I've decided to bring back my Album Of The Year nominee reviews. The field got expanded this year, so expect a review a week or thereabout. I'll draw at random which album I'll review week to week. I score each track on whether it stands out, is merely okay, or is a miss. The final score will be out of a high of 200.
Black Panther: The Album
(all rights to Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope)
1) "Black Panther" (performed by Kendrick Lamar)
- Starts off with an upstart intro, then slows down. The track has a frenetic feel to it. Overall, it doesn't feel like it has quite the time to really make its mark.
2) "All the Stars" (performed by Kendrick Lamar and SZA)
- This really pops with SZA's chorus. That combined with a smooth Kendrick really makes this track. It results in the perfect blend.
3) "X" (performed by Schoolboy Q, 2 Chainz and Saudi)
- Verse 3 of "X" makes for a change of pace. However, it feels kind of scattered overall.
4) "The Ways" (performed by Khalid and Swae Lee)
- "The Ways" is about Nakia. It really grooves, and Swae Lee's outro really ramps up.
5) "Opps" (performed by Vince Staples and Yugen Blakrok)
- Vince provides a nice flow. "Opps" is about the nature of cops. There's a particular line that really struck me, "9-1-1, freeze (zoom, zoom) dead", in context dealing with police shootings and abuse of power.
6) "I Am" (performed by Jorja Smith)
- This track has a slow groove feel. That slow groove ultimately causes it to drag too much, not allowing it to stand out.
7) "Paramedic!" (performed by SOB X RBE)
- This deals with Killmonger's upbringing, as shown by the line "Why's it hard for me to smile? 'Cause I seen a lot". The lyrics emphasizes someone daring a challenge, in regards to Killmonger. The track really pops hard.
8) "Bloody Waters" (performed by Ab-Soul, Anderson Paak and James Blake)
- This track contains some powerful verses, "A prince-turned pauper, but tryin' to do like kings do. Sweatin' in chess games, tryna move like kings move. You should slow your roll before you drown in a moat." There's a really nice balance, with a calm outro.
9) "King's Dead" (performed by Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake)
- This comes from Killmonger's perspective. It contains a trippy interlude, followed by a 2nd verse that really pops with Kendrick.
10) "Redemption Interlude"
- Has a chill vibe, but it doesn't quite flow into the next track.
11) "Redemption" (performed by Zacari and Babes Wodumo)
- This track is a banger with a cool Afro-beat style.
12) "Seasons" (performed by Mozzy, Sjava and Reason)
- Might sound redundant, but this track really flows. It also contains verses in Zulu, which causes it to stand out.
13) "Big Shot" (performed by Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott)
- This track has a rather basic premise to it. It sort of feels like mere filler.
14) "Pray For Me" (performed by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar)
- This starts out with a cool intro instrumental. "Pray For Me" goes really deep about fighting a "messiah/hero" complex, "Tell me who's gon' save me from myself. When this life is all I know. Tell me who's gon' save me from this hell. Without you, I'm all alone". A perfect way to close out the album.
As far as movie soundtracks go, "Black Panther" is right up there (far and beyond the overrated "Greatest Showman", but don't get me started on that). There are places where it feels scattered or out of sync, but there's enough that shines or stands out to counter that.
"Black Panther: The Album" - 135.7
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