Today Travie’s long awaited solo album has come out titled Lazarus. I’ve been waiting for months for this LP and it’s fantastic! I’d been downloading his singles one by one as they came out and after hearing the full album today I was very pleased. Travie has a lot of potential and I’m really hoping I can still see him this Saturday along with Cobra Starship and 3OH!3 at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park NJ.
Let’s start the album off with its opening song ‘Dr. Feel Good’. It sets a fun tone for the album with Cee-Lo singing the chorus as Travie spits his rhymes. As I closed my eyes and listened to this track I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed with the rest of the songs.
The singles ‘Superbad’ ‘Need You’ ‘We’ll Be Alright’ and ‘Billionaire’ are Amazing, especially Superbad with it’s Linkin Park meets Gym Class Heroes sound and it really makes you want to be motivated! Need You is particularly important to the album because it describes Travie’s moving on from his last relationship showing that he needs time to become who he truly is again. I like these two tracks in particular because they show off Travie’s singing abilities and vocal range! I had no idea he could sing and it was really refreshing!
Also notable on the album were his catchy songs like ‘After Midnight’ with it’s rock and almost r&b sound. I fell in love with this track because it was easy to bop my head to.
The Manual with T-Pain and Young Cash is a classic r&b and rap song, with T-Pain’s autotuned vocals alongside Travie’s rapping. Another T-Pain appearance is made on ‘Ms. Tattoo Girl’ where it’s along the same vein and I could easily hear this among others on this album on the radio.
Akidagain uses that children’s choir to give it a more wholesome feel, many songs uses these choirs to rocket to the charts and become famous. This rap track has an easy flow to it, making it a chill song to listen to.
Which leaves Critical (feat. Tim William) and Don’t Pretend (feat. Colin Munroe) these tracks vary from each other, Critical expressing Travie’s need to break out of his funk and Don’t Pretend bringing the sound back down to mellow with it’s R&b, soul sound to it.
These tracks were done out of order but I loved each one! I can’t wait to throw this album into the Jag and drive into the sunset…or rush hour track on 287 South heading to RU.
Don’t forget to check out Travie’s LAZARUS especially Superbad, Need You, After Midnight and Dr. Feel Good! Really the album shiners!
xo
Tomorrow I’m going to give ‘Take A Vacation’ by The Young Veins a listen, it’s out today btw!