Alex Warren – “Wildchild” review

Alex Warren is a 25 year old singer/songwriter, YouTuber & influencer from Carlsbad, California known for co-founding the Hype House collective of TikTokers. He eventually signed to with Atlantic Records in 2022 & wouldn’t drop his double full-length studio debut You’ll Be Alright, Kid until last summer. One of the most unpleasant listening experiences I had the previous year despite the hit single “Ordinary” embodying what the Billboard charts have become, so him coming back 13 months later for a sophomore effort until the beginning of fall next month unsurprisingly doesn’t raise my expectations or had me expecting a whole lot outta it.

“Emerald Eyes” experiments with disco to kick things off singing about hopes of this woman never letting him go whereas “Same Stars” hooks up some pianos asking “How the same stars over my head are the same stars from the night that you left?”. The 3rd single “Passenger” falls flat at a pop rock, dance-pop & new wave cut describing the feeling of helplessness in a 1-sided relationship just before the final single “Rescuer” blends alt-pop & folk pop thanking this female for pulling him out of an emotional darkness.

We get hints of gospel on “Cry Wolf” singing about a fire igniting in his veins whenever he hears someone mentioning an ex-girlfriend who wound up hurting him while the 2nd single “Fine Place to Die” depicts the apocalypse mixing adult contemporary & pop soul. After the “Are You Having Fun, Alex?” skit, “I Miss You More” sings about an individual in his life who’s been away for some time & pondering the idea of fathering a girl while “Only Thing Left” assures his partner they’re out of fight instead of love.

“Fever Dream” weakly fuses pop rock, pop soul & stomp & holler for a lead single inspired by his wife while “Won’t Go Back Again” emphasizes the stomp & holler elements singing about being done with setting himself on fire for the sole purpose of keeping others up. “Last Time” has somewhat of an Americana flare to it wishing he would’ve sooner realized he’d see this person for the very last time & the title track ends Wildchild singing about not letting this cruel world take our light away.

In a way, I can actually commend Alex Warren for experimenting a lot more throughout his 2nd album than his debut did regardless of me liking it no better or worse than what he dropped 13 months earlier. The adult contemporary, pop rock, dance-pop, stomp & holler, new wave, disco, gospel, alt-pop & folk pop production’s somehow more uninteresting than You’ll Be Alright, Kid & the songwriting still doesn’t do much of captivating me despite him trying to turn up the intimacy in his music.

Score: 1/5

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Queen Herawin – “D.O.T.O.M. (Death Of The Old Me)” review

This is the 3rd studio LP from Bronx, New York emcee Queen Herawin. A member of the Juggaknots, she eventually went on to drop an EP The Space Between Things following her debut Metamorphosis & appeared on Vinnie Paz’ 5th album as above so below only a month away from the world changing forever because of the pandemic. Coming off the sophomore effort Awaken the Sleeping Giant distributed by Coalmine Records however, P.A. Dre’s being brought in to soundtrack D.O.T.O.M. (Death Of The Old Me).

After the “Into the Water” intro, “Diver” featuring Helixx C. Armageddon spends the opening 7 minutes talking about the time of alchemizing the void finally arriving whereas “Torch” featuring Breeze Brewin’ embraces a cloudy boom bap vibe instrumentally so both of them can discuss the responsibilities of the rap game not being ready to passed down yet. “Lucid Dream” blends a flute with kicks & snares asking what it really means to be alive while “Daydreaming” mellowly reflects back upon a place she used to know.

“Big O” featuring Tef Poe brings some rock undertones in the picture telling a hood romance story leading into the guitar-woven “Fever” passionately singing about 2 souls who yearn to be closer to each other. “Criminal” asks if she’s lying to herself from an opportunity of shifting towards something bigger just before “Sage” featuring Bernadette Price ends the 1st half having both ladies over a trap beat suggests sitting back & watching shit get crazy when the negative energy’s cleared.

After the “Soft” interlude, “Full Throttle” featuring King Jnus finds the pair getting the 2nd leg going hopping over a soulful trap instrumental depicting a couple nobody can fuck with while “Manifesto” featuring Ruste Juxx returns to the boom bap so they can lay out their policy statements on wax. “Together” featuring Rhymefest was unexpected considering the latter’s lack of musical activity in recent memory although I appreciated both of them talking about their immortality combined.

