New Music with Nick: “SOS” by SZA

Welcome to “New Music with Nick.” On this column, I will likely be reviewing among the most notable new album releases throughout numerous genres, specializing in hip-hop, R&B and pop music. Be a part of me in exploring the ever-shifting panorama of the streaming period. 

SZA: “SOS” (Dec. 9, 2022)

The final couple of years of R&B and hip-hop music have felt like one long-awaited return after one other, and that’s partially because of High Dawg Leisure’s (TDE) Isaiah Rashad and Kendrick Lamar returning after important hiatuses with long-awaited albums. It’s virtually anticipated at this level that TDE artist releases will likely be separated by at the very least 5 or 6 years. For higher or worse, SZA has now match exactly into this pattern. 

SZA lastly returned with “SOS” after precisely 5 and a half years. Her final compilation, the trendy basic and universally acclaimed “Ctrl,” ascended her into superstardom; the anticipation for her follow-up has been rising since. Though it’s debatably unfair to match her latest undertaking to her magnum opus from half a decade in the past, that’s naturally what was going to occur upon launch.

In the end, “SOS” will not be what it might have been as an album, but it surely nonetheless is an effective compilation. SZA’s generational expertise is the last word security internet that an artist can have, and it helps to save lots of this album and make it redeemable. She is likely one of the most proficient figures within the final decade of R&B music, and her potential has clearly been on show for a decade now. 2017’s “Ctrl,” 2014’s “Z” and 2013’s “S” all proved that each facet of her artistry is within the higher echelon of her style. Though there are nonetheless vivid spots and nice moments on her latest launch, it lacks the general focus, concision, cohesiveness and high quality that everyone knows SZA is able to.

“SOS” is a nice assortment of random throwaways. Sadly, I can’t give it far more credit score than that as an album. Let me be clear: it is a good assortment. The big majority of the music is fulfilling. Nonetheless, it doesn’t circulation collectively in addition to it might. It doesn’t have the identical stage of highly effective and shifting moments as her earlier initiatives. 

It’s exhausting for me to imagine that there was a lot thought put into deciding and ordering the ultimate tracklist. It feels like there might be about 5 separate EPs (that would every be extra cohesive with time and structuring) all scattered haphazardly all through the tracklist. With an expansive 23 tracks and numerous sounds, kinds and themes, it’s simply not straightforward to hear from entrance to again. Rapidly, the album loses its imaginative and prescient, struggling to seek out its means because it goes all over sonically.

Regardless of my points with the size, construction and lack of course, sure different facets actually excelled.

Specifically, there have been some daring sonic decisions that had been very properly executed. “Forgiveless” and “Smoking on my Ex Pack” see uncommon instances of SZA rapping, and he or she delivers on the highest stage. The previous incorporates a pattern of Ol’ Soiled Bastard and options the R&B famous person delivering bars of a high quality and tempo uncharacteristic of her. The latter let her shine with lyrical show, this time flowing over an exquisite soul pattern. A Phoebe Bridgers function was a reasonably unusual addition to see previous to the album’s launch, however “Ghost within the Machine” seems to be probably the greatest songs. Even “F2F,” the teenager pop punk-rock music, really seems to be pretty enjoyable and fulfilling. 

Just a few decisions didn’t fairly pan out. “Discover Me” and “Immodest” attempt to deliver some enjoyable excessive vitality, however after a few listens, they lose any sense of pleasure and really feel so flat and misplaced. A handful of tracks felt like pure filler; “Too Late” and “Far” come to thoughts.

I hate to match it to “Ctrl,” however “SOS” is simply lacking among the key components that made that album so particular. “Ctrl” is so listenable from entrance to again due to its considerate construction and focus. SZA’s imaginative and prescient by no means falters, and each music is pieced along with such nice thought and care. That album shows versatility whereas additionally sustaining cohesion — a stellar instance of gorgeous modern R&B. 

“SOS” is unfortunately the alternative in lots of of those regards. Regardless of a big break between releases, it nonetheless feels extremely rushed. It nearly looks as if its major objective is to filter her vault of unreleased music slightly than placing out a real, targeted album. SZA has been public about her frustrations with labels and with the music trade, and it appears like this resentment may need misguided her to simply throw out all of her unreleased music to cease followers from begging and to cease her label points.

Her annoyances with the trade and along with her label are completely comprehensible. TDE might have performed a a lot better job rolling out this album and timing its launch correctly. SZA has spoken publicly a number of occasions about her wishes to launch music that was rejected or delayed by her label. 

The hiatus acquired so lengthy and there was a lot repeated false hope that followers appeared to lose loads of their preliminary pleasure for the undertaking because the years went alongside. It appears at occasions just like the TDE executives had been extra targeted on arguing with SZA followers on Twitter than they had been on serving to SZA craft a wonderful album. 

It will likely be simply satisfactory for passive listeners and informal followers. The Billboard charts definitely replicate this, with “SOS” holding the primary spot on the highest albums charts for 4 straight weeks now (a uncommon feat in R&B). It seemingly gained’t fulfill the SZA superfans or the alt-fans who declare “Z” is her finest undertaking, however that’s okay. It can nonetheless be a profitable and memorable album.

The album gained’t maintain almost the extent of replay worth or legendary standing of “Ctrl” and that’s okay — it was nearly to be anticipated. Nevertheless, I did assume that after 5 and a half years we’d get a undertaking that felt much less rushed and extra rigorously constructed. SZA nonetheless stays one of the crucial proficient and noteworthy artists in all of recent R&B, and I hope that that is removed from the tip of her musical profession.

Favourite Songs: “Ghost within the Machine,” “Smoking on my Ex Pack,” “Forgiveless,” “Good Days,” “Kill Invoice,” “Shirt,” “Open Arms,” “Gone Woman,” “SOS,” “Blind”

Album Rating: 77/100

Try this Spotify Playlist and prefer it to take a look at a few of my favourite songs of 2022.

Editor’s Observe: This text is a evaluate and consists of subjective opinions, ideas and critiques.