MUSIC REVIEW - MY TOP ALBUMS FROM 2ND HALF of 2020 (July – December)

After indulging in several mellow pop-influenced EPs in the first half of 2020 and Albums that cut across various genres, I craved something different. I needed music that was hushed and easy on my senses to see me through the second half of the year. 2020 was a lot and I needed calm and ease as the year phased out.

Nevertheless, I kept my self open across genres. I mean, I don’t get how people can limit themselves to only one genre, must be quite boring. Variety will always remain the spice of life IMO.

On the Nigerian music scene, the big names in the industry started the second half of 2020 with album releases. It almost began to feel like a competition, and of course, the comparisons by the various fandoms raged on Twitter.
After a seemingly slow first half that was dominated by new artists, the second half saw the big names take center stage. While some decided to lose their sound and fine-tune it to please the Western world, (in search of a Grammy nod) it was nice having others stay true to their sound and core Afrobeats/Afropop, delivering albums that had spark and life. I’m not naming names, but if you followed the Nigerian music space, you’ll know just who and who I’m referring to.

The
artists I anticipated albums from all delivered and most were worth the wait.
As for Rihanna, it was apt to see a magazine refer to her as a part-time
musician. This was funny to read. I didn’t expect an album from Adele despite
all the rumors, though seeing her weight loss transformation was quite something.
I’m expecting a fire album from her. Seems her divorce hit hard.

OneRepublic
broke my heart. They yet again pushed back their album release a second time to
the first quarter of 2021. I’m still anticipating this project. Despite the
covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, it was impressive getting good music last year.
Though on general terms, the quality of music these days is nothing to be
compared to songs of the 2000s. R.I.P to the soft rock genre.

Now let's explore
into the countdown of my favourite albums from the Second half of 2020 –

13. CTV3: Cool Tape Vol 3 – Jaden Smith

I have never followed Jaden’s music, being that I’m not much of a Hip-hop/Rap fan. I heard a snippet of Cabin Fever on his Instagram page when he announced the release of the song as the first single from the album. The retro-influenced sound was fresh, different from his usual rap songs. The music video is also artistic in every right and got me anticipating the album. 

The album thankfully followed the same pattern as the first single, leading to an aesthetically pleasing project. Everything about this album is art. From the retro-influenced production, the lyrics, and mellow sunny sound, Jaden deliver a new side of creativity that’s a testament to his growth.

CTV3: Cool Tape Vol 3 boasts of another Justin Bieber/Jaden Smith collaboration on the track ‘Falling for you’. This song is a refreshing deviation from their earlier pop-influenced Never Say Never track. 

Favourite Tracks – Falling for you, Everything, Cabin Fever, Deep End, Photograph, Boys and Girls

12. Only Child – Sasha Sloan

One Sunday evening while cooking, mid-way through listening to this album, I remember telling myself the album reeks of loneliness. ‘Only Child’ is a follow up to her 2019 EP – ‘Self Portrait’. Sasha once again goes heavy on melancholic moody lyrics sung over mellow dark minimal instrumentals that make you feel the weight of every word.

The album is introspective, heavy on dark themes of loneliness, self-acceptance, and love. Sasha cements herself as an excellent songwriter on Only Child. 

Favourite Tracks – House with No Mirrors, Lie, Is it Just Me?, Hypochondriac, Santa’s Real

11. A Better Time – Davido

The energy on this album is everything! Its hits back to back from the first track to the last. This album has spark! So much life and excitement on the album, way better than the bore-fest released by the other artist who can’t be named. When it comes to music, maturity doesn’t mean boring, please.

Two downsides with this album – unnecessary long track number and the opening track – ‘FEM’ doesn’t fit well on the album, the same way ‘Formation’ didn’t fit into Beyonce’s Lemonade album. ‘FEM’ should have been released as a buzz single and not included on the album, or at best, added as a bonus track.

Still, ‘A better Time’ is one of the no skip albums from Nigerian music space in 2020.

Favourite Tracks – Jowo, Something fishy, Holy Ground, Very Special, The Best, Tanana

10. How it used to feel – Phoebe Ryan

This is arguably one of the best-written Pop albums of 2020. Pop albums are usually a collection of songs with cheap lyrics over catchy beats. ‘How it used to feel’ proves that just because it’s Pop doesn’t mean it can’t have lyrical depth. I love everything about this debut album from Phoebe and how it follows through the theme of heartbreak yet still gives off an energetic vibe all through. This album sparkles.

Thanks to Apple music playlist for helping me discover her.

Favourite Tracks – Talk to me, Try it sober, Little piece, Ring, Just like Me, A Thousand Ways

9. Apart – Leon

The sophomore album from Leon is centered on her breakup from her long-time boyfriend. What I love about this album is its distinct sound which is well complemented by Leon’s unique voice. The songwriting on this album is top-notch. The album always gets me in my feelings every time I listen to it.

On ‘and it breaks my heart’ she sings -

“Oh, where did love go?
It's right in your hands, then it’s suddenly gone
Oh no, nobody knows where it disappears
And it breaks my heart”

This summarizes why I choose to be avoidant these days, it always ends in tears. So why bother?

 Favourite Tracks – Head and Heart on Fire, In a Stranger’s Arms, Chasing a Feeling, Falling Apart, Who you lovin, Die for You

8. The love You Want – Lewis Watson

If anyone says alternative music is boring, kindly refer them to this album. The third album from the singer-songwriter – Lewis Watson is proof that folk-pop can be just as interesting and lyrically meaningful as other indie genres.

I can’t exactly remember how I discovered Lewis, but I’m glad I did. I didn’t only enjoy this album he released in 2020 which dissects every aspect around relationships, I explored his entire discography and fell in love with his art.

Favourite Tracks – take what you need, meant for me, castles of sand, roses, echoes, fly when I fall, loving arms

7. Wilted – Paris Jackson

I guess
anyone would say the logical thing for Paris Jackson to do, is to follow in the
footsteps of her father Michael, and go the way of Pop music. But I think the
bravest thing is for her to follow her path, which she did perfectly well on
her debut album – Wilted. To be honest, when I heard she released an album, I
was expecting one of those cheaply written pop happy albums, but boy! She blew
me away with her alternative indie album.

