Talent vs. Commercial Sound

Coco’s debut album is here, and there has been a lot of anticipation regarding this project. I believe that Coco has an amazing voice, and vocally, many people cannot match her. However, just because you can sing doesn’t mean it’s going to translate to a successful album.

The album itself has its moments of real R&B, like that “grown folks, late-night radio” type of vibe. There are times when the tracks are more upbeat, but the subject matter is still heavy in a sense. A few of the lyrics are provocative (it gets the people going), and I think that adds a layer of depth to her as she really steps into a more adult version of herself rather than just being that girl from the Disney Channel.

The biggest gripe comes from the second half of the project, where it sounds more commercialized. The majority of the tracks toward the end feel as though they are more catered to a radio audience rather than just fans of the genre as a whole. Additionally, lyrically, it becomes quite repetitive because it seems like she can only sing about one particular theme.

I do believe she’s incredibly talented, and again, there are very few people who can match her vocally. However, her weakness as an artist lies in having substance and creating a more personal connection with her music, rather than being formulaic and commercial. It’s not a bad listen, but it’s not something that I would find worth going back to.

Album Rating:👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (5.8/10)