JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR
The album cover is courtesy of @dontoliver on Instagram
ALBUM SCORE: 2.75/5 Stars
While it may draw comparisons to Travis Scott, under whose label Don Toliver releases his music, “Harstone Psycho” is a slight step forward from his previous projects.
Toliver’s latest album is a testament to the Houston rapper’s unique evolution while staying true to his roots. In his fourth solo effort, Toliver offers a blend of atmospheric peaks and underwhelming valleys.
“Bandit,” one of the pre-release singles, stands out with its explosive trap beat, punchy rock riffs and impressive falsetto vocals. This track is refreshing as it’s a nice change of pace from Toliver’s recent mellow output on his previous record, “Love Sick.”
Other highlights include tracks like “Glock” and “Tore Up.”
“Glock” is the most impactful track on the LP because of the soulful vocal sample “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)-from ‘Waiting to Exhale’” by Whitney Houston. The song progresses with dynamic chord changes and is the best hook on the record. “Tore Up” delves into the emotional struggles of Toliver’s lifestyle plagued with open drug use and sex. Toliver’s ambitious vocal performance paired with a rock bass leaves a compelling case for being the best song on the record.
Despite “Hardstone Psycho’s” highlights, it stumbles just as much as it soars.
Toliver’s attempt to present the album as four distinct discs, each containing four tracks, falls flat. There needs to be more to distinguish each section musically and aesthetically.
“Deep in the Water,” an attempt at a sensual moment, adds variety to the album; however, its momentum disappears after the beginning because the track loses its punchiness. Akin to other duds on this tracklist, “Deep in the Water” goes nowhere fast.
Songs like “Last Laugh,” with its grating atonal laughs, and “4X4,” where Toliver’s inflection sounds awkward, fail to maintain momentum after the first disc.
The album’s main drawback is its tendency to echo a derivative version of Travis Scott’s sound. The 16 tracks often feel stagnant, giving the album a bloated feel.
Some tracks, like “Attitude,” fail to evolve beyond their initial ideas. Whereas other songs feature guest appearances that tend to be hit or miss. Kodak Black’s feature on “Brother Stone” is awkward and drags on, and other standout guest appearances from Teezo Touchdown and Charlie Wilson are underused.
The Kodak Black feature also includes the worst lyric on the record.
“Whipping’ up the baby like goo-goo, ga-ga.”
While the production quality is solid, blending elements of trap, rock and R&B, the album often needs more cohesiveness and innovation. Tracks like “Purple Rain,” produced by Metro Boomin, start strong but lose momentum and give the track a fragmented feel, adding to the album’s issue with pacing and songwriting.
“Hardstone Psycho” is a mixed effort from Don Toliver. It shows flashes of his potential, particularly when he ventures into new territories. However, the album is weighed down by its inconsistency. Toliver’s ambition has improved, but his execution leaves more to be desired. This all results in an album that feels like a collection of missed opportunities yet hints at a promising future.
debell22@bonaventure.edu