This is a
break-up album, but what distinguishes it is the quietness that comes with each
track and lyrics that connect with your past experiences of pain. Her pain
feels so raw on ‘Let down’ where she sings – ‘you were my all/and now I fall to
the ground/you hit the wall/and now, I crawl underground’

From the
listen, it’s been one of my go-to albums when I need to quiet the voices in my
head. Each track breathes calmness over me as her voice in almost whispers
soars over minimal instruments. This album is peaceful and leads you to a place
of quiet and clarity. Paris did great on this, and I know Michael would have
been proud.

I love how
after going through tracks and lyrics talking about loss, the ending tracks on
the album speak of strength and building back up. On ‘wilted’ (the album title track) she declares - "can’t grow
without your love to water my roots’’ before she draws strength from
affirmations as the track fades out, singing repeatedly - ‘I’ll be my own sun…”

The next
track following this song, and also the last track on the album – 'another spring' continues from where
she stopped and centers on her rebirth. She sings – “cause seasons change/days
dawn anew/I’ll rearrange and let my wounds shine through”.

My favourite lyrics on the album are on the track - 'eyelids' which captures how I feel when I let myself go through pain inorder to move on -

“Cut my eyelids
So I can't see you float out the door
Burn my tongue out
'Cause I don't want to taste you no more
Break my fingers
So your song can't come out of my bones
Tear my heart out
So the feel of that memory is gone”

Favourite Tracks – repair, cosmic, let down, eyelids, freight train, wilted

6. Plastic Hearts – Miley Cyrus

This is one album that evokes two strong emotions in me. Depending on whose view you listen from, it’s sure going to stir something in you. At times, I’m strong and holding firm to my mantra of live life according to your terms, and I hear the album from Miley’s point of view. She can’t be tamed and she is no prisoner to love. She is a free spirit ready to roam free. 

This she declared on Midnight sky (The first single off of the album) – “I was born to run/I don’t belong to anyone/I don’t need to be loved by you…”

And for those who chose to hate and judge people who are brave enough to follow their path, she tells them off on Golden G- String – “And you dare to call me crazy/have you looked around this place?”

Other times, I’m reeling from the PTSD of being walked out on and I’m in Liam’s shoes (her ex-husband who the album is about). The album breaks me and makes me hurt so badly. Is it a crime to fall in love with a free spirit? 

It hurts watching the one you will move mountains for fade away and knowing no matter what you say, they’ll still leave. I don’t know how Liam would feel listening to this album but one thing’s for sure, he damn well won’t be smiling. Some of the lyrics sting. 

On Never be me, she declares – “But if you are looking for stable, that’ll never be me/If you are looking for faithful, that’ll never be me/If you’re looking for someone to be all that you need, that’ll never be me…”

Miley Cyrus is a genius. There is no argument. After delivering perfectly on Pop, Country, and R&B genres, she has shown us the magic her raspy voice carries, shining on Rock genre. I stan a multi-talented diverse Queen. Her pre-album covers of classic rock songs (Zombie by Cranberries and Blondie’s Heart of Glass) were an inclination to what was coming on the album. 

The production, track arrangement, lyrics all mix well to deliver an edgy album which I dare say is her boldest work to date. The album gives me chills every time.

Like someone stated in his review - if you don’t listen to this album just because it’s Miley Cyrus, you are doing yourself a disservice and should be ashamed that your taste is embarrassing.

Favourite Tracks – Angels like you, High, Never be me, Golden G String, Zombie (Cranberries cover)

5. Feelings – Chandler Moore

This album reeks of vulnerability and I’m here for it. This gospel album is a lifeline. I love the honesty it radiates, a deviation from hiding behind faith to act like some superhuman who lacks emotions. 

From the spoken word on the album opener to the closeout track, I could feel his brokenness and shared humanity. This album got me in my feelings and helped me navigate through tough times last year. Special thanks to Makua for sharing one of the songs on his Instastory that ultimately led me to the album. 

On the track - It’s okay, his emotion-laden voice cries out – 

“I won’t pretend
I’ll say what I’m feeling
I’m overwhelmed
Emotions are raging

It’s okay not to be okay
I won’t try to hide
Love leaves room for me to say
I’m not okay”

Favourite Tracks – Feelings, It’s okay, He understands

4. Home – AG

This album
is sonically pleasing. One of my top go-to albums when I need to shut the world
out and calm my head. The five-track album delivers so much serenity and the
instrumentals added as bonus make it a wholesome listen. This album saved my
life in 2020.

The theme
of the album focuses on finding your way home with the help of your support
system, be it a lover or best friend. This album was indeed my anchor and led
me home to peace whenever life got overwhelming.

Favourite Tracks – Found a home, Roots, Right Here, My Way Home, Anchor

3. Nothing is lost – Luca Fogale

Another
quiet album that saw me through the hard times of 2020. The album is about
figuring out yourself, your purpose, and navigating your way through this thing
called life. In his interview with Artwood Magazine, he had this to say about
his sophomore album – ‘the songs represent moments I’ve collected over the
course of my life, as I continue to discover and understand the depths of what
it means to be alive. This is about trying to understand my adult life, how to
love myself and how we all love ourselves. Something I’ve really struggled with
my entire life is feeling worthy and purposeful and that my life has value and
purpose.

So a lot of these songs are just sort of meditations and reminders to myself of how I want to live my life; the ways in which I want to think about myself and think about the people in my life and how I want to be seen.’

We both share the same favourite song off the album – Unfolding. I think I have at this point turned the chorus into an affirmation of sorts -

“I am not breaking
I am not broken
I am unfolding…”

Another track I love so much is ‘Surviving’. This song is about what I preached all through last year – creating a life outside work. In Luca’s words – 'this song is about me trying to convince myself that there is something more than just existing in the way that we feel like we have to; working our entire lives and then feeling like we deserve a break. I’ve believed that there is some sort of way to transcend the ordinary. I just feel as though there is a way – whether it is mentally or physically or psychologically – to transcend the idea that all we have to do on this planet is just work.

Favourite Tracks – Unfolding, Slow Correction, Surviving, Gloria continued, Half-saved

2. Love Goes – Sam Smith

My
Half-year album review mentioned Sam Smith pushed back their hitherto named ‘To
Die For’ album. They stated they were going to change the name and rework the
songs. I thought it was a good move considering they had released half the
songs as singles. What they eventually came up with turned out to be one of the
best albums of 2020. Love Goes is growth from where they left off on their
sophomore album – The thrill of it all.

Sam has finally settled into the voice they found on their previous album and is done struggling with embracing their identity. This they made clear on the opening track – Young, which I can boldly say is one of the best album openers of 2020.

