ReVIEWS from the 6

Senior+Joanne+Owens+listens+to+the+new+album+while+she+drives

Senior Joanne Owens listens to the new album while she drives

 

One of the most anticipated albums in the world of hip-hop recently has been Drake’s tentatively titled Views from the 6. Coming off of the artist’s exceptional third album Nothing Was the Same and a number of mixtapes, many fans couldn’t help but hope that Views from the 6 would be a masterpiece.

However, after the release of the newly-titled VIEWS, many fans cannot help but feel their anticipation turn into a lingering disappointment. As music review site Pitchfork notes, the album as a whole feels “claustrophobic and too long and weirdly monotone,” a stark contrast to the raving reviews to Drake’s third and fourth albums. VIEWS itself spans a whopping 20 tracks. While the album has some great moments, many tracks just feel like filler.

The album cover features Drake sitting on the top of the CN Tower, a prominent Toronto landmark
courtesy of ppcorn
The album cover features Drake sitting on the top of the CN Tower, a prominent Toronto landmark

If there’s one thing that VIEWS does exceptionally well, it’s reinforcing the elements behind the “Toronto Sound” that Drake and other Torontonian artists have been crafting over the past number of years. VIEWS utilizes the now-familiar formula of cold snares and synths complemented by warm R&B moments and samples from other artists. This formula, however, is now starting to wear thin. Nothing Was the Same and Take Care used this style in inventive and often emotional ways, but on VIEWS it feels predictable and tired.

Drake hands out merchandise to fans to promote his new album
courtesty of MacLean’s
Drake hands out merchandise to fans to promote his new album

Among these monotonous tracks, however, many bright spots exist. Near the midpoint of the album, Drake debuts a new Caribbean-inspired sound. Tracks such as “Controlla”, “One Dance”, and “Childs Play” represent a welcome change of pace. Utilizing playful lyrics about fights at Cheesecake Factory and warm, airy beats, these tracks could signal a new way forward for the artist in his future projects.

In many ways, VIEWS is a transitional album. Showcasing various musical styles, VIEWS represents the change of seasons in Drake’s beloved Toronto. While much of the album feels like a cheap imitation of Drake’s former work, a select number of songs represent an emerging new style for the artist. The album’s near-obnoxious length leads one to wonder what VIEWS could have been had it consisted purely of these sublime reggae-inspired songs. Hopefully these tracks hint at the artist’s future projects.