slowthai - UGLY ALBUM REVIEW
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
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slowthai's third album is high-impact sonically and emotionally.
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FAV TRACKS: YUM, SELFISH, FEEL GOOD, NEVER AGAIN, HAPPY, UGLY, FALLING, WOTZ FUNNY, TOURNIQUET, 25% CLUB
LEAST FAV TRACK: SOONER
SLOWTHAI - UGLY / 2023 / METHOD / POST-PUNK, ALTERNATIVE HIP HOP
8/10 www.theneedled...
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?
For me personally it's a 10. I even get why people could dislike a record like that but as someone around his age who struggled since a young child with my mental health and was over half of it addicted I never heard a better representation of how I often feel. At no point he is sounding corny or like he is exaggerating. I don't think I ever heard a more personal and unfiltert album. Massive thanks to him for this piece of art.
Yeah i guess that (while still being an incredibly musically refined project) this album prolly gives its best when people can relate to the themes (which should not be too hard for a lot of people)
For me, this record never really had a banger like Doorman, that's why I was slightly underwhelmed,.however it still is a pretty good album
@@lukaspkhakadze3021 i would consider yum to be that
@@lukaspkhakadze3021 yeah definitely yum, feel like selfish, wotz funny and feel good are bangers in their own right too
could easily be a ten or high nine
Yum is an absolutely insane opener! One of my favorite album openers I've heard in a while! Slowthai is 3 for 3 on albums!
My favorite song of the year so far. As a big fan of Death Grips, it connected with me instantly.
totally. that ‘Get the fuck up’ was so good and haunting it’s just too perfect.
@@jerrys1 Woah so I wasn't the only one who heard that
agree
Honestly I'd say it's one of the least compelling album openers I've heard in a while, Idk if it's just me but honestly I found it kinda boring, Nothing really seemed to happen in it.
Slowthai is just so incredible versatile. He switches the Genre every album and somehow pulls it of perfectly. What an incredibly talented and genius artists!
what was the genre switch from ngab to tyron lol
@@vfd10 I think he means versatility within his albums, like how he pretty seamlessly blends punk, trap, pop, indie, grime, etc. sounds throughout his records. Idk tho maybe I’m just projecting my opinion onto him
@@vfd10
NGAB was Grime/ Punk
TYRON WAS Trap/Pop/Indie
UGLY is rock
Though the first two are similar, I’d say they both have a very distinctive sound.
I kinda hated this album
can't even do a single genre right for more than one album smh my head
I love the context behind the song Feel Good in this album tbh, as Slowthai himself said that he made the song while he was feeling awful, and he wanted to make a track that reinforces a mantra of sorts, saying "no, I feel good!" so in a way, this song basically serves that purpose: self-motivation. the way it can be interpreted as a "desperate attempt of making yourself happy when you're not currently receptive of the emotion" is also valid because that's just how good the track is.
Fully agree. And the way he performs it live is also quite nice. Was one of the highlights of his set when I saw him a month ago 🔥
still three letters short to be feel good inc
Also like how in Fuck it Puppet his voices say that cocaine will make him “feel good.” I know it could be a reach cuz it’s normal phraseology but to me it kinda adds to this idea of the spiral and he’s doing anything he can to feel happiness again
The video is absolutely brilliant. Simple but really brings a wholesome feeling.
The music video too was cool fans of his just listen to the song early then he comes into the set and comes listen and sings along to it with them it's sweet
Maybe not an obvious pairing, but I’d love to see Slowthai and Genesis Owusu link up as some point, especially hearing them both drift into the post-punk sound.
True, they'd complement each other so well
that would be crazy i'd love it
That would be legendary
I thought the exact same thing when I heard Wotz Funny- would be great
BLACK DOGS!
I think Sooner is an artistic high of the album personally. Love the chorus and the “you are what you eat” line. The jovial indie pub rock sound definitely seems to be intended with a heavy dash of irony to it.
I must be nothing
i must be nothing
Completely agreed. My favourite. This album could end up being viewed as a modern British classic
It gives me a slight Two-Tone vibe (minus the horns). I like it
That line is amazing, my jaw actually dropped when I heard it for the first time
Without fail, this man always puts the best track in the worst section
I really often agree with Anthony's opinions and yet this is ALWAYS the case no matter what lmfao
@@AnthonyHirschidk about always but most of the time
I actually agree with him here but it’s still a great song so it’s a real worst of the best situation imo.