“Get a
little wild/Get a little high/Kiss a hundred boys and not feel like I’m tied to
them/if you wanna judge me, then go and load the gun/I’ve done nothing
wrong/I’m young…”

Every
year, it feels like I subconsciously looking out for that album that comes with
a spark. For the second (non-consecutive year) Sam has delivered that album for
me. Love Goes is a breakup album, which is no new territory for Sam Smith. I
guess we have Brandon Flynn (Sam’s ex) to thank for this album.

Two drawbacks of this album are – they shouldn’t have included the previously released old songs, adding them as bonus tracks were unnecessary and they didn’t fit with the flow of the new album. For me, the album stops at track 11 – Kids again.

Also, I don’t think their falsetto fits well on disco/dance tracks. Dance (‘Till you love someone else) is another hot mess, like the previously released ‘I feel love’ cover they did. Sounds like the noise mosquitoes make when they buzz close to your ears.

It was quite interesting hearing them blend well with Burna Boy on My Oasis (way better than their feature on Tiwa Savage’s Temptation where each person’s verse sounds like different songs). The build-up of the instrumentation towards the ending of the album title track – ‘Love Goes’ which features Labrinth is everything.

Favourite Tracks – Young, Another One, Forgive Myself, Love Goes, Kids Again

1. Folklore – Taylor Swift

This album
couldn’t have come at a better time. Just when I was in deep longing for that
album I could seat with and let my thoughts flow out of me into the music,
Taylor gifted the world a surprise album - Folklore. This is her most mature
project yet and it’s a masterpiece. The album is nominated for Album of the
Year at the Grammys and I think it will win. It’s going to be the perfect
record-breaking third AOTY for her, as she will now have this for three genres
– Country, Pop, and Alternative.

I have
come to accept Taylor as that cross over artist who not only explores genres
but seems to want to milk it before moving on. She did that with Country and
Pop. After her Lover album, I knew her next album wasn’t going to be Pop. I
secretly hoped she would go back to country, but she went with Alternative and
she did so well. But then she decided to release Evermore, which she termed the
sister album to Folklore. Hmmm…my reservation? This is something Ariana Grande
will do.

The moment I saw her tweet announcing Evermore barely five months after the release of Folklore, I knew it was going to be filled with left over tracks. Even the lead single from Evermore – ‘Willow’ sounds like a rip-off of the track ‘Invisible string’ on Folkore. The accompanying Willow video feels like a rip-off of Cardigan’s video as well. Super Taylor fans say it's a continuation, but deep down we know what it really is.

It’s hard not to compare both albums. I wish she tweaked the sound on Evermore, may be switched to proper folk genre or something. While Evermore boasts of good songs (Champagne problems, Tolerate it, No body No crime, Happiness, Dorothea, and the two bonus tracks on the deluxe) I can’t help but feel like it’s a watered-down version of Folklore and a bit boring. Some of the songs on Evermore sound like slow poetry with no rhythm. Folklore will forever remain the standard.

Artists
should understand that albums are just like books, they are a sum-up of the
artists’ experience. You need to give time between albums; live and experience
life before you start a new era. But hey, who made the rules, right?

Two issues
I have with Folklore are - the extremely long track length. 17 tracks are a bit
too much for an alternative album. I get this is her usual pattern on her
albums but mehn, not for alternative genre, please.

Also, the album doesn’t have a peak. The songs are on the same frequency that drags along with no particular center track that gives a spark that feels like the album core. This could have been ‘Cardigan’ but it doesn’t exactly nail it.

Still,
Folkore is the album of 2020 for me. The lyrical depth is beautiful and the
songs make my soul float in eternal bliss. It's nice to hear a grown up Taylor.

Favourite Tracks – the 1, cardigan, exile, my tears ricochet, mirrorball, august, this is me trying

WORTHY MENTIONS 

1. No Stranger – Natalie Grant (Genre – Gospel)
2. Things I Choose to Remember – Rhy Lewis (Genre – R&B/Soul)
3. Hey, I’m Here for You – Harry Hudson (Pop)
4. Afropop Vol. 1 – Adekunle Gold (Genre - Afrobeats)
5. No One Else Can Wear Your Crown – Oh Wonder (Genre - Pop)
6. Apollo – Fireboy DML (Afro pop)
7. Southern Symphony – Russell Dickerson (Genre - Country)

TOP EPs FROM 2ND HALF of 2020 (July – December)

1. Home Work – Sam Fischer

This EP boasts of my favourite song of 2020 – ‘This City’. Though I don’t personally relate with the song from the angle he wrote it (it’s about him struggling to find his creative path in Los Angeles), I love everything about the song, mostly his vocals. In my head, it’s a breakup song.
One track I think everyone can relate to is 'I got to live'. This song is about living life to the fullest before our time on earth elapses.
Sam’s vocals are on fire, easily my best EP of 2020, looking forward to his full debut album

2. Get Layd – Omah Lay

Most persons associate Afrobeats/afropop with noisy instrumentals. Omah Lay on his first EP proves this wrong. I love how well-produced the songs are and how his voice blends calmly with the instrumentals to give a slow summer sort of vibe, a pleasant listening experience.

3. I Love You, You’re The Worst – Emily Burns

I got to know about Emily from the remix of Is it just me? Where she featured Jp Saxe. After hearing the song I checked her out and found she had an EP out. This EP is so good. It centers on losing love. Is it just me? Reminds me of the time I thought I was the only one hurting from my break up. 

I think most persons feel this way, thinking the other party has it easy and has moved on. It was until a mutual friend send me tweets of my ex before I realized we were both burning after trying the breakup and no one had it easy moving on.

4. Too Close – JP Cooper

At first glance at JP Cooper, one would easily judge him as a reggae artist. It was a pleasant surprise hearing his amazing vocals soar through soul/R&B songs. This four-track EP is about love. I have no favorite track, all are perfect but what shines the most is his soaring vocals.

5. Minor – Gracie Abrams

Gracie Abrams shows a lot of potential on her debut EP. The seven-track EP navigates the feelings that one deals with after a breakup. The reminiscing on the past, missing the person and trying to move on and the messy emotions one had to process. The tracks –‘Long sleeves’ and ‘I miss you, I’m sorry’ snatches my soul every time, her emotional laden vocals on minimal instrumentals give me chills every damn time.

