Demi Lovato "Tell Me You Love Me" Album Review

I’m not sure how many of you expected this review, but either way, it’s time to talk about Demi Lovato’s new album “Tell Me You Love Me.” I personally am not super familiar with Demi Lovato’s music. I know of “Heart Attack,” which I think is a pretty good song, but generally speaking, I’ve never really listened to a lot of her stuff. However, as some of you may know, I’ve been watching a lot of X Factor on YouTube recently and seeing Demi as a judge, there’s something about her that I really like. She’s hilarious and adorable and sweet all at the same time, so I wanted to give this new album a shot and see what it’s like, so let’s go song-by-song and see what Demi has to say:

Sorry Not Sorry: Really funky beat and sound, I love the lyrics on this, and I think Demi’s performance is pretty solid on this one. Feels a lot like an anthem towards haters, and I can say it’s a good one.

Tell Me You Love Me: I feel like this track shows more vulnerability on Demi’s part, and I think her vocals are both powerful yet sad on this one. I also really like the lyrics on this one. Another pretty good song.

Sexy Dirty Love: Once again, I like Demi’s vocals on this one, the hook is pretty solid, and I think Demi’s lyricism is solid once again. Not my favorite song on the album, but pretty good overall.

You Don’t Do It For Me Anymore: This song reminds me of something I’ve heard before, but I can’t put my finger on what it is. Even so, it’s got a nice light beat, Demi’s vocals are very passionate on this one, and I feel like it’s a pretty good breakup song overall. Pretty enjoyable song.

Daddy Issues: I like the hook on this one, and I think the lyrics are personal and kind of interesting: having trouble falling in love because of her lack of a father figure. The beat is also really good on this one. Yet another very good song.

Ruin The Friendship: A much lighter song with again, a different subject matter: stepping out of your friendship with someone and engaging in sexual activities. Beyond that, I love Demi’s vocals, the song is very head-noddy, and also pretty sexy. Gotta say, I really really like this one.

Only Forever: When this one started, I was getting some old-school Weeknd vibes. Obviously, it changes dramatically, and it changes into a really beautiful song. Light, but wonderfully sung, and kind of sad (she’s talking about being in love with someone and waiting forever for them, something I find very relatable). This is one I’ll probably end up breaking the replay button on, it’s an amazing song.

Lonely (ft. Lil Wayne): This DJ Mustard-produced song (yeah, I know) features yet another different subject matter: feeling lonely and isolated in heartbreak. It’s a really sad song that features a really passionate performance from Demi and some really solid lyrics. And you know what, Lil Wayne’s verse on this track is actually not bad. Another good song overall!

Cry Baby: Once again, Demi’s performance is strong and there’s another different subject matter (Demi’s usually unbreakable emotions are more broken here). The song also sounds very nice, and the hook is pretty solid. Not my personal favorite on the album, but this is another good one.

Games: Demi talks about sending mixed messages on this solid track that features a pretty catchy beat, good lyrics, and a typically strong performance from Demi. Nothing you haven’t heard before, but it’s still a pretty solid song.

Concentrate: Demi delves into themes of lust in this song. The result is a song that’s light, lyrically interesting, and wonderfully sung. The hook is also pretty solid here, and while it’s not my personal favorite on the album, I can say I did enjoy this song.

Hitchhiker: Okay, so not counting the deluxe edition tracks, all twelve songs on this deal with some kind of slightly different subject matter (she talks about feeling completely safe with someone). I like the hook and the instrumental on this one, and as I’ve been saying throughout the whole thing, I like the lyrics as well. A good end to this album.

Instruction (Jax Jones ft. Demi Lovato and Stefflon Don): This is a song that Demi did with Jax Jones and Stefflon Don that’s only on the Deluxe version. I’m glad it’s on here because it’s a catchy, great dance song, and it’s got really great lyrics and a mad catchy hook. Stefflon Don sounds like the girl version of Sean Paul, and you know what? I think that’s kinda charming. I really like this song!

Sorry Not Sorry (Acoustic): This acoustic version of Sorry Not Sorry is only available on the Deluxe version of the album. Pretty much everything I said about the original song applies here. Honestly, it’s hard to tell if I like the regular or the acoustic version better because they both sound pretty similar. Both good, though.

No Promises (Acoustic) (Cheat Codes ft. Demi Lovato): This is an acoustic version of a song Demi did with a group known as Cheat Codes, and it’s only on the Deluxe version. Once again, Demi’s vocals are beautiful, the song itself sounds very nice, and the hook is pretty solid. I haven’t heard the original version, but now I kinda don’t want to because I enjoyed this version so much.

