Rapper Travis Scott released his highly anticipated fourth studio album, 鈥淯TOPIA,鈥� on July 28. Over the album鈥檚 19 tracks, Scott guides listeners through a musical journey exploring the subjectiveness of a perfect world. With impeccable production and a star-studded feature list, this album is a strong contender for the Album of the Year award.
The album鈥檚 rollout was lengthy and sporadic, partially due to legal controversy following Scott鈥檚 Astroworld Festival, which resulted in numerous attendee deaths and injuries. Additionally, his legendary 鈥淎STROWORLD,鈥� released five years ago, set a high bar for 鈥淯TOPIA.鈥�
Scott brought back fan-favorite hidden features, rewarding listeners with thrilling surprises such as Drake鈥檚 appearance on 鈥淢ELTDOWN,鈥� an experience comparable to the shock of hearing his iconic verse on 鈥淪ICKO MODE鈥� five years ago. Although Scott鈥檚 recent features on albums like Metro Boomin鈥檚 鈥淗EROES & VILLAINS鈥� and Don Toliver鈥檚 鈥淟ove Sick鈥� were impressive, he missed the mark with his verses when it came to his own album. Scott was simply outperformed by collaborators 鈥� especially SZA, with her levitation-inducing vocals on 鈥淭ELEKINESIS,鈥� and 21 Savage on 鈥淭OPIA TWINS.鈥�
Scott likely prioritized having a well-produced album over focusing on his own rapping. His production conforms to his usual psychedelic style, combined with dark, atmospheric synth. Listeners may also notice the influence of Ye (formerly known as Kanye West): Aside from the tracks he helped produce, like 鈥淕OD鈥橲 COUNTRY,鈥� the album shares a similar overall sound to Ye鈥檚 2013 album, 鈥淵eezus,鈥� which Scott collaborated on. Although Scott鈥檚 rapping wasn鈥檛 in its usual upper echelon, he has mastered the skill of curation, as seen by his guest collaborators and the variety of different sounds. Topped with seamless transitions and artful beat switches, the production of 鈥淯TOPIA鈥� sets it at a level above many other recent albums in the genre.
On Sept. 8, Olivia Rodrigo released her second studio album, 鈥淕UTS.鈥� The album鈥檚 12 songs offer a blend of anger, melancholy, confusion and excitement, and examine self-perception, growing up and relationships. Though 鈥淕UTS鈥� has a messier vibe than Rodrigo鈥檚 debut album, 鈥淪OUR,鈥� Rodrigo鈥檚 lyrics continue to hit close to home for many teenage girls.
The opening track, 鈥渁ll-american b—-,鈥� is an angsty punk rock song that reflects on the disconnect Rodrigo feels with American culture. Lyrics like 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful all the time鈥� and 鈥淚鈥檓 sexy when I cry鈥� highlight American society鈥檚 overemphasis on positivity and beauty standards. A single released in June, 鈥渧ampire鈥� has become an instant classic with a breathtaking bridge and powerful one-word lyrics like 鈥渂loodsucker / famef—er.鈥� The last rendition of the bridge has the perfect dramatic buildup, making 鈥渧ampire鈥� a go-to belting song. In 鈥渕aking the bed,鈥� Rodrigo deploys a masterful metaphor of her 鈥渕aking the bed鈥� with her responsibility for her bad decisions after becoming famous. The song鈥檚 relatable lyrics send a message to listeners that self-doubt and negative emotions are normal. 鈥渂allad of a homeschooled girl鈥� is another garage rock song that comments on Rodrigo鈥檚 homeschooled adolescence and the overwhelming expectations of socializing and fitting in. Rodrigo鈥檚 鈥淢ean Girls鈥� reference of 鈥渟ocial suicide鈥� brilliantly sums up the socially awkward situations teenagers encounter.
Rodrigo once again delivers an intense and lyrical album that captures the hectic and often overwhelming lives of teenage girls. 鈥淕UTS鈥� is certainly worth a listen, delving into many relatable aspects of adolescence.
On Sept. 22, Doja Cat released her fourth studio album, 鈥淪carlet.鈥� Doja Cat has left her upbeat, light-hearted rap behind to embrace a deeper, angstier sound.
In songs like 鈥淔— the Girls,鈥� Doja Cat takes jabs at haters with lines like 鈥淚 focus most on my craft / I stay on top of my s— but y鈥檃ll done got me convinced / That I鈥檓 the popularist / That鈥檚 why you watchin鈥� my moves.鈥�
In her most popular song from the album, 鈥淧aint the Town Red,鈥� Doja Cat plays with the idea of being 鈥渢he devil鈥� after backlash to her outfit at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2023 fashion show: Her head-to-toe red look 鈥� complete with red crystals from the chest up, covering all visible skin 鈥� prompted fans to label her as demonic. In 鈥淧aint the Town Red,鈥� Doja Cat sings, 鈥淢m, she the devil / she a bad lil鈥� b—- she a rebel,鈥� referring to herself as 鈥渢he devil.鈥�
From front to back, the no-features 鈥淪carlet鈥� is a sharp and fiery listen. The album showcases Doja Cat鈥檚 growth as an artist, moving past her more corny songs, such as her debut hit, 鈥淚鈥檓 a Cow鈥� (the core lyrics repeating 鈥淏—-, I鈥檓 a cow / I go 鈥楳ooooo鈥欌��), to a complex and personal sound. The closing line of 鈥淧aint the Town Red鈥� perfectly captures the core of 鈥淪carlet,鈥� in which she reminds the world that she鈥檚 ready to take on the hate, and that she is no longer working to satisfy fans: 鈥淚t鈥檒l take a whole lot for me to settle.鈥�
On Sept. 18, the rock band The National released their second album of 2023, 鈥淟augh Track.鈥� The beautiful melodies and inspirational lyrics of 鈥淟augh Track鈥� will leave listeners teary-eyed. Many of the songs provide advice for dilemmas, arguments and goodbyes.
The National鈥檚 previous songs have carried a gloomy, melancholy feel 鈥� akin to memories of an old friend who鈥檚 moved away. This mood remains prevalent in 鈥淟augh Track鈥�: Its third track, 鈥淲eird Goodbyes,鈥� begins with the lyrics, 鈥淢emorize the bathwater, memorize the air / There鈥檒l come a time I鈥檒l want to know I was here.鈥�
While maintaining a wistful tone, 鈥淟augh Track鈥� suggests that listeners turn on the metaphorical laugh track to lighten a situation. 鈥淎ll I am is shreds of doubt,鈥� lead vocalist Matt Berninger sings. 鈥淭urn on the laugh track / We鈥檒l see if it changes the scene.鈥� Berninger鈥檚 ability to sing almost conversationally promotes a sense of realism, and is more effective than belting or crooning would be.
鈥淪moke Detector,鈥� the last and longest song, encapsulates the album鈥檚 feel. Berninger once again displays his vocal range and control as he sings, 鈥淢ake a list of your loved ones in order of height / Laugh at the black birds in the black of the night.鈥� The song tells the story of a crumbling relationship from the perspective of somebody who doesn鈥檛 want it to end. The lyrics warn against a common issue in relationships: focusing too much on the vices of the other person, rather than enjoying life with them. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know how much I love you / Do you?鈥� Berninger sings. 鈥淚鈥檒l get better, I鈥檒l fluff the feathers / I鈥檒l punch in the numbers and enter the letters / Why don鈥檛 you lay here and listen to distant sirens with me?鈥�
The National鈥檚 blend of enjoyable melodies, poignant lyrics and musical variety make 鈥淟augh Track鈥� an album worth listening to.
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