Still Over It (Alternate Cover)

To an extent greater than that of Over It, Still Over It exhibits Summer Walkers knack for writing with detail and specificity while relating to a broad range of listeners. Take 4th Baby Mama. First, theres the title, named for the singers role in the life of London on Da Track, the producer of nine of the albums other songs. The ballad digs into the minutiae of Walkers grievances with her ex, but its the numbness and bafflement at egocentricity, unfaithfulness, failure to accept responsibility, and other issues common among bad partners, that cut through. In the majority of the songs ahead of it, Walker likewise lays bare her thoughts no matter how particular or detailed. Colorful and plain critiques alike, from I wanna start with your mama/She shoulda whooped your ass to You should know my body by now, have major significance. One doesnt need to have experienced such unique scenarios, or even be familiar with how Walkers life has played out on social media, to understand and feel where she is coming from. Somewhere in the second half of this hour-plus album, the mostly sedate sequence of productions -- some without beats, others with dragging trap-styled percussion -- make for laborious listening. The trade-off is Walkers vivid and biting lyrics and knack for singing them with such grace that they please the ear as much as they raise eyebrows. The stagnation is all the more tolerable when the first half contains Ex for a Reason, a Miami-meets-Atlanta bass jam and one of the eras most flavorsome crossover R&B hits. The la-di-da Try me, trespass/Guaranteed to beat yo ass is wielded like a knife coated in icing. ~ Andy Kellman

2019年作『Over It』の続編を謳った新作。ロンドン・オン・ダ・トラックとの破局をメインテーマにした内容は、カーディBやシアラのナレーションで励ましを得つつ、SZAとの"No Love"で三行半を叩きつけ、ナインティーン85らが手掛けた"4th Baby Mama"で男(親)の責任を問うなどして、自分の経験をファンへの教訓としている。とはいえ、表面上はそのロンドンが軸となって新旧の気鋭と制作しており、前作同様にトラップ基調のR&Bを妖美なダウナー・ヴォイスで歌っていく。シティ・ガールズのJT を迎えたアトランタ・ベース感のある先行曲、ネプチューンズ制作でファレルが客演したミッド・アップ、アリ・レノックスとのジャジーなバラード、オマリオンとのスロウ・ジャムなど、ゲストとの絡みも上々だ。
bounce (C)林 剛