Overall, I gotta say that I really enjoyed this album. Demi brings the goods vocally, as expected, but she’s also brought us an album that has a lot of different subject matters, which leads to some good lyrics, exciting songs, and overall, a lot of fun. I don’t know how this compares to Demi’s other albums, but regardless, this one is pretty great! There were legitimately no bad songs on this thing, and I’ll be honest, I got through the entire review without listing a “least favorite track,” which tells me that this album was generally pretty consistent overall. Demi, you wanted me to tell you this: I love you.

Favorite tracks: Daddy Issues, Ruin the Friendship, Only Forever, Instruction, No Promises (Acoustic)

Least favorite track: None, they were all quite good.

Rating: Excellent

Miley Cyrus "Younger Now" Album Review

Another review so soon? Yes indeed. Here’s my review of Miley Cyrus’s new album “Younger Now.” I’ll be honest and say I’ve never been the biggest Miley fan. Some of her early singles were at the very least decent, but they were never enough to make me say “yeah, I love Miley!” Her 2013 album “Bangerz” caused me to drift away a bit, and then I roundly ignored the 92-minute epic that was “Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz,” where she basically teamed with The Flaming Lips and started doing psychedelic rock. Apparently, this new album is going to be a bit more “honest” and “back to her roots.” It’s also gonna be 50 minutes shorter than her last album. Hallelujah! Anyway, let’s check out this new album song-by-song and see if Miley can win me over:

Younger Now: I like how Miley is talking so candidly about how much she’s changed over time, but this track is just kind of boring to me. And while her vocals are pretty solid on this track, I’m not sure I really like the effects they put on her voice. Not a bad song, but nothing too memorable.

Malibu: I’m not too crazy about the hook on this one, but there are some really nice lyrics here and a decent instrumental. Miley’s vocals so far remind me a bit too much of Shania Twain and now I’m starting to wonder if that’s just Miley singing in her comfort zone, or if she is just genuinely unoriginal. Either way, this is a decent track that probably won’t get many replays out of me.

Rainbowland (ft. Dolly Parton): Country music isn’t really my thing but I do think the hook is pretty sweet on this song and I think Miley and Dolly Parton work well together on this one. I also like the lyrics on this one. Will I go back to this one a lot after this review? I don’t know yet, maybe it’ll grow on me a bit more, but for now, I do think it’s a pretty nice song.

Week Without You: I’m not sure what this says about me as a person, but as I hear this song, I just started thinking, “add a harmonica to this, and bam, Miley’s singing it in jail.” Overall, though, this one is also pretty boring to me. Everything about this song just screams “whatever” to me.

Miss You So Much: I like the acoustic guitar track, the sad lyrics, and the more upbeat, faster-paced sound on this track. Definitely a really solid, enjoyable track.

I Would Die For You: I like how this one is a nice mix of being subdued while also being upbeat and kind of fast-paced. I also like Miley’s vocals a lot on this one. Sure, it’s nothing I haven’t heard before, but this was a pretty enjoyable song overall.

Thinkin: I like the instrumental on this one, and I think that Miley’s “Shania Twain-esque” vocals actually work really well. It’s decently catchy and pretty fun overall. Good, solid song.

Bad Mood: Dammit, I really have to ask how much Shania Twain music Miley was listening to while making this album. Must’ve been really excited for her new album. The good news is that Shania’s inspiration leads to a pretty good track here. Miley’s performance is solid and the verses are pretty fun. Even though I’m not too crazy about the hook on this one, I do think it’s a pretty good song.

Love Someone: Another Shania-esque song that, again, doesn’t have an amazing hook, but the verses are pretty fun and the instrumental is pretty solid as well. Not my favorite track on the album but this is a pretty solid song overall.

She’s Not Him: I applaud Miley’s bravery on this track because she talks about being pansexual which is something we don’t hear pretty much at all. The song also sounds nice overall, and I do think Miley really sang from the heart on this one. It’s not my personal favorite track on the album, but it’s a pretty brave and enjoyable song that I think might grow on me a bit in the future.

Inspired: A really incredible, sweet-sounding song that tackles some really important issues, notably mental health. Another one that came straight from the heart, and I love Miley’s vocals and the instrumentals on this track. A really strong ending to this album.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised to say that I actually enjoyed this album. Miley’s return to her roots feels very Shania Twain-esque, but this change of sound gives us some really memorable, enjoyable, sweet, fun songs. It doesn’t start off amazingly, and it’s probably not gonna change my feelings about country music or anything like that, but it’s nice to see Miley do something a bit more grounded and more personal with this one. And, to that effect, I’m glad that her more grounded approach led to a pretty enjoyable album. Miley proves here that she has some talent as a vocalist and a lyricist, and it’s good to see her give us something that feels more real. It might not have turned me into a hardcore fan, but she’s just being Miley, and she’s doing it well. Good stuff, girl.

