~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

D’Angelo, Black Messiah | Album Review

Grammy-winning, neo-soul standout D’Angelo reenergizes R&B on his triumphant, long-awaited comeback album, 'Black Messiah.'

Takeaways: J. Cole, ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive’

J. Cole surprised everyone by dropping his third album, '2014 Forest Hills Drive' with short notice. Here are five takeaways after listening to the album.

Takeaways from Mary J. Blige’s, ‘The London Sessions’

Maybe it took Mary J. Blige “a whole damn year” to heal from heartache, but 'The London Sessions' is an album listenable beyond that short span of time.

Rick Ross Aims Shallowly On ‘Hood Billionaire’

Rick Ross' 2nd album of 2014 ('Hood Billionaire') is shallow thematically. A conceptual effort, his approach at contrasting the past is mildly successful.

Chrisette Michele, The Lyricists’ Opus (EP) | Album Review 💿

R&B diva Chrisette Michele sounds as if she was free to deliver the kind of project that she wanted to on EP 'The Lyricists’ Opus'.

Big K.R.I.T., Cadillactica | Album Review

With his major-label sophomore album, Cadillactica, Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. constructs an album that goes above and beyond the expectations.

Five Takeaways from Nick Jonas’ ‘Nick Jonas’

Nick Jonas is now a grown man, and 'Nick Jonas' reflects his newfound male hood. Here are five takeaways from the album for your reading pleasure!

Aretha Franklin Is Enthusiastic, Flawed On ‘Great Diva Classics’

Aretha Franklin may be the queen, but even musical royalty falls short sometimes. 'Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics' is a perfect example.

Stevie Nicks, 24 Karat Gold – Songs from the Vault | Album Review

Consistent and enjoyable throughout, Stevie Nicks reminds everyone why she’s such a revered musician on '24 Karat Gold.'

U2 Lack Vintage Magic on ‘Songs of Innocence’ 

All in all, 'Songs of Innocence' is a good U2 album, but not a truly, great U2 album. It has its worthwhile moments nonetheless.

~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

Saint Levant, FaceTime | Track Review 🎵

Versatile rapper Saint Levant, who incorporates his diverse background into his music, delivers cool energy on his ‘dedicated’ first bop of 2023, “FaceTime.”

Omar Apollo, 3 Boys | Track Review 🎵

On his alluring first single of 2023, “3 Boys,” versatile singer/songwriter Omar Apollo tackles monogamy, polyamory, and unrequited love simultaneously.

Whitney Houston, Testimony | Track Review 🎵

Ahead of the posthumous gospel compilation, I Go To The Rock, the estate of Whitney Houston unveils the previously unreleased, “Testimony.”

Lizzo, Special (Remix) | Track Review 🎵

Grammy-winning pop sensation Lizzo taps Grammy-winning R&B standout SZA for a fabulous remix of her uplifting anthem, “Special.”

Jessie Ware, Pearls | Track Review 🎵

Soulful English pop artist Jessie Ware shines once again on “Pearls,” the second single from her fifth studio album, That! Feels Good!

Depeche Mode, Ghosts Again | Track Review 🎵

Following the loss of Fletch, Depeche Mode makes a stellar return in 2023 with “Ghost Again,” the promo single from their first LP in six years (Memento Mori).

Jake Shears, Too Much Music | Track Review 🎵

Jake Shears kicks off his sophomore album, Last Man Dancing, with a surefire, infectious bang with single, “Too Much Music.”

Smokey Robinson, If We Don’t Have Each Other | Track Review 🎵

Motown legend Smokey Robinson makes a strong return with “If We Don’t Have Each Other,” the promo single from his 2023 LP, Gasms.

Anne-Marie, SAD B!TCH | Track Review 🎵

For UK pop singer Anne-Marie, she’s throwing her sadness out the door on the short but enjoyable, fun single, “SAD B!TCH.”

GloRilla, Internet Trolls | Track Review 🎵

Grammy-nominated Memphis rapper GloRilla cries foul about those “Internet Trolls” on her first solo single of 2023.

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