Can't stand the Some Rap Songs review with SHATTERED DREAMS being the worst
There's no way Sooner is the best song
You know a record is good when the CZcams comments stop memeing & actually talk about the album
Except nobody here talked about the album. Just endlessly praising it without giving one good argument.
@@InspiriumESOO Praising the album in itself can be an argument for the album. Wtf are you on about. Go read more pitchfork or something lmao.
@@InspiriumESOO You just did what you said everyone else does so youre just everyone else just like me hehe
@justsomegames9207 Slowthai is heavily respected in the UK so a lot of people were waiting for this album. You wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?
@justsomegames9207 People have different music taste???
Slowthai 3 8's in a row. This man is one of the fantano-core frontrunners rn.
the new denzel
@@mt_meekand they have a collab single that goes hard, go figure
welp
@@realmackle rip
The switch from happy to ugly is so smooth, I consider both of them as a single song
easily two of my favorites
it’s the good kid into m.A.A.d city of the album. fantastically ordered and chosen tracklist
slowthai is like if one of the Gorillaz came to life
probably one of the more interesting artists in the alternative hip hop space at the moment
If/when damon albarn passes down the torch my vote is definitely for slowthai
He was on the last gorillaz album, but I don't see them as the same lane at all
As an artist he really just feels like a character sometimes. Somehow relatable and capturing yet so crazy and outlandish sometimes
One of the most interesting artists in music PERIOD. This man has changed up his sound 3 times and delivers every time!!!!
@@nottherealChickenJoe Definitely feels like a character when performing and as an artist meanwhile seemingly almost shy in interviews and with people one on one.
blown away by this, honestly haven’t heard performances this gut wrenching in fucking ages
@justsomegames9207 you're deluded if you think this album will be played on the radio LMAO
I loved slowthai and listened to his music for many years after I first discovered the Nothing Great About Britain project in 2019 or 2020.
Unfortunately, the recent allegations have made it near-impossible for me to continue to enjoy his work.
While I hope that he is innocent, I am quite pessimistic given that he sexually harassed a journalist on live television at the NME Awards in 2020.
It's become quite difficult for me to separate the art from the artist as I enter my 20s, especially after what Alexis Marshall (frontman of Daughters) did to Kristin Hayter - not to mention the fact that his bandmates allegedly ignored her when she reached out to one of them to inform them of his abusive behaviour.
I continued listening to XXXTENTACION's garbage as a teenager, but now I get nauseous when I even think about listening to the work of abhorrent and disgusting individuals like Alexis or Tyron.
This is a difficult dilemma that I've been grappling with over the past week or two.
I'm curious to hear what people here think.
I think it's a real talent to make an album where basically every single song is depressing in some form and not have it be too exhausting to sit through. Slowthai really took his writing to an even higher level with this one. Haunting
@Just some games so go make this, if it requires no talent. Art is not objective, but you seem to think ur opinion is the centre of the universe
As someone who is going through the lowest point of my 27 year old life . This album is beautiful, I love Tourniquet.. man i hope next month is a better month for me .
It will be, I'm certainly hoping for it. Follow the things you love and do well. Take care of your mental health and respect others, things will come to you eventually. Not trying to spit out some kind of magical formula, just hoping to help a little!
@@pietromarilac thank you friend 🙏🏼 hope all is well for you!
Hang in there buddy x
How’s it going now
I was really expecting a 9 or 10 for this. Amazing record.
he gives nines and tens usually for something thats boundary pushing, i adore this album but its not that.
@Just some games I don’t believe you.
@Just some games my ears are fine. Just surprised anyone would rate this album a 0.
Based. This album is a great listen
hi brad
You goober.
We need the reaction
Brad taste in commenting
Hi Brad 👋
Slowthai is one of the best at translating personal struggle and pain into music. This album is haunting, depressing and devastating. I left it hoping more than anything that Slowthai gets to live a long happy life. I can't even imagine the pain of realizing someone I knew that had been murdered, let alone an ex.
Slowthai is one of a kind for me. He’s like no one else I listen to and wouldn’t typically fit in with my favourite bands and yet his music saved me at a very dark time. He is a real artist
Feel this. TYRON fucked me up and I love it so much for that l. With UGLY, I just fw this new Slowthai sound so much. Man’s gifted, switching genres/overarching themes every album, and still hitting better and better every time
@justsomegames9207 tf? 💀
@justsomegames9207 What is a good album in your opinion then?
