Album Reviews Pt. 2: ISOxo, Tinashe, Lucy Bedroque
The media below contains the opinion of an individual student and therefore does not represent or speak to the values of Vestavia Hills High School and Vestavia Hills City Schools.
ISOxo’s sophomore album Hardcore Diva was released just a day before the annual Niteharts Festival in California. Hardcore Diva primarily serves as a hybrid trap EDM album with rage elements most similar to ISOxo’s first album kidsgonemad! Personally I enjoyed the unique sonic environment of HCD and unlike Niteharts or 4EVR, HCD is an album that I could see myself listening to outside of festivals or events. Although this album is well put together, it’s also clear that it’s made to be mixed, which leaves tracks to be weaker individually. Highlights: “UPDAT,” “CLUTCH,” “CANTSEETHESUN,” “FTSU,” “FUN.” Rating: 8.3/10.
Popstar by Tinashe is a pioneering album in contemporary R&B that expertly blends elements of EDM and post-dubstep. Upon multiple listens it’s extremely evident that Tinashe draws heavy inspiration from Charli XCX with tracks like “Melatonin.” Moreover, Tinashe’s masterful vocal work and production in this album are truly hypnotic and keep the listener engaged the entire time. Highlights: “Melatonin,” “Crashout,” “Popstar.” Rating: 7.9/10.
Lucy Bedroque carries his momentum from his debut mixtape Unmusique to his debut album c. As a fully fleshed-out album, c functions as Bedroque’s first fully complete project that also includes individual focal points. I could not discuss a rage-centered album without mentioning Whole Lotta Red, which this album takes heavy inspiration from. Playboi Carti remains a pioneer of underground hip-hop subgenres. However, Bedroque innovated in his own way by masterfully blending rage with digicore elements from Fête de la vanille and Unmusique in c. Unfortunately, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that “WHITEHORSEMANNEQUIN” didn’t make the album despite being released alongside “SPEED DEMON.” Highlights: “SPEED DEMON,” “MISS BEHAVIOR,” “MARRIED TO MY JEWELER,” “ERASE YOUR SOCIAL.”
Rating: 9.1/10.
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