Soundbox Reviews

Music Single Review: "Yours" By Conan Gray 1 Boombox " We have heard these chords before with this same progression and this same melody." Single from album  “Superache”  Released:  May 19, 2022 Length:  3:26 Genre:  Pop   Written by:  Conan Gray and Dan Nigro   Produced by:  Conan Gray and Dan Nigro        Oh! How disappointing! Although  Conan Gray 's " Yours" introduction -- the piano -- is melancholic, it doesn't move the listener. We have heard these chords before with this same progression and this same melody. And sadly for  Conan Gray , we have heard this type of song before -- too many times by different artists. "I want more..." Same! Yes, the vocals are loud, bold, and clear, but still, "I want more..." The piano is dull; the lyrics are trite. The mastering and productions -- and I'm sure the artist's fame -- is enough to render this track a good one, but I'm afraid I have to disagree. As the listen...

Music Single Review: "N95" By Kendrick Lamar 5 Boomboxes "Kendrick Lamar is far from a prophet, however. He's a poet, and this is where his separation from most rappers commences." Single from album  “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers”  Released:  May 13, 2022 Length:  3:41 Genre:  Hip Hop Conscious Hip hop Written by: Kendrick Duckworth , Sam Dew, Matthew Samuels, Mark Spears, Jahaan Sweet, Hykeem Carter Produced by:  Boi-1da, Sounwave, Sweet, Baby Keem      It is five years later, but Kendrick Lamar is back! And with fire straight from Prometheus' hands! If one thing can be taken from listening to Kendrick Lamar 's 2022 album "Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers," particularly "N95," it is that patience is a virtue and a blessing. "N95" seems to be the epitome and culmination of Kendrick's hard work over the years, from "Good Kid, Madd City" to "Damn!" The track reminds listeners through one of his f...

Music Single Review: "Insecure" By Roy Woods 5 Boomboxes " But the instant one decides to check out from listening to this track, the beat drops, and as they say, it made all the difference.  " Single from album “Insecure”  Released:  May 6, 2022 Length: 3:41 Genre:  R&B Soul Written by:  Roy Woods Produced by:  Roy Woods, Ovo Sounds      Never write off a track by listening only to the first few seconds. Roy Woods ' "Insecure" has a hackneyed introduction: the audience has heard these guitar progressions and the whining, over-auto-toned vocals before. But the instant one decides to check out from listening to this track, the beat drops, and as they say, it made all the difference. "Insecure" is about women, but the artist took the audiences' expectations -- "oh! We've heard this love song before" -- and used it as bait to reel in its listeners.       A second longer with the introduction and the track would h...