Ken Carson - X ALBUM REVIEW

Summary

Music critic Anthony Fantano reviews Ken Carson's new album 'X', offering a critical perspective on its lack of originality and energy. He compares Carson to other artists influenced by Playboi Carti, noting that Carson's performance is underwhelming and his vocal style lacks distinctiveness. Fantano finds the production repetitive and the lyrics unremarkable, ultimately rating the album poorly and suggesting that Carson's contemporaries outperform him in every aspect.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The review is about Ken Carson's new album 'X', a follow-up to his 'Project X' from last year.
• 🔥 Ken Carson is riding a wave of high-energy trap music, influenced by artists like Playboi Carti.
• 🔄 The genre has seen many successful imitators, such as Casey and Yeet, who have put their own spin on the sound.
• 🏷 Ken Carson's album is released under the Opium label, run by Playboi Carti, which has given him the green light to emulate the sound.
• 🤔 The reviewer questions the sustainability of imitating a sound, noting that originators are usually better remembered than imitators.
• 📉 Ken Carson's performance on the album is described as underwhelming, with messy flows and a lack of energy compared to his contemporaries.
• 🎛 The use of auto-tune is criticized for being overdone, possibly to mask a lack of rhythm and melody in Carson's vocals.
• 🔊 The album's production is called out as repetitive and lacking range, with a sense of déjà vu due to the similarity of tracks.
• 🚫 Ken Carson is not seen as contributing anything new or refreshing to the trap genre; his work is described as generic and derivative.
• 📝 The reviewer finds no standout refrains, hooks, or choruses, and criticizes the lack of songwriting skill displayed on the album.
• 💔 The overall rating given to the album by the reviewer is very low, suggesting a lack of appeal, memorability, or interest in the project.

Q & A

Who is the main subject of the video review?

The main subject of the video review is Ken Carson and his new album 'X'.

What type of music does Ken Carson produce?

Ken Carson produces music in the genre of trap, similar to the high-energy style popularized by artists like Playboi Carti.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the uniqueness of Ken Carson's music?

The reviewer believes that Ken Carson's music lacks originality and does not bring anything new or refreshing to the trap sound.

How does the reviewer describe Ken Carson's vocal performance on the album?

The reviewer describes Ken Carson's vocal performance as underwhelming, rough, loose, and subpar, lacking the raw energy of other artists in the genre.

What is the reviewer's stance on the use of auto-tune in Ken Carson's album?

The reviewer criticizes the overuse of auto-tune, suggesting it is used to mask the lack of rhythm and melody in Carson's vocals.

What comparison does the reviewer make between Ken Carson and other artists in the script?

The reviewer compares Ken Carson to Playboi Carti and Yeet, stating that Carson's music is generic and lacks the appeal of his contemporaries.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the production quality of the album?

The reviewer finds the production to be samey, low-fi, and lacking range, with beats that sound alike and create a sense of déjà vu.

What does the reviewer suggest about Ken Carson's potential for future improvement?

The reviewer is open to the possibility of Ken Carson improving and adding something to his sound in the future that makes him stand out.

What rating does the reviewer give to Ken Carson's album 'X'?

The reviewer gives a rating between a strong zero to a light one, indicating a very negative review.

What does the reviewer suggest as an alternative to Ken Carson's music?

The reviewer suggests listening to Yeet or Playboi Carti as they believe these artists perform the same style better than Ken Carson.

What is the significance of the Opium label in relation to Ken Carson's album?

The Opium label, run by Playboi Carti, is significant as it gave Ken Carson the go-ahead to emulate Carti's sound, contributing to the trend he is riding.