S.O.S
Succeeding the extensive fanbase collected after the release of the masterpiece studio album CTRL, it was clear that pressure was high for artist SZA during the wait between her next release. It wont come as a shock that this album does exactly what needed to be done with another cult classic on her hands. SOS is the mature older sister to CTRL, another personal diary that allows us into SZA’s inner monologue. This album doesn't shy away from shamelessness or oversharing; an album that not only shows SZA’ growth mentally but also artistically. With 23 songs and a range of different genres SZA showcases her artistic elasticity as she rides the waves of internal healing, flowing through all the peaks of her emotions effortlessly.
Starting off with a new genre that's not yet been explored in her discography, the album is introduced with the blunt self-titled intro ‘SOS’. An impressive introduction to this new phase of SZA artistically, SOS already proves worth the wait. A song that shows a new side to SZA; cockiness. SZA tackles the popular topics on her physical appearance and public persona, standing her ground and being confident in her new look “So classic, that ass so fat, it look natural, it's not ,I talk bullshit a lot , No more fuck-shit, I'm done, Damn right, I'm thе one”. You're led to believe with this first track that SZA is grounded and secure but she doesn't let you believe this lie for much longer… Clearly the only time she failed to lie was in the line “I talk bullshit a lot”.
Shortly after her rise to self confidence, insecurity knocks SZA back down with the single ‘Kill Bill’ an intertextual reference to cult classic Tarantino film with the same title. ‘Kill Bill’ is thematically intense, a song that speaks on the toxicity that lingers after a bad relationship. SZA is not afraid to be pathetically obsessive with lyrics “Rather be in jail than alone” and even more so with emphatic “I did it all for love”.
Continuing with the self depreciating lyricism and self aware metaphors SZA uses ‘Blind’ which implies her battles with imposter syndrome. SZA manages to accurately describe the difficulty that comes with not being able to fully appreciate the love that you receive whilst being able to acknowledge its presence. ‘Blind’ is another single on the album that is SZAs letter to love and the faults that come with the lack thereof.SZA personifies the feeling of inadequacy and allows herself to open up about the ignorance that comes with being blind to the good things in life.
Dealing with themes of abandonment,self destruction,love and loss; it's an album that's not meant to be received without listeners falling into some process of introspection. It's important to highlight SZAs journey and advancement within her process of healing, creating a project that manages to show SZAs growth and strength in comparison to her younger self but also touching on the aspects of her younger self that continues to shine through.
An album that fluctuates between security and despair, SZA chooses 23 songs that may not exactly flow well with each other with ease but this just shows SZA’ is still getting to know herself artistically. Although it's guaranteed that SZA could teach a masterclass on songwriting, she even states herself that sometimes it all gets a bit too much, which I think is apparent within this album. I like that the songs don't exactly mesh well together, it kind of makes sense. Healing isn't a steady line that progresses through to an endpoint but rather an obscure pattern of different points with no clear destination. It's an ugly process, with no real harmony or peaceful aspects that can coincide but there's beauty in its unconventionality, unique to everyone, healing doesn't make sense. You just have to live through it and move through it at your own pace.
Fatimaaaaaaa xo
Comments
Post a Comment