4:44 (Album) - JAY-Z

Back To Basics

When listening to JAY-Z, the hip-hop and rap master, you expect powerful beats and a huge amount of production value. This album takes us to a time and style of simplicity in rap. Relaxed beats on repeat as the artist raps and sings over the beat. Nothing crazy fancy or over produced, only the sublime beats and voice of JAY-Z on each track.

Each track isn't terribly repetitive, I'm just saying that they are simple and straightforward. Some of the songs are pretty mediocre, they sound alright, but the instruments used aren't that innovative and lyrics are just alright. However, there are a few songs that are more fun, more creative and I genuinely will listen to in the future. Overall, I wouldn't say the most impressive thing about the album is the music, it is the idea in general, the concept and the daring move to do relaxing, chill music instead of the modern popular radio hits. 

The message of the lyrics is raw and real, it is in your face and the language is something that we should all listen to, even if it makes us a little uncomfortable or awkward, see "The Story of O.J." as an example. My favorite song is "Caught Their Eyes" with Frank Ocean, its sound is the album's best use of simple and well made, repetitive sounds and I'll be listening to it for a while.  

JAY-Z could have written a bunch of garbage with electronic tropes to be played all the time, but this record shows how much he is in the music business to make new and innovative music. This album isn't his best and that's okay, it is the experimentation and strength in creativity that really stick out. I am excited to see what JAY-Z does down the line, and I would want to hear more music like this from him.

Kill Jay Z: 6 --- The Story of O.J.: 7

Smile (feat. Gloria Carter): 6 --- Caught Their Eyes (feat. Frank Ocean): 8

4:44: 6 --- Family Feud (feat. Beyoncé): 6

Bam (feat. Damian Marley): 7 ---  Moonlight: 5

Marcy Me: 6 --- Legacy: 5

Track Average: 6.2

Originality: 7

Longevity: 6

Flow: 8

Red Score: 6.8
(This video does have some inappropriate visuals, warning)

Evolve (Album) - Imagine Dragons

A Step Forward and Backward

Ooooh Imagine Dragons, how you confuse me. What you could be if only you did what you should. A new Imagine Dragons album is like seeing mystery meat, it probably won't kill you, but don't expect much. I wanted to be able to like Evolve, I enjoyed their first album, but their second was pretty bad and this album is both good and bad in many ways which leaves it mediocre in the end.

Most songs on this album sound just like classic Imagine Dragons, the voice and instruments are totally recognizable. This is good because the style is unique and iconic for them, but it also becomes a little lazy because only in a few songs do they take style risks and challenge themselves. The album in general is better than Smoke and Mirrors, which is progress, and yet, it still lack the creativity and risk to live up or surpass to their first album, Night Visions. 

In their last song "Dancing in the Dark" and "Thunder" were both a little more experimental, I was happy to see some change to their normal sound, however it is pretty similar to most modern alternative and indie music. I want to be able to enjoy their electo-infused rock, but I want more from them, more intensity, more risks and elements to make a real new album. We'll see in a few years, as for now, we have a few "alright" songs from them that get lost in the garble of the rest of their album.

 (a new way to review albums for Red Media Reviews)

I Don't Know Why: 5 ---- Whatever It Takes: 4

Believer: 7 --- Walking the Wire: 5

Rise Up: 6 --- I'll Make It Up to You: 4

Yesterday: 5 --- Mouth of the River: 5

Thunder: 6 --- Start Over: 5

Dancing It the Dark: 6

Track Average: 5.3

Originality: 6

Longevity: 5

Flow: 6

Red Score: 5.6

  

Dig Down - Muse

Getting a New and Familiar Grove

Muse is my favorite band, always has been and will be. Every new album and song so far has made me enjoy them in new ways. "Dig Down" is their newest single leading up to an album down the road. A fun and powerful anthem song that is what I've been wanting all year.

The song starts with the same style bass from the song "Madness" from two albums ago, The 2nd Law. The electronic bass that plays like a synth pad is strong and infectious, and a welcome sound with the EDM influences in most modern music. "Dig Down" is a simple song, not too many different instruments, and even the music is not all that complicated. The drums, the guitar and bass for the most part play the same notes again and again throughout. Eben though this is normally annoying in song, Muse again just makes music that I can't help but enjoy.

Matthew's singing is great as always, the lyrics are a little cheesy to honest, but that would be my only real criticism of the song. I am super cised for the new album in the coming months and am happy to see Muse back in my new music section. 

Originality: 7

Instruments: 8

Vocals: 7

Longevity: 8

Red Score: 7.5

hopeless fountain kingdom (Deluxe) - Halsey

The Child Of Modern Pop Culture Music

Reviews are back in full force! Let us get started with the now nationally recognized artist, Halsey. If you still don't know who this is, she is the one featured in the ridiculously overplayed "Closer" by The Chainsmokers.

Now let's look at her new album hopeless fountain kingdom (Deluxe). In reality? It isn't horrible, it is just totally uninspired, it sounds exactly like every other generic pop song possible created by lazy producers and singers from the last two years. I know I'll get a lot of hate because everyone on Youtube loves it apparently, but I'm sticking by my guns. However, there are songs like "Alone" and "Devil In Me" which step a little bit out of mediocrity and are actually alright, but the rest of the album is just a blur.

To start on the specifics, her vocals are almost identical throughout the album. The music that accompanies her vocals do just that, accompany her. For most songs, there are fairly similar sound percussion, synths and other random noises which end up being only somewhat interesting background noise. 

Another notable thing is that Halsey's tone and tempo are almost impossible to differ from song to song. If you were to play the album in the background of a party, I'm sure some people will ask if the music is on repeat because of how repetitive it is from start to finish. The music isn't horrible or annoying, it is just dull and goes nowhere, the album is 16 tracks long for some reason, it could have been only four tracks and had the exact same deliverable altogether.

So my recommendations are to genuinely listen to the tracks "Alone" and "Devil In Me" and then go to her previous album BADLANDS which is far more interesting.

Originality: 3

Instruments: 5

Vocals: 3

Longevity: 4

Red Score: 3.7