Unlearn the World appears on “Cook” talking about plucking the feathers outta every single one of these culture vultures prior to roasting them at the cookout while “Burn” featuring Nejma Nefertiti ruggedly speaks of having money to light on fire, which is why they even came in the first place. The closing track “Phoenix” spends the remaining minutes of D.O.T.O.M. (Death Of The Old Me) telling her late mother she doesn’t have to fight anymore.

Awaken the Sleeping Giant faced all the emotions that she had turned a blind eye to & in contrast, D.O.T.O.M. (Death Of The Old Me) embraces a new era of Queen Herawin’s career with what I consider my favorite full-length of the 3 she’s given us in a decade spotlighting this new version of herself. There’s most consistency within P.A. Dre’s production than the predecessor tackling themes of release, renewal, transformation & the beauty that can emerge in the space between letting go & becoming.

Score: 4/5

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Majid Jordan – “2 Roads” review

Toronto, Ontario, Canada alternative R&B duo Majid Jordan consisting of singer Majid Al Maskati & producer Jordan Ullman are back for their 5th studio LP. Forming in 2011, it wasn’t until a couple years later when 40 signed them to OVO Sound & was featured on their mentor Drake’s hit single “Hold On, We’re Going Home”. Their 2nd extended play A Place Like This stood tall as the best project in their catalog until their previous full-length Good People dropped in the fall of 2023, finding them stuck between 2 Roads hours after former 2-time TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champion Maggie Lee became the inaugural TNA Knockouts Television Champion in Brampton.

“Have I Gone Too Far?” made for a cloudy alternative R&B intro singing about a woman giving Majid a broken heart in exchange for more than love whereas “Cold” blends PBR&B with synthpop demanding an answer regarding why he feels so alone. “Strangers” moodily sings about a couple being newcomers to each other in an alternate universe “Rich Man” expresses the desire of living in a crazy world & being in this woman’s arms makes him feel wealthy.

Continuing from there, “Rather Be with You” sings about wanting to cancel his plans & become a better man with his soulmate by his side just before “See You Again” goes for a more standard alternative R&B vibe promising to do anything to see this woman smiling again. “Dream” sings about only wanting what’s best for him & his lover leading into “Best Behaviour” featuring Clementine Douglas kicking off the 2nd half with a duet depicting a couple surrounding each other.

“Things Just Feel Better” maintains an atmospheric tone singing about everything improving around Majid when his partner’s around him while “The Reason” dabbles with trap soul letting this female know she’s exactly why he popped out for the evening. “Look What You’ve Done” confronts a girl who he believes is the cause of making him lose his entire sense of self while “Island Time” sings about making love in the evening like it’s all they know although I was disappointed at Naomi Sharon doing background vocals instead of having a verse.

The song “Every Last Bit of My Love” pens an open letter to someone he’s missing more & more by the day sending her all the affection he has in his might to make her feel like he’s there with her while “Thank You” sings about the gratitude he has for this person cherishing him, realizing this relationship was eternally meant to be. The harmoniously stripped-back title track ends 2 Roads assuring the limits you can bear & how to persevere will be learned sooner rather than later.

If Good People was the album Majid Jordan needed to rival the extended play they put out prior to being signed, then 2 Roads returns to the averageness that has defined a great bulk of the material they’ve made since joining the OVO roster over a decade earlier. Jordan Ullman’s production incorporates secondary influences of synthpop along with new jack swing & soft rock into the pairing’s signature alternative R&B sound with Majid Al Maskati either relishing in infatuation or wallowing in heartache.

Score: 3/5

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Sera Cahoone – “I’ve Missed You All These Years” review

Sera Cahoone is a 51 year old singer/songwriter from Littleton, Colorado who introduced herself 2 decades ago with an eponymous full-length studio debut. She has since been signed to Sub Pop Records, who dropped the sophomore effort Only as the Day is Long & Deer Creek Canyon to wide praise. Last time we heard from her was in 2017 when From Where I Started came out under her own label Lady Muleskinner Records. Almost a decade later & she’s returning to Sub Pop to distribute her 5th studio LP.

