Every once and a while it seems, we end up seeing that one new girl come singing and dancing her way into the R&B seen. Out of nowhere at that. Some have managed to stay around for a few years. Others may have dropped one hit and haven't been heard from since. Let's hope it's option A for this young lady. Meet Tinashe. You're average 21 year old girl next door. Although we're all just being introduced to her, she actually been in the music game much longer than we think. She's dropped three mixtapes dating back to 2012. She also has done some acting starring in two movies and a TV sitcom. Well now the time has come for her official debut album. Aquarius. Of course, by her being a new artist, I haven't heard anything from her outside of her two radio songs. So like many debut albums, I went into listening to this not knowing what to really expect. I thought for the most part this was a solid debut album. She pretty much did what you supposed to do on a debut project. Give people a look into your life, tell them about yourself, who you are etc. It sticks to the script. What stood out the most was the outstanding production on 90% of this album. Well now here's the song break down (I'll be skipping the interludes and outro):
1. Aquarius
She begins the album with the perfect introductory song not only for this album but for her and who she is. It's a very soft a slow track with even more softer vocals from her. It gives of somewhat of a spacy and zoney feel like your in a dream state (majority of the songs on here do as well). She sounds a bit like a young Janet Jackson here. It's a perfect way to take you "into her world" as she says at the end. Nice intro.
2. Bet (featuring Devonte' Hynes)
I kinda like the vibe of this song. It's more of a darker soft love song that feels like your in dream land again. Sounds very experimental too with the mixture of sounds. I swear so many songs on here remind me of other singers. This reminded me a bit of late 90's Aaliyah, who I can tell from her style she's heavily influenced by. The guitar solo at the end by Devonte' Hynes was dope as well. Dope song overall.
3. Cold Sweat
So here we get a break from the soft dreamy stuff and go to something more uptempo. I like how it starts kinda slow then it picks up pace. A really cool beat done well by Boi-1da. Listening to the lyrics (which is very hard to make out due to her incredibly soft voice like she's whispering), it sounds like she's speaking on fake friends. How they wanna be around now all of the sudden now that she's getting a bit of fame. That and just the overall goods and bad that come with fame. Something plenty of artists can relate to I'm sure.
4. Nightfall (interlude)
5. 2 On (featuring Schoolboy Q)
I honestly liked this song from the first time I heard it on the radio. It's your typical R&B/hip hop/pop dance fusion done pretty well by the man of the year DJ Mustard. Almost sounds like something up Ciara's alley. But like every radio single, I grew tired of it after numerous radio plays. Still something to have fun and dance to when your out at your favorite spot.
6. How Many Times (featuring Future)
It seems like the production gets better and better as this album goes on. Much props to Jasper Cameron for putting together this dope uptempo R&B/hip hop fused beat. Sounds like here she's talking about getting it on multiple times in one night. Nice. This song was going good until the expected happened...Future. By far his worst guest verse of the year and he had plenty of them. I can even begin to describe the horrible half assed stutter rap he did on here. The the fact that he's talking sex too makes it so much more cringe worthy (I almost screamed at that "turn up in your mouth" line). I don't know what Tinashe was thinking allowing him to do this. Thank God this beat was as good as it was otherwise Future would have single handedly ruined this song.
7. What Is There To Lose (interlude)
8. Pretend (featuring A$AP Rocky)
This is the second single and a pretty damn good choice. It took a minute but I grew to like this. Once again, another awesome beat this time produced by Detail. I like the head nodding drum patterns. Dope. I even liked A$AP Rocky on here. His verse surprisingly wasn't bad at all. A huge sigh of relief following Future's horrific verse on the previous song. Great song and I believe a better single than "2 On".
9. All Hands On Deck
...and again, we have more dope production here. Stargate does this one and I love the calm and gentle sound of it. Yet it still a song to "turn up" to. It actually reminds me of Cassie's 2006 hit "Me & You" (except on the hook when it gets more faster). One thing I've notice is how extremely comfortable she is talking about men and sex and all of that. She's goes about it a bit differently than most girl singers. With much more attitude and confidence. It shows on this song and many others on this album. Anyway, this is a dope song. Love it.
10. Indigo Child (interlude)
11. Far Side Of The Moon
Now here she starts to get a little bit more serious with the relationship talk. She sings about being in this up and down relationship and has no idea where it's headed. Unsure if she should leave or work it out. Sounds like "it's complicated". Now this beat I thought was just an okay one. Wasn't bad but just wasn't as good as the others. Okay song overall.
12. The Calm (interlude)
13. Feels Like Vegas
Remember that confidence I spoke of? It shows more than ever here. She brings out more of her raunchy side as she sings about putting on a show in the bedroom for her man. It could be dancing for him, massaging him or just straight up sex. Just anything to make him feel good. She seems so kinky and feisty. Most girls at her age are nowadays. Roscoe Dash gives and assistance on the hook even though he's not credited on the album. This one may have to grow on me over time.
14. Thug Cry
Once again, I'm deceived by an album title. I thought this song would be something totally different. But nope. Apparently the dude she's involved with is a thug or thinks he's gangsta and she promises to make him cry...in the bedroom. At this point no she's just going extra hard about how she puts down in the bedroom. Although this could probably means making him cry just by loving and caring. Making him go from gangsta to soft. Depends on how you listen to it. Song was average at best to me.
15. Deep In The Night (interlude)
16. Bated Breath
Here is the albums slow ballad. Nothing special here. She again is confused about the relationship she in but sounds very emotional about it. More than she does on the other song. I didn't quite understand the song switch up in the middle to nothing but an instrumental. But it's a okay song. Something good to listen to at night before bedtime.
17. Wildfire
This album ends with her coming to the decision to move on from this guy. Calling him "poison running through her veins" and she's infected. Or broken hearted to be exact, and it will be a long time before she heals. The song has a very triumphant feel especially on the hook. Like one of those songs that play during the ending of a dramatic movie. Perfect way to end the album.
18. The Storm (outro)
Overall, as I mentioned, this as certainly a solid debut from Tinashe. Not great but definitely acceptable. She did everything that she was supposed to do and more. Production was definitely the stand out as it may have been the best production of any R&B album I've heard this year. I give it a final grade of a B. It's quite clear from listening to this that Tinashe lives up to her Aquarius zodiac sign. She's bold, she's very confident, smart and as you see, tons of sex appeal. She certainly has the traits to make it far in this business. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on her and looking forward to watching her evolve as an artist as well as her future projects. But right now, she's young and "turnt up". I'll just let her have fun for now. End.
Final Grade: B-
CREDITS
Executive Producers
Tinashe Kachingwe
Mike Nazarro
Lead Artist
Tinashe Kachingwe
Production
Brent Reynolds
Dacoury Natche
Devonte' Hynes
Matthew Samuels
Dijon McFarlane
Jon Redwine
Brendon Waters
Jasper Cameron
Noel Fischer
Mikkel Eriksen
Tor Erik Hermansen
Magnus Hoiberg
Osinachi Nwaneri
Michael Williams
Michel Heyaca
Nicholas Balding
Mark Kragen
Collaboration
Devonte' Hynes
Quincy Hanley
Nayvadius Wilburn
Rakim Myers
Label
RCA Records
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