REVIEW: Joyride - Tinashe
Tinashe’s sophomore album, Joyride, has finally arrived.
After years of creative differences, label arguments, and leaked singles, Tinashe has delivered Joyride fashionably late. Prematurely announced in 2015 right after the height of her critically acclaimed debut Aquarius, the “2 On” singer has had her fans on edge during this ride for the release of this album.
Joyride is packed with trap-bangers and sensual R&B bops.The first track, ‘Keep Your Eyes on the Road,’ is a suspenseful album opener that leads into the title track. “Joyride” which is an aggressive prolonging Travis Scott produced track, it sounds heavily Yeezus inspired which explains why Rihanna wanted to snatch it for Anti; the over-hyped 808s and distorted vocals adds to one of the trap-influenced bangers Tinashe has packed on this album. It leads into her club-banger single, ‘No Drama,’ which features Migos member, Offset. The (joy)ride slows down when the sensual standout track “He Don’t Want It,”comes along, with its dark ominous production accompanied with Tinashe’s high falsetto easily makes it one of my favorite tracks on the album.
“Ooh La La” which samples Kelly Rowland and Nelly’s iconic track “Dilemma” is a sensual summer R&B song with the reoccurring mattress squeak and bump-and-grind. Joyride has its ups and downs, especially coming across the label forced collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign and French Montana on “Me So Bad”, which is a generic watered down dancehall-pop song that was left on a hard drive from 2014.
The infectious hook of “Stuck With Me” featuring Little Dragons is a standout obscure track on Joyride, Tinashe doesn’t shy away from delivering a catchy tune. Deep cuts like “Fires and Flames” display her vulnerability venting over an intimate piano instrumental making it feel like a therapy session. The theme of intimacy continues on the brooding electric guitar-heavy track “Salt.” The floaty and flirtatious “No Contest” makes her appearance towards the end of the album, with a vintage production and a beat switch that takes an old school 2000s pop route, making this my favorite track.
Joyride is one of Tinashe’s most versatile projects to date, featuring deep-cut ballads, trap-influenced bangers, and watered down dance-hall, despite the setbacks of releasing this album it truly proves to be underwhelming. Was it worth the wait? NO
Rating: 7/10
Top Tracks:
No Contest
He Don’t Want It
Faded Love