The Roster is a series created by Aneesh Batchu. Each week, a tier list of the best, most average, and worst new releases is published alongside blistering hot takes. The best of the best receive a trophy, and the worst of the worst are tossed in the bin. First, Batchu tackles the latest singles. Then, the team comments on the most recent albums.
SINGLES…
Good
🏆 Malcolm Todd, Omar Apollo – “Bleed” is another hit from Todd, subverting and expanding audiences’ expectations of Apollo. Instead of the work falling into the classic feature pitfall of misusing a guest artist’s unique skillset, Todd highlights Apollo’s unique thematic tendencies and smoothly incorporates his guest’s vocals.
Johnny Venus, 6LACK – “So Beautiful” is exactly that. With Summer-esque light instrumentals underscoring a melodious piece, it highlights both Spillage Village artists’ vocalization styles.
Mid
Benson Boone – “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else” applies Boone’s classic storytelling approach. However, the result is a mediocre song that discusses failed romances (typical).
d4vd, Kali Uchis – “Crashing” is a unique collaborative ballad that majestically weaves together both artists’ styles. With a simplistic production style consisting of barebones percussion and synths, both artists’ voices are able to come to the forefront.
Halsey – “safeword” is incredibly different from the thematic and musical world of her recent album. Instead of the more retrospective and sonically tame prior works, this song is incredibly high-energy with its passionate electric guitars and uptempo percussion.
Lil Tjay – “Apex” is far from being a Tjay apex work. It’s a rinse and repeat song, complete with an archetypal piano-based percussive trap beat that backs his vocals. The song doesn’t add anything novel to Tjay’s discography.
Bad
🚮 Steve Aoki, Trippie Redd, Jessica Baio, KABU – “Radio” is where this generic upbeat pop song belongs. Though it is refreshing to hear Redd’s sound on a positive lyrical track, the song is incredibly stereotypical and boring.
Lizzo – “Love in Real Life” takes advantage of Lizzo’s belting abilities, but does not reach for much else. The song is a snoozefest. It’s chock-full of generic lyricism on the sadness of modern love, and it’s backed by an out-of-date guitar melody.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – “5 Night” defies the generic patterns seen in hip-hop with a unique song structure. However, it does so poorly and gives off an unpolished feel. Here’s another non-novel addition to his discography.
ALBUMS…
Mid
LISA – Alter Ego, an homage to the 2010s, is a smash hit. Unfortunately, it reads as intentionally corporate in its aim to cover all the bases of pop appeal, thus spreading itself thin. Though it boasts a wide range of star-studded features –– the high-energy Doja Cat feature, the trappier sound of Future –– the lack of stylistic consistency amongst them comes off as confusing.
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