iridescence

BROCKHAMPTON’s album Iridescence is their most chaotic and experimental release so far. The familiar vibes from their SATURATION projects got totally shaken up, diving into moodier territory. While they went all-out with the downbeat, moody sound on GINGER, it all started with Iridescence. Tracks like WEIGHT, SAN MARCOS, TONYA, and TAPE dig deep into personal struggles, reflecting what the members were going through. The rawness and vulnerability on these tracks make the album feel like an emotional rollercoaster. Joba and bearface have more vocal time and both of them shine brighter than ever. Joba, being super versatile, steals the show on BERLIN, NEW ORLEANS, and J'OUVERT with his singing, rapping, and even screaming. Bearface might not be as show-stopping, but his sassy parts on BERLIN, THUG LIFE, and TONYA are great. Kevin and Dom are solid as always, with Dom delivering consistently good verses in the first half and Kevin in the second half. Merlyn’s eccentricity is more entertaining than ever. Matt is the only vocal member who doesn't perform as well, but even he has standout moments on WHERE THE CASH AT and J'OUVERT. The first half of Iridescence is a bit weak, reflecting the project’s overall chaotic nature. Unlike the frontloaded SATURATION albums, the weakest moments are at the start here. SOMETHING ABOUT HIM feels like a boring interlude and the overblown beat of DISTRICT gets annoying quickly. But those are the only two bad songs on Iridescence. Everything else is fantastic, showing BROCKHAMPTON’s ability to mix genres and emotions. The production is a mix of aggressive beats and softer, more thoughtful sounds, reflecting the highs and lows the group went through. Overall, Iridescence is a BROCKHAMPTON project from 2018 that, despite a rocky first half, is another great release. It’s half banger, half introspective, and pure chaos, showing what the group was feeling at the time. The album’s messy nature mirrors life itself, making it relatable and powerful. Iridescence might not be the most polished BROCKHAMPTON album, but it’s definitely one of the most honest and emotional.

BROCKHAMPTON - IRIDESCENCE

RATING - 7.9/10

FAVORITE TRACKS - NEW ORLEANS, TONYA, THUG LIFE

GENRE - Hip-Hop, Pop, Indie, Alt