Finally Over It (For Worse Edition Online Exclusive)＜Galaxy Vinyl＞

Finally Over It concludes a trilogy that Summer Walker began with Over It and continued with Still Over It. "It" remains nondefinitive and can be taken to mean anything from a broken relationship to belief in the possibility of traditional lifelong companionship. The album ends with the title song, a grand celestial flourish in which Walker breathily states that shes ready to tie the knot, but after so much preceding fraught articulation, theres a sense that shes settling, maybe even giving in, because "No one else can take it" -- the "it" most certainly meaning herself. Walkers visual reference to Anna Nicole Smiths marriage to an octogenarian billionaire jibes with her declaration that shes done with dating for love, yet in "FMT" ("fuck my type"), the somewhat countrified ballad that leads the albums second half, she longs for "Genuine love and passionate touches, laughter -- I hate this transactional stuff." Indeed, shes still examining situations with varying outlooks, trying to make sense of her circumstances, acquiring wisdom all the while. Even though there are some familiar subjects -- betrayal, temptation, miscommunication, longing for support, and so on -- Walker writes with such specificity, insight, and wit that none of these songs come off as routine. The featured appearances tend to get in the way, especially with regard to the rotation of men on romantic duets. Walker is generally more simpatico with the ladies, partnering with Mariah the Scientist to gracefully upbraid a chump on "Robbed You," later preening beside Latto and Doja Cat on the levitating "Go Girl." Production-wise, theres little in the way of trap-style rhythms with a crew of over three dozen collaborators -- tied together by David "Dos Dias" Bishops involvement on a majority of the tracks -- crafting lissome ballads, slow jams, and midtempo cuts. Walker and company skillfully reference 90s and 2000s R&B, most cleverly so on "No," a neer-do-well rebuke that upends Beyonces "Yes" while retaining that songs seductive sonics. The shared lightness of touch among the producers suits Walkers uncommonly exquisite and authoritative voice. While shes still going through it, her artistic power remains undiminished. ~ Andy Kellman

波乱続きの恋模様を歌う3部作の完結編は、自分軸で生きることを決意した主役を新旧制作陣とゲスト合わせて50組以上がサポートする。テディ・スウィムズを招いたカントリー・ポップ風の曲もあるが、軸となるのは昨年出したスロウ・ジャム"Heart Of A Woman"も含めて90年代中盤～00年代前半のR&Bへのさりげないオマージュ。マライア・ザ・サイエンティストや21サヴェージらとの同郷共演、セイラー、ラトー、ドージャ・キャット、グロリラ、セクシー・レッドらとのシスターフッド的な共闘で現行感を出しつつ、傷を癒しに変えるようなバラードを歌うソウル・ウーマンぶりが芳しい。
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