SELENA GOMEZ – RARE

Overall Rating: 8.76
Strong Point: Production and Songwriting

1. Rare: 9.1
   Beats and acoustics: 9
   Songwriting and message: 9.4
   Voice: 8.8
   Aesthetic Blend: 9.2
2. Dance Again: 8.83
   Beats and acoustics: 9.2
   Songwriting and message: 8.5
   Voice: 8.6
   Aesthetic Blend: 9
3. Look At Her Now: 9.05
   Beats and acoustics: 9.7
   Songwriting and message: 8.4
   Voice: 8.6
   Aesthetic Blend: 9.5
4. Lose You To Love Me: 9.13
   Beats and acoustics: 9.5
   Songwriting and message: 9
   Voice: 8.8
   Aesthetic Blend: 9.2
5. Ring: 8.75
   Beats and acoustics: 8.8
   Songwriting and message: 8.6
   Voice: 8.6
   Aesthetic Blend: 9
6. Vulnerable: 8.95
   Beats and acoustics: 9.3
   Songwriting and message: 8.8
   Voice: 8.7
   Aesthetic Blend: 9
7. People You Know: 8.78
   Beats and acoustics: 8.8
   Songwriting and message: 8.6
   Voice: 8.8
   Aesthetic Blend: 8.9
8. Let me get me: 8.6
   Beats and acoustics: 8
   Songwriting and message: 8.8
   Voice: 8.8
   Aesthetic Blend: 8.8
9. Crowded Room: 8.65
   Beats and acoustics: 8.6
   Songwriting and message: 8
   Voice: 8.9
   Aesthetic Blend: 9.1
10. Kinda Crazy: 8.88
    Beasts and acoustics: 9.1
    Songwriting and message: 9
    Voice: 8.6
    Aesthetic Blend: 8.8
11. Fun: 8
    Beats and acoustics: 8
    Songwriting and message: 8
    Voice: 8
    Aesthetic Blend: 8
12. Cut You Off: 8.15
    Beats and acoustics: 8.4
    Songwriting and message: 8.1
    Voice: 8.1
    Aesthetic blend: 8
13. Sweeter Place: 8.95
    Beasts and acoustics: 9
    Songwriting and message: 9
    Voice: 8.8
    Aesthetic blend: 9

Bonus:- Boyfriend: 8.75
Beats and acoustics: 8.9
Songwriting and message: 8.5
Voice: 8.6
Aesthetic blend: 9

Avg Rating, Beats and acoustics: 8.88
Avg Rating, Songwriting and message: 8.63
Avg Rating, Voice: 8.62
Avg Rating, Aesthetic blend: 8.88

I’ll admit, straight out of the gate, that I’m a little bit biased towards Selena Gomez. I’ve followed her from way back in her Disney days and that baby face of hers has come to occupy a special place in my heart. However, I will try to still be impartial to her effort.

Ever since she found her mid-to-low tempo pop niche with her previous album, “Revival”, Selena doesn’t venture much away from that tried and tested formula on her second solo album, keeping her songs as stripped down as possible and spending much of the effort in perfecting the songwriting. This is seen best in her song Lose You To Love Me, which many crirtics have touted as the best song on the album.

The work done by her writing team, which included Julia Micheals, is near perfect.
The theme-thread through the album is also intriguing as she starts out talking about her emotional and relationship troubles but then gradually decides to have more fun and concentrate on loving herself.

Selena is also really comfortable in her voice and did not need any acrobatics to make her smooth vocals stand out. Though I would have loved a bit of acrobatics, ballad-ish even, just to see how that came out.

Kudos also to her production team. The records were spotless, clear, unhurried, smooth, delectable and tantalizing. Ian Kirkpatrick, Jon Bellion, Kid Cudi and all the team outdid themselves. Every artiste needs a production team like this.

The whole work is so coherent and “perfectly balanced, as all things should be”. It is a sweet aromatic waft to my senses. I love it! Well done, Selena!

