I first heard Kate on 'Let Them Eat Chaos' that I played non-stop. Since then, nothing has matched the best on that album., but I have found more here that I enjoy than her previous album, The Book of Traps and Lessons. There is more 'music' here than the aforementioned album that at times didn't have a lot behind her vocals. Like all of her projects, there are songs like 'I Saw Light' that I won't be rushing back to, but the strong moments are great. The tail is the standout run here, with all of the songs from 'Water in the Rain' having some very likeable moments. Another noticeable thing for me is the way some of the songs roll in to the next. Not enough artists try to do that.
Best Tracks: Priority Boredom, Salt Coast, Water in the Rain, Move, More Pressure, Grace
There are argumentative and bitchy characters in lots of movies, but Gwyneth Paltrow makes her character infuriating to watch and listen to. I almost couldn't handle it and got a strong urge to turn it off after about 15 minutes. Towards the end of the movie Jake Gyllenhaal's character tells her there is nothing wrong with her... I don't know about that. I wasn't surprised to read after watching this that it is based on a play. It has that feel to it with there not being a heap to the plot. 2-2.5 / 5.
This is an incredibly weak compilation and a poor way to showcase label talent from a time when there was a lot of crap pop rap. The only song worth a second play is '10 Toes', but it's still nothing to write home about. 'Thow'd Off' got my attention for a second too as it gives off a bit of a 'Lean Back' feel with its instrumentation. Don't bother checking this one out.
Best Tracks: 10 Toes
I've enjoyed some of Dreezy's previous work, but this is just generic trap rap. It staggers me that artists are still making albums like this. Trap rap like this is way past its musical shelf life. More proof that Hit Boy is overrated.
Best Tracks: They Not Ready, 21 Questions
PHARRELL'S PRODUCTION
Let the Smokers Shine the Coupes: One word. Hard!!! And the only true banger here.
Scrape It Off: From loving a song after 5 seconds, to hating a song after 5 seconds. I hate the autotune voices of the hook/features. The only bad Pharrell song and the worst here. An instant skip.
Neck & Wrist: The production is another winner. The rapping isn't the most "exciiiting" or energetic.
Call My Bluff: A bit of a different type of flow from Pusha T - About as different as you get from him anyway. I like the production but the hook is boring.
Open Air: Like the last song, the production is basically muted for the hook. This doesn't help the song. One of my favourites though.
Brambleton: The production is again quite likeable following on from the previous three songs. The music again drops off for the hook.
KANYE'S PRODUCTION
Dreamin of the Past: I don't like how the sample blends in (or doesn't imo) with the rest of the song. It overpowers it. I would never want to hear this again. The second worst song.
Rock N Roll: FFS! We have the WOAT Cudi again... And a return to the high pitched sampling from Kanye... I like this more than 'Dreamin of the Past' but not by much.
Just So You Remember: Minimalist beat with Colonel Bagshot's 'Six Day War' sample for the chorus.
Diet Coke: Here is a challenge for Pusha T on his next album - No coke bars. Challenge!
Hear Me Clearly: Ehh. Same old boring generic Pusha T flow and the production does little for me either.
I Pray For You: Neither does it to any high degree, but listen to Malice's verse and there is a bit more emotion in his delivery.
I have never gotten the fanfare with Pusha T. Some people hold him up as an all time great MC. Does he have the content though of the best of them? Does he mix up his style as much as the greats? Do you hear much emotion in his voice? No f*cking way! Most of his songs are still about being a criminal drug dealer despite not doing it for 30 years. I find he says a lot without really saying anything. He has a dope standard voice but he's boring.
I listened to this in the Pharrell vs. Ye tracklist order and Pharrell's production is more enjoyable and fresh. I don't find Kanye's high pitched repetitious sampling on songs like 'Rock N Roll' and 'Diet Coke' enjoyable to listen to or think it's creative. As the list below shows, the best three songs are Pharrell's work. I would actually say, 'Scrape It Off' aside, the other Pharrell songs are the best five on the disc.
Beats: Pharrell: ★★★★ Kanye: ★★☆ Overall: ★★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★★
Hooks: ★★☆
Best Tracks: Let the Smokers Shine the Coupes, Open Air, Brambleton