6. Wake Up Sleeper – Austin French

Feeling down? Overwhelmed by life? This is the EP to run to. The standout track is Rest for your soul. This song has healing powers.

WORTHY MENTIONS 

1. In My Mind - Clide (Genre - Pop)
2. When It’s All Said & Done – Giveon (Genre – R&B/Soul)
3. Alt Therapy Session 1: Disillusion- Emanuel (Genre – R&B)
4. Art of Closure - Gracey (Genre - Pop)
5. Be Slow – Harrison Storm (Genre - Alternative)

UNDERWHELMING ALBUMS 

1. Positions – Ariana Grande 

This album feels like one step forward, ten steps backward. This album feels like a remnant of Sweetener album and there’s nothing new on it. I get she stated in a recent interview she wants to be releasing music the way rappers do. But she needs to understand rappers do this via mixtapes and not full-length albums. Albums are an artist’s legacy. If this is what she wants, then I think it's best she goes the way of EPs.

She seems to have taken the baton from Rihanna with the frequency of album releases and also rate of getting Number one singles on the charts, but as Beyonce stated - being number one doesn’t necessarily mean the work is great, the focus is building a legacy.

2. Smile – Katy Perry

This album should have been titled cringe. I don’t know where Katy lost it. Her last two albums have been a bore-fest. To think this is the same artist that had a record-tying six number one singles from an album. Babe seriously needs to go back to the drawing board before her career dies.

MISSED OUT ALBUMS FROM 2019

1. In Her Feelings – Omawumi

I used to follow her music but after a while, I lost track. Early last year, Henry referred me to her 2019 album, and on first listen I was blown away. Her vocals are still on point, but what’s noteworthy is the improved quality and cohesiveness of her album. 

I love how she nailed the heavily Fella influenced Afrobeats genre on the track – Away, a rare feat for a female artist. The reggae-influenced Mr. Sinnerman track is also worth mentioning. I love when an artist switches genres to give a much richer body of work.

2. Nights Like This (EP) – Jack Gray

The debut EP from Jack Gray centers on issues we face while going through life. For a 20-year-old, it takes raw talent to write all songs and produce them as well and come up with a loaded EP filled with relatable songs. My favorite on the EP is Bullet, which talks about suicide, both from the victim and those left behind.

MUSIC REVIEW - TOP EPs FROM FIRST HALF of 2020

Extended Plays commonly referred to as EPs are best described as longer than a single (one track) but shorter than an album (compilation of many tracks). Albums can also be referred to as Long Plays (LPs). On average, an EP consists of 4 to 6 tracks, unlike LPs that have from 8 Tracks upwards. There is however no specific standard; Kelly Rowland’s last EP has just three tracks, while Ed Sheeran’s last EP has 15 tracks. But most usually have a maximum of 5 songs. I hate EPs where all the tracks are remix versions of just one song, seriously what's the idea?

Why EPs? For one, they are cheaper and easier to produce compared to LPs. New artists use it as a promotional tool to build their fan base before their debut album release. Also, established artists use it to stay relevant between major album releases. Others use it as a means for artistic freedom. EPs come in handy when an artist wants to experiment with their sound.

EPs are not judged critically as full-length albums, hence the free hand given to artists by their record labels over the control of the material on their EPs. I love EPs because they show the true artist. There is rarely the issue of overproduction that overshadows the authenticity of the songs. EPs allow artists to express themselves freely.

Most songs on EPs eventually find their way to LPs (I’m not a big fan of this, especially when half the songs on the album are from a previously released EP).

Like I previously mentioned in my last post, EPs got to me more at the beginning of 2020 than full-length albums. I have made a countdown of my favourite EPs from the first half of 2020 (January to June) starting from my favourite -

1. The End of Everything – Noah Cyrus

The first single off this EP - ‘I was so high that I saw Jesus’ got my interest piqued. I was expecting a full album release, especially as she had dropped three promotional singles that were not on her first EP.

The End of Everything EP shows the vulnerable side of Noah and had me appreciating her even more than I did when I heard her Make Me (Cry) song she did with Labrinth back in 2017.

My favourite track on the EP is ‘Ghost’. This song mirrors me, especially those moments when I feel lost.

‘And when you’re looking in the mirror
Demons may be closer than they may appear
You can even cry and sit, and stare
When trying to run away, I’m tryna run away'

2. Things I wanted to Tell You – Kina

I have probably
played the first single off this EP – ‘Get
you the moon’ a million times between when I first heard it last year and
now. The song gets to me every time and warms me up, even though there is no
particular person I attach to it.

Tiktok made the second track - ‘Can we kiss forever?’ popular. The EP feels like a too little too late letter to an ex-lover you didn’t let them know just how much they truly meant to you while you guys were together. Kina's voice is filled with regret, flowing well with the mellow pop production on the songs as he lets his honest feelings know.

3. Joel Adams – Joel Adams

This was a lucky download. I was drawn by the loneliness expressed on the album art. It was love at first listen. I felt every word, especially on my favourite track ‘Slipping off the edge’. The darkness in the song feels so comforting mostly because it says everything I feel when life gets overwhelming. He sings - ‘I don’t want to see no doctor/Just so he can sit down there smiling/Pretending that they know my history/Like he has any idea’.

The verses and chorus hit even darker than these lines, however, these lines are part of how I feel about therapy. The whole idea of opening up to a stranger to psychoanalyse me doesn’t fully sit well with me.

4. Made Up Lost Time – Kevin Garrett

Another lucky download. The dark album art drew me in. Asides the beautiful songwriting, I love the mellow pop production on the EP. It makes for an easy and calm listen. The songs are centered around Kevin navigating his personal growth with his lover. It's about him trying to grow from his old self to a new person he hopes his lover still loves. My favourite tracks are ‘Tell you how I'm feeling’, ‘Factor in’ and ‘Can’t come back now’.

I relate so well to the lyrics of ‘Can’t come back now’ – “I swear we can’t fix something we cannot figure out/but I know it, you know it…when it all settles down/but we can’t come back now”

5. Winter Hurts – Jacob Whitesides

From his first EP
to the last album, Jacob has gotten better. On this EP, his growth can’t be
missed. This is his most mature effort yet. My stand out track is ‘God took a bow’ which is about someone
he is deeply in love with and is in awe of how much magic they make while
together.

When I first saw the song title, I thought it would be one of those controversial songs about God, but turns out he was appreciating his lovers perfect looks, such that God took his time creating her. You know how when you've performed excellently, a panel of judges tells you to take a bow as you have nothing else to prove.