SAUTI SOL – MIDNIGHT TRAIN

Overall rating: 9.18

1. Intro

2. Midnight Train: 9.68
Beats and acoustics: 10
Songwriting and message: 9
Voice: 9.8
Aesthetic blend: 9.9

3. Insecure: 9.2
Beats and acoustics: 9.5
Songwriting and message: 9.3
Voice: 9
Aesthetic blend: 9

4. Feel My Love: 8.2
Beats and acoustics: 7.8
Songwriting and message: 8
Voice: 8
Aesthetic blend: 9

5. Brighter Days: 8.95
Beats and acoustics: 9
Songwriting and message: 9
Voice: 9
Aesthetic blend: 8.8

6. Nenda Lote: 9.27
Beats and acoustics: 9.4
Songwriting and message: __
Voice: 9.1
Aesthetic blend: 9.3

7. Suzanna: 9.7
Beats and acoustics: 9.8
Songwriting and message: 10
Voice: 9
Aesthetic blend: 10

8 Set Me Free (interlude)

9. My Everything: 9.2
Beats and acoustics: 9
Songwriting and message: 9.2
Voice: 9.3
Aesthetic blend: 9.3

10. Wake Up: 9.22
Beats and acoustics: 9.6
Songwriting and message: 9
Voice: 9
Aesthetic blend: 9.3

11 Sober: 9.1
Beats and acoustics: 9.1
Songwriting and message: 9.2
Voice: 8.8
Aesthetic blend: 9.3

12. Rhumba Japani: 9.25
Beats and acoustics: 9.3
Songwriting and message: 9
Voice: 9.1
Aesthetic blend: 9.6

13. Disco Matanga: 9.17
Beats and acoustics 8.8
Songwriting and message: __
Voice: 9.4
Aesthetic blend: 9.3
The Sound of the Sun (Sauti Sol) released their fifth studio album, returning to the much beloved acoustic sound they had abandoned on their fourth album, “African Sauce”. The album, named “Midnight Train” to symbolize the boys’ never ending journey in music, opens with an acoustic riff in which they encourage the listener to do what makes them happy, just like they are doing by making music. And if Sauti Sol is what makes you happy, then go ahead and listen, never minding what other people think.

I particularly enjoyed the first two tracks, “Midnight Train” and “Insecure”, and of course, the lead single, “Suzanna”, all of which were packed with loads of relatable and heart-warming messages like dealing with self-love and perseverance, on top of some top notch acoustic arrangements.

Sauti Sol also added interesting collabos with American Soul and R&B legend, India Arie on “My Everything”, Reggae sensation, Mortimer on “Wake Up” and South African powerhouse, Sho Madjozi on “Disco Matanga” plus wonderful songwriting by Bensoul on “My Everything” and Nviiri the Storyteller on “Suzanna”. It is said that you have the most fun when in the presence of someone having fun and Sauti Sol’s playful interlude shows just how much fun they have with each other while making music.

All in all, Midnight Train is a really beautiful project with amazing acoustic arrangements, strong vocal play, fantastic collabos and beautiful songwriting. I’m genuinely impressed. But then again, what can I say, this is Sauti Sol after all.

AZAWI – LO FIT.

local : Uganda

Overall Rating: 8.61

Quinimino: 8.7
Beats and acoustics: 8.9
Songwriting and message: 8.4
Voice: 8.5
Aesthetic Blend: 9

Lo Fit: 8.82
Beats and acoustics: 8.6
Songwriting and message: 9
Voice: 8.5
Aesthetic Blend: 9.2

Crazy Lover: 8.38
Beats and acoustics: 8.2
Songwriting and message: 8.3
Voice: 8.5
Aesthetic Blend: 8.5

Repeat it: 8.55
Beats and acoustics: 8.6
Songwriting and message: 8.5
Voice: 8.5
Aesthetic Blend: 8.6

Mbinyumirwa: 8.58
Beats and acoustics: 8.6
Songwriting and message: 8
Voice: 8.8
Aesthetic Blend: 8.9

Azawi is a breath of fresh air. In an industry that is bogged down with the lack of creativity and a surplus in talentless musicians (both singers and those that work with them), I was glad to land on a nicely perfected project like “Lo Fit”. On this her first LP, Azawi, signed to the legendary Swangz Avenue, showcases her crisp and well balanced voice. Her songwriting is so unique because she often uses cute and unique words that just make her songs all the more beautiful. Also the fact that she always sounds like she was having fun while recording and looks like she’s having so much fun during her live performances, how could you not love her? I can only wait for longer, better and more delicious albums from her.

