Artists Of Then, Now, & Forever - Forever Country
7.9/10
It's incredible how few awkward moments there are here, considering that the song was made for a specific purpose– commemorating the 50th iteration of the annual CMA Awards. Also, it has 30 different voices on it, and functions as a compilation of covers of 3 legendary country songs. The portion where Take Me Home, Country Roads is covered is my favorite; it contains a full yet comfy instrumental, with a hopeful piano and a pretty banjo. The ending brings all three songs together, featuring pristine harmonies, and I love how the tempo slows for it (even if it makes the song feel like two halves forced together). Despite its specific purpose, Forever Country isn't a novelty song– rather, it's a beautifully done celebration of the storytelling of country music.
This position in 2015: Zac Brown Band - Loving You Easy
In which Kelsea Ballerini finds that the man she so desperately craved on 2015's brilliant Love Me Like You Mean It wasn't who she thought he was. This breakup track is about that realization, rather than any anger that might stem from it, rendering the message fairly harmless. It has a great power chorus, though, Kelsea's soaring vocals appropriate for the lyric "always wanna fly away, just because you know you can." The production feels slightly insulated, but I love the open, gentle percussion as well as the subtle piano chords during the verses. For whatever reason, I also enjoy how the second verse leads directly into the hook, whereas we wait a couple seconds after the verse. Peter Pan is sleek yet not impersonal, peppered with sweetness yet nowhere near trite.
This song does a really good job capturing the feeling of simply not caring about life. The brief, languid first verse sets the scene well. The chorus isn't anywhere as joyful as you might expect it to be; it's leisurely, something to relax with rather than to party with. Frankly, though, it's more accurate than songs that associate being carefree with exhilaration and euphoria. Dierks may sound a bit crabby at times, and lines like "she got me like you ain't ever got me" are strikingly vanilla, but it's still a really fun song to listen to. It isn't particularly warm, but it's comfortable– perhaps appropriate to listen to while lying outside on a sunny weekend afternoon.
This position in 2015: Dan + Shay - Nothin' Like You
Wicked is Future at his energetic best. Metro Boomin's straightforward trap beat doesn't mess around, relentlessly challenging Future to match it in intensity. His verses aren't as muddled and indecipherable as they usually are, which makes the track more enjoyable than some of his others. The brevity of the track allows it to stay fresh, and in my book it's still as good of a party track as it was six months ago. It has a slightly ominous, edgy feel to it, which leads to it being an exciting listen. While his autotuned flow and the relative monotony of the melodies are what you typically expect a Future song to sound like, that doesn't make the finished product any less fun.
This position in 2015: Big Sean f/Drake - Blessings This position in 2014: Rich Gang f/Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan - Lifestyle
The artists behind Broccoli talk a lot about themselves over the course of the track, but it never comes close to feeling cocky or arrogant, just delightful and charming. Lil Yachty's nonchalant flow works well with the bouncy production, and D.R.A.M.'s verse is especially delightful, as he happily and completely seriously details his most beloved foods. On top of this, the bassline is absolutely fantastic, the gleeful piano is infectious, and the usage of a recorder in the hook is so brilliant; it so perfectly encapsulates the jubilant, innocent attitude of the track. It truly feels like something no one else could pull off, simply because D.R.A.M.'s charismatic performance is overflowing with his personality. Broccoli is a special track, a shining beacon of happiness as well as a reminder to sit back every once in a while and just appreciate life.
This position in 2015: Bryson Tiller - Don't This position in 2014: Kid Ink f/Chris Brown - Show Me
Favorite tracks: Time For That, Ain't Too Hard, Kno One, 2 Phones Least favorite tracks: One Thing, I Love It
Many rappers claim to embody authenticity and toughness, but Kevin Gates was one of the few to convincingly back up those allegations in 2016. Islah is an in-your-face album, a collection of short stories that give us a complete picture of who Gates is. It's gritty and intense, but never macho. His raps are always confident, focused, and sincere, his lyrics frank and witty; he shows a refreshing willingness to toy with his flow to convey varying emotions. Indeed, no line may better describe Islah than "to say it frankly, I don't give a ****," which he delivers early on during Not The Only One, the opening track of the hour-long effort. On Thought I Heard (Bread Winners' Anthem), perhaps the most no-frills song on the collection, he never lets up, delivering unfiltered accounts of many different incidents in his life. He is a vivid storyteller, always in control and always captivating. Additionally, he is able to infuse strong emotions of all kinds into his raps without ranting or reduntantly rambling, which is why none of Islah's verses are straight-up boring.
But the best moments of the album come when he unexpectedly pulls incredible pop hooks out of his back pocket, like flowers growing out of thin cracks in a beaten-up sidewalk. The hypnotizing nighttime groove of Time For That features a bold, anthemic refrain and dreamy, effortless verses that all blend together perfectly. Ain't Too Hard is sparser but not any less radiant, Gates sounding pleasantly reflective in his brief remarks between the soaring hook. Kno One's chorus is gorgeous; its sweet melodies see him softly reach into his upper range. It's complemented by some of the album's more lighthearted verses, and the end result is a fantastic feel-good song. This dichotomy between his rough, confessional lyrics and his lively, accessible choruses is utterly brilliant, as it leads to songs that are both addicting and thoughtful.
One of Gates's favorite mantras is "I don't get tired," the title of his breakout single and a line that he proudly repeals throughout the album. This describes both Gates and my listening experience with Islah well. It doesn't feel like he has nothing left to say when Excuse Me finishes. And while it might feel tedious upon first listen–after all, it's an hour long, and it's not completely devoid of fat–it felt more and more cohesive to me upon repetition. That cohesiveness is owed to Gates's relentless commitment and devotion to his craft. Chock-full of stark, memorable, catchy songs, Islah is a stunning body of work.
need to check out the rest!
Cassadee Pope "Summer" better be on here because that's the only one I've cared for in 2016.
