Chloe x Halle, Ungodly Hour | Album Review 💿

Grammy-nominated R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle show incredible versatility on their fun, well-rounded sophomore album, Ungodly Hour.

Once upon a time, it seemed like R&B was ready to croak, or on its last leg. At least, that’s an assertion I’ve made a couple of times, particularly being a R&B enthusiast.  Sure, some of the big names aren’t the focal points anymore, and my beloved neo-soul has long been expired as a leading movement, but R&B actually seems to be on the up and up. A prime example is Grammy-nominated R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle, who have ample talent at their disposal. 

Their 2018 debut album, The Kids are Alright just sort of arrived with little buzz, sadly, but clearly, it showed the makings of two superstars.  Let’s just say that the sisters certainly won’t be underestimated or underrated on their excellent sophomore album, Ungodly Hour.  Here, they show off their incredible versatility and most of all, those celestial vocal harmonies.

“Forgive Me”

“Intro” sets the tone, with Chloe x Halle showcasing their knack for chilling vocal harmonies, simply on the lyric, “ooh.”  The most important lyrics – “Don’t ever ask for permission / Ask for forgiveness” – segue into the first-full length track, ✓ “Forgive Me.” “Forgive Me” extends upon the moody backdrop first established by the intro, produced by Sounwav and Jake One. The vocals are incredibly expressive, potent, and quite refined.  Even with the punch packed on the pre-chorus with a couple of bombs (“You must got me fucked up”), the ladies still retain some finesse.  While the bombs raise eyebrows, the biggest bomb dropped on “Forgive Me” is the chorus, which rocks – in a R&B sort of way, of course.

After the brief but thrilling “Forgiveness,” Chloe x Halle keep the momentum going strong on “Baby Girl.” The crowning achievement, unsurprisingly, are their stellar voices, specifically those harmonies. Harmony is a key component of R&B, but there’s something about hearing a duo or group harmonize with one another, sigh.  Besides the vocals, the production is excellent, courtesy of Chloe Bailey!  The sound is idiomatic of modern R&B, with its bright, rich pads and synths leading the charge.

Swagger is evident throughout Ungodly Hour, with ✓ “Do It” serving as another perfect example of it in full effect. There’s clearly a formula for Chloe x Halle, yet they don’t manage to sound formulaic per se.  The vocals remain elite, characterized by the articulation, diction, and overall nuance.  The chorus, expectedly, marks the best, most memorable section of the song.  It’s not deep, yet, like so much of contemporary R&B and mainstream pop, it’s all about the ‘vibe.’ The sister duo definitely has that working in their favor, without a hitch.

“Tipsy” 

Never belaboring throughout Ungodly Hour, “Tipsy” marks another brief yet highly effective record.  The vocals are breathy, light, and quite pleasant.  Even though there’s an angelic quality when it comes to vocal tone, neither Chloe nor Halle are innocent.  That’s right! The lyrics are a bit edgy, with the ladies threatening their respective boys at various times.  Among my favorite lyrics: “You’re strumming on my heartstrings, don’t be dumb / If you love your little life, then don’t fuck up.” Safe to say, Chloe x Halle aren’t kids anymore – they are young adults.

✓ “Ungodly Hour,” the title track, arrives as the sixth track.  The longest song on the album, it is the sole record that surpasses four minutes in length.  I guess the ladies have more to say over the sleek backdrop produced by Disclosure.  Expectedly, the results yielded are certainly glorious, perfectly attuned to such youthful, yet highly skilled pipes. Disclosure always ‘gets it done’ blending electronic, pop, and R&B seamlessly (Remember the Mary J. Blige bop, “Right Now” from The London Sessions?). Like everything else on Ungodly Hour, the chorus is absolutely golden.

“It’s four o’clock / You sendin’ me too many pictures of your… (Oh).” Yep, that’s those filthy, horn-dog boys for ya! Anyways, one of my personal favorite songs follows the title track, ✓ “Busy Boy.” Ungodly Hour has no shortage of bops, but “Busy Boy” is chief amongst them! The production by NASRI and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman is fresh, yet also hearkens back to, well, contemporary R&B of old.  Chloe x Halle really bring the attitude and sassiness, without having to force things in the least.  The harmonies are sweet, the chorus infectious, and the vibe – LIT (AF).

“Catch Up”

The big collaboration of Ungodly Hour arrives on “Catch Up” where Swae Lee comes onboard as a co-lead artist.  Also, joining the trio of musicians is Mike WiLL Made-It, who produces alongside Pluss and Royal Z.  As expected, the results are positive, with solid chemistry between Swae, Chloe, and Halle.  “Catch Up” checks off all of the boxes – pop crossover sensibility, incredible groove, sweet vocals, and a catchy chorus.  As enjoyable as it is, I don’t think it necessarily surpasses “Ungodly Hour” or “Busy Boy.”

After being “Overwhelmed,” briefly, Chloe x Halle opt for uplifting vibes on “Lonely.” Light yet hella potent, it’s hard not to relate to the loneliness which the girls speak, yet also feel totally empowered to ‘stay up.’ Scott Storch, once a god among producers, definitely helps to set up the girls for another surefire BOP.

Then, my friends, comes one of the very, very best: ✓ “Don’t Make It Harder on Me.” This song right here – da bomb diggety.  Another NASRI and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman production, they do a superb job of capturing throwback vibes – like classic soul throwback.  The bass line, the soulful, rhythmic guitar, the strings, plus those Chloe x Halle harmonies – incredible! You can debate whether the pre-chorus or chorus is the best section.  You can never go wrong with throwback soul, vocal harmonies, or matters of the heart.

“Wonder What She Thinks of Me”

✓ “Wonder What She Thinks of Me” naturally had a tough act to follow – “Don’t Make It Harder on Me” is just that good.  Regardless, “Wonder What She Thinks of Me” ends up being a formidable record in its own right.  A gorgeous ballad, it’s another opportunity for those high-flying vocals to shine, not to mention the harmonies.  Also, with Chloe x Halle serving as producers, it’s quite impressive what they construct here.  The harmonic progression has some nice unexpected quirks, which help keep the record from being predictable.

After two ballads, it’s not surprising Chloe x Halle give us a club cut with “ROYL.”  Perhaps “ROYL” isn’t as deep as the two songs that precede it, but it’s definitely fun and – wait for it – a VIBE.  Hey, they sound pretty comfortable on a trap cut!

Final Thoughts

Ungodly Hour is an enjoyable, well-rounded album by Chloe x Halle, no questions asked.  The duo shows off their immense talents, showcasing incredible versatility throughout the course of this 37-minute affair.  No, the wheel has not been reinvented, but it didn’t need to be.  There’s just something so refreshing about these young ladies, whether it’s how tight their chemistry is, the vocal harmonies, or just the VIBES they give off.  I definitely love the fact that they took a step further into their maturity as young adults compared to The Kids are Alright (2018), where, they were definitely still kids.  Ungodly Hour gets my seal of approval.

✓ Gems: “Forgive Me,” “Do It,” “Ungodly Hour,” “Busy Boy,” “Don’t Make It Harder on Me” & “Wonder What She Thinks of Me”

Chloe x Halle • Ungodly Hour • Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia • Release: 6.12.20

Photo Credits: Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia