New Blue Sun

Funny story - Andre 3000 used to play the flute in front of my local Erewhon all the time. This stuff is great.

Honestly, I waited a pretty long time to listen to this. Im not completely sure why because I love nature/ambience but something about this was intimidating, I don’ think I wanted to let go of my original perception of 3Stacks yet, and that kind of scared me off of this, but damn is it great.

I knew André 3000 wanted to explore other genres after OutKast, and that played a part in their split So, hearing him go all in on his dreams without anything holding him back was kind of intense. Like, he did some crazy stuff with OutKast, but this album? This is his pure, unfiltered art years later. That thought alone had me nervous, wondering if this is what he could have done back then if he hadn’t been held back. But I finally mustered up the courage to listen, and wow—this album is beautiful.

Maybe I’m biased, maybe it’s because I’m obsessed with his artistry, or maybe it’s just because this album really is that good, but for me, it’s a solid 100. No one can convince me otherwise. The way he can pack so much emotion and meaning into just a flute is wild. He’s a master at grabbing your attention with his craft. I didn’t get bored once, didn’t even move—just laid there and let this masterpiece wash over me. It was like I could feel the wind gently flowing over me, bringing this sense of peace and comfort as his flute pulled me in and wouldn’t let go.

I think the reason this album is rated lower with a lot of critics and sites than it should be is because it forces you into silence, leaving you alone with your thoughts. It’s just you and the music, which is so peaceful that it lets you really think about yourself. This album made me dive deep into my own mind, in ways I wanted to, and in ways I didn’t. I started off just chilling in bed, but by the end, I was sitting up and feeling this urge to change. It’s like the music walks you through your anxieties and fears, comforting you along the way and helping you face stuff you might’ve been too scared to even think about before. Being alone with your thoughts can be terrifying, but this album helps you navigate that. And the wild part is, you don’t even realize that the music is what got you there—it’s what carries you through the whole experience. I don’t need my body, but my mind? It’s awake, and it’s talking to me. This album is spectacular in everything and deserves a ten.

ANDRE 3000 - NEW BLUE SUN

RATING - 10/10

FAVORITE TRACKS - ALL

GENRE - Instrumental, Ambient, Natural, Flute