Drake: Hold On, We're Going Home TRACK REVIEW

 

If you told me a couple years ago that I'd enjoy anything by Drake, I would laugh and subsequently slap you in your smug face... But in truth, Drake's last album Take Care marked a turning point for how I feel about this guy. And granted, that album wasn't perfect, but it had a fair bit of ambition and a lot of good ol' fashion pop sensibility.

And Drake is continuing this trend of impressing me on his latest single "Hold On, We're Going Home." Which features Drake going all 80's slowjam on us; with a percussive, driving beat, and some pretty decent singing from Drizzy. Sure the lyrics are repetitive and vague, but I just can't deny how catchy and simply smooth this track is.

Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience ALBUM REVIEW

Yes, I know this review is incredibly late; but with the recent announcement of a part 2/ B-sides collection from The 20/20 Experience, I just had to share my thoughts on this LP.

Justin Timberlake is a man who needs little introduction. He started his music career off as part of the hit-making boy band NSYNC, and while other members of that group have pretty much abandoned the music biz since the 90's, JT has enjoyed a rather successful and critically accepted solo career. 

Personally, I've never listened to his first solo LP, and while I enjoy the singles off of Future Sex/Love Sounds, I never found the rest of the album to be all that great. 

Now, usually this is the part where I tell you how this LP is a total 180 and that I love everything about it. Sadly, while I do enjoy this album for more than the singles, ("Mirrors" not withstanding) it isn't a very smooth ride. 

And that's surprising considering how smooth the production is, and how great some of the songs are. My complaints lie more with JT's penchant for writing some of the sappiest and contrived lyrics you're likely to hear this side of an REO Speedwagon song. "Mirrors" being the prime example. It straight-up sounds like an NSYNC song, but without a group chorus. And I'll also add the song "Pusher Love Girl" to the list of supreme offenders, though I'm still able to enjoy that track, because of the instrumental. 

A lot of people got upset when "Suit & Tie" came out featuring a pretty lame Jay Z verse, but I actually liked JT's singing a lot, and thought he managed to craft a pretty great chorus. The track "That Girl" is the clear highlight, showcasing all JT's talents, without all of the cringe-worthy lyrics, and as with the rest of the LP, the production is great. 

Out of the 10 tracks on The 20/20 Experience, I'd say with utmost that confidence that I enjoyed 3 of them immensely, 2 were pretty good and the rest fall into a grey area... with "Mirrors" sitting at the bottom. And ironically, for an album claiming perfect clarity, this LP fails to put out a uniform sound or concept. Don't get me wrong, the album sounds great, but that doesn't make up for the lyrical foils and some overly long songs.

6.8/10