Whole Lotta Red

I've tried writing about this album so many times and words always fall short.

One of those albums where you can hear the artist really pushing themselves.

Impressive range shown here — from quiet intimacy to explosive catharsis.

Took me three listens to fully appreciate what was happening here but once it clicked, it really clicked. The layering is incredible — you hear new things every time. A rich, rewarding album that demands your attention.

There's a really great EP buried inside this album. The problem is the surrounding material dilutes the impact. When this hits, it HITS — a couple of these tracks are among the best things they've ever done. But then you get a run of three mediocre songs in a row and the momentum completely dies. I appreciate the attempt at a longer, more ambitious project, but I think this artist works better in shorter formats. The ideas here are strong but they're stretched too thin. Still worth hearing for the highlights though.

The atmosphere this album creates is incredible.

Peak creative output from an artist at the top of their game.

What sets this apart from other great albums is the consistency. There's no filler, no dips in quality, just track after track of brilliance. The emotional arc from start to finish is perfectly constructed. An easy 5.

Enjoyable but not groundbreaking. Good for what it is.

There's a really great EP buried inside this album. The problem is the surrounding material dilutes the impact. When this hits, it HITS — a couple of these tracks are among the best things they've ever done. But then you get a run of three mediocre songs in a row and the momentum completely dies. I appreciate the attempt at a longer, more ambitious project, but I think this artist works better in shorter formats. The ideas here are strong but they're stretched too thin. Still worth hearing for the highlights though.