Skip Through Reviews 7/31/26

Welcome to the first post in a series that will be happening. For now, we’re calling it “Skip Through Reviews”. I am going to be digging through all the new releases each week and giving quick initial thoughts of each album that I listen to. The idea is that with so much new music coming out, who has the time to look through it all… I guess I might.

Nah but I am thinking about pushing for full reviews of all albums that I judge 8 or higher. We’ll see though. If the album gets that high of a score, I am going to look into purchasing physical copies of them, but as I am finding, that may not be possible. We’ll see what happens with that!

Regardless, until then, I hope y’all enjoy my wild stream of thoughts as I skipped through these new albums for this week.

Ariana Grande – Petal

Overall, pretty hyped about this album. Love the instrumentals. Beats are bangin. Definatly wanting to buy the CD. She does this like echoed singing throughout the album that I really like. Love that after “Warning Signs”, she sorta just starts throwin shots at these guys.

I really like “Stay and Bad Thing”.

8/10

Odeal – For A Good Time…

Yooo, solid R&B joint. Like some early-mid 2000s type shit. Really love to hear it. Gotta check out more from this guy fr. There is a sec that he gets a little more tempo in the middle of the album, but I really like the slower joints on here.

Really diggin “Bluey Vitton”, “After The Club”, and “Trying Things”.

8.5/10

Too $hort – SIR TOO $HORT, VOL. 2 (DRINK & SMOKE)

One of the BIGGEST OGs in the game. Short is still on here spittin the same fly shit that he has for YEARS. Love to hear it. Tired of seeing Tyga’s name pop up on peoples albums tho, bummer he was on the track with 40.. Love the timeless collaborations of Short of Lil Jon tho, never missing. Saweetie has a dope verse on That’s My Bih. SUGA FREEEEE never not ready for this man to spit some isms, just feel like the beat was a lil slow for what I was looking for. Over all, nothing really stood out to me on this tape. Too slow for me.

5/10

Jacquees – Mood 2

Never really listened to Jacquees, this might be the first album I’ve listened to all the way through. “Physical” is a coo lil track, mostly cause I like Tink’s verse. “I Can Do Anything” is a Kodak Black song, and not a good one haha. I am having a weird feeling, like the instrumentals just dont sound right. Idk what it is. They just dont feel like they have as much life in them as I’d want in my R&B. “Lick Back” has a nice bounce to it, Juvenile was a solid choice on a feature for this type of track. I think I just dont like Jacquees’s voice, idk haha Just a lil naisily, and whatever effects he throws over his singing just isnt doin it for me. I think a good example is the song “Stretch You Out”, Ty Dolla $ign carries that track, sound SOO much better and it isnt even his song.

No songs made the cut haha

3/10

Dave East, Harry Froud – Price of Pain

Once again, an artist that I’ve never really checked out. I’ve heard a could dope Dave East versus, but never really when out of my way to peep. Love the sound tho. These beats and samples just like sooth my soul. Yooo AZ on “Hot Peas & Butter” sounds amazing. The man is flowin like he is fresh in the industry, but with the finesse of a vet. The beat on “Alley Oop” is sooo good. Heat. And Styles P has a great verse. “Stay With Me”, also is a heater of an instrumental. Lowkey feelin like this is a tape carried by Harry Froud’s production.

5/10

1.3shawtyworld – MR.FTO

Idk what to call him, I’ll say 1.3 to save myself some typing. The opening song and title track of this tape, shows 1.3 just gassing the track, and I like the early 2000s ATL type vibe I got from the beat. He’s got quite a bit of energy, cant deny that haha Only song I can MILDLY recommend is “Crank That Bih”.

3/10

Walk Off the Earth – Wood & Fire

The initial guitar strum confused me. Without context, I wasn’t sure what was going on. It’s a cover album. I guess it’s meant to be like folky versions of these songs? Sounds like a band that would play at a local brewery. I’m sitting outside in the blistering sun and listening to a folk rendition of “Killing Me Softly”, while it is quite literally killing me softly.

