~ Reviews 💿 ~

Reviews: The Musical Hype

Ah, welcome to the reviews on The Musical Hype! Albums, EPs, and songs [singles + tracks] of various styles are evaluated here – we don’t discriminate! All reviews are also available on the home page. Both album and song reviews are assigned a star rating on a scale of 0 – 5 (½ stars are used as well), that is visible at the beginning and ending of the review.

5 out of 5 stars = Masterpiece 🤩

4.5 out of 5 stars = Near Masterpiece 🤩

4 out of 5 stars = Excellent 😀

3.5 out of 5 stars = Very Good 😀

3 out of 5 stars = Average / Good 🙂 👌

2.5 out of 5 stars = Below Average… it’s giving sus  😏 😑 🫤

2 out of 5 stars = Mediocre 👎 😡

1.5 out of 5 stars, 1 out of 5 stars, 0.5 out of 5 stars, 0 out of 5 stars = BAD… 🤬


~ Album Reviews 💿 ~

Album reviews tend to follow a track-by-track format, commencing with an intro paragraph comprised of background information, and concluding paragraph that wraps things up. Also, GEMS 💎 – the best, highly recommended tracks – are selected at the end of each review. It should not come as a surprise to see the analysis run > 1000 words.


~ Check out the most recent posts ⬇️ in this hyperlinked gallery 😎 🤘 ~


~ Get your fix of album reviews in all their glory, starting from most recent to oldest 😎 🤘 ~

J. Cole Goes Deep and Personal on ‘4 Your Eyez Only’

J. Cole delivers a deep, meaningful, and personal effort on his fourth studio album, ‘4 Your Eyez Only.’ ‘4 Your Eyez Only’ has no guest features.

The Hamilton Mixtape | Album Review 💿

Lin-Manual Miranda and a star-studded cast strikes gold with ‘The Hamilton Mixtape,’ a compilation of covers, reinterpretations, and newbies.

Childish Gambino, “Awaken, My Love!” | Album Review

Donald Glover – aka Childish Gambino – trades rhymes for singing on his ambitious third studio album, “Awaken, My Love!”

John Legend Shines on ‘Darkness and Light’

John Legend delivers another captivating solo album with Darkness and Light. While his sound is tweaked, fundamentally he remains the same artist.

Retrospective Review: John Legend, Love in the Future (2013)

R&B singer-songwriter John Legend makes genuine love sound both respectable and desirable on his fourth solo album, ‘Love in the Future.’

Examining Lyrics: The Weeknd, ‘Starboy’

Canadian R&B standout The Weeknd Returns with ‘Starboy,’ an album filled with intriguing lyrics worth analyzing.

The Weeknd, Starboy | Album Review 💿

Canadian R&B standout The Weeknd returns with a massive, urban-pop effort ('Starboy') that offers something for a variety of listeners.

Ranking: Highly Suspect, The Boy Who Died Wolf

Highly Suspect remain edgy and unapologetic on their highly anticipated sophomore album, The Boy Who Died Wolf.

Highly Suspect, The Boy Who Died Wolf | Album Review

Grammy-nominated rock band Highly Suspect remains edgy and unapologetic on their highly-anticipated sophomore album, 'The Boy Who Died Wolf.'

A Tribe Called Quest Nails It On ‘We Got It from Here…’

A Tribe Called Quest returns for one last hurrah with ‘We Got It from Here…Thank You 4 Your Service.’ Q-Tip and company are on autopilot.

~ Song Reviews 🎵 ~

Song Reviews on the site tend to follow a format that includes an intro paragraph with background information, a body, comprised of at least one paragraph of analysis, and a concluding paragraph (older reviews) or statement (more recent reviews) that ‘put a cap’ on things. Song reviews generally run a minimum of 250 words with many running > 300 words.


~ Check out the most recent posts ⬇️ in this hyperlinked gallery 😎 🤘 ~


~ Get your fix of song reviews in all their glory, starting from most recent to oldest 😎 🤘 ~

Aaron Frazer, Bring You A Ring | Track Review 🎵

R&B singer/songwriter Aaron Frazer brings the heat with his cool, sophisticated energy on his single tailor made for couples, “Bring You A Ring.”

Tawnted, do the same for me | Track Review 🎵

Tawnted (Jonathan Armswood) continues to be prolific, releasing another fabulous single in the heartbroken, “do the same for me.”

The Chainsmokers, Summertime Friends | Track Review 🎵

On the respectable “Summertime Friends,” The Chainsmokers – specifically Drew Taggart – recalls the night he met his girlfriend.

The Rolling Stones, Angry | Track Review 🎵

The Rolling Stones deliver and enjoyable, well-rounded rock joint with “Angry,” the lead single from their 26th studio album, Hackney Diamonds.

Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion, Bongos | Track Review 🎵

Grammy winning rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion join forces once more for “Bongos,” another bold, raunchy, and unapologetic banger.

Måneskin, HONEY (ARE U COMING?) | Track Review 🎵

Popular Italian rock band Måneskin drop an enjoyable, energetic, and L-O-U-D single, “HONEY (ARE U COMING?)” post-RUSH!.

Nicki Minaj, Last Time I Saw You | Track Review 🎵

Nicki Minaj, often brash and unapologetic, shows her versatility singing and rapping emotionally on her single, “Last Time I Saw You.”

Doja Cat, Demons | Track Review 🎵

Grammy winner Doja Cat comes out swinging on her hard-nosed, malicious-sounding, unapologetic rap banger, “Demons.”

Brent Faiyaz, Moment Of Your Life | Track Review 🎵

Brent Faiyaz, with the help of the lovely and talented Coco Jones, delivers a fantastic R&B duet with “Moment of Your Life.”

Selena Gomez, Single Soon | Track Review 🎵

Selena Gomez returns with her first single of 2023, “Single Soon,” which is enjoyable enough but not groundbreaking or particularly innovative.

Also, you can check out reviews by category by clicking the buttons below ⬇️.