After listening to this and enjoying but not loving his solo debut, I've come to the conclusion that there is something about Big Boi's beat selection that doesn't do it for me. There is this kind of poppy-ness to many of the beats he picks, in addition to some questionable choruses as well. As the ratings and comments of the tracks demonstrate below, I may keep some tracks in the playlist, but on the whole, I'm disappointed by the consistency of this album from one of the artists who got me into the game. When it works it works really well, and you have to appreciate Big Boi for attempting to create diverse music, but many tracks don't cater to my tastes. "I keep it playa while some choose to play it safe," defines some of his musical choices.
Best Tracks: The Thickets, Objectum Sexuality, In the A, CPU, Lines, Descending, Gossip
1 Ascending
2 The Thickets (feat. Sleepy Brown) ★★★★☆
A great start to the album. Sleepy Brown reminds us he is still here on the chorus and the production is top-notch.
3 Apple of My Eye ★★★☆
I like the energetic beat and verses, but the chorus lets it down slightly.
4 Objectum Sexuality (feat. Phantogram) ★★★★☆
Electronically funky. This begins the Phantogram collaborations and they are all among the strongest tracks and the brightest moments throughout the album.
5 In the A (feat. T.I. & Ludacris) ★★★★☆
The hardest, straight hip hop tune here. It's nice to hear Luda over a good beat again and I wish Killer Mike was on this instead of 'Thom Pettie'. The beat isn't really original, but it bangs.
6 She Hates Me (feat. Kid Cudi) ★★☆
I've said it many times before that I am starting to bore myself, but I can't stand Cudi. If not for that the song would be good. If you like Cudi you'll like this song which takes it down a few notches from the start of the album. This is where the variation begins between hits and misses.
7 CPU (feat. Phantogram) ★★★★☆
This feels like something that could have been on the synthy Drive OST.
8 Thom Pettie (feat. Little Dragon & Killer Mike) ★★
I don't like this. The beat isn't great and the chorus is bad. "Thom Pettie that Ho"
9 Mama Told Me (feat. Kelly Rowland) ★★★☆
One of the singles. Sounds '80s, is very pop and isn't a bad record.
10 Lines (feat. A$AP Rocky & Phantogram) ★★★★☆
One of the best songs here. Good production and a reasonable hook. Is it just me or does ASAP sound a bit like Big Boi?
11 Shoes For Running (feat. B.o.B & Wavves) ★★
I can't stand the chorus and it's the first thing you hear.
12 Raspberries (feat. Mouche & Scar) ★★☆
Not too exciting. Again the chorus is average.
13 Tremendous Damage (feat. Bosko) ★★★
Very pop, with Big Boi almost singing. Lyrically it's more personal.
14 Descending (feat. Little Dragon) ★★★★☆
Big Boi sings/raps two short verses about his father passing. A sad/vibey kind of track.
15 Higher Res (feat. Jai Paul & Little Dragon) ★☆
Almost sounds like noise.
16 Gossip (feat. UGK & Big K.R.I.T.) ★★★★☆
This is more of the stuff I wanna hear from Big Boi. KRIT is great on this.
17 She Said OK (feat. Theophilus London & Tre Luce) ★★★
X-rated
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