0/10 would not recommend. 

BBYKOBE – P***Y PINK

Now whooooo is this?? Starts off strong as hellll. “PINK!” Is a banger off rip. “Down Low” is also dope. Nice lil bounce to it. BBYKOBE is giving me a Don Toliver vibe. Half way through the album, “Ex-Girl” shows a super heavy R&B side of BBYKOBE, and I’m here for it, almost some PND shit. “U MISS ME?” Is a banguh.

This tape is cool. First time I’m hearing of BBYKOBE, gotta peep some more.

8/10

BRANNY – Highs and lows

Why is the “lows” now capitalized? This shit was a big skip. Sad, white boy, drug rap. Not my vibe really. 

0/10

Guzz – 不可抗力

Okay, so I guess this guy is and producer based in Bejing. Off rip, love the cover. This album is some funky instrumental/vocal techno shit. Not usually my cup of tea, but imma work my way through this. Track 2 has some wild sounding instruments in it, like he is just grabbing stuff around the house and making the wildest noises. Very spacey. The layers of sounds throughout this tape is super dope, like it’s a full experience. Track 5 is supe dope. I can see like a Smino or someone play around with an instrumental like this, might be dope to use as a tool for something.

Over-all a fun tape to listen to, idk about running it back, but if your into aliens or something, this might be the album for you.

6/10

Lil Uzi Vert – Maverick “Almost Forever” EP

UZI?? Didn’t even see that he dropped anything. Let’s see what this is about… Sometimes Uzi sings like the drop is coming, then we are disappointed by the beat. Idk, I just didnt hear anything that blew me away on this. Feels just unexciting. 

Only song I really like is “Go !”

3.5/10

Isaiah Falls – LVRS PARADISE (SIDE B)

Off rip, I love the warmth of this tape. Has such a satisfying energy in the first few tracks. I really like that on “PLAY YA CARDS” he doesn’t sacrifice his sound with the 03 Greedo feature, track still has that warm, vibey R&B tone. Really enjoyed “BACK IN MY ARMS”. “HONEYBUTTER”!!! Such a vibey songgggg. This song makes me want a silk button down.

Dope album, really enjoyed this. Recommending “HONEYBUTTER”, and “ANYWHERE WITH YOU”.

8/10

The Body – Master, We Perish (Expanded)

Ooo, first taste of Metal for the day. I’m here for it. Let’s see..

Off rip, love the cover art. Can I start by saying thank GAWD for the lyrics being available, my ears aren’t set up for this genre yet. Track 2, “The Blessed Lay Down and Writhe in Agony” is a very gritty experience that I actually quite enjoyed. I will say that the screaming is a little crazy, but that’s sorta the vibe. The music is definitely the star of the show with this project, heavy distorted sounds with the occasional lyric.

If you need something to play while working out or studying, great album.

6/10

Shaboozey – The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales

Verrrry cinematic to start. Idk if this is even Country music. If it is, idk what this genre is then haha. “High Noon” is giving me “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X… Not really in a good way haha. So far, only song I am really vibing with is “Bullets & Blades”, Kehlani sounds amazing as always. “Born To Die” sounds like it’ll be a radio hit. Gotta good lil catchy pace to it.

Yeah… Idk. Not really my kinda country. It really felt too forced. Like the whole “western” vibe.

2/10

Davido – Oriade

This afrobeats category has been popping up a lot for me lately, been really enjoying the energy I get from this genre. Start of this album is feeling a little muted to me, idk really why. Not until “B4 B4” was I really finding something to latch to. This song has a fun pace to it and I enjoy the over all sound of the music here.”Yaya” is a banger. Fun beat, and the way the French? (I’m guessing”, sounds in this element is great. The final song on the album, “My Light” is a really nice send off.

Check out “B4 B4” and “My Light”.

5.5/10

Buffalo Traffic Jam – Pictures of You

Genre says they are country, bio says folk… They are SOUNDING pretty folk on the first track. We’ll see tho haha. 

