It would have been hard for Kim Gordon to top her debut solo album, the exceptional No Home Record, released in 2019. Whereas her previous effort gave an impression of openness, rivaling bravura, and ingenuity, The Collective exudes a claustrophobic atmosphere. Dark and oppressive, punctuated by heavy rhythms, this sequel is not as enjoyable as its predecessor.
Still sonic, but less youthful, Kim Gordon shifts more towards trap, though without totally falling into it. Already, on No Home Record, she flirted with the genre. On The Collective, however, Gordon remains close to her noisy youth, giving it a much more opaque color and a more modern tone. Although the first two singles “Bye Bye” and “I’m a Man” hinted at a follow-up just as captivating as the celebrated No Home Record, the rest of the album, once again produced by Justin Raisen (Lil Yachty, John Cale, Yeah Yeah Yeahs…), is a little less engaging. Nevertheless, The Collective remains an audacious album, on which Kim Gordon doesn’t hesitate to explore new avenues and put herself at risk; that’s exactly what we expect from an artist of integrity and sincerity.