The EP is made up of stripped-back pop ballads with minimal production, giving his vocals a solemn feel.

6. In Between Minds – Rhys Lewis

I can’t exactly
remember how I came across this EP or Rhys Lewis, but my strong guess is, I
heard the first track ‘Hold on to
happiness’ on one of the Apple music playlists I saved.

This is a
stripped-down EP which gives a calming feel on the listeners. The EP is
centered on hope and loss. I love the gentleness of the EP and how the songs quietly
transition.

On ‘Better than Today’ he sings over minimal production (as with most of the tracks)– ‘Times get tough/But I don’t give up/’Cause I know I’m not alone/’Cause we’re all reaching for something/We’re all craving change/Hopin’ tomorrow is better than today’.

The way he stretches his voice on the bridge of this track, carrying the emotions in each word, breaks me and gets me all up in my feelings. This song saves me every time.

7. Hold It Together – Jp Saxe

I discovered Jp Saxe one evening when I stumbled on a video of him and some other artists singing ‘If the world was ending’ through one the video conferencing apps on youtube. I had to go check out the original track which features Julia Michaels. Next thing, I was hooked on the entire EP. ‘If the world was ending’ is the most popular track on the EP, but other songs like ‘Explain you’ and ‘Hold it together’ are just as good.

I love the mellow sound of the EP and also the great lyrical content. This is the kind of EP you listen to while drifting to sleep, thinking of love lost.

8. Cape Elizabeth – Noah Kahan

I’m no stranger to Noah. I’m familiar with his previous EP - Hurt Somebody and full-length album – Busyhead. Cape Elizabeth EP has Noah delivering an outstanding acoustic folk album. Impressively, the EP was written and produced in one week, during the wake of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year.

The songs are about life, uncertainties, and reassurance. This EP helped calm me a lot of times when life felt overwhelming and confusing during the peak of the lockdown period.

9. Bubble – Ant Saunders

A debut EP from the 19year old who found fame with ‘Yellow hearts’ after the song went viral, thanks to TikTok. The song’s large streaming numbers earned him a top 20 spot on Billboard Hot 100. Interesting how this track was initially released independently on his graduation day last year. The success of the song earned him a record deal and led to the release of his first EP – Bubble.

This is an impressive debut from him, mostly as the EP in its entirety was written, recorded, and produced by him. The EP is a feel-good mix of pop and R&B with a bit of retro vibe. My favourites are ‘Yellow hearts’ and ‘u know it’s real’.

10. Watching You – Robinson

This is another
artist I discovered on one of the Apple music playlists I listen to. The EP is
about heartbreak. The four-track EP feels like a build-up to the last track ‘Watching you’, which is the core of the
EP and also its title track. To watch the one you love move on and love someone
else, has got to be one of the hardest things to deal with.

On ‘Watching you’ she sings – ‘I’m too tired to pretend last night didn’t hurt/When you called me a friend/And it wouldn’t be the first time you made cry/You don’t even know why/And I’m watching you as you watch her’.

My favourite
tracks are ‘Lie to me’ and ‘Watching you’.

Bonus

11. Self Portrait – Sasha Sloan (Released 2019)

Though released
last year, I came across the EP first half of this year. The lyrics are very
relatable and helped me navigate the feelings I was processing. Like the EP
title goes (Self Portrait), the songs are introspective. From struggles with
anxiety, depression, uncertainties, and not fitting with societal standards,
each song deals with issues almost everyone can resonate with.

On the opening track – ‘Thoughts’ she sings

‘Thoughts
Sometimes, I just can’t control my thoughts
No medication’s ever made them stop
All I think about is everything I’m not
Instead of everything I got
….
Yeah, I swear to God I’m trying, but I don’t know how to be
How to be a good friend to the voice inside my head that’s telling me I’m okay’

The songs have minimal production, allowing her vocals center stage. The lyrics are dark, honest, and vulnerable, carrying so much weight we all feel in our daily lives.

The darkest song on the EP is ‘Too sad to cry’ which is about depression and feeling helpless, she sings – ‘I’m not suicidal/But sometimes the lines get all blurry/Yeah, I cut my hair/Closed the blinds/Played Hallelujah like two dozen times/And yesterday I tried to pray/bt I didn’t know what to say/I’m too sad to cry’.

12. Waiting for Departure – Adam Agin

While cleaning out my bookshelf recently, I came across a DVD compilation of rock songs my then girlfriend in the University gave to me. One song that came to mind was Adam Agin’s Please don’t leave quite yet. I reached for my phone to check him out on Apple music. I saw he had an EP out this year already. The first two tracks on the EP are such a pleasant warm delight.

Due to how good the EP was, I found myself listening to his entire discography on Apple music which turned out to be worth it.

13. all the things I never said – Tate McRae

I got to know
about Tate McRae when I heard her single – ‘You
broke me first’ on one of my saved Apple Music playlists. Though this
single is not included in her debut EP (released after the EP), it led me to
the EP.

Two out of the
five tracks on the EP (‘Stupid’ and ‘Tear myself apart’) were co-written
with Billie Eilish.

The EP reminds me of certain issues I dealt with when I was a teenager. Tate was able to channel her teenage struggles, both personal and those arising from interactions with her friends and her environment into a decent pop EP.

MUSIC REVIEW - MY TOP ALBUMS FROM FIRST HALF of 2020

It’s nice
to note that Covid-19 has got nothing on music releases. Well, even though it
led to tours being cancelled or moved to next year, artists were still able to gift
us with albums. Suck it covid!

For me, 2020 started a bit slow on the music scene. Mostly, it was EPs I was feeling before the ‘good’ albums started rolling in. I had already marked the release date for One Republic’s album, only to open apple music on the supposed release date and see they pushed it back to December 31!!  My heart broke.

Sam Smith also
pushed back his album release and scrapped the album name. Based off his
released singles - ‘Dancing with a Stranger’, ‘How do you sleep?’ and ‘I Feel
love’ (Donner Summer cover), I was expecting a different sound (Dance pop and
Disco) from him.

However, he
released – ‘To die for’ and also included the last year single - ‘Fire for fire’
on the album track list (these songs are his regular sound). He further released
another single – ‘I’m Ready’ featuring Demi Lovato which was back to the Dance
pop genre. The album was fast beginning to sound too experimental and a bit
disjointed, besides he had released almost half the songs on the album as
singles. I’m trusting his decision to rework the songs on the album will pay
off real good.

