8.5/10
B.o.B has been pretty hyped over the last year or so, yet I didn't know a damn thing about him until about a month ago. It was when I went to the Lupe Fiasco show at the House of Blues on April 7th, and B.o.B opened. I knew people had been talking about him for a while, so I made sure I showed up to see his set, wanting to give him a chance. I was blown away. I think I liked him more than Lupe; they were both great live. I was expecting a rapper, and got a musician. I've been to a hell of a lot of rap shows, and never have I seen a rapper play guitar on stage. I was instantly impressed. His style is just so different from anything else that's out there. I went home from that show and downloaded everything I could find, waiting anxiously for the album to drop.
Which brings us to where we are now. I loved this album. I think I would have liked it even more if the majority of the tracks hadn't leaked over the 2 weeks leading up to the release. And the demos, not even the mastered tracks. It's really unfortunate when something like that happens to an album. But it is what it is. The album has something for everyone, rapping, singing, beats that really bump, and acoustic guitar tracks. The thing that I was most impressed with is the ability to have such a unique style while still having catchy songs. It's nearly impossible to sit/stand still while listening to any of the songs on the album. Also, I was impressed by the way that the different styles transition so well into each other (see: Bet I > Ghost in the Machine).
I was impartial in that I like the more rock-based songs much more than tracks like "Bet I". Personal favorites would include "Ghost in the Machine", "Lovelier Than You", and "Airplanes Pt. 2". "Past My Shades" is probably the most infectiously catchy song on the album. Love that one as far as the less-rock/more-rap songs go. Also, do not forget the bonus tracks. There are 4 total, different songs for different retailers I guess. While "I See Ya" and "Higher" didn't really seem that special to me, "Letter to Vietnam", "Satellite", and "Don't Wake Me Up" are all necessities. B.o.B isn't the most advanced lyricist in the world, but that's not really what the music is about. It's about simple everyday concepts that people can relate to, and about having fun. I can't wait for it to be nicer outside so I can just drive around and play this loud, windows down.
Check out 2 of my favorites, "Ghost in the Machine" and "Past My Shades", below:
Ghost in the Machine
Past My Shades
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