“High & Low” kicks things off with an Americana opener singing about a relationship that feels like a rollercoaster the way it’s constantly going up & down whereas “Say Something” combines an electric guitar with some pianos admitting she hasn’t been herself in 2026 although she would very much to try. “No One Like You” goes for a singer/songwriter vibe depicts a couple sticking together through the roughest times while “Not How I Hoped” sings about the disappointment that comes with relationships.

Meanwhile on “Horse Runnin’”, we have Sera expressions her infatuation over someone she met going for a more contemporary country direction instrumentally just before “Pulling Up Roots” reminiscent of the late Loretta Lynn sings about overcoming all the bullshit life throws at you. “Supposed to Be” comes to terms with the past taking more inspiration from singer/songwriter leading into “Hits Right” singing about the relatable feeling of being out of place amongst a group of people going Americana.

“Tangled Nights” continues the remaining moments of this album’s final act yearning for intimacy over a guitar, bass, Hammond organ & accordion while “I’m No Fool” sings about feeling uncertain towards her partner spending a few minutes getting back in her Americana for the last time. The closing track “Something Good” wraps up I’ve Missed You All These Years with this 3 & a half minute singer/songwriter outro describing an unexpected love that brings fulfillment in her life.

A lot has happened to Sera Cahoone since From Where I Started whether it be the deaths of her best friend alongside her father & dog to developing her skills as a producer, coming back to Sub Pop after feeling like an impostor during her initial tenure for the label reintroducing fans to the truest version of herself artistically. Her production solidly combines elements of blues, folk, pop, Americana, alt-country & singer/songwriter to help the world find comfort in community & rediscovering ourselves by connecting with the people we love in the midst of the storm clearing.

Score: 3.5/5

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Prince – “Timeless” review

Prince was a 57 year old singer/songwriter, musician, producer, dancer, actor & filmmaker from Minneapolis, Minnesota known for pioneering the Minneapolis sound. Dirty Mind, 1999, the soundtrack to his theatrical debut Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day & Sign “☮︎” the Times under Warner Records would all become some of the 80’s most celebrated material although The Gold Experience through his own label NPG Records can certainly hang with them. This spring marked a whole decade already since his passing & his estate has dug up his 2nd posthumous solo LP albeit the 42nd in his deeply massive discography succeeding Welcome 2 America.

“I Am You” opens up with this soulfully funky intro interestingly dating back to the For You sessions pleading for his lover to stay whereas “Heaven” comes through with an Around the World in a Day outtake singing about the pearly gates coming to Earth itself. “I Wonder” was recorded around the same time as the soundtrack to Batman & the soundtrack to Graffiti Bridge respectively pondering if this woman really knows how much he loves her while “With This Tear” covers the Céline Dion track of the same name.

Kicking off the 2nd half, “Stone” keeps it funky asking who can say why he & this woman are cold with nothing left just before “Calabama” predates the n•e•w•s sessions for a disco/pop rap crossover having all the ladies clapping their hands. “The Guilty Ones” embraces a funk rock direction singing about winning people over without having to say a single word while “Bestest Friend” sends off Timeless addressing someone he once considered an extremely close ally, proclaiming every painter needs a muse.

Timeless retains the same lasting power Welcome 2 America had showcasing the extraordinary consistency, curiosity & creative ambition that defined Prince’s work throughout his life tracing his remarkable artistic evolution across nearly 4 decades from his teenage prodigy days to one of his last recorded performances. Neither Piano & a Microphone 1983 or Originals count as posthumous albums since both of those were comprised of demos, but this 2nd rare opportunity of hearing previously unheard chapters of his creative journey makes you miss him more varying between pop rock, contemporary R&B, funk rock, synth funk, dance-pop & none other than the Minneapolis sound.

Score: 3.5/5

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Abi & Alan – “Before the World Blows” review

Abi & Alan are a superduo consisting of Dallas, Texas singer/songwriter, producer, DJ & actress Erykah Badualongside Beverly Hills, California producer, DJ & emcee The Alchemist. One of whom because the Queen of Neo-Soul off Baduizm & Mama’s Gun while the other is one of my top 10 producers of all-time. They haven’t worked directly with one another until now, but Badu’s independent debut following Control Freaq Records’ new distribution deal with Young Recordings coming in the form of their full-length studio debut was a more than welcoming celebration of her freedom from Motown Records.