I’m highly
anticipating his new single with Bruna Boy titled ‘My Oasis’. It has to be
nothing short of magic. I screamed when I saw Sam’s announcement on his Instagram.
I doubt this paring ever crossed anyone’s mind.

After compiling this list I realized that it was comprised of majorly male artists/bands. I remember the uproar that greeted the Grammys a few years back over lack of representation of female artists in the nominations. I went through my last year list and saw it was male dominated as well. It got me wondering, were the women pulling the gender card or are they really not that great artists as the male folk or is there truly marginalization of female artists?

I mean, I’ll
say most of the greatest voices in music are from female artists but when it
comes to commercial success, the music industry is male dominated. Maybe the
root cause is, record labels not signing enough ladies? Or what do you think?
Even when shortlisting albums, the number of albums from the male folk almost
doubled those released by females this year. Have you ever noticed this
disparity in numbers amongst the sexes in music?

Without much further ado, here’s a countdown of my favourite albums from first half of 2020 -

12. Horizons – Surfaces

This is a feel good album sure to brighten your day. Even the album art breathes hope and positivity.  The kind of album needed in these weird trying times. 2020 has been a lot and I personally have had moments of mental struggle with all that’s been happening and this album always has a way of lifting my mood. The album is a mix of pop, reggae, jazz and hip hop to give a collection of summer jamz one can listen to on a lazy day.

Favourite Tracks – Take it easy, Sunny side up, Remedy, Horizons, Keep it gold

11. How to be Human – Chelsea Cutler

I got to know Chelsea on her joint EP with Jeremy Zucker (Brent). Something about her voice always gets me. A bit coarse and perfect for emotional laden songs whether it’s a pop song like ‘Sad tonight’ or a heart wrenching ballad like ‘I was in heaven’. This album has a balanced mix of pop songs and ballads centred about losing love. Two things stand out on the album; Chelsea’s song writing prowess and her sincere vulnerable lyrics.

My
favourite track off the album is ‘I was in heaven’. The lyrics – ‘you don’t see what you saw in me when you
said you’ll never leave’ broke me
and helped me process the pain of being walked out on.

Favourite Tracks – What would it take, I was in heaven, Are you listening, Nj, Somebody else will get your eyes, I miss you, Lucky, Crazier things

10. Lady Like – Ingrid Andress

I got to know Ingrid Andress and her debut album from Reward’s Favourite Country  Albums/EPs of 2020, so far. The theme of this album bothers on Love and the timeline of relationships.

I feel
this is a concept album in reverse. It sort of tells a story when you listen to
the album from the last track to the first. She knows who she is on Track 8
(Lady Like) and won’t be put in a box. On Track 7 (Life of the party) she is at
a party looking happy and fly, but within she is hurting because her lover left
her. Track 6 (More Hearts than Mine) has her reminiscing about the
disappointment the breakup will have on her folks who are also vested in her
relationship, while Track 5 (Anything but love) has her struggling to forget
her lover who has since moved on.

Track 4 (The Stranger) has her wishing they could start over and meet afresh in a bar as strangers and rekindle the love, while on Track 3 (We’re not Friends), she finds herself in a situationship, likely a rebound. She says they may pretend to be just friends but kissing at 2am, is definitely not what friends do.

On Track 2 (Both), she gives her rebound guy an ultimatum, either he is in fully or he is out as he can’t do both. Track 1 (Bad advice) explains how the rebound was a bad advice from her friends and how she is always taking bad advice to move on from breakups.

This might
not have been Ingrid’s idea about the album, but I think it fits perfectly well
or it’s just my overzealous love for concept albums.

‘Both’ is
my favourite track off the album because it depicts a situationship I recently walked
away from. I was the indecisive one, not wanting to commit but wanting to enjoy
the perks of a relationship. I knew it was not fair to the other and so I ended
it.

“You’re blurring the lines
You’re playing two sides
Just make up your mind

You can tell me to stay
You can push me away
Have space or get close
But you can’t do both
You can kiss me goodnight
Or kiss me goodbye
Baby, love me or don’t
But you can’t do both”

Favourite Tracks – Both, The Stranger, Anything but love, Life of the party, Lady like

9.  Walls – Louis Tomlinson

The last
of the One Direction lads to release a solo album. The album opens with the punk
rock genre track - ‘Kill my mind’ which tells the listener that he is setting
his own path and not following the now defunct One Direction band’s britpop
sound. Though tracks like ‘Don’t let it break your heart’, ‘Always you’ and
‘Defenceless’ sound like typical One Direction songs, his path is quite clear. It’s
been interesting watching each of the ex-members of the band find their individual
sound. I have always loved Louis for his unique somewhat cracked voice and
always felt he will go the rock genre route.

This album
is majorly Britpop and Indie rock. The album revolves around the theme of loss
and hope. This is not surprising considering the tragedy Louis has had to deal
with following the death of his mother and then his sister. ‘Two of us’ feels
like the core of the album, a song he wrote about his late mother.

Sadly the release of the song was followed by the death of his sister. Knowing this makes the pain in the song even achier. 

Favourite Tracks – Don’t let it break your heart, Two of us, Walls, Habit, Always you

8. Kid Krow – Conan Gray

I was on
music explore on twitter one night when I came across Conan’s tweet announcing
the release date for his debut album. He stated the songs were a reflection of
his life story. Being a sucker for art emanating from personal experiences, I
took note of the date. Getting this album was worth it. The album is filled
with bold production different from the commercial sound out there. I love how
each song tells a story about a group of friends growing up together. Mostly, it’s
his unconventional sound and song writing prowess that gets to me.

Favourite Tracks – Comfort crowd, The cut that always bleeds, Fight or flight, Affluenza, Little Leauge, The Story

7. Love is not dying (Deluxe Edition) – Jeremy Zucker

After 8 EPs,
Jeremy finally released his debut full length LP and it is everything. I
remember feeling different range of emotions the first time I listened to the
album. The 24year old has built his art around dark lyrics and moody sound
which sometimes sounds way too mature for someone that young, you begin to
wonder what lemons life must have thrown him. His joint EP ‘Brent’ with Chelsea
Cutler is one of my favourite EPs.

Love is
not dying album (Deluxe edition) takes you on a complete emotional ride with a
theme around heartbreak. This album is sad and beautiful with powerful moments
ranging from pain to resilience and then surrender.