Favorite tracks: Rainbowland, Miss You So Much, I Would Die For You, Thinkin, Inspired

Least favorite track: Week Without You

Rating: Good

Fergie "Double Dutchess" Album Review

Alright, here’s my review of Fergie’s new album “Double Dutchess.” This is Fergie’s first studio album in 11 years, and I was interested in listening to it because I enjoyed a number of the singles on her first album “The Dutchess,” which features some of her biggest hits to date. I also really enjoyed Fergie when she was a part of The Black Eyed Peas, and she helped them put out some really great catchy songs. I’m not sure what to expect of this album, though, as I haven’t really been checking in on the reviews and I can’t say if I’m excited or uninterested. Either way, let’s go song-by-song and see if her new album is as “Fergalicious” and “Glamorous” as her first:

Hungry (ft. Rick Ross): The intro is really fascinating, but a little confusing. From there, this song just kind of feels like discount Nicki Minaj. Honestly, this doesn’t even sound like Fergie, it sounds like someone’s been listening to way too much Nicki (and, to an extent, Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow") and they wanted to sound too much like a ripoff. Rick Ross’s verse didn’t win me over, and neither did the hook. And I’ll be honest, I listened to this one twice in a row and still don’t really like it that much. Damn, I’m already sensing disappointment for the rest of this.

Like It Ain’t Nuttin: I like the piano track on this one and it’s a rather funky throwback to 90’s hip-hop that’s unfortunately held back by a pretty terrible hook. It’s not catchy at all, in fact, it’s more annoying than anything else. No way will I be listening to this again after this review.

You Already Know (ft. Nicki Minaj): Alright, this is a bit more like it. I like the funkiness of this one, the flow on the verses, and Fergie’s performance is pretty good outside of the annoying “this is how I do” part of the chorus. Oh, and Nicki Minaj is featured on this track, and as you’d expect, her lyrics and performance on her verse are strong. That said, the interlude at the end comes damn close to killing the song entirely. Overall, it’s not a great song by any means, but it’s decent overall, and it’s better than the first two songs.

Just Like You: This definitely feels more Fergie to me, and I actually really like it. Fergie’s vocals and performance are strong, the hook is rock-solid, and the instrumental is pretty strong. This is probably the first legitimately good song on this album, and I think it might even stick with me after this review.

A Little Work: It’s nothing you haven’t heard before, but I always say, I’m fine with a song sounding familiar if there’s some kind of charm or excitement to make it worth it, and I think Fergie’s strong performance and passionate vocals more than make up for the song’s “familiarity.” I also really like the lyrics and, even if they’re a bit cliché, the song as a whole is still a really nice listen.

Life Goes On: Another song that sounds pretty familiar, and while it’s kinda catchy, I’m not really crazy about the lyrics on this one. And again, even though Fergie’s performance is solid for most of the song, the third verse does start to break into that “discount Nicki Minaj” territory I was talking about earlier. And the outro on this thing is really weird. Not a bad song, not a great one though.

M.I.L.F. $: …what did I just listen to? Uhh, I’m very confused, so I’ll just say that the song isn’t good, Fergie again sounds like “discount Nick Minaj,” and the lyrics…yeah, next song, please!

Save It Til Morning: Huh? We went from whatever the hell M.I.L.F. $ was to an acoustic song? Odd. Either way, while this is another song that sounds familiar, I do like Fergie’s vocals and lyrics, and the lighter, acoustic guitar and instrumental as a whole are pretty strong. I’m not sure about this one as a whole, though, it might grow on me in the future.

Enchanté (Carine) (ft. Axl Jack): I thought it was cute that Fergie included her child speaking French in the intro. The instrumental on this one is très bien, and the song itself sounds great, but I just don’t think it’ll get many repeat listens out of me. Fergie’s performance just wasn’t really that memorable to me. En général, la chanson est décent, mais ce n’est pas fantastique.

Tension: This song actually gives me some old-school Fergie vibes, which is a really good thing in this case. The instrumental is really strong, the hook is good, Fergie’s performance is great, and again, the song just feels pretty fun. I really like this one!

L.A.LOVE (la la) (ft. YG): Unfortunately, after a standout track, this one is a bit of a step backward for me. It’s not a bad track, but again, we have Fergie with an unoriginal performance and a boring, unmemorable hook. Oh, and YG’s verse, while not bad, is nothing really worth listening to again. Not a terrible track, and far from the album’s worst, but also far from the best.

Love Is Blind: While this song is pretty interesting and different sounding from a lot of the other tracks on this thing, I can’t say I love it. Fergie’s vocals are good as usual, and the slower sound and instrumental sound pretty good, but I don’t find the hook very memorable and the interlude, beyond being unnecessary, just isn’t exciting. Probably not gonna go back to this song after this review.

