By Connor Kropschot
Staff Writer
Childish Gambino’s newest album “Awaken, My Love” unsuccessfully deviates from the artist’s typical hard rap style, featuring more soul and R&B melodies.
“Awaken, My love” lacks Gambino’s usual composition of fast tempos, screaming and loud beats, and instead turns to music with melodic singing, hypnotic beats and mumbled lyrics, missing the emotions his past songs evoked.
“Awaken, My Love” is rapper Childish Gambino’s third studio album. His 2011 debut “Camp” quickly spread and became widely popular, followed by his top charting 2013 album “Because the Internet.”
Read Pitchfork’s review of “Awaken my Love” here.
Danny Glover, known as Gambino, is also a popular actor featured in hit television shows “Atlanta” and “The Community.” Some of his most famous singles include “3005” and “Bonfire.”
“Me and Your Mama,” the album’s opening song, begins with lyrics written by Gambino with synthesized noises in the background.” Me and your Mama” is the only song on the album that sounded like Gambino’s next hit, pleasing listeners with an intriguing sound.
However, following after “Me and Your Mama,” the album only goes downhill, with songs featuring weird vocals that do not match his usual style. Songs including “California” feature incomprehensible lyrics that do not make sense,and appear as if Gambino was trying too hard to fit the soul genre.
Another failed new addition for Gambino in “Awaken My Love” is psychedelic beats. The beats are especially apparent in the song “Riot,” where Gambino features tunes with overbearing percussion and guitar that combine to create a truly awful song with even worse singing.
Photos of Childish Gambino and his newest album.
“Redbone,” debatably the best track on the album, does not sound anything like Gambino’s previous style. The beat is soothing and relaxing, paired with Gambino singing in a scratchy voice. The song disappoints listeners with a lack of energy and excitement.
The track “Terrified,” is the only song where the listener might think the old Gambino is coming back. Repeating the same lyric getting louder and louder sounds like what could be an intro to one of his old songs, but disappointingly reverts back to soul.
“Awaken, My Love” is yet another recent rapper’s failed attempt with soul. With confusing lyrics, odd, incomprehensible noises and poorly created beats, this album is not worth the time it takes to listen.
Listen to Childish Gambino’s “Awaken my Love” on Spotify with this link.
“Awaken, My Love” was released on Dec. 2, and is available for free on multiple streaming services including Spotify and Soundcloud or on iTunes for $9.99.
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