This is the 4th studio LP from Los Angeles, California singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist & video producer Louis Cole. Known for being 1/2 of KNOWER with Genevieve Artadi, he would eventually make his eponymous solo debut in 2010 & followed it up with the sophomore effort Album 2 preceding Flying Lotus signing him to Brainfeeder Records distributed by Ninja Tune. His debut for the label Time has become the most celebrated entry of his individual discography & Quality Over Opinion looks to raise the stakes.
After the spoken word title track, the 4th & final single “Dead Inside Shuffle”combines funktronica & synth-funk with sophisti-pop singing about feeling content hearing nothing calling his name whereas the 3rd single “Not Needed Anymore” goes for a more indie folk vibe describing the feeling of alienation. “Shallow Laughter” works in some strings singing about hearing the echoes of this person who’s no longer in his life while “Bitches” comes through with this jazz-rock intermission.
“Message” feels like a cross between Earth, Wind & Fire alongside 1234-era Clown Core continuing to pen more depressive lyricism that’ll cut you up leading into the minimalistic “Failing in a Cool Way” singing about taking Ls yet making himself look good doing it somehow someway. “Disappear” turns the folkier elements back up acknowledging that many don’t value what they have until it’s lost just before “I’m Tight” blends synth-funk, funktronica & neo-soul to sing about the result of doing something different with his music.
To end the 1st half, “True Love” goes for a mellower approach explaining what genuine affection is from his perspective while “Planet X” gets the other leg going with a poppy yet funky ballad he wrote to coincide with Grand Theft Auto V’s Cayo Perico Heist DLC asking to name the uninhabited world after him. After the “Let Me Snack” interlude, “Forgetting” throws it back to his earlier material for a couple minutes losing track of where he’s been while “Park Your Car on My Face” brings back the funk getting sexual topically.
“Don’t Care” by KNOWER embraces the funkiness even more singing that nothing’s meant to stay while “Laughing in Her Sleep” tenderly describes what Louis considers to be his favorite mystery. After the “Outer Moat Behavior” interlude, “When” combines some synths & guitars singing about thinking of an ex-girlfriend of his while “Let It Happen” ahead of the “Little Piano Thing” outro ends with an art pop, dream pop, ambient pop, progressive pop, alternative R&B & neo-soul lead single.
Desiring to make the most powerful representation of who he is as an artist, Quality Over Opinion surpasses Time to become Louis Cole’s magnum opus & one of the greatest releases under the Brainfeeder catalog this decade. His production eclectically draws inspiration from synth-funk, art pop, funktronica, synthpop, jazz-funk, jazz pop, neo-soul, chamber pop, jazzstep, dream pop, ambient, alternative R&B, neo-soul, indie folk & sophisti-pop for over an hour of witty songwriting.
Score: 4/5
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