NEWS4U OCTOBER 2021 | MUSIC REVIEWS
DRAKE Certified Lover Boy Ovo Sound/Republic Records
LORDE Solar Power Universal
Drake is back - and he’s on a hot streak.
Lorde has proven she’s one of the
This sixth studio album sold over 500K units in just one week. It also broke Apple Music and Spotify records by having the largest streaming debuts of an album in 24 hours. We’re talking bangers back-to-back. The collaborations on the album are also fresh. Travis Scott, Jay-Z, Future, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi and Ty Dolla Sign all pop-off. Jay-Z and Drake give us all of the high-roller vibes with “Love All.” The bougie music video features Drake in his signature hoodie look in an aquarium while Jay-Z is posted up at a high-stakes poker table with Khalid intently smoking cigars. Queen B herself even materializes like magic. Other songs to instantly add to the carride-to-the-club playlist include “Champagne Poetry,” “Race My Mind,” “N 2 Deep,” “Fountains” and “Get Along Better.” Somehow, Drake keeps getting better. - Marisa Patwa
“Royals” of the music industry since she was only 16 in 2013. Her debut album was an instant classic - the soundtrack to my summer as a 19-year-old in LA. Her sky-rocketing climb continued with the follow-up, Melodrama, in 2017. Now, she’s 24. This third studio album is a reflection of what she’s done during her sabbatical. Jack Antonoff, a hit-making producer and musician, flexes his musical genius as her collaborator, and the dynamic duo is back at it. Displayed is a different version of Lorde. “Solar Power” radiates charisma and soulful energy. Gone are the grunge synths - now replaced with sun-soaked acoustics. I never imagined Lorde as a Beach Boy. Somehow she masters this new happy sound with ease, as if it’s been her identity all along. The New Zealand singer also dropped a downsized EP version of this album, singing in Maori. Other standouts include “Dominoes,” “Big Star,” and “Mood Ring.” While this psychedelic pop album is not as magnetic as her previous ones, it is still a stellar way to cool down in the warmer months. Like eating lemon-flavored shaved ice. - Marisa Patwa
ONE REPUBLIC Human Mosley Music Group/Interscope Records One Republic’s Ryan Tedder has the kind of soothing voice that could lull you to sleep. But in the best way. Ever since Gossip Girl - the original - showcased Tedder and Timbaland’s perfect storm collaborating on “Apologize” back in 2007, I’ve been locked in. I was even lucky enough to see the band in Indianapolis a few years back. Whether live or in studio, Tedder crams a symphony of emotions into each ballad as if it’s the last time he’ll be able to make your heart pulsate. This fifth studio album from One Republic is a true treat. While the band members are creative lyrical geniuses, it's also nice to hear earworm “Somebody to Love” featured. The song was written and showcased on NBC's Songland, which features Tedder as a judge. It perfectly fits their sound. Other knockouts to get in your feels, too, include “Run,” “Better Days,” and “Rescue Me.” - Marisa Patwa
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IRON MAIDEN Senjutsu
Parlophone/BMG Records Nearly 50 years into their career, Iron Maiden continues to produce new music, much to the chagrin of some long-time Maiden fans. Social media was awash in whiners when Senjutsu dropped on 9/3. Complaints ranged from “it sounds just like their last album” to “why are the songs so long?” Keep in mind that all of these grievances were offered up on Maiden fan pages! Those same critics rushed to download the album when it was released, and every single one of them purchased the record to complete their collection. Ignore the naysayers! Senjutsu is a really good Iron Maiden album. Yes, it’s another Maiden album produced by the same six guys, so it’s not that surprising that it has a distinct sound and cadence. As for long songs, yes, Iron Maiden write really long songs…since 1984 (see “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”). Get the album and decide for yourself. Standouts are “The Writing on the Wall,” “The Parchment” and “Days of Future Past.” - Matt Alschbach