This was a great album, I’m glad you brought out the yellow flannel
@Just some games okie dokie “just some games”😜😝🤪😜😝🤪
God I loved this album so much it is such a shame
:(
What?
@@darkgreninja8349slowthai was accused of r*pe (don’t know if i can say the word on yt)
This album was such an insane surprise! He took so many risks and executed them perfectly. Really love it
the fact that slowthai got something to offer on every album make me more in love and think on what he would do on the future, because 'thai its such an amazing and creative man
It’s amazing how he doesn’t shy from trying new styles and always succeeds
What a fantastic review Anthony, this is my new favourite rapper
I hope he doesn't charge something like rape.
that would be really disappointing!
We don’t know for sure, there have been too many cases where a woman will get a man thrown in prison on accusations of rape for years and it turns out he’s not guilty. In my eyes, he’s innocent until proven guilty.
And even then, I completely accept the verdict but still, there could have been a mistake or something. So I reject the person behind the music but still adore artist@@banzaigd
Anthony giving “ugly” an 8/10 makes me feel like an 8/10 thank u melon
Real
@justsomegames9207 hey that wasn’t a very nice thing to say
@justsomegames9207 you clearly gave enough of a shit to leave that useless, rude comment LMFAO
@justsomegames9207 dude you are so negative for no reason lmao. you need to get a grip. acting like a crybaby over someone else’s *opinion.*
@justsomegames9207 You’re crying over Anthony’s opinion dum dum, I haven’t even listened to this album. You are not good at making yourself look smart.
It's been a long time since I've listened to an album which utilizes the format of an album as strongly as UGLY. Playing this album on shuffle vs. in order would take away so much of the appeal. Nice to still see that from an artist in the streaming age.
Sooner is the best track on the album and I honestly think there is not a single skippable song throughout the LP.
If you count fuck puppet then yes there is
on first listen i put it as the best track but in heinsight it’s probably because it’s lighthearted , not too layered and it sounds easy. Love the song but give it a week and i’ll guarantee you changed your mind fr
@@harrylee8047 I disagree, it has fantastic lines in it ‘You are what you eat, I must be nothin’, and the hook finishing out the track is so infectious. Fantastically placed to section into Feel Good.
Yeah I definitely agree.
(Except the "Not a single skippable song" part, I think "Yum" was pretty skippable, But otherwise agree.)
This album was so potent, I loved it
Incredible record. Slowthai really did something special here
Sooner is definitely my favorite song on the whole project and it’s been on repeat for me
this is the first 10/10 slowthai album
This album has already started to grow on me. I already had a few favorites day 1. But this makes me wanna skip ahead in time and see what he'll do throughout his discography.
boy do i have news for you
There is no better feeling than finding music that you actually like by the first listen
right?? Bro. I listen to at least one album a couple months that completely hits on the first lesson and becomes ur new obsession. This was 100% one of those
This was this
Astounding album. I agree with Anthony’s take on Never Again especially. I was not prepared. I cried harder than I have at a song in a while.
Yum is one of my favorite album openers of the year so far
Slowthai is genuinely a one of a kind artist and its no surprise as to why hes one of the biggest names in the UK scene, constantly giving us classics
This one absolutely hit for me at the right time. 10/10
Returning to this album over a year later really feels heavy. Such a shame.
As someone with ADHD and depression, I relate to this album a lot.
Not sure how you can review this lp without mentioning Ethan P. Flynn. He has had such a huge impact into this record (and others like BCNR and fka twigs) and also one of the most interesting underground acts in south london
It’s like he did everything he could to not say his name haha
Absolutely agree, Ethan P Flynn needs to be acknowledged and it's glaringly lacking from this review
Yea, this aged pretty ugly
Innocent
@@Josh-pu7th charges like that don’t come from no where
Phew I bought the special edition vinyl. Thank god fantano told me it’s good. Normally I wait to be told my opinion before purchase to avoid the anxiety of not knowing whether I should like it or not
Which version did you get? I've seen a few different ones like a hand painted one or a red vinyl with completely different cover art
Tyron makes longstanding art. He knows how to tap into his emotions and psyche. Very relatable guy he is.
Kind of sad that despite the really good rating, this didn't end up on any of his year end lists?