Love Is Pain: What better way to end off an album than with a 7-minute track after a 5-minute one? Well, there’s a lot of other ways to end an album, but either way, this is a pretty nice finish to the record. Fergie’s broken, sad but still passionate vocals really add to the emotion of the song, the slower sound and beat on this one are really strong. That said, the ending of this track is downright scary and comes close to ruining the song for me. Did it need to be 7 minutes long? Maybe not, but either way, this is a pretty heartbreaking and very solid end to the album. I’m not sure I’ll be listening to this one a lot after the review, but it’s a pretty good track overall.

Overall, I’m a bit torn on what to make of this album. It started off extremely poorly and I immediately feared for the worse. Fortunately, things DID get better and this album luckily didn't fall into the bottom of the barrel, but even though there were some pretty memorable tracks, there were quite a few hiccups along the way *cough M.I.L.F. $ cough* and a lot of things just could’ve been tighter. It just didn’t feel like Fergie knew what she wanted to be. Though her more old-school sounding songs were great, I feel like Fergie didn’t feel comfortable just sticking to her guns, which is why she tried to “modernize” her sound with some songs that sounded like complete ripoffs of Nicki Minaj and (to a far lesser extent) other 2010s female rappers like Iggy Azalea and Cardi B. So, I think that the best term I can use to describe this album is “identity crisis.” Fergie doesn’t quite know what she wants to be, so she tries to blend both her old-school style and a new-school feel to this one. The result is that some of the album works, but some of it just kind of falls over itself. There were also some really weird, questionable interludes that nearly killed some of the decent tracks on this thing and also made the songs feel a bit too long. It definitely recovered from a terrible start, but unfortunately, this was a disappointing return for the Dutchess. You’d be better off just going back and listening to her old stuff.

Favorite tracks: Just Like You, A Little Work, Tension

Least favorite tracks: Hungry, Like It Ain't Nuttin, M.I.L.F. $

Rating: Okay

Macklemore "Gemini" Album Review

Might not have been expecting this one, huh? It’s time for a review of the new Macklemore album “Gemini.” While Macklemore released several studio albums with Ryan Lewis, giving us hits like “Can’t Hold Us” and “Thrift Shop,” Macklemore hasn’t released a studio album as a solo artist in 12 years. So, can he keep the ball rolling on his own? Let’s go song-by-song to find out:

Ain’t Gonna Die Tonight (ft. Eric Nally): Oh God, I heard the hook and immediately wanted to yell “SHUT UP!” Eric Nally’s chorus is damn annoying, and while I think Macklemore’s flow is pretty solid, this one really wasn’t very exciting to me. Yeah, no, not a great start to the album.

Glorious (ft. Skylar Grey): While I do like Skylar Grey’s hook and Macklemore’s flow on this one, I can’t help but feel like it’s a bit too generic. Like, throughout all of this, I just kept telling myself that I’ve heard all of this before. And while I don’t mind if a song sounds familiar, it doesn’t have enough charm or excitement to really keep it from feeling contrived and pretty mediocre.

Marmalade (ft. Lil Yachty): The hook is kinda decent on this one, but lyrically, I definitely think there’s a little bit of cringe on this one. And I think it’s particularly telling that Lil Yachty, a rapper I’m not particularly fond of, is honestly the highlight of this track. Like, I’m not even gonna lie, I liked Yachty’s verse on this one, way more than either of Macklemore’s. Not a terrible track, but nothing too amazing.

Willy Wonka (ft. Offset): Macklemore’s lyrics are pretty clever on this one, and I like his flow of course, but I think the hook is really boring and contrived, and I’m not as crazy about Offset’s verse on this one. This could’ve been a pretty great track, but unfortunately, it’s just “ehh.”

Intentions (ft. Dan Caplen): I really like Dan Caplen’s hook on this one (he’s got a great voice, might I say), and while Macklemore takes things a bit slower on this one, I think he does a fine job overall, and the lyrics were actually surprisingly thought-provoking. All in all, I actually really like this song.

Good Old Days (ft. Kesha): Kesha’s performance on this track is great as always, and I like the lyrics a lot. I like how they talk about remembering back to the good old days, and while it’s a kind of sad-sounding song, I think it’s a really well-made, enjoyable listen.

Levitate (ft. Otieno Terry): After two relatively slow songs, we have a dance song, and I’ll be honest, this one bored me. While I think there are some solid lyrics here, I think the song just feels like it’s been done before, and doesn’t have enough charm or fun factor to really make up for its familiarity. Oh, and Otieno Terry (the guy who sings the chorus) honestly just kind of sounds like discount Bruno Mars to me.

Firebreather (ft. Reignwolf): I like the mix of rap and rock on this one. It’s nicely head-noddy, I like Reignwolf’s hook (even if it sounds like it’s been done before), and I like the instrumental sound on this one. I can definitely say it’s not my favorite track on the album, but it’s definitely a solid song overall.

