location

there's no universe where this flawless run of songs is on a bad album lol

Music giving big Playboy Carti x trippie redd rage type beat anime mv vibes, wouldnt call that refining the sound really

Music is better. WLR just doesn’t sound that good anymore, there’s nothing I want to return to on there

Yea

S/T poorly aging talk when WLR exists 🤔

neither is very cohesive but at least music feels like it's drawing from many sources rather than 3 scrapped projects

Music better as a whole, WLR has better highs

MUSIC feels unsure of itself. There are a few stand out and truly forward thinking tracks that have a unique identity, but there are even more tracks that are either un-finished, poorly structured, or lean heavily on past aesthetics/trends. This is the first Carti album that feels limited by its contemporary influences. It's not all bad though. There are plenty tracks that perfectly capture Carti's eccentric, style-forward appeal, and knack for beat selection. Namely songs like, OPM BABI, OLYMPIAN, and SOUTH ATLANTA BABY highlight Carti's masterful curation abilities. On the flip side, songs like DIS 1 GOT IT, WE ALL NEED DA VIBES, and even RATHER LIE see Carti embracing his newfound popularity and responding by making less challenging pop-rap tracks. MUSIC feels like Carti is still trying to "figure out" his position, ironically, in the music industry. He's always been an alternative artist, but MUSIC contains some of his most generic commercially-viable material to date. There are many moments on MUSIC where it feels like Carti sacrificed his artistic vision for the prospect of commercial success and global appeal, similar to the likes of a Travis Scott or Post Malone. For every forward thinking and well thought out track, there's an equal amount of pandering and redundant tracks that undermine any authenticity this album was aiming for. On a positive note, I do like the early 2000's mixtape aesthetic that Carti was aiming for, even if it is just an empty homage to a bygone era. To achieve this aesthetic, each track is filled to the brim with incessant producer tags, a gratuitous use of sound effects, and amateur mixing. This creative decision, in my opinion, imbues MUSIC with a great deal of character and paired with it's mostly industrial sound, allows MUSIC to have a singular-identity. That said, it's hard to tell if the poor-mixing was strictly an artistic decision, or just the result of poorly handled production.

• Either way, I'm feeling a light-to-decent 6 on MUSIC... aaand traan-SITION

Unlike MUSIC, WLR is a confident display of individuality. Starting at track-1, this project commands the listener's attention, establishes a unique musical identity, and refuses to compromise throughout its runtime. The statement being made is so abrasively-clear, rebelliously-unique, and confidently-separatist, you can't help but have some kind of visceral reaction to the material. As WLR may not be Carti's best album (that would be Die Lit) it's a project where we see him at his most self-aware, making music that both challenges and feeds his fans. Songs like "JumpOutTheHouse," amplify the unique qualities that make-up Carti's appeal, almost to the point of self-inflicted parody. JOTH, Vamp Anthem, and even Punk Monk, triple-down on the classic "Carti Quirkiness" that listeners become accustom to, and see him playing up the persona he's built in a playful, un-serious, but also tactful and intentional way. WLR is a moment in Sir Jordan Carter's career where it sounds as if the artist and the person are completely separate. This creates a space for "the artist" to play and experiment w/o consequence, allowing for songs that feel inspired, refreshing and memorable. This project is filled with highlights, such as Stop Breathing, New Tank, and Meh, which all went on to define a new era in Carti's career, but even the less exciting moments (King Vamp, Die 4 Guy, No Sl33p) illicit a level of respect and intrigue, if only to recognize how singular these ideas are, and how unapologetically they outline Carti's artistic thesis. Upon first listen you either love or hate this album, no in between, but as the years go on, it's clear that this project is one-of-a-kind, and will generally be looked back on favorably.

• I'm feeling a decent-to-strong 8 on WLR. Did you love it? Did you hate it? What would you rate it? You're the best, You're the best! What should I review next? uuuuhh Buh-BAM!!

That was my Anthony Fantano impression, how'd I do?

WLR
I can’t get with Carti’s Lil Yachty/Count Dracula voice so MUSIC is a miss for me.

The fact that I no longer live in the shadow of addiction might also make his music less appealing too me.

Yep, lol.

OG Kelly ….that was history, yall here me