Yeah doesn't sit well with me that we act like he doesn't exist because of an accusation. He very well may be guilty but I don't see why we should forget this exists because of accusations
@@hands575wait I’m confused what are the allegations??
@@mexicanink7462 rape allegations, going to court
What happen to this album? a strong 8 and not a single placement on the top 50? not even honorable mentions?
Slowthai got allegations so he reasonably doesn’t wanna talk about him
@@jael7163 i totally forgot about it, did he plead guilty? Either way is such a shame he got blackballed on such lists, he definitely got a great album this year
@alvarobendezu8452 he plead not guilty and trial isn't until July 2024. It's unfortunate. Album of the year for me but because of accusations everyone is acting like it doesn't exist. I, as well as everyone else, has no idea if he's guilty or not and it just doesn't sit right with me that we immediately blackball someone for something we don't know is true or not
@@hands575yea.. unbelievably bad timing man. He drops one of his best albums yet and he had to go dark.
U.G.L.Y - 'U Gotta Love Yourself', he Tweeted that or something while promoting the album, so yeah, pretty much this album is him trying his best to overcome the bad things that happened.
I’m glad this album was rated highly, I was blown away by it and was even more infatuated by hearing it live at one of his intimate shows. Great vibes amazing memories
Fantano: I love just about everything on this album and have almost nothing negative to say about it
Also Fantano : strong 8
anything > 5 is "better than average" on his system. do you think you're gonna look back on it in 2030 and say it was one of the top 20 or top 10? cause that's what a 9 or higher is.
@@blarghblarghhonestly yeah I feel like this will likely be in the top 20-10 of 2023. It’s that good imo.
@@markercrayon457 I think it'll be top 100. I am hoping it doesn't make my top 20, cause that will say a lot for the next 7 years not having a ton of great shit
@@blarghblarghyes, honestly.
@@blarghblargh oh I thought you were saying top 20 of 2023. Of the decade yeah it probably won’t be but I think it will be top 20 of the year. Also a 9 isn’t top 20 of the decade in fantano’s scale lol. He gave queens of the Stone Age Like Clockwork a 9/10 and I’m pretty sure that’s not even in his top 50 of the 2010s.
slowthai and denzel curry both keeping their 8/10 streaks alive.. impressive stuff
been really interesting following his career over the years, we're seeing him grow emotionally and as an artist in real time. never would've seen him make an album like this if you listen to his early stuff
The sound design and production on this album is very impressive, I've tried it with wireless buds and very pricey IEMs and it sounds great on both.
I just found out about Slowthai not to long ago and I gotta say, he’s got a lot of potential and I think he almost reached it with this album, I still think he can do better, but this was a great LP
The synths and drums on YUM especially when it gets more aggressive reminds me more of Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile and Mr. Self Destruct. The topics and how it distorts towards the end
This easily deserves at least a 9
Wow, my first “8 isn’t high enough”
I thought it was gonna be at least a 9 considering he had very few negatives to say about the project
I got diagnosed with ADHD recently and knowing that Tyron has it too has me deeply resonating with his work
Slowthai consistently putting out amazing albums 🎉
If this album was called “Beautiful” you would’ve given it a 6.
Cope
@@InspiriumESOO ?
my opinion on this album is that it turns slowthai for me from an experimental rapper to a genuine artist now.He could've stayed in his comfort zone but chose to do something no one was expecting and it massively paid off. I'm glad that is truly proves he has versatility musically. He isn't about having singles blow up he takes his time to make incredible albums (just my opinion)
Strong 8 undersells this, will be a very good year in music if anything is better than this
The line "you are what you eat, I must be nothing" cuts through me like I'm commiting seppuku
1:26 - Yum
2:12 - Selfish
2:38 - Sooner
2:59 - Feel Good
3:30 - Never Again
3:58 - Fuck It Puppet
4:22 - Happy
4:45 - Ugly
5:10 - Falling
5:39 - Wotz Funny
6:01 - Tourniquet
6:12 - 25% Club
Slowthai making good music as usual
8s a great review so can't complain but honestly this album feels like a step above his other work to me so I'd honestly say it deserves at least a nine.
