NxWorries - WHY LAWD?
Don't be mistaken: This is another quality batch of songs from Anderson .Paak and Knxledge, a duo that specializes in the richness of sample-based neo soul to craft a cohesive and memorable experience. I actuallY loved this thing on the first few listens, as I thought Anderson's voice and performances were as poignant as they've ever been and Knxledge's beats are clean, soulful, and full of unmatched charisma that shape this album's identity into something unique for the underground scene. It's a miracle that I enjoyed it as much as I did, as they really came out guns a-blazin' when this album was being marketed. You had killer singles like the sleek opener 86 Sentra, the incredibly sensual From Here with some intricate melodies laced over the mix, and Where I Go featuring H.E.R. might be one of Anderson .Paak's best matched collaborations yet, and I would love to see the two of them work together on future projects. So I had no doubt that this would be good, to a degree.
However, while I do still enjoy the project and the overall cohesion of the album flow, something feels empty. What exactly? Not .Paak's performances, not the beats, not even the range of topics that the album decides to dive face first into without the breaks. No, all of those add to the quality of the record to make it feel complete. The conundrum with me currently is that this thing doesn't have a fraction of the staying power as their last collaboration, Yes Lawd! This style that the two of them crafted eight years ago has worked effectively for them, receiving widespread acclaim from both from the critical and commercial lens. And in fact, on Why Lawd!?, I may even argue that the two have nailed this style down to a science, a formula in which no matter how its arranged, the bonds that make it up will never break.
And it's with this I say that this new album feels done before. Certainly the production is cleaner and more details and intricacies can be viewed by the arguably less rough mix all around. Paak's lyrics and deliver are on point as always and his charisma has never left him. But the energy of this thing is dulled down to a level where the sleaziness of everything doesn't do enough to keep me emotionally on par with everything. And that's sad because the lyrical content on this think is dark, self deprecating at points, and sheds light on the rough patches of Paak's personal life we barely get to see. I wish I was invested in these moments more because that's where there last album shined for me. The soulful and cathartic energy coming from the two of them was unmatched, and while not perfect by any means, these slower cuts were notable musical pinpoints for the careers of both artists. I don't feel half of that emotion listening to the tracks on this new one however, though I find all the performances and production chops really pleasant when there on. I don't know.
Maybe this was another album designed to vibe with the listener in some background setting. I'm not saying go avoid this record because it's less than great, far from it. If anything about neo-soul mixed with old-school hip-hop production tickles your fancy, by all means, give this a try and you'll probably get something out of it. As for me, I am looking forward to see how this album progresses for me through the end of the year, as there are moments I plan on returning to, but right now, I'm feeling more pleasant about the album listening experience than I'm emotionally moved by its content.
Oh and the Dave Chapelle intro, yeah ThankU, I'll pass.
Favorite Tracks: 86Sentra, KeepHer, WhereIGo, Daydreaming, FromHere, Battlefield, OutTheWay, SheUsed, MoreOfIt, WalkOnBy
Least Fav: ThankU
EDIT: Nah this shit is smooth as hell, what am I thinking. Doy!! All kidding aside, this is one of the most emotional projects Anderson .Paak has crafted in his life and it’s coming from a place not from the love and success he's seen, but from the pain and depression that makes these lyrics almost feel like cries for help. It's a cathartic listen if you get into the nitty-gritty of the content, specifically the stuff he mentions during and post his diveorce, the album's central theme. I don't think I've heard him sound more hopeless on a project thus far. But beyond the content, as a whole, the performances on top of lush and nostalgic sample-heavy production from Knxledge make this album well worth the wait. It won't hit you with the immediacy of Silk Sonic or even Malibu, but it grows on you with even more intricacies to pick up on repeated listens. So yeah...issa vibe, and a cathartic one. Richly textured and deeply emotive throughout.
7.5/10