How to Play the Flute (ft. King Draino): The post-chorus on this is literally “ah-choo, god bless you, ay.” *sigh* In all seriousness, though, I’m not crazy about this one. I think that it once again sounds a bit too contrived, and I’m not big on King Draino’s hook or performance on this one, either.

Ten Million: This is the only track on the album that doesn’t have a featured artist. Make of that what you will. And again, this one really bored me a lot. It feels like Macklemore's just trying to make a “modern-day rap song,” and just making a not-so-exciting attempt at it. It’s an interesting attempt for sure, but it’s just really “whatever.”

Over It (ft. Donna Missal): I really like the verses on this one, and I think Macklemore does a really good job on them, and Donna Missal has a good voice, even if her hook isn’t anything really amazing. A decent song overall, nothing amazing, nothing bad.

Zara (ft. Abir): I’ll be honest, I heard Abir’s hook and I didn’t think it was a different person from the last track. They sounded very close to each other. The hook was still pretty solid, though at this point, Macklemore’s overly autotuned sound is getting old and he’s only been sticking to it for like two or three tracks. Just another “whatever” song.

Corner Store (ft. Dave B and Travis Thompson): Dave B, who sings the chorus, definitely sounds a lot like Chance the Rapper. Just saying. Neither he nor Travis Thompson (the other featured artist) really provide any memorable performances on this one, and not even Macklemore’s performance is amazing (it’s just kinda feeling old already). It sounds nice at some parts, but otherwise, it’s nothing amazing.

Miracle (ft. Dan Caplen): Dan Caplen returns on this one, and once again, I really like his hook. And I also like the slower sound of the song and, for lack of a better word, the hopelessness of the song as a whole. It’s definitely not one of the album’s strongest songs, and I think Caplen really outshines Macklemore on this one, but it’s a pretty solid song overall.

Church (ft. Xperience): Instrumentally, I find this track to be really interesting, but I don’t think Macklemore or Xperience (the featured artist) really put in their best performances on this one. Another track that personally was just kind of boring.

Excavate (ft. Saint Claire): I love Saint Claire’s voice and hook on this one, and I like Macklemore’s more subdued performance and personal lyrics. It’s a lighter song, but it works really well, and it ends off the album really well. Definitely one of the album’s better songs.

Overall, I kind of don’t really know what to make of this album as a whole. There were a few pretty memorable tracks, but unfortunately, they were buried beneath a lot of boring, “whatever” kind of songs. Like, there was just so much “meh” on the album, and a number of the songs were just boring, generic, and forgettable overall. I can’t really say in good conscience that I enjoyed this album because, while Macklemore’s performances are rock-solid, and his lyricism is not bad, the songs feel really formulaic (literally, most of them are two verses and two choruses alone), the performances of the featured artists are a mix of good and bad, and I’ll be honest, quite a few of the songs on this album I’ve already blanked out of my mind mere minutes after listening to it.

Favorite tracks: Intentions, Good Old Days, Excavate

Least favorite tracks: Ain't Gonna Die Tonight, How to Play the Flute

Rating: Bad

Beyoncé "Lemonade" Album Review (20th Review)

As promised, here is my review of Beyoncé’s 2016 album “Lemonade.” This was one of last year's biggest (and possibly best) albums, and yet, I missed out on it when it was first released. Not that I don’t like Beyoncé, she’s an incredible musician and I’ve always had huge respect for her, but I just missed a lot of 2016’s big albums (Views, The Life of Pablo, ANTI, Lemonade, etc.), so I wanted to go back and listen to what is being seen as one of the best (even though finding somewhere to listen to it was a pain, since it’s not on Spotify). So, obviously, I’ll go song-by-song and then give my basic sum-up, so tracklist, let’s get into Formation:

Pray You Catch Me: I really like the lighter sound on this song, and Beyoncé’s vocals are on point as always. This is a really interesting start to the album, and I like how Beyoncé pulls no punches in regards to the lyrical subject matter, and how she gives us a sign of what’s to come.

Hold Up: Beyoncé’s vocals are on point as always, the hook is really catchy, and the beat is pretty damn nice. I also love her fearlessness and unapologetic lyrics. Quite a good song, I’ll say!

Don’t Hurt Yourself (ft. Jack White): While I initially wasn't sure what to make of this song because it's a really different, thrashing sound for Beyoncé, her vocal performance is absolutely unbelievable (I love her passion on this particular track), I initially wasn't really digging the filters on her voice, but now I definitely see the appeal of them, especially in the context of the album's themes of infidelity. Jack White’s chorus, which I initially thought was nothing special, really grew on me, too. Honestly, this whole song grew on me; initially, it was my least favorite on the album, but I'm kicking myself for ever thinking that because holy hell, does it go OFF.

