Andre 3000's new album, and first in 17 years will get more attention for the song titles, than the music itself. Initially. But will anyone go deeper? Will Andre himself follow up with interview style explanations of the story behind each? Is Andre really acknowledging with this album, that he is experimenting in real time? He is clearly working through something creatively, and as he is working through it, he's letting us in on his creative process as it unfolds. He's allowing his listeners to step into his world, in real time as he creates. Something maybe never before captured.
The question thus becomes, were these sessions subjected to postproduction alterations, or are we getting raw material from Andre, much like a freestyle rapper has the incredible talent of articulating thought so cleverly in real time that it's respected as a true art form?
In the first song on the album, he's setting the tone, he's setting the expectation. He knows the public and his fans will be hyped on what he could possibly be capable of and what an incredible hip hop comeback it will be, from a legend no less. He simply titles it, I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A "Rap" Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time. He's given fair warning in the lead up, he's promoted it specifically with the disclaimer, Warning: No Bars.
By track three, you start to get the sense that the title is what he was doing or thinking about when he went through the creative process for the song. But then if that statement is true, he thinks about some fairly existential themes and ideas. But then again, he is a creative.... This new channel just happens to be the dimension Andre is on at this moment. And it's quite fun to experience growth alongside an artist. We get to observe and participate in it with them. I respect the hell out of any artist willing to be so deeply vulnerable that they know they'll be up for criticism, and they believe in their art enough to not care about the response, the reaction it may receive. They trust their creative spirit enough to share anyway.
I'm interested to know what he's experimenting with; what tools, sound making devices, electronics, instruments, natural or unnatural. I'm interested in if this was cathartic for him. I'm curious what he feels when he listens to this album, what it invokes in him, and what it calls up for him. What I can tell you is it might be my new "focus" or "sleep" playlist because this album is peaceful as f*ck. Luckily for Andre, I listen to focus and sleep podcasts every day and night, so I'm pre-guaranteeing this will screw my Spotify wrapped for the end of the year, while simultaneously putting me in the top1% of his new listening genre.
Andre, I have questions! I need to know!
Stream New Blue Sun here.
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