Scroll Top
  • Home
  • REVIEWS
  • “Atavista” – Childish Gambino: Sticking To What He Knows… But We’re Not Mad About It

“Atavista” – Childish Gambino: Sticking To What He Knows… But We’re Not Mad About It

 

Artist: Childish Gambino Album: Atlavista Genre: Neo-Soul, Electronic Release Date: May 13th, 2024

Childish Gambino surprises us with “Atavista,” a polished re-release of his 2020 album “3.15.20.” Gambino originally released the unfinished record during the Covid-19 pandemic as a rushed love letter to his apocalypse anxiety and to his fans. Needing a master and a mix, Gambino resurfaced the entire album and dropped it alongside a list of tour dates. “Atavista” is an intimate album that somehow maintains oodles of mystique and disconnectivity. The words to the songs are new, but the album’s sound isn’t anything that we haven’t heard from Gambino before.

The re-release discarded three songs from the original and replaced two of them with new ones. The title track “Atavista” – previously 0.00 – kicks off the album with a bunch of sounds reminiscent of an obnoxious iPhone alarm before quickly transitioning to the much more enjoyable sound of a synthy piano and Gambino’s soulful vocals. The other newcomer is “Human Sacrifice,” a song that has been in the Gambino-verse since 2018 but was just now released. The song is full of messages of loneliness and desire but is accompanied by a dynamic arrangement that drags in the feeling of hope.



“Atavista” seems to be Childish Gambino’s most vocal-centered album. Tracks like “To Be Hunted” and “The Violence” showcase Gambino’s vocal abilities, reminding everyone he isn’t just a rapper. The incorporation of voice changers throughout the album also puts another emphasis on his voice. “Sweet Thang (feat. Summer Walker)” begins with a voice changer, distorting his voice across two pitches. He soon returns to his natural voice, and Summer Walker joins in with her own as well. Sliding right through the slow groove of the song, Gambino’s and Walker’s vocals pull you into sonic tranquility. Gambino also utilizes the voice changer in “Algorhythm,” creating an almost frighteningly dark voice before breaking it up with another melodic refrain.

One of the most popular songs on the album so far has been “Psilocybae (Millennial Love),” which features 21 Savage, Ink, and Kadhja Bonet. Detailing a night spent with a woman and some psilocybin, the lyrics are filled to the brim with the comedic wit that Gambino is known for. The track listens like a story and is paired with a terrific arrangement. 21 Savage’s feature is brilliant, maintaining some of his own style while melding in with Gambino’s work. Among “Psilocybae (Millennial Love)” in the features department, are “Time (feat. Ariana Grande),” “Sweet Thang (feat. Summer Walker),” and “Little Foot Big Foot (feat. Young Nudy).” “Time (feat. Ariana Grande)” is a war between pessimism and optimism. While battling through the constructs of time and meaning, we are delivered a lyrically and instrumentally stacked song. Still, Grande’s performance is a little underwhelming, and they weren’t able to sell me the message of the song. “Little Foot Big Foot (feat. Young Nudy)” was great until Young Nudy entered the track – arriving in a jarring and unpleasant manner. The instrumental smoothly transitions out of its playful melody, introducing what seems to be an exciting breakdown in the song, but Young Nudy’s verse feels random and clashes with the vibe of the rest of the track.



As we work our way through the album, we wind down towards the end of “The Violence” – which ends with a touching message from Gambino’s young child – but pick up again for one last encore. The last track is “Final Church,” a beguiling and powerful ending to the album. Gambino takes inspiration from gospel music and centers the song around faithful thought and self-reflection. Another conglomerate of melodic chaos, “Final Church” is the perfect send-off for an album of detachment, love, and inner turmoil.

Part of what makes Childish Gambino the great artist he is, is his unique sound. Yet, “Atavista” feels more like an amalgamation of vault tracks from previous albums rather than a new release. The record was undeniably well suited for 2020, packed with existentialism and doubt, but it might have a hard time finding its place now that it has been dragged four years into the future. Regardless, no one can deny Gambino’s talent and creative genius… we just hope he goes a little further with his album “Bando Stone and the New World,” set to arrive later this year.

 


Recent Posts

Clear Filters
“Real Deal” – Janita Review
Janita_RealDeal

Janita’s “Real Deal,” the lead single from her forthcoming album Mad Equation, is a reflection of her ongoing evolution as an artist who refuses to fit into a mold. Produced by Blake Morgan, the track feels like a distillation of her career-long journey: a blend of thoughtful songwriting, subtle defiance, and precise musicianship. While its surface might seem tranquil, “Real Deal” carries an undercurrent of rebellion—an ethos inspired by films like The 400 Blows and Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, both of which influence its thematic depth.

