Steve Lacy’s ‘Oh Yeah?’ feels like an example of a blueprint not being followed. Its standout song, Doom, has the best flow on the album, strong rhyme schemes, and catchy hooks, while its reflective lyrics deliver an interesting look at Lacy as a person. The alt-R&B star is at his best when he uses his own experiences as the basis for his music, something the rest of his third album would have benefited from.
Its chilled-out sound makes for an easy listen but after a few tracks it starts to blur together, making the whole piece feel less memorable than it should. The title track kicks off with a mellow intro that drifts around the vocal, which complements the beat nicely. Lyrically, though, it is repetitive to the point of dulling its impact.
Is It Cool? runs at a similar pace, but here Lacy’s words are raw and vulnerable, orbiting around soul-searching and admitting one’s wrongs.
Show You Me offers a different vibe with a stripped-back acoustic guitar but, again, the lyrics lack substance. Rather than offering further insight, it actually feels like we are being shut out as listeners. The Feeling, meanwhile, is hampered by the vocals blending into the beat, rather than being centre stage.
The dreary Pure Colour is beset by similar issues, wasting a feature from Erykah Badu as it comes and goes. A record with 10 tracks and only one genuine standout is disappointing from an artist of Lacy’s pedigree.
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