Shit, they’re sounding pretty folk haha. I really like “Pictures of You”. The track leading into it, “Lonesome Memories” is a nice lil spoken piece that helped guide me into the next track, which I really appreciated.

This album woulda went crazy in 2009 or something.

4.5/10

Lil Kingg – Kinggville

Opening track, “280” is not it. But this guys voice has potential, we’ll see where this goes. Yeahhh… I feel like Lil Kingg struggles with having a pretty shitty beat selection. I was just bored listening to this album…

2/10

Luuh Jam – Going Through Changes

Yuh know.. I wasn’t super impressed. It wasn’t a bad album, just didn’t have anything that really popped for me. 

4/10

Wyatt Flores – Scared of Heights

Ooo, some more country. I like the way “Hate Myself” sets up this album, solid energy from this track. While listening to “Not Good Enough”, I am getting big Warped Tour vibes from this guy. He should step away from country music and shift into some pop-punk shit. I bet he’s make a great album if that was the focus haha

I really like the song “South Dakota”, a cute song about… girl? Or maybe just the place? Idk, maybe he was trying to be clever. 

Pop-Country music with the same “I love this blonde chick and I’m fighting an alcohol addiction” theme littered throughout the album. I don't hate it, but I don’t think I’ll be revisiting.

5.5/10

Five Finger Death Punch – Legacy 

Now I really like this sort of Metal music, something I can sing along to haha 

Straight off the bat, “Legacy” is something that got me jumpin, and I can understand what they’re saying. Love it. In “Eye of the Storm”, there is a super dope break down moment and lil guitar solo that I thought was sick. I like that they do the “sometimes I sing, sometimes I scream” type of singing, good balance. 

This album reminds me of playing Smackdown vs Raw 2007 on my PSP.

6/10

Fred again, LATIN MAFIA – 9 months & 50 hours

Another cool producer/singer collab album it seems. Really like the vibes once “Bonita” plays and the few songs following it. Super spacy singing over some really fun sounding, well paced beat loops. Some of the songs like “Quiereme” are a little to clubby for my taste. “Open Eye Signal (under the fabric)” sounds like something you’d walk the runway to. We most definatly did NOT need that Lil Yachty verse on “Halo” haha 

I really liked “Piensas En Mi”.

6.5/10

$TARFACE, Tyga – $TARFACE

I didn’t even press play on this shit. AI slop with Tyga is not what I want to be listening to.

-10/10

CD Ghost – When The Rain Stops

OOooo what an interesting vibe! I really like the like 80s synthy instrumental on the title track, “When The Rain Stops” and also on “Fallen Angels”. I feel like this band would be super fun to see live. I really enjoy the overall dreamy sounds of the songs.

Slow dance at an 80s themed prom vibes. Everything is hazy and everything is glowing. Love the vibe

7/10

HAYLA – DARK

Starts off with a beautiful scratchy piano and some SUPER beautiful vocals from HAYLA. I love how each song has been mainly her singing, the production in the back is playing way more of a quiet supporting role in this album. “Fear” has such a dark and gloomy sound to it that I really like, feels like a scary movie or something. “Within” is a nice change in pace, suddenly pushed this like Matrix sounding beat behind her vocals, and I love it.

Super vibey, something to put on while you study or something. HAYLA is an amazing singer.

6.5/10

Spike – Spike

I loveee the cover on this one. The font at the top is both sharp and whimsical. These songs are sounding like if I threw on The Labrynth in the background, the energy would match perfectly. I can see myself listening to this album over while working on art or something. Would love to see how it is performed live.

Such a fun poppy, dreamy, synth filled experience. Really liked this.

8/10

Nueen – Swerved

This is a very weird electronic sounding start. On “Nowhere Near A Section”, there is some vocals, but I really just don’t like them. The vibe is very spacy and grunge esk. Idk. I like the song “Impls” a lot, it’s got a nice lil rap over the same sorta grimy tech beat just sped up a little. This album feels like I am walking through an artists gallery in a museum, idk if I’m actually supposed to understand what’s happening most of the time. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it.