What
stands out on this LP is Jeremy’s perfect mastery of the use of
silence/quietness in the production. This shows up heavily on tracks like ‘Orchid’,
‘Full stop’ and ‘Julia’, giving the songs a weightier feel. On ‘Full stop’, sad
lyrics about struggling with letting go of lost love flows perfectly with
initial slow minimal production that builds all through the track until the
bridge where marching bands rise to a crescendo and then comes to a halt,
fading into a quiet ending that transitions safely into the next track. This is
one track sure to take you on an emotional journey.

Favourite Tracks – Somebody loves you, Orchid, Not your friend, Full Stop, Julia, Always I’ll care, you were good to me (bonus track), comethru (bonus track)

6. Heartbreak Weather – Niall Horan

This album
didn’t sit well with me on first listen. I felt disappointed that after delivering
an outstanding debut folk album, he went the way of commercial pop on his sophomore
album.

However,
being a champion of artistic freedom, diversity and growth, I gave the album another
listen, this time with an open mind. I realized that same way I initially
dismissed Taylor Swift’s first pop album (1989) which later turned out to be an
excellent pop album, Niall’s Heartbreak Weather album also turned out to be a
good typical pop album – catchy
songs lacking lyrical depth.

The theme
of the album can easily be deduced from album title. However, due to the loud pop
funky production on most of the songs, the emotions that should carry the album
theme are lacking. Niall did well on songs like ‘Dear Patience’, ‘Bend the
rules’, ‘Put a little love on me’ and ‘Still’. I think these songs saved the
album for me.

The closing
track – ‘Still’ feels like it was taken off his previous Flicker album. ‘No
judgement’ is one of my favourites though it has striking similarities with ‘I
don’t care’ by Ed Sheeran ft Justin Bieber off of the former’s last EP - No 6
Collaborations project.

This album
is not an artistically great album but it’s definitely that album you keep
listening to repeatedly even though it’s not your typical poison. It’s supposed
to be an album about heartbreak, but ironically it’s more of a feel good album.

Heartbreak
weather could easily be another One Direction album. I’ll love him to go back
to singing folk songs because that makes him standout as an artist, especially
as it’s very distinguishable from the typical One Direction sound.

Favourite Tracks – Dear Patience, Bend the rules, Put a little love on me, Arms of a stranger, No Judgement, San Francisco, Still

5. Boo of the Booless – Chike

After
wowing everyone with his rendition of James Arthur & Emeli Sande’s Roses on
his blind audition for The Voice (Nigeria), Chike gifts us with one hell of a
decent album that perfectly blends a bit of pop and RnB while maintaining the
afrobeat sound. The first half of the album is comprised of mid tempo jams that
is sure to get you moving your body, while the other half comprises mostly
ballads that accentuates the effect of his unique vocals. Everything about the
album is almost perfect; song arrangement, lyrical content, production and
track length.

The opening track serves as an appetizer as to what is to come, a bit slower in tempo than most of the first half songs. However, from track two, the album sort of peaks and begins a pleasant ride till the closing high life track that has him singing mostly in Igbo dialect. The change in genre on this track gives the album a refreshing closing.

For an
album filled with great lyrical content, the album title feels like a lazy
effort. The album is centred on love. The track ‘Forever’ is that song you send
to bae to reassure them about how much you love them. I remember hearing
‘Faithful’ for the first time on my way to work and thinking to myself that the
song felt like a letter from my ex to me.

The lyrics fit perfectly in relation to how we felt about each other at a point, but one of us had already moved on to a new relationship.

“Your smile still lightens up the day
Your voice still ringing in my brain
I hope your memory will fade

And cheating is a sin
Especially with someone who really loves me
So I’ll make sure not to fall to day

I’m faithful
I can’t be the one for you
I have someone who loves me
Even though I think that I love you”

This is
not your typical album from a Nigerian artiste. It falls in the same category
of new age singers who have chosen to follow the less commercial path and
deliver songs with lyrical depth and less radio friendly sounds.

Boo of the booless is an impressive debut album which was released independently without the backing of a record label. The quality of the album has been its selling point and I think Chike deserves all the success for this body of art. It was hard to pick my favourite tracks as I actually love all the songs. This is a no skip album.

Favourite Tracks – Nakupenda, Forever, Amen, Finders Keepers, Insecure, Forgive, Faithful, Watching over me

4. Remember to Remember Me – Isak Danielson

I found
out about the sophomore album from Isak on someone’s Insta story. The person
used ‘Remember to remember me’ as backing music on her picture. Hearing his
emotion filled vocals as the music played, reminded me of how good his debut
album was.

I went to
check out the single and found out he had actually released a full length album
with that track as the Album title. Well, that’s the standout track on the
album.

This album
is honest and vulnerable. Isak is not afraid to bare his weakness in letting go
of an elusive lover who though toxic, still has a strong hold on him. The
opening track – ‘Religion’ gives an insight to his ex-lover’s manipulative
ways.

People
make statements of leaving a relationship that no longer serves you, like it’s
a switch you can just flip on all the memories and walk away without feeling
any pain or struggle. This album portrays the cycle of frustration, as well as
the back and forth you go through trying to let go of someone you are still in
love with.

On ‘Remember to remember he sings solemnly -

“I don’t like the part of moving on
I hate to say goodbye
I can’t stand this bedroom all alone
When everything reminds me of you laying by my side”

Songs like
‘Part of me’, ‘Love me wrong’, ‘I don’t need your love’ and ‘Feel something’
perfectly covers his turmoil, almost like he is losing his sanity trying to
reason with himself on why letting go is the right thing to do, but yet his
heart fails him and he still wants the lover to rescue him.

The
closing track ‘Last song’ is a tired and defeated Isak accepting his pain and
reality, he says his final goodbye as he watches his lover fade away. I think
this is one of the lowest points, to watch someone you love dearly slip away
from you. Even when you are ready to ignore their faults, knowing that no words
you say or actions can prevent them from leaving. To watch it all fall apart
helplessly, tragic.

The album
also covers his struggle with anxiety on songs like ‘Silence’ and ‘Light up’. The
quality of this album makes it so hard to believe Isak is just 22 years old.

Favourite Tracks – Remember to remember me, Light up, Feel Something, Last song

3. Bigger Love – John Legend

I have
always loved John Legend’s albums in small bits. I find his full length albums a
bit boring. A couple of songs sound great but listening to the entire album?
I’ll sleep off half way.

