Grammy's Album Of The Year Review: "Beerbongs & Bentleys" - Post Malone

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. 

(All Rights To Republic Records)

1) "Paranoid"

It starts off with a nice beat. This deals with inner struggles; "Tell me why I can get no relief (I can't get no sleep). Wonderin' when they'll come for me. A paranoid man makes paranoid plans." He's really demonstrating some trust issues.

2) "Spoil My Night" (ft/ Swae Lee)

This has a reggae style kind of beat. If I'm being honest, the lyrics seem almost computer generated.

3) "Rich & Sad"

In this track he's going through a tough trial with his partner, wishing his new gained fortune would be enough for her to stay. 

4) "Zack And Codeine"

This has a cool intro, but there isn't a whole lot to it besides that.

5) "Takin' Shots"

While this has a dramatic and big-sounding intro, lyrically its a mess.

6) "Rockstar" (ft/ 21 Savage)

This is really catchy (which makes it a fitting radio single).

7) "Over Now"

This has a bit of a rock feel to it. Its hard beat is this track's saving grace.

8) "Psycho" (ft/ Ty Dolla $ign)

There's a really nice flow to this track.

9) "Better Now"

Again, a catchy track with a good beat. However, "Better Now" also gets more deep lyrically than most tracks on here, reflecting on a past relationship.

10) "Ball For Me" (ft/ Nicki Minaj)

Starts off with a funky sounding intro. Nicki provides a really nice flow (with a cool Buffy reference; "Call me Buffy 'cause that's what I slay like").

11) "Otherside"

We see a different feel with "Otherside", giving this album a change of pace. 

12) "Stay"

This is slower paced, with a nice guitar backing (a breath of relief to hear some actual instrumentals). Post Malone shows off his vocals here.

13) "Blame It On Me"

This is a rather deep track, as Post Malone delves on the consequences of his prior choices and lifestyle.

14) "Same Bitches" (ft/ G-Eazy and YG)

From "Stay" and "Blame It On Me", we arrive to this track....a big regression. This is just rather shallow.

15) "Jonestown" (Interlude)

16) "92 Explorer"

There's a nice flow to this, but it gets rather repetitive.

17) "Candy Paint"

This track feels like its just there. There isn't much to it overall.

18) "Sugar Wraith"

The beat really goes hard here, but its forgettable in the long-run. 

There are some bright spots, but overall "Beerbongs & Bentleys" displays some of the worst aspects of r&b fused pop. For as much criticism as Post Malone gets though, he does show off some eye-opening vocals. I'd compare it a bit to early Kesha, where she's now shown she's better than what we were initially seeing. Hopefully that will be the case with Post Malone.

"By The Way, I Forgive You": Brandi Carlile - 200

 "Golden Hour": Kacey Musgraves - 169.2

"Invasion of Privacy": Cardi B - 161.5

"Dirty Computer": Janelle Monae - 150.1

"Black Panther: The Album" - 135.7

"Scorpion": Drake - 128 

"Beerbongs & Bentleys": Post Malone - 99.9

Road To The Oscars Pod; Ep.3

Recapping the Oscar Nominations and the SAG Awards

Grammy's Album Of The Year Review: "By the Way, I Forgive You" - Brandi Carlile

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. 

(All Rights To RCA Records)

"By The Way, I Forgive You" - Brandi Carlile

1) "Every Time I Hear That Song"

This starts off with a very tranquil opening, with nice harmonization. Brandi deals with a past love, with some powerful lines; "Didn't it break your heart when you watched my smile fading".

2) "The Joke"

"The Joke" contains a powerful, big chorus. It tells the perfect message of belonging. This may even top "The Story" in terms of Brandi's top songs.

3) "Hold Out Your Hand"

The tempo picks up with "Hold Out Your Hand". It feels very Johnny Cash inspired, with a folk and pop blend. Its very uplifting.