“jerrord”- Wes Coeur Review
Jerrord_Album_Cover

Wes Coeur’s jerrord is a masterclass in duality. On the surface, it’s an effortlessly cool slice of electro-pop—driven by a thick, pulsating synth bass and topped with Wes’ Auto-Tuned melodies that glide somewhere between playful croon and knowing smirk. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll notice how chalant it really is. The production is polished to perfection, every layer meticulously placed, and the music video oozes style with a clarity that betrays how much thought went into it. This isn’t some slapdash bedroom pop experiment; this is calculated cool.

Add Comment

Related Posts

01 Nov: When Does Spotify Wrapped Come Out?

It’s reasonable to anticipate that Wrapped 2024 will arrive around the end of November. As the year winds down, music…

10 Oct: Taylor Swift Becomes World’s Richest Female Musician, Surpassing Rihanna

Taylor Swift has officially become the world’s richest female musician, surpassing Rihanna after the extraordinary success of her Eras Tour, according to Forbes. With a net worth now estimated at $1.6 billion, Swift has firmly secured her place at the top of the music industry’s financial ladder.

09 Oct: Musician’s Census 2024: Independent Artists Face Growing AI Challenges

In a recent article titled The Musician’s Census 2024: “It’s Becoming Harder To Be An Independent Artist”, Mark Knight of Right Chord Music, in collaboration with Musosoup, reveals the difficulties faced by independent musicians. The survey, which gathered insights from 300 artists across 64 countries, highlights concerns around payment, visibility, and the evolving landscape of the music industry.

01 Oct: Mk.Gee Cancels Philadelphia Show, Citing Burnout, Treats Fans to Raising Cane’s

Philadelphia fans were left disappointed on September 28 when rising indie artist Mk.Gee canceled his highly anticipated show at the last minute. The announcement came via Mk.Gee’s Instagram story, where he apologized, explaining that he was simply burnt out and couldn’t bring himself to perform another show after a grueling schedule.

01 Oct: Frankie Valli Addresses Viral Concerns Over His Health and Lip-Syncing, Says He’s ‘Still Rocking’ at 90

Legendary singer Frankie Valli has responded to fans’ concerns about his health and the noticeable lip-syncing in his recent performances after videos of the shows went viral online.

17 May: Aminé Announces The Best Day Ever, New Portland Music Festival

Calling all festival goers to Portland rapper Aminé’s inaugural music festival, “The Best Day Ever”. This festival will take place August 10th through 11th at the McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater in Troutdale, Oregon. Featuring a diverse mix of Hip Hop, Rap, R&B, and Dance/Electronic, this festival won’t be one to miss.

14 May: Mk.Gee’s Latest Work Sounds Better on Stage Than it Does On The Album

While the album’s production and performances are nothing short of incredible, his album received a significant boost in popularity after a viral appearance on Jimmy Kimmel. Imperfections, like his cracked voice and slightly out-of-tune guitar, enhance the potency of his performance. Amidst the backdrop of moody lighting, the haunting melody of a soprano saxophone adds to the surreal, ethereal ambiance. Fans cite this as their favorite rendition of the song, by far.

10 May: Cindy Lee has Canceled The Remainder of Their U.S. Tour with Freak Heat Waves

The news came on May 4th, after a handful of venues set to host the band announced the cancellation. Chicago music venue Empty Bottle reported the cancellations as a result of “personal reasons within the touring party.” At the time of writing, no further word has come out as to the reasons behind the tour’s cancellation, leaving fans to speculate about the artist behind the persona’s wellbeing.

26 Apr: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2024 Inductees – It’s About Time

  Dave Matthews Band Dave Matthews Band emerged as a defining force in the 1990s jam-band scene, characterized by their…

24 Apr: “I did a lot of research on Rick… I don’t believe his audience is creative people”: Jacob Collier calls Rick Rubin’s creative manifesto “absolutely false”

Musical savant Jacob Collier has been taking the music world by storm over the last few years. He started on…

23 Feb: Daft Punk’s “Discovery” Companion Movie, “INTERSTELLA 5555”

Interstella 5555

18 Feb: One Week After “Vultures,” Kanye Releases New Music

Kanye West dedicated a significant portion of 2022 and 2023 to quietly laboring on his comeback to the music scene….

ni_synthesizers_bundle_plugin_boutique

09 Oct: KOMPLETE Synthesizer Collection by Native Instruments – $89

When it comes to software, one of the best strategies is to wait for those incredible sales—because, let’s face it, digital products don’t have the same production costs as physical gear, so they often go on steep discounts. $49 is dirt cheap for the level of quality and versatility you’re getting here. If you’ve been holding off on buying premium music software, now’s the time to jump on this deal before it’s gone.