“Echos” begins with a powerful ode to black resilience over this hypnotic instrumental backing her whereas “I Just Play a Part” featuring Creole Princess continues the atmospheric soundscapes so both of them can discuss being who others wish they were. “Crossfade” gives off a smoky neo-soul vibe singing for this guy to no longer seek love from her just before the 2nd single “Witch Doctor” blends neo-soul with psychedelic soul, progressive soul, tribal ambient & bend-skin to portray herself as a natural healer.

D.R.A.M. appears on “Valentine” describing a woman who’s attracted to a fuckboy in disguise until the lead single “Next 2 U” samples “The Realest” by Mobb Deep featuring Kool G Rap which a lot of people hated even though I didn’t seem to care because Uncle Al produced that too. “Love Me Not” lusciously comes through asking her partner if their relationship was a game to him while “Breezy” reaches the halfway point describing a lady who enjoys parting by herself.

“To the Moon / Plan C” featuring Steve Lacy after the “Abracadabra” interlude kicks off the 2nd leg with an astonishing 2-parter finding 2 lovers settling down since life will always come by quickly while “They Ain’t You” pretty much sings about sticking out amongst the other fish in the sea. “What the People Say (Apostle 1)” hops over a colorful boom bap beat dismissing whatever opinions others hold regarding her while “Hot BiBi (Apostle 2)” picks up where the previous track left off raising the pitch of her voice for a couple minutes.

Westside Gunn pops out during “No I.D.” shouting out the Chicago veteran himself, his mentee Ye formerly known as Kanye West, Pharrell, the late J Dilla, DJ Premier & Dr. Dre in case neither of them can get a hold of Uncle Al while “I Know That Man” by Earl Sweatshirt talks about desiring to be seen as good in the eyes of that which created us. “Black Box” sends off up Before the World Blows with this jazzy closer taking a spoken word approach in terms of delivery.

Originally announced last summer, Abi & Alan finally make up for the delays their debut suffered because of their initial distribution deal with EMPIRE falling apart uniting 2 of the greatest in their friends for the first time ever making some of the most potent R&B music of 2026. Alchemist’s production fuses neo-soul, hip hop, conscious hip hop, psychedelic soul, progressive soul, tribal ambient & bend-skin contemplating which parts of ourselves & our stories are worth protecting Before the World Blows.

Score: 4.5/5

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Lancey Foux – “The Time of Our Lives” review

Lancey Foux is a 30 year old rapper, singer/songwriter, producer, model & designer from Stratford, London, England, United Kingdom who made his full-length debut Pink back in 2015. He has since dropped 6 more full-lengths along with 5 mixtapes & an EP, with both Friend or Foux & Life in Hell each being singled out as his most widely celebrated material. However now that he’s signed to RCA Records, I had a good feeling his 8th studio LP & major label debut would be a huge milestone for him.

“Reap What You Sow” begins talking about the fast life feeling slow to him as well as being out of control & being soulless whereas the rage-inducing “Seeing to It” discusses his wealth. “To the Money” featuring Finessekid finds the pair poppin’ out to see if the women they’re romantically involved with truly love them or not leading into “Lingo Bingo” treads the hypertrap waters once again talking about keeping 1 in the hat for him & holdin’ a check for him.

Bugz Ronin & Skaiwater cook up one of my favorite instrumentals on the album with “Who Do You Love?” talking about being the one this female wants while “Change Your Mind” talks about having the ability of making a chick reconsider riding for him until the wheels fall off since she can’t take her eyes off him. “Naked on a Yacht” takes the plugg route speaking of having a girl & her friend in their birthday suits on a boat while “All My Girls” talks about every single one of his hoes doing the most for him.

“Rockstar Rider” hops over a self-produced rage/jerk beat playin’ it cool whilst stacking up money once again while “All the Time” comes through with a celebratory 2-parter because he’s always catching Ws & betting this baddie she won’t wait for the sun to come up. “Wait for the Sun (Sugar)” appropriately continues from there asking his partner why she has to leave while “I Don’t Wanna Know” kicks off the 2nd leg deciding he has no interest in hearing lies.

