Popstar

I think I fell into the hype for this album a bit because my expectations were higher than they should have been. My main gripe with Popstar is just the lack of depth, both production-wise and lyrically. The majority of the instrumentals are pretty shallow and thin, they feel a bit flimsy. There are definitely exceptions, Melatonin and the title track are both solid. As for the writing, it also feels thin. The only time we get an actual glimpse into Tinashe herself is on Empty Stadium, where she talks about her anxious recurring dreams of performing to an empty stadium where nobody hears the art she makes, and the closing track Heavyweight, where she vents about the pressure she feels taking responsibility for others. It's not a bad album by any means, it just doesn't feel complete. There's an impact that's missing, both sonically and thematically.