Honestly, Nevermind is Drake’s 7th studio album, and one of his more ambitious albums to date. This project mixes elements of house, Afro-beats, and R&B, deviating from Drake’s typical pop-rap sound. Although the project has some great production, issues arise with Drake’s performance.
Most of the songs feel like Drake attempted them on his second or third try. The melodies are alright for the most part, but like most modern Drake albums, it sounds like he didn’t put in any effort. There are standout tracks like “Sticky,” “Massive,” and “Jimmy Cooks” (which isn’t even a house song), but at 52 minutes, the project suffers from too much bloat.
The beats are very well produced. Well-known house producer Black Coffee crafts a distinct and almost lo-fi atmosphere. The drums are simple, stripping down some elements of conventional house while also adding sparse synths and pianos to revolve around Drake’s performance. There are some goofy songs like “Currents,” which revolves around a sample of a bed squeaking.
This is an album that isn’t meant to be listened to by itself. If this came on in the car, in the club, or while I’m shopping, I wouldn’t mind. For a dance album, the only songs I felt like moving to were “Massive” and maybe “Sticky.” It’s baffling that a dance album with 14 songs only has one danceable song. Drake doesn’t know how to deliver over these beats to make them interesting. There’s no soul put into this project and it feels like he’s just trying to sell a record.
The lyrics feel weak, the delivery is lazy, and his voice sounds grainy and awkwardly mixed. Compared to other Drake projects, this is one of his worst. What makes Drake special is his mix of R&B and rap. When he’s at his peak ability, he’s writing clever lyrics and singing catchy choruses. Here, the only song he raps on is “Jimmy Cooks,” which is the best song on the album.
Overall, I didn’t have the worst listening experience with this, but it’s still not a good album. Drake puts his weaknesses on full display here. He’s not an exceptional singer, his lyricism feels mopey and stale, and his delivery feels lazy. The beats range from barebones and repetitive to upbeat, catchy, and engaging. The highs on this project aren’t high enough to return to, and the lows are so low that it’s ridiculous. This is the type of album you either go to sleep to, or hear playing at H&M.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