This album starts out with “Must’ve Been” featuring DRAM. So, ever since I first heard this track I just can’t wrap my head around it. First off I have no issues with DRAM, in the right circumstance his music can be a blast”. But this is not the right circumstance. This track is 98% DRAM and a measly 2% Chromeo. Almost to the point where the duo’s presence is barely felt. Like, yea the chorus is super catchy and absolutely gets your foot tapping. And if I’m being honest, I feel like DRAM has actually gotten more charismatic and likable. But a Chromeo song this is not. Like, there is no Funk in sight, and this ends up being a very sunny, tropical feeling track. And once again, on paper that doesn’t sound terrible. But this is just not the collaboration I wanted to hear, thank God DRAM can sing a hook. Then we have “Don’t Sleep” with guest slots from French Montana and Stefflon Don. And on the other hand, this track is actually a really tasteful throwback to the duo’s early days. This has really sleek production, a catchy hook, and enough Electro-Funk for this track the last one. It also has the sort of amateurish vibe that I gravitated towards for years. But as likable as this track is, it’s still undeniably much cleaner and more Pop-oriented than anything Chromeo has ever touched. And French Montana, man I don’t know what it is, but this year has been a pretty good year for his features. This may be far from what I loved at one point about Chromeo, but if I heard more tracks like this I wouldn’t be too pissed. Then we have “One Track Mind”, which has a much more chilled out vibe. It also has that very amateurish charm I was talking about, and I can’t say no to just how cheesy these synths are (in the best way). And yea, you can argue that this track is absolutely creepy, hell Dave on vocals literally references it himself. But you can argue that half o Chromeo’s discography to some extent is creepy and tasteless. But man, can they ever twist it and make it likable and catchy, and this becomes a rather steamy performance quickly. Between that, the funky licks, and the layers of synths, “One Track Mind” works. The very 80’s feel to this album rolls on with “Count Me Out”, which has always sort of haunted Chromeo due to their very Electro-Funk aesthetic. This track isn’t necessarily the worst one of the bunch, but I hate to say it, I feel like I’ve heard this track and tracks like this from Chromeo for years. And thankfully, they can repackage it with a flashy new chorus and some new verses. But after all of these tunes about bitchy women and being cheated on, I just feel like this is a little more of the same.
But by the time “Bad Decision” rolls along, I’ve completely lost all of my appetite for this style of music. Chromeo once upon a time, used to take almost a Low-Fi approach to Synth-Funk, and actually came off as two guys having some legitimate funk with the genre. That’s what originally made them so likable. But “Bad Decision” is a glossy, shiny Pop tune that isn’t funky or catchy. It’s just sleazy and freakin’ stupid really. There was almost always a sort of human feelings as well amongst the band’s music, but there’s no personality here for miles. And it’s just so sunny and seems tailor-made for the Pop charts once again. Not to mention, I just can’t shake the feeling that we’ve literally been here. Then we have some legitimate funk in the shape of “Right Back Home To You (Interlude)”, which I have no idea where this was for the last few tracks. But it comes in the form of an interlude that’s about 2 and a half minutes long, which by the end comes of laughably underwritten. Sure, there are some funky licks, but there’s more to the Chromeo formula than that, and it’s becoming more and more obvious by the minute that this album is just missing the point. Up next is “Just Friends” featuring Amber Mark, and once again at the surface, this really doesn’t sound terrible. To be honest, I feel like Chromeo’s more flashily produced material isn’t terrible. But while these tracks continue to be genuinely catchy, Chromeo continue to sound like they’re rehashing everything they’ve ever put out. Not to mention, I don’t know if this track is supposed to be cute or heartwarming, but it’s neither. It’s creepy and unbearably cheesy at points. So much so, that a track like “Juice” which I really wasn’t blown away by at first sounds incredible at this point. It still has that very groovy, slick sound to it, and of course, it’s overly sexual and cheesy. But it’s in moments like this that this shimmering production actually brings this track to the next level. And yes, you can argue that this is a whole lot more of the same, about this girl seeming just out of Dave’s reach. But at the very least, it sounds like the duo is having some fun, which is literally the first time I’ve thought that here.
But just when I feel like I was getting into some sort of groove here, “Slumming It” comes along and Chromeo lose me again. This track is just so sluggish and shows the duo has just about everything but fun. We’re dealing with a relationship where the woman is taking advantage of Dave, using him for his money and all. And from the sound of it, he really doesn’t care at all. This track is just so far from where I want to hear the duo, I feel like someone forced this out of them. Not to mention, funky aspects like that saxophone and synths to me just come off as faceless and shallow. Now earlier I said I didn’t particularly mind the shiny production. But as it rolls on, it really does start to grate on me a little. But I do feel like the overly sleazy, ridiculously sexual feel to “Bedroom Calling Pt. 1” is actually done well. And you can argue that once again, we’ve been here, we’re running around in circles. Guy meets girl, guy and girl both want sex and call it at that with no strings attached. And like I said, it works for Chromeo, it always has for some reason. I just wish they took some more risks here, toned down this production, and weren’t trying so hard. By the time “Bedroom Calling, Pt. 2” comes around, tracks are legitimately starting to flow into one another and elements are really getting repetitive. But The-Dream here actually adds some much-needed switch-ups in vocals, and I actually really love how glitzy this one is. That, alongside some throwback instrumentals, make this one really not terrible at all. There are still a few cringe-worthy lines though, and I still feel like we’ve been here before, but this isn’t terrible. But oh boy, without the serious throwback vibes and The-Dream on vocals, this album’s finale “Room Service” is dangerously back to that same vibe that we’re going in circles. It’s more of the same tales of late nights and late mornings. I mean, thankfully, these two know how to write a hook, which is literally all I can hold on to anymore. Because let me tell you, some of these vacation and hotel references are just doing nothing for me. This track isn’t terrible, but this is by far Chromeo’s worst, and if they don’t switch up something major it’s not going to be a pretty future.
Rating: 6.7/10
Give A Listen To: “Don’t Sleep”, “One Track Mind”, “Juice”, “Bedroom Calling, Pt. 2”
Least Favorite Track: “Bad Decision”,
Genre: Funk / Electro-Funk / Synth-Funk
Overall Thoughts: So it goes without saying, but this is by far the worst Chromeo project to date. Not even genuinely big guests can save this album from making me feel like we've been here, time and time again with Chromeo. Thankfully, this album isn't all garbage. Sure, the production here is absolutely squeaky clean, and half of these tracks seem more interested with crafting a crossover Pop hit than anything. But with Chromeo's Electro-Funk style intact and sleazier than ever, it actually works to their advantage. Plus, these two gents can put together a seriously catchy tune still. I just really wish there weren't as many awkward and genuinely creepy moments.
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