4) "The Mother"

The guitar intro really pulls you in. This track reads like a letter or journal entry. Brandi wrote this song about her own daughter.

5) "Whatever You Do"

This track is so emotionally powerful, with a big strings breakdown and power outro. We see Brandi reflecting on her past; "I never met a morning I could get through with nothing on my breath to hold the night. And I never said I'm sorry, but I meant to. I never met a coward I don't like".

6) "Fulton County Jane Doe"

This track really shows off Brandi's writing style; "We came into this world with nothing, And all we're taking is a name. That's why I've written you this song, this is for Fulton County Jane".

7) "Sugar Tooth"

Brandi tells a deep story here of a man intertwined with the opioid crisis. This is a track that really sticks with you.

8) "Most Of All"

This track tells a message about the values that your parents ingrain in you, no matter what. 

9) "Harder To Forgive"

We see a change of pace with "Harder To Forgive". Brandi just has a way with words; "But I'm not sorry for the things I say. Sometimes I let my mouth just run away. And I believe that all souls are born kind. And that all love lost comes back in time".

10) "Party Of One"

The album closes out with a solid track in "Party Of One", with a nice piano intro and an incredibly moving outro.

"By The Way, I Forgive You" is a very powerful album. It sees Brandi Carlile at her best, raising the bar. Her folk blend shows what can be truly possible. I can't recommend this album enough, her vocals are impeccable.

"By The Way, I Forgive You": Brandi Carlile - 200

 "Golden Hour": Kacey Musgraves - 169.2

"Invasion of Privacy": Cardi B - 161.5

"Dirty Computer": Janelle Monae - 150.1

"Black Panther: The Album" - 135.7

"Scorpion": Drake - 128 

Road To the Oscars Pod: Ep. 2

I look at the Oscars' picture following the Critics' Choice Awards and Producer's Guild Awards. Another episode will come out at the end of the week looking at the actual Oscar nominations and the SAG Awards.

Grammy's Album Of The Year Review: "Dirty Computer" - Janelle Monae

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. 

(All Rights To Wondaland/Bad Boy/Atlantic Records)

"Dirty Computer" - Janelle Monae

1) "Dirty Computer" (ft/ Brian Wilson)

It contains a nice choir backing. This has a really nice groove.

2) "Crazy, Classic, Life"

This track is about just getting to be yourself; "We don't need another ruler, All of my friends are kings. I'm not America's nightmare, I'm the American dream". It gets sort of repetitive, but it picks back up in the outro.

3) "Take A Byte"

There's a 80's vibe to this. The backing instrumentals are really moving.

4) "Jane's Dream"

This is a brief interlude.

5) "Screwed" (ft/ Zoe Kravitz)

This really grooves. Its really catchy. "Screwed" goes into both innuendo and the general state of the U.S. In the bridge, Janelle demonstrates how sex can be used for both pleasure and power; "See if everything is sex except sex, which is power. You know power is just sex, you screw me and I'll screw you too...". 

6) "Django Jane"

This is about female empowerment. Janelle shouts out 'Pussy Riot' in the first verse; "And we gon' start a pussy riot, Or we gon' have to put 'em on a pussy diet. Look at that , I guarantee I got 'em quiet, Look at that I guarantee they all inspired".

7) "Pynk" (ft/ Grimes)

This has a funk beat. It tends to meander a bit.

8) "Make me Feel"

Starts out with a trippy sounding into, transitioning to a nice dance beat. This sounds very Janet Jackson-esque. 

9) "I Got The Juice" (ft/ Pharrell Williams)

There's a rough transition from "Make Me Feel" to this track. Overall it tends to be all over the place.

10) "I Like That"

This has a nice slow beat with smooth vocals. "I Like That" shares themes with "Make Me Feel" and "Django Jane".

11) "Don't Judge Me"

This track really changes it up. The flow of the backing instrumentals is really interesting.

12) "Stevie's Dream"

This is another interlude, containing spoken word from Stevie Wonder.

