NEWS4U AUGUST 2022 | MUSIC REVIEWS
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CHECK THESE OUT HONEST THESE HONEST REVIEWS OF SOME REVIEWS OF SOME OF THE HOTTEST OF THE HOTTEST NEW ALBUMS IN NEW ALBUMS IN MUSIC MUSIC!
AUGUST MUSIC REVIEWS DRAKE Honestly, Nevermind Ovo Sound/Republic Records
CHRIS BROWN Breezy RCA
Drake
seventh
Devolving from a heartthrob teenage
studio album to complaints from no one.
surprise-released
his
rapper to a social pariah, Chris Brown has
The house beats pop and features keep
worked hard to win back the support of his
on coming. He's not shy about dipping in
fans, growing as a person in the process.
and out of styles, from ballroom and techno to club. “Sticky,” “Massive”
He's got a ways to go, but there's no denying his insane musical genius.
and “Jimmy Crooks” featuring 21 Savage are must-listens. Drizzy has
His hypnotic dancing and silky vocals have kept him on top for nearly
delivered depressing love songs and ballads for years, so it’s a true joy
two decades and his 10th studio album shows no signs of his talent
to see him let his guard down and hear him tap into his dance side.
diminishing. Brown needs no boost but still lines up an insane amount
Produced by South African powerhouse Black Coffee, we get to move
of features, including Bryson Tiller, Lil Wayne, Jack Harlow, Ella Mai,
and groove our feelings out. “Texts Go Green” is a universally relatable
Yung Bleu, Wizkid, H.E.R., and Tory Lanez. Breezy is peppered with
song with, “If I come around you, can I be myself?/ Wind up in the
R&B songs meant to enrapture the soul - and rule the charts. Brown
mirror just to see yourself/ If I was in your shoes, I would hate myself/
spent two years developing the perfect collection of songs, narrowing
Left all this behind to be with someone else, oh/ Why should I fake it
it down from hundreds to two dozen. My favorite, the sweet and simple
anymore?/ If I firm the thing and work that, can you take it anymore?/
“Luckiest Man,” hits home with lyrics like, “Woke up in the middle of
This time I have left cannot be wasted anymore/ You realize it now and
you/ Feels just like the middle of spring/ Nothing left to do but a ring/
you miss it.” Baby it hurts to get blocked, but we’ve all been there; Drake
Lada, badaboom, badabing/ I hit the lows, yeah, high and low/ So hard
lets us know it’s ok to feel hurt. Just dance out the pain. - Marisa Patwa
IMAGINE DRAGONS Mercury - Act 2 Kidinakorner/Interscope Records Imagine
Dragons
is
one
to find that high to go.” - Marisa Patwa
PORCUPINE TREE Closure/Continuation Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd. of
those
How does one describe British rock
alternative rock bands that will never stop
outfit Porcupine Tree? Are they prog
creating hits. Their sixth studio album is
metal?
Psychedelic?
Weird?
Crazy-
the sequel to last year's Mercury - Act 1. Both were created during the
talented? The best band you’ve never heard of? Guilty on all
pandemic and produced by genius Rick Rubin who infused them with
counts. Inspired by prog greats like Rush, Yes, Genesis and
a hip-hop flavor. Act 1 focuses on the pain and tragedy of death while
King Crimson, Porcupine Tree is helmed by founder/guitarist/
the follow-up gives us time to process, heal and grieve. They are raw
vocalist Steven Watson. PT cares little about popular acclaim or
and vulnerable, but still catchy. Lead single “Bones” blew up after being
record sales, which elates their fanbase. This is a band that does
promoted for the third season of the Amazon Prime dark superhero
whatever it wants with flair, artistry, and an ear for the eclectic.
series The Boys. Other standouts include “Enemy,” “Higher Ground,”
Just when you think you have a good sense of who they are
“Blur,” “Waves “and “Ferris Wheel.” “I Wish” is a guilt-wrecked ballad
musically, they throw in a new sound or rhythm, illustrating their
about the time lost when a friend passes too soon. With lyrics like, "I
impressive musical arsenal. The band’s 11th studio album is
wasn't there when you said your goodbye, and I replay in my mind
Closure/Continuation, released back in June. And what a tour
'bout a thousand times/ I wasn't therе for those rivers you cried/ I was
de force it is! 10 tracks that are all over the map musically, yet
always too busy, no, I didn't makе the time/ So it rains every day, oh, it
the album has a sonic cohesion that defies explanation. Don’t
rains every day/ No, I haven't got the words to say,'' you feel deeply and
sleep on this one! Standouts are “Rats Return,” “Herd Culling”
empathetically. - Marisa Patwa
54 | AUGUST 2022
• www.evansvillemediagroup.com
and “Population Three.” - Matt Alschbach
