Tuesday, January 8, 2019

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

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