Solange's new album is raw, dark, fiery, and energetic. It's a knockout record with plenty of memorable moments from the singer who has no difficulty showing her excellence.
Solange Knowles has been the one to watch by nearly everyone ever since her last album. A Seat at the Table was polarizing and surprised many, including myself with its breathtaking vocals, lyrics and production. It was a groundbreaking album at the time and continues to be a few years later. As far as albums go, it's the best R&B record of the decade. How does one follow that up? I've been waiting patiently, curiously figuring out what Solange is going to do next. When I Get Home, her brand new album, acts like an appropriate companion to A Seat at the Table (even the self-portrait album cover is nearly identical). All signs pointed to a very similar sounding sequel, but, it's a pretty different experience. When I Get Home is raw, dark, energetic, fiery, and much quicker in length in comparison. This of course can be a good thing or a bad thing to fans. I find the record to be very enjoyable with plenty of memorable moments from Solange and numerous collaborators. Much of the songs at their core don't hold up as well as the standouts of A Seat at the Table due to either ending abruptly or not having enough charisma. That's totally fine, though. The album itself is still a knockout record regardless of not being on as high of a pedestal as her previous work.
When listening to the album as a whole, there is no point of silence, really. Each song or interlude flows nicely into the next, creating this very fluent experience that I really appreciate. Similar to some uniquely simplified hip hop records such as Whack World or Some Rap Songs, When I Get Home has the joy of shorter and simpler moments that aren't fully sketched out into fully fleshed material. The overall record sounds much groovier, trap-influenced, and has plenty of bass-heavy bangers. "Things I Imagined" is a gorgeous ballad that has vocal harmonies lifting up higher and higher into the atmosphere. "Down With the Clique" is mesmerizing with Solange repeating "down" over a shimmering instrumental. "Way to the Show" is one of those bass-heavy bangers that's for sure a highlight for your late-night drive. It's got such a lovely refrain, chirpy synths, and what sounds like gun shots. "Stay Flo" is carefree over a hopping sunny instrumental. "Dreams" is another pretty mesmerizing ballad, repeating the chorus over and over in a dream-like state.
"Almeda" is the biggest highlight on the record and acts as a standout centerpiece. It has the biggest, glass-shattering instrumental and catchiest moments. Solange's best lyrical moments end up on this song, like "black faith still can't be washed away / not even in that Florida water," or notably repeating "black molasses, blackberry the masses." The additional delivery from The-Dream and Playboi Carti is fantastic and adds a lot more to the track. Once again, another breathtaking piano ballad is "Time (is)." A playful and quirky Gucci Mane tribute from Solange is "My Skin My Logo," featuring contributions form Tyler, the Creator, Steve Lacy, and of course, Gucci. "Jerrod" and "Binz" are two big back-to-back highlights, showing off Solange's slickness nicely. "Binz" being a huge synth banger, is a wonderful two minutes to be put on repeat nonstop.
Solange is having more fun and quirkiness with her music this time around. There is more of a variety, more brightly lit hip hop and electronic influence into the production. It's much happier and playful. The contributions are very impressive once again, from the likes of Earl Sweatshirt, Pharrell Williams, Gucci Mane, The-Dream, and even Panda Bear ending up on the credits. When I Get Home is surely worth the wait with Solange having no difficult showing her excellence once again.
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