4.5/10

HIGHSIGH – Once Bend

I’ve noticed, while listening to all of these albums, that people are choosing these super distorted and chaotic approaches to their music more often than not. This album is no acception, guitar scratches and scratchy distorted vocals galore. There are moments where this feels more Punk than Alternative.

Sounds cool, but it sorta just doesn’t do anything for me.

3.5/10

Mallory Hawk – Chinook

Soft and kind vocals over a variation of slow and fast paced instrumentations. I really like “Caretaker”, they take a more punky approach to this track. I would love to be in the croud going wild to this joint. “Superhighway” also keeps a fun sound with more of a muffled distort to the singers voice.

Sweet sounding album, like the pace of it.

6/10

Bear McCreary – The Singularity: Ekleipsis

This cover art is sickkkk. That’s a point for me. Says Rock, but this is giving more of a Metal vibe. Idk tho. Maybe Hard Rock? Shit, it’s cool though. Really like “Sweet Misery”, feels very epic. These tracks are all sounding like I should be exploring a vampires castle with a sword and full plate armor on. I don’t like this “Alexandria” song.

Album is hard. Very epic. Gotta play this next time I’m working on D&D stuff.

6/10

Cautious Clay – The Hours: High Noon

Okayyy, a lil theme I see. All the songs are time stamped starting with 1pm and ending at 8pm. Well, this is labeled as “R&B/Soul” but it is sounding way more alternative? Maybe? Idk, not R&B or Soul tho. I think that I went in thinking I was going to get something more R&B, so I am a little disappointed.. 

Not a bad album, but not everything to me.

4/10

Cairiss – Wilderness

This is some heavy elf music really. Very soft, but moments of heavy aggression. Some screaming, mostly singing. Okay, I lied, second half of songs are pretty much just screaming.

Elf Metal, cool shit.

5/10

730turk – Trapculinary vol.2 (the recipe)

What a bounce haha This guy 730turk has such an interesting voice and flow. I almost really liked “might be”, but this guys voice is just killing me fr haha

Someone might really like this, and I love that for them.

2/10

kori – when i realized

THUMPYYY. Kori is rapping over these super big basey instrumentals. Can’t tell you why, but I really like “omg! bite da bullet”, not sure if you should play this in the car tho, your speakers might melt away haha The sample on “projectionix” is lowkey unexpected, but a fun use of a timeless and super recognizable sound. All these songs are like 1 min long, the tape is just 17 min, super short, but has a couple fun tracks.

Sorta loving the vibe, would love to see what comes next.

6/10

Tucker Wetmore – Sunburn Mixtape - EP

What sort of slutty name is Tucker Wetmore… Good lord.. Alright well this is another country album. My girl been going crazy with Love Island, and this is giving that energy. The sound of everything is really nice. The vocals and the music sound very harmonious and that makes for just a satisfying listening experience in general. “Yours” is a solid example of a nice country boy love song, while it isnt something imma go crazy for, I can see the ladies loving this shit. 

The ladies are going to eat this up. Not my cup of tea.

5.5/10

Kurupt, DJ Battlecat – Tales From My Hood

Bummer to see some legends using AI art for their covers. Big bummer. Album aint even that good. Some LA old head gonna love it regardless, I’m sure.

1/10

Cheekface – Podium

Idk who Cheekface is, but I am here for em. Starts off incredibly strong with “Hostile Street”. Fun lil spoken bits mixed into a fun song that you can’t help but to bob your head to. Giving me Weezer vibes, but also… Way better. Songs filled with fun quoteables and awkward fun deliveries. 

Super fun listen, love this sound.

8/10

ivri – evidence of you

Yeah, idk what this is doing for me, but it’s doing it. Nice tippity tapping instrumentals, distorted vocals. Makes you wanna jump around. Looking forward to hearing more from ivri tbh.

7.5/10