#tevon

best song: "won't let it go"

worst song: "don't give up"

hon. mentions: "call on me", "honestly", "y o y"

Lalah Hathaway's "Honestly" is comprised of jazz informed R&B vocals over hip hop arrangements and 8-bit sounds. A patchwork of melodic writing and spacious production, this album presents new obstacles for one of singing's heavyweights. She generally does well here, though at times the production doesn’t serve to highlight her expert vocalism (her phrasing and timing, clarity and robust texture). Sonically “Honestly" is very dissimilar to the R&B/Soul vocalist’s previous output. Which I’m sure is attributable to Tiffany Gouche, the newcomer who wrote and produced this record along with Lalah. Lyrically, the album revolves around a relationship, with songs about various stages of connectivity or the lack thereof between Lalah and a partner. Despite this, the writing offers no depth or detail. The vocals and production are very clearly the main focus of this project. The idea, it seems, was to outfit Lalah in a more modern sonic environment and to a degree this adds some youthful vibrance and lightness that serves Lalah well, at times though, the lyrical content is too young. So much so you could think you were listening to “Bust Your Windows” era Jazmine Sullivan instead of a 48-year-old woman who’s spent the last 27 years singing professionally (for comparison: Lalah’s older than JAY Z). This album is very clearly a sonic foray into a more energetic, fun-loving, and youthful sound.

The best song here is easily "won't let it go" it's the only song on the album that highlights Lalah's abilities as a vocalist and arranger. The airy and smoky harmonies swirl around the emotive guitar which is plucked with such intensity and precision it’s reminiscent of a clock’s second hand and the neurotic inertia of passing time. The dream-like soundscape is further served by the opening lyrics "Once upon a time". The production alone has the same emotional depth as your most soul-stirring Sam Cooke record, which it livens up with a trap bounce. The chorus is engineered exquisitely: the voices are coalesced, but not conquered, by vocal compression, and this serves to further elevate the song, ironically, by further grounding it. Though as good as the song is, it’s readily apparent that it could be even better had they substituted the platitude filled verses for some soul-bearing or story-telling. My biggest complaint though, is that they didn't milk those brilliant harmonies a bit more.

The worst song on the album is "don't give up". The song, with its incredibly trite and tired message doubled with Lecrae's banal and, mind-blowingly, lackluster verse -- which ends with the most unimaginative, and unimpressive, play on Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech legacy ("Keep that dream alive like you Martin") -- embodies the definition of skippable. In fact, the record as a whole would be better off if the track was deleted completely. It most clearly embodies the vagueness that holds the album's writing back. Frankly, it’s lazy much in the same way that "Heal the World" is. The inspiring song with no depth or thought. The chorus is a collage of empty platitudes plastered against vapid production. Who shouldn't give up? This is the time to make what right? I suppose we're to figure that out while holding our "head[s] up to the sky" as the chorus so blankly puts it. Not even Lalah, or "the universe" she talks to, could save this song.

Overall, "Honestly" sounds like Lalah is experimenting with new sounds, and though it isn't as spot on as Erykah Badu's venture into trap and hip hop arrangements (her mixtape 'But You Cain't Use My Phone'), I like it. This album sounds as though it was made because Lalah wants a bigger market share of the modern music landscape and I think it could have helped her do that if it was more inspired and authentic. The writing, or rather lack thereof, hold this album back the most. People of all ages experience romantic relationships with the kind of dynamics she sings of on it but the empty language used strips the songs of all depth. The over-emphasis on slang on some tracks reeks of pandering, which makes her seem older and more disconnected from the audience this album is clearly made for. In summation, Lalah dipped her toe into the waters of urban contemporary music with this record, it's weaknesses and strengths both bolster the point that should Lalah engage with this music more authentic- and artistically she could make something really special. She’s a more than capable musician and should she find the inspiration and connection musical exploration could prove both exhilarating and prolific. 6/10.

Rate: 6/10

Dopeness Level: x7000

Lyrical Depth Level: x6000

Sonic Beauty Level: x8000

Cohesiveness (Sonic): x7000

Tom and “one of his friends” Devon. Yknow. Conducting some business

We have so little on their dynamic but I hope its something like this fr