The Odd Future alumni, Earl Sweatshirt, has never been an artist to create music for the masses. His matter-of-fact, laid-back, lazy rap style has always been his M.O. and on past releases, it sometimes sounded like he\u2019s about to fall asleep after delivering a verse. It\u2019s also a rarity if a song reaches more than two minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0This is once again true on SICK!, but it\u2019s production, mostly handled by The Alchemist, that sets it apart from past Earl Sweatshirt releases. It could be called somewhat of a reset for Earl Sweatshirt, as he dabbles with some of the more popular sounds of the last five years. It seems like a more determined release, with the looping piano, trap bass, and film and soul samplings. \u201c2010\u201d is a eulogy for a simpler time and COVID dread hangs like a piece of limp skin over tracks like \u201cVisions\u201d \u201cSick!\u201d and \u201cTabula Rasa.\u201d The latter features the rap duo Armand Hammer and is one of the more enjoyable on SICK!.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the songs don\u2019t hold a candle to \u201cTabula Rasa\u201d or \u201cLye\u201d and do feel a bit half-baked like \u201cLobby (int)\u201d and the dirty and gothic \u201cTitanic,\u201d with its trappiness<\/em> that kind of comes out of nowhere. Although the reference to MF DOOM makes up for the randomness. Lyrically, SICK! this is a very pessimistic album and perhaps it makes sense as Earl Sweatshirt has had to soldier on through this confusing time like the rest of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n