ALBUM REVIEW
By Juan Benn Jr. Andre 3000 plays the flute on the cover of his new album, Blue New Sun. Image courtesy of Pitchfork.
For nearly two decades, André 3000’s contributions to the music scene have mostly been confined to a few guest features here and there, and a few viral clips of the Atlanta rap icon toting around his flute in public.
After listening to the album’s eight tracks, one wonders, where exactly in the world did the wind blow André 3000?
Fans were shocked to learn André would be releasing a new album – his first in 17 years – and even more surprised to learn that he’d be delivering an experimental, jazzy, electronic flute album instead of a longanticipated rap project. Not a single word is spoken on “New Blue Sun.” The album’s song titles are probably the only source of lyrical expression from André. The opening track titled, “I swear, I Really Wanted to Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time” aptly sets the tone for the listener’s journey upon hitting play.
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Photo by Renell Medrano/GQ