I agree with this but at the same time the dude responds to being a meme so he's definitely seen the reviews, probably feels a way about them. I'd like to see his response but he'd be a fool if he did.
I think my enjoyment of this is comparable to IYRTITL. That one was too unfocused for me, this one is too long, but I still enjoy a lot of material from both.
IYRT and WAT both weren't great either but they felt more like mixtapes and not proper releases so it wasn't as disappointing. But after all the hype and build up and waiting for this album it was just a huge letdown. It's grown on me a little but it's still not great.
I think it's comparable to Lil Wayne in a way. People may not like mixtapes and releases between TCIII and TCIV but his standing in their eyes wasn't affected until TCIV. I think people are viewing everything between NWTS and Views the same way.
I mean I think Wayne's quality legitimately dropped and people got on him for that. The backlash against Drake that I've been seeing seems to come from a lot of the seeds planted back during some of the ugly arguments on AP regarding him riding culture etc. It's interesting to see it boiling up to the surface again.
That makes sense. My opinion has been more based on not liking the songs much but I guess it gives myself a jaded view that everyone else who dislikes it just dislikes the songs or is let down. That's an entirely different reason I hadn't even thought of and makes me feel like I should pay attention to more public discussion on it, just to see what's really going on.
the critical consensus has been shifting for a long time now - you can see it in the way writers tweet about him: and write about him: Op-Ed: I'm Breaking Up With Drake | Pitchfork there's a number of reasons why, but i think it metastasized and ballooned with the meek beef, coupled with him drawing direct comparisons to future on WATTBA immediately after. it began earlier though, look at the placement of NWTS on EOTY lists vs. TC...like a twenty position drop on pitchforks (not to rely solely on the fork here, they're just the easiest and most prominent pub)
yup. regardless of the merits of some of the arguments, the tides been shifting for a minute if youve been paying attention, and i think this album has been more or less fairly rated across the board. it didnt do enough to reverse the growing new consensus
I'm having a really tough time reconciling what I wanted this album to be with what I got. I realize that's my fault, but oh well. (I mean fuck it oh well... my past behind me like a ponytail.)
Feel No Ways is great, it kind of sucks that its receiving the reviews it is though. I was really hoping Drake could pull out all the stops and become a real force in the creativity in hip hop right now but it doesnt look like its going to happen. I have the same hopes for Bieber but again I dont think its going to happen either. Edit - I think With You is really great too.
At least they have something in common: channeling the angst of pop punk into hip-hop/r&b for people who don't actually like either.
As I'm reading more reviews and critiques of this album it seems like a lot of people have no idea what they want from Drake
I find this album definitely too long, but as someone that never really liked a whole lot Drake in the past, I actually have found myself coming back to this more than I thought i would over the past week. It's got this nice groove to it. It's not great, it's kinda just there, but I find myself enjoying it like I did The Weeknd last year — it's a pretty good late night catchy album.
I think the thing that bothers me most about this album is that there isn't anything on here that he hasn't done better elsewhere, sans some of the more "danceable tracks" e.g. Controlla and One Dance. Someone else posted this sentiment too so s/o them IYRTITL did the "entertaining shit talk" tracks better, and his more introspective tracks were done more tastefully on "Take Care". There are a few moments that stick out (e.g. The switch up on "U With Me", the sunnier sounding moments) etc), but he's having a much harder time overshadowing the "musical negging" (as Dom pointed out) element of his writing.
I feel this. This is definitely not as good as NWTS or Take Care, but my favorite tracks have been shifting, which is a good sign. I've actually been coming back to this a lot and don't find it nearly as overly long as others, but then again, I'm usually working on something while I'm listening. Overall, I just find this to be the equally enjoyable, murkier answer to IYRTITL. People hating on "Keep The Family Close" have me smdh though
Keep The Family Close probably my least favorite. Especially considering his track record for opening tracks it was even more disappointing. Feels really cheesy and clumsy.
rolled my eyes the first time i heard him say "all my lets just be friends are friends i dont have anymore." like cmon.
I'm hoping the record grows on me but since the problem I have with it is lyrical, not sonic, I dunno. I like a few tracks a lot but I never really want to put this album on and listen to it. He's never come off this grating to me before. But maybe I'll get over that.