Ear Candy: Omar Apollo's God Said No

    I think I have mentioned before, but every autumn I do a listening project where I check out new artists or albums that I have been putting off. I recently gave Omar Apollo's discography a spin after I saw people recommending him on Reddit. Holy crap! He's an amazing artist. A beautiful singer. And he showcases such versatility in all of his work. He's one of the few artist that have found that nice balance between being critically acclaimed yet being fun to listen to. It's a breath of fresh air. 

    So today we're going to be talking about Apollo's second studio album that he released this year, God Said No. This album shows off all of Apollo's talents. He showcases his emotive voice, his writing talents, and his range. He sings in both English and Spanish. There's a balance and tranquility through the whole record of natural and glitz. For instance, you listen to the opening track "Be Careful With Me" and it starts out with a guitar and sounds really midwestern nowhere. Then the beat drops and adds some glitter to the mix. It's beautifully produced with all of its little nuances.

    I also feels like there's a balance between being a normal person and celebrity. Many artists write like this, but there's a genuine feeling to Apollo here that others lack. 

    I think my favorite song of the set is "Spite." The lyrics are masterful. Apollo's performance on the song is spectacular. It's a stunning song.

    But going back to the duality of natural and glitz. You go from the rock-edged and raw "Spite" to the shiny, synth "Less of You." But! It's a seamless transition that feels right. And it definitely keeps things interesting. 

    The ballad territory is nice too. "Done With You" is so classy and cosmopolitan. 

    The record is superbly crafted. I know I've only talked about the first few couple of tracks, but Apollo really is out to prove something here. His performance is the centerpiece of the whole record. I really hope everyone will give it a spin and see what they think. I think it's perfect for this time of year too with it's downlow vibe.

Rank: A Rank

Recommendation: when you want to say yes to God Said No.

Standouts:

    The first 4 tracks

    Drifiting

    Against Me

    How