Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.

Kevin Abstract announced his newest album, “Blanket,” three weeks ago, pumping up listeners for another indie hip-hop album reminiscent of his BROCKHAMPTON days. Instead, fans were met with a completely different direction for the artist last Friday: a different genre, a different voice and a new persona.

In his previous solo albums, “American Boyfriend” and “ARIZONA BABY” Abstract maintains the bold diversity of sounds while keeping consistent with the hip-hop genre. “Blanket” is a soft punk masterpiece, successfully swerving in a completely different direction.

Before the album’s release, a single, also titled “Blanket” was released this year with a punk rock sound, signaling to listeners that this album was going to be unlike Abstract’s previous work. The album in its entirety is different from the single, but the stark change is consistent.

“Blanket” kicks off on a clearly different note than his previous releases with “When The Rope Post 2 Break.” The track is jarring to the typical BROCKHAMPTON or Abstract listener. And the vocals are almost unrecognizable to Abstract’s typical songs, though it maintains the mechanical, electronic sound he’s trademarked throughout his career.

The lyrics of “When The Rope Post 2 Break” are reminiscent of embracing maturity and leaving the worldly treasures of cash, power and fame. This concept is a common thread throughout most of the album, both suggesting Abstract has moved on from his boy band days and kicking off the album on a more desolate note.

“You beg me to grow, I can’t do none of that no more, Bring me some morе, Cash and fantasy, babe, it’s all the same, You reach out your hand, Why would I climb if the rope’s supposed to break?” Abstract sings on the introductory track.

General sadness and angst are other common threads throughout the album, as Abstract puts on a punk face to fend off the pain.

The album’s namesake, “Blanket,” is another melancholy track. It reflects the fleeting nature of relationships, whether they’re romantic or otherwise. The song has a runtime of nearly two minutes but only repeats the same chorus:

“Memory, memory, There’s new you’s and new me’s,” Abstract sings. “There’s all these things about me, Grab on, let’s hurry.”

Following “Blanket,” the song “The Greys” picks up the pace of the album as its best track. The track sheds light on mental health and how Abstract feels as if he doesn’t belong. Musically, the tune is fast-paced and poppy with a wintery background vibe to it.

This relates to a topic Abstract has tackled in his entire discography — his sexuality. Abstract came out in his 2016 solo album “American Boyfriend.” Since then, he has been very vocal about the struggles of being a gay man going through the ups and downs of a relationship. This can be seen in previous songs such as “Empty,” “Seventeen” and “Runner” in “American Boyfriend” alone. Abstract continues this reflection on his sexuality in “The Greys.”

“Boy I was so misled, can we both share looks when she’s around?” Abstract sings.

Along with this lyric, Abstract references the struggle of being dissimilar from the masses or “the party.” This sentiment is consistent throughout the album, how he’s struggling to grow and change in the wake of BROCKHAMPTON.

“I tried to tell ’em, But they ain’t wanna listen to me, What they thought it was, It ain’t made out to be, And people always told me, The way that you and I should exist, I’m in the treehouse, I heard they looking for me.” Abstract sings in the first verse of “The Greys.”

One of the few more upbeat tracks is “Madonna.” The song tells the story of a woman who’s hitting the town to party and feel good about herself. The meaning of the tune is not nearly as deep as other songs on the album but it tackles topics such as sex and drugs in a very light, fun way.

Last but not least, the album ends with “My Friend.” This song strays from the pop-punk aspects of the album and fully embraces the woeful-guitar aspect present in many current albums, like “Folklore” by Taylor Swift. By closing out the album on this note, it properly marks the end of the road for the sorrow project.

Published on November 6, 2023 at 8:47 pm