As for “Miss the Night”, we have Lancey confessing of thinking about an ex accepting he’s been so lost ever since the breakup along with figuring out where they went wrong while “Body” combines pop rap & alternative R&B with synth-funk talking about a woman he can’t stop dealing with. The energizing “Tell ‘Em Who It Is” proclaims himself “Mr. Never Miss” for a boss bitch he takes charge for while “Therapist” talks about not needing therapy because he’s in the mirror with the truth.

“When It Rains It Pours” admits he had to learn the game the hard way & being a made man while “Trying My Best” talks about attempting to find himself again when he feels dead inside. “Everything Works Out” assures all problems will eventually sort itself out when they’re all sidelined & after “A Whole Lot” talks about everything he has going for him, the outro “Porsche Poet” sends off The Time of Our Lives sampling “Soul Mates” by Q.T. Hush featuring the late Teena Marie planning this out from the get go.

Sometimes whenever an artist signs to a major label, they end up not seeing the same success of being independent because their entire style gets watered down but thankfully The Time of Our Lives simultaneously stays true to who Lancey Foux has always been & steps out of his comfort zone more than he has in the past. The captivatingly creative trap, pop rap, rage & alternative R&B production explores some new sounds & the songwriting’s some of his most honest, detailing his lived experiences & asking whether or not his 20s were enjoyable.

Score: 3.5/5

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Mike D – “Thank You” review

Mike D is a 60 year old MC, musician, songwriter & producer from Manhattan, New York who blew up back in the 80s as 1/3 of the Beastie Boys alongside Ad-Rock & of course the late MCA. They would go on to drop 8 consistently praised full-lengths together preceding their disbandment towards the conclusion of my freshman year of high school following MCA’s death. Nobody in the group has ever put out any solo material until this point, so for Mike to recording a full-length studio debut under Capitol Records peaked my curiosity.

“Switch Up” combines breakbeat, experimental hip hop & experimental rock for a lead single talking about changing things every now & then whereas “What We Got” goes for a more standard east coast hip hop vibe speaking of self-doubt & having a backup plan once he retires from music. “True Colors” fuses breakbeat & neo-psychedelia for a reflection of when the Beastie Boys were younger just before “That’s Right” embraced an electro vibe talking about receiving confused looks regardless of what he does.

Continuing from there with “Secrets”, we have Mike D coming through with a 2-parter with a danceable opening & a lyrically repetitive counterpart revealing little to no secrets whatsoever leading into “I Don’t Care” taking a swampier approach instrumentally talking about being the guy to count on. “Make It Stop” speaks of our worlds being filled with drama because of everyone having their own traumatic experiences while the 4th & final single “Crypto” satirically pokes fun at greed.

“Here We Are” wraps up the final moments of Thank You talking about being lost in the dark looking for the door while “Back to Start” strips things back singing not to pass go if one’s looking to return to where they began. “It’s Time” talks about there being so much shit he wants to do despite all these things he needs to complete & the title track spends the remaining moments of Mike’s solo debut looking back at his youthful days 1 last time.

If anyone’s expecting Thank You to sound anything like what the Beastie Boys have done as a trio, then you’re probably not gonna get a kick outta this album so much but I applaud Mike D for trying something different with the help of his sons. The breakbeat, experimental hip hop, electronic dance music, experimental rock, neo-psychedelia, indietronica, electro & swamp rock production paired with his vulnerable lyrics feels like a bridge between the gap that was left when MCA passed & this new creative direction he’s following.

Score: 3.5/5

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DJ Dahi – “Black Boy (Alternative)” review

DJ Dahi is a 43 year old DJ, producer & singer/songwriter from Inglewood, California who’s worked with likes of Dom Kennedy as well as Dr. Dre & Vince Staples to only name a few. He was also signed to ARTium Recordings in tandem with Def Jam Recordings for a period of time but over a decade into the game already, he felt like now was the time to make his independent solo debut bringing an interesting list of hip hop & R&B guests on board to perform over his beats catered to those styles.

“Who’re You?” by Channel Tres & Vince Staples mellowly encourages everyone to wake up & get serious about the lives we’re livin’ now whereas “Find Me” by Mez & Moses Sumney finds the pair linking up for a neo-soul single singing of getting stuck in the middle. “How to Pray” by Kendrick Lamar keeps the laidback vibes rollin’ responding to a bar Drake had on “Plot Twist” a little over 3 months ago while “Running” by Childish Gambino combines contemporary R&B, neo-soul, jazz fusion & psychedelic soul for an ode to Dahi’s heritage.