This album is nuts. I could’ve sworn a 9 was coming
this review vs pitchforks review made me appreciate fantano as a critic more, whenever i disagree with him i get away with a feeling of "ok fair, i get what you mean but i disagree" but when i read pitchforks review of this album i felt "did this r***** even bother to read the lyrics or plug his headphones in"
They give cardi b, lil xan and smokepurp higher ratings than Clipping. And they gave tool Lateralus a low score (under). I don't even bother looking at pitchfork after these two examples
@@hawkeyedsentinel4648 yeah the guy that puked out this slowthai review did also one clipping review lmao
Not enough people talk about Tourniquet but that song is perfect 10/10
Best song on the album
Agreed
I loved Sooner. Saw him play it live the other day in a 300 cap venue, sounded like a great Babyshambles track
slowthai slowly becoming denzel curry with all these 8's
It’s been a longtime since a random album grabs me immediately like this. 9 for me and I’m on my 3rd listen today. The discovery of music I’ve had lately is insane. First JID, SoulGlo, JpegMafia now this 👍🏾
I feel like this was a return to form. Tyron felt kind of lackluster to me, this feels fresh, emotional, innovative...you really get a sense of his headspace with each song and it's kind of amazing
Never Again is fucking haunting man.
SLOWTHAI JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER
I was waiting for you to review this one since its release lol glad to see that I am not the only one that enjoys this a lot
Yum is one of not only the best openers of the year, but one of the best openers of the decade. Literally transporting me into a panic attack and it is so unsettling because it's SO real. Excellence, what a year for UK artists.
Awesome review, Anthony. I really enjoyed this album as well. I would have given it a strong 7, but 8 is great. I also agree with you 100% when it comes to the song about his ex. I was ready to cry while listening to it.
As someone from near Northampton, this seems like the average depressed experience for someone from the general area
Well, looks like Tyron’s getting the good ol’ Denzel Curry treatment for album review scores 😔
anthony, talking about how much you loved momentary bliss is not an album review
Checking the comments to see if Slowthai himself has responded (he has form). If you're out there mate, it was a perfect 10 for me - love this album. thank you.
this one not getting a 9 hurts me a little bit it was so close
‘Yum’ gave me a Nine Inch Nails sort of vibe straight out of the gate, and I knew I’d love this album from that point onwards.
Slowthai remains one of the most versatile voices within British hip-hop today; perhaps hip-hop more broadly.
I love the cshr and Danny Brown vinyls in the background. Somehow very fitting for this album review. Also shoutout Ethan P Flynn, fucking kills it on this record!
this cool and all but review mach-hommy notorious dump legends vol 2
I really love how raw and honest he is but it wasn’t for me i have a few favorites but the rest is too dark it makes you feel too depressed but i really love the road he went ❤️
Honestly I agree with you, Except my problem wasn't with how dark it was, Heck "Never Again", Perhaps one of the darkest, Was one of my favourites, It's just not really my style for the most part.
That eyebrow on the album cover is the Nike logo like your mustache is the Pizza Hut logo. Good album though!
I was so shocked and blown away by this album. Decided to listen to it while on a plane and it was just way too personal and emotional for me to comprehend in that moment while actually being musically enjoyable. At least for me its a 10...
@Just some games get better taste in music then you deaf spastic uncultured morbidly obese incel cunt
I Walked Away has better storytelling than most Hollywood scripts. Jesus, that was tough to get through.
This album reminds me a lot of Mac Miller's Swimming, both in the lack of features, similar number of tracks, and similarly personal and vulnerable subject matter, along with the variety of styles expressed in the track list in a somewhat alike order.
Played our lil venue in Milton Keynes ( 1 hour north of London) last Saturday as part of his 1 pound promo dates... Sounds cheesy... but he's the real deal and a real voice for the next generation and to see these songs played out and to see what they meant to that crowd, was quite magical!! Big Ups Slowthai
this album is already my album of the year and it’s only march
Great review though just a little sad he skimmed over Tourniquet. Tourniquet’s vocals are insane.
incredible, 10/10 album. never again is immense.
messes me up massively
Don't be so hard on yourself Fantano, I think you look great in this album review.
Okay, I did not know that He even dropped a project, I just listened to the first song and damn that is one hell of an opening track! And based on the yellow flannel, this project is probably very good, I cannot wait to listen to the rest of it!
ouch
I’m excited to hear the extra songs on the deluxe lp
Red Moon In Venus is waiting for you Anthony. Let's not talk about ugly things anymore shall we.
I agreed with the 8 at first, but as I listen more and more it's become a 9 for me.
slowthai is this generations the streets