Drake's much-hyped, much-anticipated debut album Thank Me Later, has finally revealed itself to the internet. Sure, most of the tracks have already leaked by now, but this is 100% finished, with some tracks sounding noticeably different than before (see: "Shut It Down"). While the album isn't out until June 15th, we figured you might want to know the album turned out on the whole. So look no further, here's our first opinion on Thank Me Later:
Fireworks
First track in, and the album is already picking up where So Far Gone left off, with its moody, introverted, nighttime sound. The low key, subdued hook from Alicia Keys is refreshing, sounding like the antithesis of "Empire State of Mind." But I'm not so sure fireworks are the best metaphor for success. Just sayin'.
Karaoke
Sounds like a Sade track. But with Drake. And while it's pretty good, it's not life changing. Like his last work, it's very obvious this album is going to be about women and relationships, which is fine, because he can tackle the subject without getting to misogynistic or corny.
The Resistance
Three tracks in, and the album is sounding cohesive in a really good way. The music is synthed-out and moody, bordering on ambient. More verses about Drake striving for success. More smoothed out choruses. Nothing so far is radically different from what Drake was doing last year, it's just more polished.
Over
This is one of the Drake tracks that currently rules radio airwaves. Drake waxing existential is when Drake is at his best. Because like women, he can take on the topic of life without getting too delusional or heavy-handed. Also, the cadence in the second verse is a tribute to Dead Prez' "Hip Hop." Winning, Drizzy. Winning.
Show Me A Good Time
Nothing conceptually mind-blowing here, but Kanye is in vintage form here, cranking out a quality beat that melds Late Registration-era instrumentation with percussion that is positively dubstep.
Up All Night
This is a dark album on many levels, and no track plays more to that theme than "Up All Night," an ode to using the ends to justify the means. Production-wise, this is a beat that Young Jeezy would probably love to have on his own album.
Fancy
Swizz Beats does his best Just Blaze impersonation while he and Drake each take 16 bars to appreciate the sophistication of the women in their lives. T.I. comes in to contribute his own bit, and something about him (literally) phoning it in from prison makes it feel epic.
Shut It Down
The album version of this track is more overblown and grandiose than the demo version, which was far more minimal and sleepy. But this one is still pretty great in its own right, with Drake and The-Dream trading verses in a song lacking structure--maybe to it's own detriment. Maybe.
Unforgettable
After The-Dream covered "One In A Million," I'm sure some people are going to be salty that Drake sampled Aaliyah on this track, but it's got a great drum track dominated by the snare, and the softest keyboard melodies one could imagine. Kinda strange that this is the track featuring Jeezy, but it works.
Light Up
This may not sound like a radio single, but it should be. A cold, sparse beat has Drake reinforcing the themes of the previous eight tracks, before the darkest electronics known to man usher in the chorus. Then Jay-Z comes through and shuts it down with a fantastic verse that is as good as anything he's spit in the last five years.
Miss Me
OK, so they can't all be winners. This is probably one of the more forgettable tracks on the album. It's also sounds about 10 times lighter/happier than any song on the album. But still, this could have been a minor single from any other artist.
Cece's Interlude
Phil Collins channeled through 808s And Heartbreaks-era Kanye channeled through Drake. I love it.
Find Your Love
Sounds like a cumbia-inspired track at first, then morphs into more 808s-type music. This is one of the standout tracks on the album. Makes me want a collaboration album to occur with the outspoken superproducer.
Thank Me Now
This is a pretty fitting end to the album. Timbaland offers up a euphoric sounding beat while Drake takes his rightfully deserved victory lap. But while upbeat, it doesn't sound as out of place as "Miss Me."
Conclusion
Thank Me Later is good. Real good. Maybe even great. Not only does the album have 3-4 flawless tracks, but the rest of the album has a sonic cohesiveness so that the sum becomes greater than its parts. Much of that is because Drake knows how to write a quality song from beginning to end.
Admittedly, he's kind of a one (or two) trick pony when it comes to subject matter in his songs, opting to discuss the tension between his aspirations of fame, money, success, and the trappings that come with it. But it shouldn't take away from the fact that he can ride a beat and trade punchlines with the best of them.
More importantly, if this album takes off and sells through the moon, Drake will become something of an anomaly. He's managed to acquire hip-hop cred and pop appeal without having to pretend he's from the hood (he isn't), or making his music excessively plastic. This is an authentic, (mostly) uncompromised, album that can still maintains it's broad appeal. In short, Wheelchair Jimmy succeeded.
Sorry. I couldn't help myself.
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