13) "So Afraid"

This has more of a 90's feel with a big moving vocal. "So Afraid" deals with Janelle's anxiety and vulnerabilities.

14) "Americans"

This is a really powerful closing track. It starts off with a gospel/choir intro, transitioning to a Madonna "Vogue" feel. Janelle gets into the various social issues ongoing in America, from racism to gender pay equity; "Seventy-nine cent to your dollar, All that bullshit from white-collars. You see my color before my vision, Sometimes I wonder if you were blind. Would it help you make a better decision?".

Unlike my last reviewed album (Drake's 'Scorpion'), "Dirty Computer" really flies and finds it place. From the beat to the thematic messaging and backing instrumentals, the album feels like its constantly flowing. 

 "Golden Hour": Kacey Musgraves - 169.2

"Invasion of Privacy": Cardi B - 161.5

"Dirty Computer": Janelle Monae - 150.1

"Black Panther: The Album" - 135.7

"Scorpion": Drake - 128 

Grammy's Album Of The Year Review: "Scorpion" - Drake

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. 

(All Rights to Cash Money/Republic/Young Money)

"Scorpion" - Drake

1) "Survival"

It has a tranquil instrumental. The track doesn't go as far as it could.

2) "Nonstop"

Contains a nice beat and bass-line. Drake uses clever word play here on how he doesn't have a weak side.

3) "Elevate"

This track overall is very "one-note".

4) "Emotionless"

Starts off with a choir/gospel intro. There's a nice balance with the backing vocalist. "Emotionless" is about our obsession with painting our lives in a better light on social media; "I know a girl whose one goal is to visit Rome, Then she finally got to Rome, And all she did was post pictures for people at home, 'Cause all that mattered was impressin' everybody she's known".

5) "God's Plan"

"God's Plan" really tells a message.

6) "I'm Upset"

This track gets rather repetitive. 

7) "8 Out Of 10"

It sort of meanders, but it does contain an interesting outro.

8) "Mob Ties"

Contains a nice backing.

9) "Can't Take A Joke"

This has a really nice flow.

10) "Sandra's Rose"

There's an interesting line here; "Louisville hush money for my young gunners. Rick Pitino, I take 'em to strip clubs and casinos".

11) "Talk Up" (ft/ Jay-Z)

Has a nice beat, but the track seems kind of basic.

12) "Is There More"

 It starts off kind of trippy. This tells a message, on how there's more to life. 

13) "Peak"

It has a slow groove with an electric influence.

14) "Summer Games"

Contains a catchy pop-beat.

15) "Jaded"

Its a nice low-key track that really grooves.

16) "Nice For What"

Has a catchy beat that really flows.

17) "Finesse"

This track slows it down, but it does take a bit to get where its going.

18) "Ratchet Happy Birthday"

Has a funky intro, but this feels all over the place.

19) "That's How You Feel"

This has a nice drum beat. Its interesting, yet it does get repetitive. 

20) "Blue Tint"

Drake shows off with some interesting lines; "What a time this is, To be alive for this shit, President doin' us in...". There's a nice midway breakdown.

21) "In My Feelings"

This has a solid dance beat that's really catchy (which is a given with all the memes that surrounded "In mY Feelings".)

22) "Don't Matter To Me" (w/ Michael Jackson)

There are some blending issues.

23) "After Dark" (ft/ Static Major & Ty Dolla $ign)

This really grooves.

24) "Final Jeopardy"

This track just feels like its there, like a throwaway.

25) "March 14"

This is a very moving closing track. We see Drake coming to terms here, talking about being a co-parent and how he can do better to his child.

Drake gets really personal in "Scorpion". The length of the album does drag it down, with some pacing issues. It can feel like a bit of a chore at times. 

"Golden Hour": Kacey Musgraves - 169.2

"Invasion of Privacy": Cardi B - 161.5

"Black Panther: The Album" - 135.7

"Scorpion": Drake - 128