Obongjayar takes the microphone for “Love Me” singing for his partner to be gentle, easy & careful with him because we all eventually fall just before “They Don’t Know Me” by Mez has a repetitive kickoff preceding a beat switch & a verse reflecting on life & the pain he’s experienced to wrap up the midway point. “The Night” by Kurtis Wells sings about the latter’s preparation for the evening to kick off the 2nd half of Black Boy (Alternative) until the lead single“Rest of Your Life” assuring Dahi’s partner to take her time falling in love.

“Stand for Something” by Ant Clemons, Baby Rose & Jesse Boykins III finds the trio teaming up to sing of upholding a set of principles while the 4th & final single “Square Up” by Fousheé cautions the world will fuck you up with an uppercut if one’s searching for trouble they’re bound to find. “Drowning” by Elmiene & Ravyn Lenae finishes up Black Boy (Alternative) with a neo-soul duet about raising a child without care & sell the world a lie without fear.

Becoming a fan of his as a teenager, DJ Dahi created Black Boy (Alternative) as a love letter to his younger self obsessed with rock along with soul & West African music prior to knowing any of that would result in what he’s doing today after spending so much time pouring himself into everyone else’s visions. Fusing rock’s grittiness & soul’s heart with West African rhythms for 40 minutes, the extraordinaire gives the world a more honest yet playful look at the kind of music he grew up on & one that paves the way for an exciting solo career.

Score: 3.5/5

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Everlast – “Embers to Ashes” review

Everlast is a 57 year old rapper, singer/songwriter, & producer from Los Angeles, California by way of Long Island, New York who originally came up in the early 90s as the frontman of House of Pain & a founding member of La Coka Nostra. He would eventually go on to drop 8 solo efforts, with the Tommy Boy Records-backed sophomore effort Whitey Ford Sings the Blues being my personal favorite of the bunch. I was however excited to learn the Martyr Inc. Records founder 9th solo LP & first in a decade would be fully produced by Yelawolf.

“Losing Man’s Game” kicks things off with an Americana intro asking himself why he can’t walk away from this game he keeps playing where he never wins whereas “Never Coming Home” sings about being on the run over a country rock beat. “Mistaken Identity” takes a more somber approach instrumentally finding himself all alone in the streets of Los Angeles just before “My Hollywood” sings about being fed up with the small town life over some acoustics.

Meanwhile on “Broken Heart for Hire”, we have Whitey Ford detailing a kind of love that doesn’t work like it used to leading into “Stones” singing about the self-awareness of being fed up with & acknowledging it by claiming he’s sick of himself also. “Out of Your Way” kinda has this singer/songwriter flare to it putting us inside the shoes of a single, simple, lonely man who maintains a heart of gold & a broken soul while “Lies” sings about tightly holding his lover until the break of dawn.

“Rubber Bullets” gets the 2nd half of Embers to Ashes going making a country-flavored comparison between kinetic impact projectiles & real ammunition while the country rock-tinged “Every Dog Has It’s Day” sings about riding off in the sun because he was born to lose. “Ain’t Coming Home Tonight” finds himself callin’ a woman he argued with at 4 in the morning only for her to send him to voicemail while “Love Don’t Heal” sings about his heart being unfixable & trying to do so would be a waste of time.

The title track recalls going from champagne & crystal glasses to drinking cheap whiskey out of plastic while “1987” looks back at the times when nothing else mattered nearly 4 decades earlier going to house parties broke as fuck. “Happy it’s Can Cry” sings about every dark night meeting its dawn & after protecting his “Peace of Mind” instead of buying some time selling his soul, the outro “Young Man” ends Embers to Ashes singing of living this fast life getting old.

A large portion of Everlast’s material since the turn of the millennium already has either been average at best or underwhelming at worst, so Embers to Ashes seemed like it had all the right reasons of becoming his finest late-career statement & it’s certainly a comeback that makes the absolute most sense. Yelawolf’s production bases itself around Americana & bluesy roots-rock for passionate tales of glory grasped & lost, the sudden swerves that change a life’s trajectory & hard-earned wisdom & warnings. Listen to this instead of Stella Lefty’s awful debut Long Way Push.

Score: 4/5

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