Continuing the success of her solo career, Lizzo presents us with her third release, and first major-label EP, “Coconut Oil”. This album is a tantalizing blending of hip-hop and soul that is pure electricity when it comes through your speakers. Now backed by Atlantic, and working with producer Ricky Reed, Lizzo has made a record that is extremely well-produced, while still maintaining her personal touch.
Lizzo’s singing voice is featured a lot in this album, and it sounds quite simply fantastic. Her booming vocal lines and tight harmonies stand out on many tracks. Her voice is strong, sexy and soulful and no doubt commands a lot of attention from the listener. When you combine her great lead vocals, her rapping and her ability to work up the raspiness when she wants, her voice is incredibly versatile.
Her rapping is excellent as well. She writes lyrics that are easy to follow, while still containing great rhyme schemes and terrific story telling. She uses her humor and personality to speak to her audience in a way that is extremely relatable. All the while she keeps her tone uplifting, earnestly discussing the experiences and feelings that she thinks are trademarks of American Womanhood.
The album opens with the energetic, “Worship Me”. The track is fun, upbeat and empowering, as Lizzo pleads an attitude adjustment to lovers. With elements of old-school soul and gospel infused, it’s a great dance track and a proper introduction for new listeners. The second track, “Phone”, is much lower key sonically, opting for minimalism with its instrumentation and allowing Lizzo’s rapping to really steal the show. She delivers with a humorous and relatable story about drunken antics in the club-life. The closing track “Coconut Oil” is a terrific ballad to her own individualism. However, the stand-out song, and most popular single, has to be “Good as Hell”. This charismatic ode to femininity reminds us that everyone is beautiful and should be able to demand respect. The catchy melodies and Lizzo’s great lyricism make this one you can listen to over and over.
In general, this is a terrific album that holds together sonically as well as narratively. Lizzo brings her attitude and personality directly to your eardrums with this record. Hopefully this release is indicator of big things to come from her!
