fantastic job of it. With some very interesting and beautiful vocal performances, and many different instrumentals that perfectly compliment her wonderful vocals, this album feels really personal but really beautiful, and SZA definitely shows us here that she’s plenty talented. She’s a wonderful vocalist and a great songwriter, and I can tell ya, Top Dawg Entertainment already has plenty of talented artists, but with SZA, they’ve really got something special. This album was beautiful, and it’s plain to see why SZA was one of 2017’s biggest breakout stars.
Here’s to an even better 2018!
Favorite tracks: Supermodel, Love Galore, Doves In The Wind, Prom, The Weekend, Broken Clocks, Wavy (Interlude), Normal Girl, 20 Something
Least favorite tracks: Anything, if I had to pick one.
Rating: Excellent
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