Anderson .Paak wastes no time launching into his latest album, Ventura. He skips the typical slow buildup and immediately brings in choral female vocals and cues the jazz rhythms. Featuring André 3000, the opening track “Come Home” is the first of many exciting collaborations on the funky, laid back album.
The second track, “Make It Better,” is an indicator that the album is going to be more feelgood than hard-hitting. Unlike the gritty and raw Oxnard, Ventura has picnic-in-the-park vibes and even when the lyrics are more intense, the overall feeling is still cheerful. In this Smokey Robinson’s collaborative track, the lyrics are about a love affair gone wrong only the soulful lyrics are disguised by uplifting strings.
“Reachin’ 2 Much” on the other hand is a funkier affair. “Winners Circle” starts off a little slower and brings in some jazzy double bass. Like some of the other tracks in the middle of the album though, it doesn’t particularly stand out or make a mark. “Good Heels” sounds a little like those endless “Low-fi study beats” on YouTube that helped us through our studies but cringed us out after. “Yada Yada” is not much better although things pick up again with “King James”, which is funkier and more uplifting.
“Jet Black (feat. Brandy)” is a cool track to get up and moving to. “It feels like summer,” Brandy sings and with her floaty vocals, we’re ready for rooftop bars and late night strolls in the warmer evenings to come. “Twilight” follows in the same vein and to be honest, we would have preferred those tracks replaced some of the middle tracks and that the rest of the album continued with the summer evening vibes.
The album closer “What Can We Do? (feat Nate Dogg) is a fun finish to the album. It is loose and easy going but there’s a feeling that it could have been better. Anderson .Paak has proved time and time again that he is an exceptionally capable musician only this time around, it feels a little like the music is a little too laid back.
At only 39 minutes, the album is shorter than expected and although it has some good tracks on, it feels like it could be better. It’s warmer and more easy-going than Anderson .Paak’s previous album but ultimately, it’s just not as impressive.
3/5