However
that’s not the case on his seventh studio album - Bigger love, which as the
title clearly infers is about love in all its spheres. From the opening track -
‘Ooh Laa’ (which samples The Flamigos’s I Only Have Eyes for You), the loud
production (reminisce of his last album – Darkness and Light) keeps you alert
as his creamy voice pleasantly drools over each note.

When I
heard the first single off the album – ‘Conversations in the dark’, I thought
this was going to be the peak of the album. But the album boasts of deep cuts
that gives the song a run for its shine. The album has a good mix of up-tempo
songs and ballads.

This album
would have been much stronger if he had pruned the track length, I mean 16
tracks is quite a lot.

Favourite Tracks – Wild, U move I move, Focused, Conversations in the dark

2. Graves into Gardens – Elevation Worship

For me,
this album starts from track 3. The first two tracks feel out of place on the
album. They have strong messages, but the tempo of the tracks doesn’t feel
right with the switch in flow from track three till the album closes out.

Reward
shared ‘Graves into Gardens’ track with me early in the year. The song is about
restoration and it moved me. I heard the first single off the album – ‘The
Blessing’ on Television one evening and I had to shazam it, it was a pleasant
surprise seeing it was by Elevation worship. These two tracks had me
anticipating the album.

The album
is a blessing and gives one this unexplainable calm, reminding us of God’s
sovereignty. This album is a call for us to surrender and hold on to God during
these weird times because He’s never lost a battle.

I fell in
love with this album on first listen. A true worship experience that leaves
your soul watered.

This is one of the most beautiful gospel albums out there. Songs sure to give you chills are ‘Graves into Gardens’ and ‘What would you do’. I’m thankful for this album, especially in a year like 2020 that has been filled with a roller coaster of emotions.

Favourite Tracks – Graves into Gardens, The Blessing, Available, Never lost, What would you do

1. One Day at a Time - Kodaline

This album
could not have come at a better time. With all that’s been happening around the
world, this album breathes hope and brings light into what has seemingly been a
dark year.

The theme
of the album is hope and it preaches the importance of a support system, having
someone to lean on when things are not so good. The track ‘Sometimes’ is about
dealing with anxiety and loss.

I love how
precise and straight to the point the 10 tracks on the album are. All songs complement
each other in preaching the message of hope and unconditional love.

This album
was love on first listen for me, another no skip album from 2020 with deep
social message. I felt most of the songs deeply. The track – ‘Saving grace’
ignited a spark in me. Just as the album title goes, this period we all have to
take it one day at a time till it all blows over and we are back to the normal
we are familiar with.

I know how hard it is to reach out to others when life gets overwhelming, personally I struggle with this. The lyrics of ‘Say something’ captures this feeling so well - 

“When it cuts so deep when you try to speak
But the words don’t come out right
You can lean on me when it’s hard to breathe
You can call me anytime
So please
Say something to me”

See, this album is a life saver. I think this is what they were going for on their previous album – Politics of living, however that album got a bit incohesive.

Favourite Tracks – Wherever you are, Sometimes, Saving Grace, Say something, The Evening, Heart open

WORTHY MENTIONS

1. Dear Happy – Gabrielle Aplin (Genre - Pop)
2. South Side – Sam Hunt (Genre – Country pop)
3. Manic – Halsey (Genre
   - Pop)
4. Now or Never – Brent Kissel (Genre - Country)
5. Yellow – Brymo (Genre
   - World)

UNDERWHELMING ALBUMS

Looking for the Good – Jason Mraz

This is not a bad album per say. I’m actually impressed Jason decided to release a reggae album. However, like someone once said – reggae is one beat over which different musicians sing different lyrics. Not entirely true though, UB40, Bob Marley and even new age reggae artist – Jah Cure don’t have all their songs having similar production. The one major flaw on the 7^th studio album from Jason Mraz, is the similar production on all songs, making the album lacklustre.

Chromatica – Lady Gaga

Most
persons thought Lady Gaga will continue from the massive success of ‘Shallow’
on her next studio album, but the first single – ‘Stupid Love’ buried that
thought. It was a taste of what was to come; another Artflop Artpop.

Comparing this album with The Fame or The Fame Monster will be a long shot. Born this way is the last good album by Lady Gaga. What confuses me is, she is not new to this genre. Her first three albums which were superb were also dance/electropop. They had depth and melody. Chromatica is a complication of similar sounding overproduced songs with most of the songs lacking melody.  Something is not working anymore, her songs are now so easily forgettable and boring. She needs to go back to the drawing board for real.

Velvet - Adam Lambert

I thought when Adam finally releases the side B of Velvet, it will have more of the retro mid tempo sound he went for on the first two released singles. Sadly, I think Adam lost the plot he initially had for this album. Turned out to be a very huge let down and his worst album ever. I’m not sure his touring with Queen is having any good effect on his solo career. It’s sad to watch him lose identity and take up the band’s persona.

MISSED OUT FAVOURITE ALBUMS FROM 2019

Onwards to Zion – Vancouver Sleep Clinic

I was aware of the sophomore album from Vancouver
Sleep Clinic but I had not yet let go of my poverty mentality embraced
streaming. I couldn’t find a link for download. However, this was one of the
first albums I streamed after I signed up on Apple music, thanks to the nudges
from Reward.

A follow up to his superb debut album – Revival, Tim Bettinson who makes up the band - Vancouver Sleep Clinic, shows growth on his sophomore. Honestly, you won’t even think for a second that it was released by a 24yr old. I love his sound and it’s perfect for times when I want to shut the world out and tune into myself and feelings.

Lessons in Love – Sinead Harnett

I was talking with an ex, and I asked what albums helped in healing from our breakup. This was one of the albums listed. Standout track for me is ‘Him too’. The words felt like it was directed at me. I realized that while I listened to albums that made me drown in my pain, the other was listening to albums that helped forget me. I guess we all heal differently, huh? Anyway this is one beautiful RnB album I didn’t know existed till that conversation early this year.

Royal Soldier – Jah Cure

I listened to this album last year and loved it but it didn’t make my
year end list. I’m putting it on this list due to Jason Mraz’s underwhelming ‘Looking
for the Good’ album. Royal Soldier is how to do a contemporary reggae album.
All the songs have their own distinct reggae sound and persona. This album is
pleasant to the ears and will have you jamming to the energetic beats.