Sorry: I like the hook on this one a lot, and I love how Beyoncé’s throwing up the unapologetic middle finger throughout this song. It’s extremely catchy and it’s definitely the perfect break-up song. This is one I’ll definitely want to hear a lot after this review. Hell, I’ll probably be constantly humming “I ain’t sorry” to myself after this one. Great stuff.

6 Inch (ft. The Weeknd): I was very excited for this one because The Weeknd is featured on here, and as expected, his verse is amazing. His vocals and performance as a whole shine on this track. And while I’m not particularly crazy about the hook here, I do love Beyoncé’s vocals and the catchy beat on this one. Really enjoyable song, and who knows, maybe the hook will grow on me in the future? (Actually, I usually edit these reviews when a song grows on me, but I'm just gonna leave this one here and say that 2017 Matt was right; that hook did grow on me. This song is incredible)

Daddy Lessons: Beyoncé doing country music? An odd combination, but it works fantastically thanks largely to her beautiful vocals, the wonderful guitar sound, the catchy beat, and the really strong, personal lyrics. I really love this track a lot, it’s one of my favorites on the album.

Love Drought: Instrumentally, this one is really strong, and Beyoncé’s vocals are as beautiful as ever. I love the lyrics on this one, and the hook, even if it’s a bit slow, is really nice. I like this song a lot as well, another one I want to listen to a lot after this review.

Sandcastles: Beyoncé slows things down a lot in this one, but I do love her raw, emotional, and passionate vocals on this one. While this one doesn’t really have a hook, I think that works because a hook would’ve made the song a bit more monotonous. It’s not my favorite Beyoncé song ever, but it does sound quite nice, that’s for sure.

Forward (ft. James Blake): James Blake’s vocals are pretty beautiful, and even despite this interlude's short length, it did grow on me a bit. Initially, I felt like it was just a bit too empty for me, but at the time I reviewed this album in 2017, I had not listened to a James Blake album at all. Now that I've listened to a good portion of his discography...yeah, this is a beautiful interlude.

Freedom (ft. Kendrick Lamar): I really like the feeling of empowerment that comes from this one, from Beyoncé’s strong, passionate vocals to her excellent lyrical content. Oh yeah, and Kendrick Lamar is featured on this track, and the result is exactly what you’d expect: an incredible performance and amazing lyricism. This is an amazing track, that’s for sure.

All Night: I’m repeating this, but Beyoncé’s vocals are beautiful on this one. She also shows some really strong flow and I love the feeling of love this song provides, from the instrumental to the sound of Beyoncé’s vocals. Initially, I wasn't totally crazy about the hook, and I felt like the song was the tiniest bit too long, but I came to love it in re-listens, especially in how it sees Beyoncé finally breaking through the five stages of grief and reaching acceptance. Wonderful track.

Formation: This has a kind of weird-sounding instrumental, but it works really well. The song is really catchy, Beyonce’s flow and vocal abilities are strong as usual here, and the lyricism is pretty great. I can agree with you on one thing, Beyoncé: you slay, you slay, you slay, you slay.

(Sorry - Original Demo: Hi, Matt from 2026 here. Initially, this song wasn't on the album when I reviewed it. It was added to the album when it was re-released on Spotify in 2019, and somehow, I didn't get to listen to it until now, as I was going back and re-listening to this album for my TEN YEARS LATER series. It's a beautiful demo, and I think the fact that it's so much darker and sadder than the eventual song is fascinating, but I'm not gonna take this moment to talk about the song; I instead want to kind of reflect. At the time I'm writing this (April 12th, 2026), it's been just under nine years since I initially reviewed this album (back on my personal Facebook before I even created this blog). As the title suggests, this was my 20th album review ever, and it's kind of crazy to look back at it now. I wouldn't say I regret any of my album reviews, but I do admittedly kind of wince at some of these early ones, because I feel like I wasn't nearly able to appreciate or critique music in the way I can now, and this review was a particular example of that. I mean, sure, I loved the album when I first reviewed it, but in this review, I barely made any mention of the album's themes or concepts, most especially the "five stages of grief" Beyoncé went through in its construction. I guess it shows that you can absolutely enjoy art you don't fully understand, but of course, I apologize if this wasn't the most all-encompassing review of the album you could find online (and I apologize as well for that applying to several of my other early album reviews). I'm very happy to say that I've grown a lot since this initial review, both in terms of my writing skills and my appreciation of music, and as much as this review may make me wince...hey, I had to start somewhere, right?)

Overall, I definitely really enjoyed this album a lot: there were some really memorable tracks through this, Beyoncé’s vocals are, as always, incredible, the lyricism is quite good, and I think Beyoncé shows on this album that she can handle quite a few different styles of music, from pop to rock to even country. I’m not big on country music at all, so when you can get me to really enjoy a country-style song, you’re doing something right, and Beyoncé did A LOT of things right on this album. Even if her music isn’t the kind of stuff I listen to consistently, I can’t deny the quality of the album, from the vocals to the production to the lyrics, it was an all-around well-made project. Beyoncé proclaims on "Formation" that she slays, and I couldn't agree more.

