NEWS4U SEPTEMBER 2022 | MUSIC REVIEWS
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SEPTEMBER MUSIC REVIEWS BEYONCÉ Renaissance Parkwood Entertainment/ Columbia Records Queen Bee is infusing her BeyHive with golden honey once again. Her seventh studio album is her first solo release since her surprise Lemonade drop in 2016. Her latest is the start to a new trilogy, and if this is twilight, I’m already hyped for new moon. She has come under some heat though, removing an interpolation of Kelis' “Milkshake" from the Pharrell-produced “Energy.” This was not the only song she had to tweak on the album. She also had to take out the word “spaz” from her song “Heated” after getting called out for using ableist language. She made both changes with grace and I’ll pardon her royal highness. Especially considering the rest of her album is layered like honey with Afrobeats, ballroom, funk, disco, pop, house, hip-hop and R&B. It's a dance party that gets you buzzing without a drop of liquor. Lead single “Break My Soul” is an anthem that gives you the confidence to stand up for yourself and go after what you want. Listen to all 16 tracks and you won’t have just lived through a renaissance, you’ll be ready to start a revolution - Marisa Patwa
CHECK THESE OUT HONEST THESE HONEST REVIEWS OF SOME REVIEWS OF SOME OF THE HOTTEST OF THE HOTTEST NEW ALBUMS IN NEW ALBUMS IN MUSIC MUSIC!
CALVIN HARRIS Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2 Columbia Records Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2 is a follow-up to Calvin Harris’ 2017 release. The Scottish DJ and record producer is back bringing all of the house vibes set to get you dancing and grooving. Harris is talented with beats but it's the talent he enlists to rap or sing that truly elevates his songs. Dua Lipa’s biting and fun vocals on “Potion” are so addictive, it’s hard not to feel spellbound after a listen or two with lyrics like, “In the whip on a Tuesday night, got the music high/ And you by my side, side/ Top down and the moon is high and the mood is right/And you're by my side, side, yeah (ah, ah)." Pharrell Williams, Halsey and Justin Timberlake pull off the triple-threat on “Stay With Me” that gives you goosebumps and good vibes. Other features include Busta Ryhmes, Snoop Dogg, Swae Lee, Offset, Pusha T, Charlie Puth, 21 Savage, Normani, Latto, Tinashe, and Chlöe. The boogie, soul and electro-funk vibes of the album will have you taking a psychedelic trip. But with the highs comes the lows - most strongly felt after the collective realization Harris would not be as good as he is if it wasn’t for the superstars he surrounds himself with. - Marisa Patwa
LIZZO Special Nice Life/Atlantic Records
THE SCORPIONS Rock Believer Vertigo Berlin
Lizzo is gifting us with the self-love, body
Rock Believer is the Scorpions’ 19th
positivity and empowerment we all need
studio album, and their first new music
again with her fourth studio album. While
in seven years. I have to admit, I wasn’t
Lizzo takes the heat and shows us she’s
excited to pick it up (hence the 6-month
got the sauce in a recent Hot Ones episode, she surprisingly tells host
delay in reviewing it). Once a cutting-edge hard rock band in the
Sean Evans she didn’t even plan to have lead single “About Damn Time”
70s-80s, the Scorps slipped into redundancy in the 90s-2000s.
on the album. Let’s all thank her for including the song that sparked
Even the title Rock Believer feels cheesy and unimaginative.
thousands of TikTok videos of people lip-synching along to the feel-
The first few tracks seemed to confirm my apathy, with titles like
good, tongue-twisting banger. Her tracks radiate kindness and love for
“Gas in the Tank” and “Roots in my Boots” - nothing remarkable
her fans. But just like Queen Bee, Lizzo, too, came under fire for using
there. But I persisted, and I’m glad I did. Why they would bury
the word “spaz” in her song “Grrrls.” She also instantly removed it after
the best tracks in the middle of the record is baffling, but what a
getting negative feedback from the disabled community. Her voice
pleasant surprise! “Shining of your Soul” is brilliantly reminiscent
is just as big as her heart. A few knockouts include “(2 Be Loved) Am
of something off 1979’s “Lovedrive,” with a catchy hook and
I Ready?,” “Naked,” “Breakup Twice” and “Birthday Girl.” There's not a
reggae rhythms. “Seventh Son” hearkens back to “The Zoo,” and
single feature on the album, either, and to be honest, she just doesn't
“Hot and Cold” shows that despite their age the Scorps can still
need it. Why mess with perfection? - Marisa Patwa
54 | SEPTEMBER 2022
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rock with the best- Matt Alschbach