Drake’s new album, “Views,” comes after a huge week in the music industry.
Last weekend, Beyonce launched her already culturally defining visual album, “LEMONADE,” cultivating a flurry of think pieces on fidelity and the role of black women in society. The two albums are similar as they both deal with issues of loyalty and love. Maybe it’s bad timing, but “Views” has less impact when hearing Beyonce’s approach compared to Drake’s.
The rapper may offer an introspective on struggling to find love when living such a lavish lifestyle, but it’s difficult to sympathize with at some points in the album. There’s nothing wrong with Drake lamenting on his failed relationships and trust issues, but it feels like well-tread ground. He continues to encapsulate his sad-face internet meme persona while keeping the egotistical raps calling out his critics and competitors. Nevertheless, Drake brings powerful beats and enough swagger with each song to elevate his music above simple whininess.
In an interview with Beat 1’s Zane Lowe leading up to the release of “Views,” Drake said that “the album is based around the change of the seasons in our city. Winter to summer and back to winter again.”
The album is structured as the passing of seasons, starting with the cold and distant “Keep the Family Close.” Though hurt and bruised, Drake heats up throughout the track list with songs like “Hype” and “Still Here.”
The strongest songs are when Drake pulls himself out of his self-pity and brings a greater self awareness to the music. While you can skip slow and shallow tracks like “Redemption,” definitely seek out more insightful collaborations with PARTYNEXTDOOR (“With You”) and, of course, Rihanna (“Too Good”). Future, Drake’s co-headliner for their upcoming Summer Sixteen Tour, features on “Grammys” but doesn’t make much of an impact compared to Drake’s particularly strong verses in the song.
Despite the epic 82 minute runtime of the 20-track album, Drake finds wonderful consistency in the music. Songs ebb and flow smoothly, but rightly never stand out as possible big radio hits unlike his previous album, “Nothing Was the Same.” Drake’s latest, however, finishes much stronger with the soaring, penultimate “Views,” perfectly wrapping up the previous hour-plus experience with thoughts on his journey to success, tackling morals, and facing disloyalty among the music industry. The only song that feels out of place is the final one, the poppy hit single “Hotline Bling,” which feels tacked on simply because it was a hit. Once “Views” goes silent, however, it won’t be difficult to hit replay.
The new album is available exclusively to purchase on iTunes and stream on Apple Music.