Favorite tracks: Pray You Catch Me, Hold Up*, Don't Hurt Yourself*, Sorry, 6 Inch*, Daddy Lessons, Love Drought, Sandcastles*, Forward*, Freedom, All Night*, Formation, Sorry - Original Demo***

Least favorite track: Yeah, get outta here**

Rating: Excellent

(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)

(**"Don't Hurt Yourself" was originally listed as a "least favorite" track. However, repeat listens helped it to grow on me, hence the double asterisks. Text in the review has been changed to reflect that.)

(***"Sorry - Original Demo" was not included in the album when I initially reviewed it; it was added when the album was re-released on Spotity in 2019. New text has been added to this review as a result.)

Rebecca Black "RE / BL" EP Review

Well, this might be a bit unexpected, but today I’m gonna be taking a look at Rebecca Black’s debut EP “RE / BL” We all remember Rebecca Black for the ultimate 2011 cringe-piece “Friday,” but after overcoming a lot of bullying and becoming a successful YouTuber, here she is with her first real EP. I wasn’t sure if I should look at this, but seeing as how it’s only 6 songs, none of which even reach the 4-minute mark, I decided “why not take a look?” So, let’s break it down song-by-song and see if she’s finally decided which seat to take…and if her music is as strong as her covers:

Heart Full of Scars: I was actually pleasantly surprised when I heard this one! It’s upbeat, snappy, and really fun, and Rebecca shows us that she’s improved a lot vocally, while also putting up a really convincing middle finger to her haters. Wow, I’m very surprised, this is a fantastic song! Great start to the EP!

Foolish: Instrumentally, this is another really cool-sounding song, the song is really snappy and fun, the hook is catchy, and Rebecca once again shows us that she has grown a lot vocally. I can’t believe it, this EP is great so far!

Wasted Youth: A much different sounding song from the previous ones, but once again, it sounds great, Rebecca’s vocals are still solid, and it’s an overall solid song. Not my favorite on this EP, but it’s another good one!

Satellite: I like the lighter, less upbeat sound that this one gives off, and I think that lyrically, this one kind of shows Rebecca’s dark side. Vocally, she is still really good, and the hook is really solid. I enjoyed this one a lot, too! Am I really enjoying Rebecca Black’s music this much?

The Great Divide (Crash Cove Remix): Strange that this remix comes before the original song on the EP, but I like how Rebecca talks all about how she’s had to grow and deal with the hate that she received for “Friday.” Her vocals are strong as usual, and while I think that this remix sounds a bit “cliché,” if you will, it’s still a good song.

The Great Divide: As this is essentially the same as the previous track, everything I said about Rebecca’s lyrics and vocals remains true with this one. Now, as for how this one sounds in comparison to the remix, I like this version a bit better. I just like the song a bit better as a ballad than as a remix, and the less techno feel really brings out Rebecca’s vocal talents. It’s also a really strong choice to finish the EP with, as it feels like she’s no longer worried about her haters, and now she’s found confidence in herself as a musician. Fantastic song, and a great note to end off on.

Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised! Rebecca Black’s debut EP “RE / BL” is short, but fantastically enjoyable! Rebecca has grown a lot as a singer and an artist, and this EP is a well-produced showcase of her growth and her talents. There’s a lot of different emotions across this EP, some happy and upbeat, some mellow and sad, but all in all, Rebecca Black shows us on this short EP that she’s far more than just a “cover artist” or a “YouTube singer” or “that girl who made the really annoying Friday song.” Here, she lets us know that there’s far more to her musically than just getting down on Friday. Even if it only plays for a short time, this new EP is a delight, and I’m really excited to see where Rebecca goes from here.

Favorite track: Heart Full of Scars, Foolish, Satellite, The Great Divide

Least favorite track: Wasted Youth, if I had to pick one

Rating: Excellent

Rae Sremmurd "SremmLife 2" Album Review

As I previously mentioned, it’s time for my review of Rae Sremmurd’s 2016 sophomore album “SremmLife 2.” I was initially a bit worried because, while I enjoy some of Rae Sremmurd’s songs, I wasn’t sure if they’d be able to hold my interest for the duration of an album. To my surprise, however, I ended up enjoying the first “SremmLife” album, and I felt that Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi (and of course, Mike WILL Made-It) were able to successfully keep the party going despite a slow start. So, let’s go song-by-song and see if “SremmLife 2” provides more of that rockstar shit. Skrt skrt:

Start a Party: Swae Lee goes really hard on this one, and his verse is pretty great (no hate on Jxmmi at all, though, his verse is good, too). I wasn't crazy about the hook at first, but after some repeat listens, it's definitely grown on me a bit. It’s good as the “party-starter” for this album, and I think it’s gotten better with more listens.

