Destroy Lonely - If Looks Could Kill ALBUM REVIEW

Summary

In this review, Anthony Fantano critiques Destroy Lonely's album *If Looks Could Kill*. He expresses disappointment in the project's overly long runtime, lack of consistency, and poor production quality. Despite being a part of Playboi Carti's Opium label, Destroy Lonely struggles to stand out, offering repetitive, hollow beats and uninteresting vocals. While a few tracks are slightly more cohesive, overall, the album fails to impress with its incoherent lyrics and weak performance. Fantano ultimately gives the record a low rating, emphasizing that even with numerous tracks, the album doesn't deliver a memorable or enjoyable experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 Destroy Lonely is a rapper signed to Playboi Carti's Opium label, associated with the Rage music genre, a sub-genre of trap that is still developing its artistic boundaries.
• 😐 Fantano expresses that Destroy Lonely's music lacks the same artistic appeal as Playboi Carti, with his previous work, *Filipino Stylist*, receiving a very negative review due to its one-dimensional and sloppy production.
• 😕 *If Looks Could Kill* is criticized for being over 80 minutes long, which Fantano feels is too long for an artist who lacks the versatility to sustain such a runtime.
• 🎶 The production on the album is often described as sloppy and muddy, with distorted elements that detract from the overall listening experience, and an overwhelming mix that makes it difficult to focus on the vocals.
• 🔊 Fantano criticizes Destroy Lonely’s vocal performance, stating that his voice is too aggressive, with issues like vocal fry and a lack of flow, leading to awkward verses and a generally unappealing sound.
• 🔄 The album features repetitive tracks that often sound like they’re stuck in a loop, with few memorable moments or coherent songwriting ideas.
• 😞 Some tracks are described as torturous due to their length and lack of hooks or catchy elements, with the overall project feeling disjointed and unengaging.
• 🔉 While some beats might be sloppily produced, Fantano suggests the lack of explosive or visceral energy in the music, which could have helped compensate for the weak production.
• 🤷‍♂️ Fantano questions the appeal of Destroy Lonely's music, suggesting that it fails to meet the standards of other popular contemporary hip-hop, despite its presence in the Rage music scene.
• 📉 Overall, the album fails to live up to expectations, offering little improvement over Destroy Lonely’s previous work. Fantano rates it poorly, giving it a ‘strong one to a light two’ out of 10, primarily due to the album’s lack of quality and consistency.

Q & A

What is the general opinion of the reviewer on Destroy Lonely's album?

The reviewer expresses a largely negative opinion of Destroy Lonely's album, describing it as long, repetitive, and lacking in musical depth. They criticize the production quality, the artist's vocal performance, and the songwriting.

What is the main issue the reviewer had with Destroy Lonely's previous album, 'Filipino Stylist'?

The reviewer found 'Filipino Stylist' to be one-dimensional, mind-numbing, and sloppy. They described it as lacking creativity, with poor production and no charisma from Destroy Lonely.

How does the reviewer describe the production quality of the new album?

The reviewer describes the production as sloppy, with muddy, distorted beats that are often poorly mixed. They mention that the instrumentals are repetitive, hollow, and at times, unpleasant to listen to.

What does the reviewer think of Destroy Lonely's vocal performance on the album?

The reviewer criticizes Destroy Lonely's vocal performance as lacking in flow and consistency, describing his voice as grating at times due to excessive vocal fry and poor mix with the beats.

How does the reviewer feel about the length of the album?

The reviewer believes the album is too long, especially considering Destroy Lonely's lack of versatility and strong material. They feel that 80 minutes is excessive, given that many tracks are repetitive and not engaging.

What specific track does the reviewer mention as an example of poor production?

The reviewer points to the opening track of the album as an example of poor production, mentioning that the mix is garbage, with muddled perks and distorted guitar bits that are overly compressed and unpleasant.

Does the reviewer find any redeeming qualities in the album?

The reviewer does acknowledge a few tracks, such as 'Chris Paul' and 'Biggest Problem,' as being somewhat more listenable due to slightly better flows and mix, but they still aren't seen as strong tracks in terms of overall songwriting.

What does the reviewer think of the overall appeal of the album?

The reviewer finds it difficult to understand the appeal of the album, stating that it is not chill, not vibey, and doesn't really stand out in any way. They argue that there are better alternatives in the genres of hip-hop and dance music.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the artistic value of Destroy Lonely compared to Playboi Carti?

The reviewer feels that Destroy Lonely, despite being signed to Playboi Carti's label, does not reach the same level of artistic value or innovation. They argue that Destroy Lonely's music is not compelling, and he fails to prove himself as a standout artist in this genre.

What would the reviewer rate the album out of 10?

The reviewer gives the album a strong one to a light two out of ten, citing a few redeeming moments but largely criticizing the album for its lack of quality and consistency.