Ventura – Anderson .Paak

Harry

Hot off the back of his recent and well-received full-length, Oxnard, Anderson has made a quick turnaround to produce Ventura. At first glance, the songs are more subtle and the focus is directed more towards soulful songwriting rather than his rap-inspired blend of electronic and organic instrumentation. THis is reflect in the artwork, which features Anderson sprawled over a bed in a black and white photograph casually taped onto an off-white background. It goes without saying that the album sounds amazing, yet it falls short for me on a number of counts. The beats feel characterless compared to Oxnard and the only appropriate use of the softly sung vocals all over this album should be in a sex playlist (not a complaint). With a few exceptions, Ventura feels like some half-baked B-sides from Oxnard.

Zach

When .Paak announced he was releasing another album just 6 months after Oxnard, I was very excited. Being on the positive side of Oxnard’s mixed reviews, I was intrigued to see what it would bring, however the first two singles left me slightly underwhelmed. However, this album is FLAMES. If Oxnard was a demonstration of Paak’s confusion about his own musical voice, Ventura is the compete opposite. Not only is it clear that Paak is assured in this soulful, groove and jazzy style, but this album encapsulates the best thing about Paak: his focus on rhythm as a musical tool and his unbelievable coolness. All features bring something to this album, particularly Lalah Hathaway and Andre 3000. Overall, this album feels like an extended version of my favourite songs from Oxnard. Furthermore, this album makes the singles sound better than when taken individually, due to Paak’s ability to create a groove, cool vibe. I ended last review by saying I don’t know if it is Paak at his best, however I am convinced this album is Anderson Paak at the height of his powers. 

Fave Tracks: Reachin 2 Much, Winners Circle

86/100