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The Album Effect episode 25 reviews Sun City by Khalid, Nuthin’ 2 Prove by Lil Yachty, Good Look For You (EP) by Gavin Turek, and a special submission from alt-country/folk band, Mink’s Miracle Medicine, for their 2018 album, released on October 5th, Pyramid Theories, plus more.
Check out and listen to Pyramid Theories by Mink’s Miracle Medicine, here.
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Episode 25 Albums:
Suncity (2018)
Khalid
Teenage pop sensation Khalid first began creating music while in high school. Known for his extensive vocal range, he studied singing and musical theater while in school in El Paso, where his family settled after moving around frequently for much of his childhood. Khalid posted his first original works to Soundcloud, releasing debut single “Location” in 2016. The song became a big success, taking off after Kylie Jenner used it in one of her Snaps. Khalid’s first studio album “American Teen” followed, for which he received Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best Urban Contemporary Album.
After taking a break from solo music to work on collaborations with 6LACK, Ty Dolla $ign and others, Khalid released the Suncity EP in October 2018. Consisting of five tracks and two interludes, the EP debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at number eight. The album’s title refers to Khalid’s El Paso hometown, and it begins with a clip of the mayor presenting the singer with a key to the city. Khalid has said he views the EP as the beginning of a new era and that its sound, which features his trademark pop-oriented R&B, as well as forays into latin pop and acoustic guitar, is representative of how he would like to see his music grow in the future.
Nuthin’ 2 Prove (2018)
Lil Yachty
Born Miles Parks McCollum, Lil Yachty took on his stage name after moving to New York City to launch his career in the entertainment industry. Initially interested mostly in fashion, he created a signature look featuring vintage nautical apparel and gained a large following on Instagram. His music first started to get attention in 2015, when a song he posted to SoundCloud was used in a YouTube comedy video that went viral. Referring to his sound as “bubblegum trap,” Yachty often uses samples from video games and cartoon shows, while referencing pop culture minutiae like flip phones and sneakers. He released his first mixtape in 2016 and his debut studio album, “Teenage Emotions,” the following year. Yachty was also featured on a number of successful collaborations, including singles with DRAM and Chance the Rapper.
Lil Yachty released his third studio album, Nuthin’ 2 Prove, in October 2018. The album includes a number of notable guest appearances, including Migos, Cardi B and Playboi Carti. Drake, though not featured on the album, also gave it a boost, praising it in his Instagram story. Nuthin’ 2 Prove is split into two distinct halves, with the first section consisting of rap tracks and the second focused on autotune-heavy R&B. Yachty has said that this was partially an attempt to meld his two styles, after what he felt was negative fan reaction to prior albums being too melodic or too rap-oriented. Yachty, who has often faced criticism for his offbeat flow, received mixed reviews for this album, with several critics feeling that, while he had a few memorable tracks, he was often outshined by the stronger talent of his collaborators.
Good Look for You (2017)
Gavin Turek
Gavin Turek grew up in Los Angeles with two musically-inclined parents. Her father was a pianist, while her mother toured coffeeshops as a gospel singer. Turek studied both music and dance, but originally aspired to become a professional dancer. After years spent training and studying dance abroad in India and Africa, she decided to return to music, releasing her first single, a Donna Summer tribute titled “Frontline,” in 2015. Turek also worked with Mayer Hawthorne on his retro-funk Tuxedo project, as well as collaborating on an EP with TOKiMONSTA. She began to gain attention for songs that were used in Netflix and HBO series, as well as a dance-heavy live show that emphasized the visual nature of the disco genre.
In 2017, Turek self-released EP Good Look for You on her Madame Gold Records label. Featuring a blend of disco, synth-pop and soul, the EP received largely positive reviews for its retro yet modern sound. Turek has said she considers the album an homage to some of her most admired artists, including Solange, Janelle Monae and prior collaborator TOKiMONSTA.
