|
| |
|
|
|
Review Summary: Overall, Ab-Soul's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach on the album hinders much more than it helps, and at the end of the day we are left with about five tracks that are thoroughly entertaining and worthy of a listen. These Days... is probably the most depressing release this year for me; not necessarily because of the subject matter, or even the lyrical content that Ab-Soul displays throughout the album. It's more the idea that it's the most wildly inconsistent album of 2014 thus far. I haven't tried to give an album more time to grow on me in quite awhile, as tracks like "Gods Reign" lead me to believe that there has to be something that I'm missing on abysmal songs such as "Twact". As charismatic as Ab-Soul can be, it's mind-numbing how quickly he can change from socially conscious to a drug-addled party rapper. It ends up creating a segmented and frustrating listen, and "Tree of Life" demonstrates this beautifully. The song itself is very well done, even though Soul ends up being a little heavy-handed lyrically here. However, the outro doesn't add anything to the end product, and it also makes the track itself sound disjointed. Put plainly, this does not feel like a fully-realized album in any way, instead seeming like a hastily slapped-together mixtape that includes tracks that just should not have made the cut. Eight of the fifteen songs present are five minutes or more, and the album drags exponentially because of it. "World Runners" is about two minutes too long on top of a lackadaisical appearance by Lupe Fiasco, and precisely the same issues can be leveled at the next track "Nevermind That" (feat. Rick Ross). What's worse is that the majority of tracks that Ab-Soul does not have featured artists on see him struggling to create anything memorable (or even entertaining, for that matter), with "Dub Sac" and "Sapiosexual" as firm of proof of that. Though listeners may find a metric ton of criticism to attribute to These Days..., there are some songs that work exponentially better. "Stigmata" finds Ab-Soul and Action Bronson hitting a lyrical sweet spot over a creative and infectious beat, and Mac Miller's monotone delivery that serves as the chorus on "Hunnid Stax" works better than what seems logically possible. It seems Ab-Soul is better served as a featured artist until his focus can be honed enough provide a consistent album. Overall, his everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach on the album hinders much more than it helps, and at the end of the day we are left with about five tracks that are thoroughly entertaining and worthy of a listen.
| other reviews of this album |
|
Album Rating: 2.5
I hated giving this a 2.5 score, if only for the fact that I really like a few of the songs on here. There are just other songs that I will not care to ever hear again.
| | |
nice review man. just a few nitpicky things i noticed that might help it flow better..
However, the outro not only doesn't add anything to the end product, it also makes the track itself sound disjointed.
could just be me, but this sentence reads somewhat awkwardly. Something about the "not only doesn't" reads funny to me. I'd say: However, not only does the outro add nothing worthwhile to the end product, it also makes the track itself sound disjointed.
Mac Miller's monotone delivery that serves as the chorus on "Hunnid Stax" works better than is logically possible
instead of saying works better than IS logically possible I think you should say works better than one would think logically possible haha
that's all i have really. not sure if you find that helpful or even agree with it lol but that's my 2 cents. good work dude
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Dude, agreed on both accounts. Thanks for pointing those out.
| | |
no problem man! I know it was nothing major, but even the smallest things can make a difference in the flow of your reviews ;)
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
For sure, going to change now! : )
| | |
I'll give this a better read later, but at first glance I'd say you could condense your sentences a bit without sacrificing content or flow. Example:
"Put plainly, this does not feel like a fully-realized album in any way, instead seeming like a hastily slapped-together mixtape that includes tracks that just should not have made the cut"
You could write this as:
"put plainly, this album isn't remotely realized whatsoever, but feels slapped together with weak tracks easily making the cut."
Not a huge difference really, but I used less words and said the same thing, cutting out little filler words that didn't really add anything or help the flow.
| | |
Sweet rev, Mark. Is this worth checking out at all?
| | |
I heard Control System is sposed to be pretty good, but the same about this. Just too inconsistent.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Thanks Johnny. I will try to reword some of it.
@Explo, thanks dude. I would try it out at least, it's just overlong.
Ec, I liked some of the songs but haven't really checked it out in full.
| | |
Great review Mark, very well written and the flow is great. "can be honed enough provide a consistent album." I think you're missing 'to' after 'enough' here.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
BREATHE EASY
| | |
"As charismatic as Ab-Soul can be, it's mind-numbing how quickly he can change from socially conscious to a drug-addled party rapper."
Kendrick and Danny both do this, but they're considered excellent rappers. I think the problem is that Soul's "socially-conscious" lyrics feel more like tokens, than well thought out opinions or messages.
| | |
| |
