drake – honestly, nevermind

A pop artist exploring beyond their sound and weaving through expectation is a good set up. Just this year, an emboldened ROSALÍA gave us the brilliant ‘MOTAMAMI’. The trouble with ‘Honestly, Nevermind’, is that it is not experimental to anyone but Drake himself. The beats pass by like an artificial water park river, occasionally pumping out some feeble waves; the vocals and writing end up debasing a lot of the more promising, hooky beats and the elements of house are actually better the more contrived they are. In principle, this record was ambitious: in practice, it is let down by Drake’s forgettable, drab presence.

13/30

A favourite: ‘Tie That Binds’

‘Honestly, Nevermind’ is out now via Republic Records.