NEWS4U JULY 2021 | MUSIC REVIEWS
BEBE REXHA Better Mistakes Warner Records This raspy, catchy singer is delivering a new batch of hits with her sophomore album. And while Rexha is a knockout
J. COLE The Off Season Dreamville Records/Roc Nation/Interscope
on her own, she has a bevy of features that only elevate the tracks even more, from Lil Uzi to Travis Barker to Doja Cat, Ty Dolla Sign, and even the legendary Rick Ross. She ranges from pop to hip-hop with "Sabotage" and "Die for a Man," while "Sacrifice" is a funky disco beat with a darkly fun music video featuring a bloodthirsty Bebe as a vampire. "Break My Heart" with Barker is an instant hit, with an addictive beat and sick drums. It’s one of the songs on the tracklist that delves into mental health with lyrics like, "My doctor upped my dosage/ My mom felt bad, so she sent me roses/ Without it, I feel really hopeless." "Baby, I’m Jealous" with Doja Cat is a sultry, sweet listen that is all about self-love and owning your body. Well, Bebe owned this album. - Marisa Patwa
It’s been a few years since we’ve gotten an album of R&B brilliance from the iconic J. Cole. But now, he’s gifting us with his sixth studio release, dominating the Billboard 200. He’s once again giving us all the goosebumps, butterflies and straight up feels. "The Climb Back" is a beautiful, hypnotic track that gets you grooving and meditating at the same time. I could listen to it forever and be at peace. "Applying Pressure" is a tasty tonguetwister with lyrics like, "Uh, applying pressure/ Started my grind where crime festers/ And nines showing like they in they second trimesters." Elswhere, "Close" gets you hooked with some gorgeous background vocals. Thank you J. Cole for coming out of hibernation and treating us to new melodies and bangers that will brighten our summer. - Marisa Patwa
TEXAS Hi BMG OLIVIA RODRIGO Sour Geffen Records High School Musical’s newest generation of superstar, Olivia Rodrigo has delivered a knockout debut album at only 18, capturing the hearts of everyone. Her lead single "Driver’s License" is a daily listen on the car ride with my 4-year-old daughter Sansa and it’s already an SNL skit classic, with Regé-Jean Page and several cast members breaking down the importance of the poetic lyrics over beers while playing pool. And they hit the nail on the head - there is just something about the way her falsetto simply hypnotizes you. Her follow-up singles "deja vu" and "Good For You" are just as good. The former gives you that glow-y halo around your heart while the latter makes you want to sing your heart out while plotting revenge against those who have wronged you. I can’t wait to see the trajectory of her career because I know she’ll be starring on stages for decades to come. - Marisa Patwa
54 | JULY 2021
The Scottish pop-rock band Texas, known in the States for their minor hit “Say What You Want,” returns with their 11th studio album. While tracks like the Donna Summer-sampled “Mr. Haze” and Wu-Tang Clan-featured “Hi” are certainly ambitious, the merging of psychedelic pop and hip-hop is a mismatched effort; however, “Just Want to Be Liked” fares better with its similarities to what made Plan B’s “She Said” a bona fide hit in Europe and bodes well for the rest of the album. But unfortunately, Hi takes a quick nosedive despite good intentions. The message of lost love in "Unbelievable" is dragged down by the overdone piano ballad structure in pop songs; “Moonstar” represents the only country-driven track but does not do anything to highlight the band’s charm; and 60’s-influenced R&B, jangle pop, and garage punk tracks like “Heaven Knows” and “Sound of My Voice” have opportunities to reinvent the wheel and create magic, but all spell out filler. Hi rebounds a bit at the end with the alternative dance-meets-soft industrial “Falling” and garage rock revival ditty “Had a Hard Day,” but I wanted to say “bye” halfway through this collection. - Freddie Bourne
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