DUA LIPA – FUTURE NOSTALGIA

Overall Rating: 9.08

1. Future Nostalgia: 7.88
Beats and acoustics: 7.8
Songwriting and message: 8
Voice: 8
Aesthetic blend: 7.7

2. Don’t Start Now: 9.25
Beats and acoustics: 9.7
Songwriting and message: 9
Voice: 8.5
Aesthetic blend: 9.8

3. Cool: 9.23
Beats and acoustics: 9.8
Songwriting and message: 8.3
Voice: 9
Aesthetic blend: 9.8

4. Physical: 7.88
Beats and acoustics: 7.9
Songwriting and message: 7.2
Voice: 8.1
Aesthetic blend: 8.3

5. Levatating: 8.83
Beats and acoustics: 9
Songwriting and message: 8.8
Voice: 8
Aesthetic blend: 9.5

6. Pretty Please: 8.18
Beats and acoustics: 8.2
Songwriting and message: 8
Voice: 8.1
Aesthetic blend: 8.4

7. Hallucinate: 8.22
Beats and acoustics: 8.2
Songwriting and message: 8.2
Voice: 8.1
Aesthetic blend: 8.35

8. Love Again: 9.03
Beats and acoustics: 9.4
Songwriting and message: 8.3
Voice: 8.4
Aesthetic blend: 10

9. Break My Heart: 9.05
Beats and acoustics: 9.3
Songwriting and message: 8.8
Voice: 8.6
Aesthetic blend: 9.5

10. Good In Bed: 8.4
Beats and acoustics: 8
Songwriting and message: 8.1
Voice: 8.5
Aesthetic blend: 9

11. Boys Will Be Boys: 8.45
Beats and acoustics: 8.1
Songwriting and message: 8.5
Voice: 8.4
Aesthetic blend: 8.8

Because this record fucking slaps!: +0.5

With this album, Dua Lipa is making my kinda music!
Dua opens with a strong statement of intent in the title track, “Future Nostalgia”, where she promises she is not going to be confirming to the status quo and will not be held back by unfortunate cultures in the industry like misogyny and the like. Billboard.com says Dua shows other artistes how to kick off an album in the perfect way. The self-confidence she exhibits in the song is very intoxicating. This brash approach against the system spills all the way into her final song, “Boys Will Be Boys”, where she challenges us to hold boys to the same standard we hold girls.
Apart from Social Justice, the album is filled with a touch of 80s style sounds coupled with disco which just gives me extreme “goosies”, like J-Lo calls them. With this unique sound pallette, Dua takes us on a journey of nostalgia yet she simultaneously mantains her musical style and a futuristic sound, hence Future Nostalgia. Her musicality is, for lack of a better word, literally, simply perfect. The aesthetic blend of Love Again, is so extraterrestrially delicious that I had to give it a perfect 10!
And those beats…Goddamn! I bobbed my head violently to the rhythms until I got a headache! Apparently there is a disco rebirth-revolution happening and Dua Lipa is at the forefront of it.
Anyway, enough gushing. Well done, Dua!

FINE LINE – HARRY STYLES

Overall Rating: 8.6

1. Golden: 8.1

Acoustics & Beats: 9

Songwriting& message: 8

Voice: 7

Aestheticblend: 8.5

 

2. Watermelon: 9.4

Beats: 9.5

Songwriting and message: 9

Voice: 9.2

Aesthetic blend: 10

3. Adore you: 8.9

Acoustics and beats: 9
Songwriting and message: 8.5

Voice: 9.2
Aesthetic blend: 9

4. Lights up: 9.3
Acoustics and beats: 9
Songwriting and message: 9.5
Voice: 9
Aesthetic blend: 10

5. Cherry: 7.7
Acoustics and beats: 7
Songwriting & message: 8
Voice: 8
Aesthetic blend: 8

6. Falling: 8.5
Acoustics and beats: 8
Songwriting and message: 8
Voice: 9
Aesthetic blend: 9

7. To Be So Lonely: 8
Acoustics and beats: 8
Songwriting and message: 8.1
Voice: 8.1
Aesthetic blend: 7.9

8. She: 9
Acoustics and beats: 9
Songwriting and message: 9.2
Voice: 9
Aesthetic blend: 9

9. Sunflower, Vol 6: 9.1
Acoustics and beats: 10
Songwriting and message: 8.5
Voice: 8
Aesthetic blend: 10

10. Canyon Moon: 8.7
Acoustics and beats: 10
Songwriting and message: 9
Voice: 8
Aesthetic blend: 8

11. Treat People With Kindness: 8.7
Acoustics & beats: 8
Songwriting & message: 9
Voice: 8
Aesthetic blend: 10

12. Fine Line: 8.2
Acoustics & Beats: 8.5
Songwriting & message: 8
Voice: 8
Aesthetic blend: 8.5

Harry should have gotten a higher rating but I felt like he held out on us on the deliciousness he could have dished out on this album. His holding-out habit was very well embodied in the title track, Fine Line, where he had some amazing beat arrangements but held onto them until 4:41! Why??! Maybe he was employing the delayed gratification tactic on us but I just didn’t feel it. Maybe I’m just sour-graping. I dunno. He also used the same tactic with Watermelon but luckily, Watermelon was just too good!
In the album as a whole, Harry uses a classic 70s Soft Rock style, Queen-ish, as an influence and it was just irresistible to me. I replayed Sunflower Vol 6, one of the songs with heavy classical 70s style influence, countless times, and it still slaps hard everytime!
His songwriting is also subtle but quite impressive. He doesn’t over do it, opting most of the time to go for the usual, casual, lovey-dovey (and a bit cliche 😬) style. On this album, I think this tactic works. But, like I said earlier, I would have liked it all to be a bit more nuanced. But that’s just me.
On a whole, I love the Fine Line album. 8/10 is a good rating but Harry could have got more.
Well, I’m off to jam to Sunflower till the sun sets. See you around!

(Fine Line became the first album ever to have more than one single off it peaking at Number One on the PoetryManiac Singles Chart. These were Sunflower and Watermelon, both spending four weeks at the top each. Well done, Harry! 😏)