Real Chill (ft. Kodak Black): I’m not crazy about the hook on this one, and while Swae and Jxmmi provide the goods on their verses, the song as a whole just isn’t as memorable, and Kodak Black didn’t really convince me to become a fan with his feature on this one. Definitely can’t say I was crazy about this one.

By Chance: I like Swae’s deeper, very different vocals in this song. The hook is pretty hypnotic, and Jxmmi’s verse is pretty strong, and while I wasn't crazy about Swae's verse at first, it's definitely grown on me with some repeat listens. Wasn't one of my favorite tracks at first, but it's definitely gotten better with more listens, and I think it's really fun and infectious.

Look Alive: The instrumental on this one is really interesting, and Swae’s hook is really strong! Both Jxmmi and Swae also bring the goods on their verses, providing plenty of fun on this very enjoyable track!

Black Beatles (ft. Gucci Mane): We all know this song from the “Mannequin Challenge,” but I’ve gotta say, even without said challenge, the song is actually pretty great. The instrumental is really enjoyable, the hook is undeniably catchy, Swae and Jxmmi have some really great performances here, and hell, even Gucci Mane doesn’t do half bad, and it takes a lot for me to say that about him. I’ve already looped this one a lot, and even after a ton of listens, it’s still a fantastically enjoyable song.

Shake It Fast (ft. Juicy J): Already, I’m really enjoying the super fast-paced hook, and both boys bring the catchy, exciting, fun on their verses. Juicy J is also featured on this one, and he really helps add to the fun. Another really good song!

Set the Roof (ft. Lil Jon): Leave it to the party man himself Lil Jon to create a really catchy hook. But even beyond Lil Jon’s strong hook, Swae and Jxmmi go extremely hard on their verses and help create a real banger, complimented nicely by a really strong instrumental. Really great song that’s perfect for parties!

Came A Long Way: Instrumentally, I love the way this one starts, but unfortunately, I think the hook is overly long and boring, and neither Swae nor Jxmmi’s verses are particularly memorable. Not a bad song, but it definitely isn’t one of the album’s strongest.

Now That I Know: The instrumentals are on point as always, and I really love Swae’s hook on this one. The kind of slower pace and the deeper lyrics about relationship issues are interesting. Both boys also bring their A-game to their verses, and all in all, I think this is one of the album’s strongest songs.

Take It or Leave It: I wasn’t crazy about the way this one started instrumentally, but Swae and Jxmmi’s verses are rock-solid and really fun. I’m not particularly struck by the hook, and I probably won’t care for it much after this review, but this song isn’t too bad overall.

Do Yoga: I’ll be completely honest, the hook really bored me on this one. Swae’s verse is not bad, and Jxmmi’s verse is quite good, but they aren’t enough to save this song from being pretty unexciting overall.

Over Here (ft. BoBo Swae): The hook on this one made me want to fall asleep. And unlike some of the other songs on this album, neither Jxmmi nor Swae’s verses are good enough to make the song worthwhile (Swae’s verse is a bit better than Jxmmi’s on this one in particular). Ditto for the random verse from BoBo Swae, who is apparently a close friend of Rae Sremmurd. This one definitely didn’t grab me.

Swang: I was actually shocked that this song was exclusive to the “deluxe” edition of the album. That said, it’s got a really catchy hook, a really cool instrumental sound, and both Swae and Jxmmi put together some fine performances here (Swae’s high notes, even if they are autotuned, sound pretty good). One of my personal favorites on the album. Even after way too many listens, it’s still a really enjoyable song.

Just Like Us: I really like the mellow sound on this one, and I like the sound of Swae and Jxmmi’s vocals. Their verses are really strong, the hook is pretty great, and the instrumental sounds awesome! It’s a very different sound from the typical Rae Sremmurd turn-up song, but at the same time, it still feels like it fits nicely among their other songs, and it’s a great way to end things off.

Overall, "SremmLife 2" is an album that, despite limping to the finish (not counting the bonus tracks), was still better than the first. Sure, there's some inconsistency here, but I feel like the boys definitely knew what they wanted to do (make an album that you party hard to), and they did it well. At the end of the day, though, I think this is an album that has definitely grown on me with repeat listens: it’s well-produced, Swae and Jxmmi showcased some maturity in regards to their sound, and they successfully delivered on their intentions: the boys wanted to make an explosive, lit party album, and they succeeded. It's definitely better than the first (if still a tiny bit inconsistent), and if you’re looking for an album to turn up to, this one is a really good choice.

Favorite tracks: Start a Party*, By Chance*, Look Alive, Black Beatles, Shake It Fast, Set the Roof, Now That I Know, Swang, Just Like Us

Least favorite tracks: Came A Long Way, Do Yoga, Over Here

Rating: Good

(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)