Review: Tinashe - Joyride
DENNIS LEUPOLD
Joyride is an interesting point in the Tinashe lore. The oft delayed and majorly anticipated follow up to her critically acclaimed debut, the road to Joyride was unorthodox. But that did not stop her from crafting an album that would hurl banger after banger, producing a memorable set of pop/R&B that took fans by storm. THIS is the RNB Nerd review of Tinashe’s Joyride.
“Keep Your Eyes On The Road (Intro)” – Well, come on now (Wendy Williams voice). Did we expect Tinashe to begin such a massive project without an intro? Much like its predecessor, Aquarius, Tinashe takes a moment to prepare the audience for the journey that they are about to embark on. I think what makes this intro so significant is just how LONG and hard the fight was to get to this point. Be it that Joyride was ALWAYS the title of the project, what would the album sound like now that we have been through (what feels like) this many iterations? Speaking for myself, hearing the introduction had me so hyped and I bet knowing that her fans were listening and finally getting this project was cathartic for Tinashe too.
“Joyride” – This song, boasts not only being the title track but also one of the first signs of something that we would begin to see more of in Tinashe’s songwriting. Being her first collab with Hit-Boy, THIS certainly delivered everything and more. I was excited to see that she was working with him for her sophomore album, seeing as his production is TOP NOTCH. We get signature Hit-Boy sounds; brooding drums and an overall production that feels palatial and menacing. A song like this could lead the listener to think that what was to follow might just be more of the bold, experimental sounds found on here. BUT this era was one of compromise and I think the title track does not represent the set list that we have all come to know and love. Towards the end the song, “Joyride” fades from its monolithic sound into a softer song that is full of assuredness and what we hear in the next record; CONFIDENCE in Tinashe’s journey moving forward.
"No Drama" (featuring Offset) – CONFIDENCE would be how I define “No Drama”. Stargate is back to helm the production of another Tinashe record that gets the single treatment. Stargate always seem to take Tinashe to these places where she shines brightly, completely captivating the listener with her non-stop flex. Hitting back hard with the in-your-face lyrics that DIRECTLY confront her situation at the time, “No Drama” was received well by fans and critics. “No Drama” was ripe with a trendy sound and a commanding, SAUCY video. I am glad that Tinashe and RCA found middle ground in trying to determine what direction both parties could begin to move in. This feels authentically Tinashe and with Offset on feature, could teeter the line between pop and urban radio formats. SOLID!
“He Don’t Want It” – This record exemplifies everything that made Tinashe big. “He Don’t Want It” could have easily fit into the sonic house that she built on Aquarius, due to the sheer number of elements that she returned to on this track. Dark, mysterious, and sexy – this record glimmers as much as it is heavy. The bass hits perfectly and the track gives an almost DIY impression, two things that are at the root of Tinashe’s brand. I remember when the song was released, there was much talk about it needing to be longer. But in today’s music climate, this is the norm. Maybe Tinashe was ahead of the curve here by putting us onto a slick, morsel of alternative R&B that leaves little wiggle room for anything other than greatness.
"Ooh La La" - You can fight me if you want, but “Ooh La La” is HANDS DOWN one of Tinashe’s best songs. Sampling the iconic Nelly and Kelly Rowland collab, “Dilemma”, makes it fit for a seat atop the thrown of R&B royalty. Tinashe sounds so beautiful, and the mastering of the record has her sounding pristine and crisp as hell on every word and especially during the angelic chorus. For as sexy as the record is, the song is equally romantic and tender. With lyrics like “You know you belong right here, you know you belong right here inside my arms” being at the center of this song, Tinashe lets you know that the core of what she is expressing here is a sentiment of pure love. And it is also in the WAY she sings those lyrics too. As I have said time and time again, up-tempos are the lifeblood of RNB Nerd. So, to find a literal BOP with sweet lyrics and amazing vocal production, look no further because this song is IT and is my favorite from the project.
"Me So Bad" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign and French Montana) – The amount of FLACK that this song got on the internet is VILE lol Sure, the ingredients chosen to make the perfect little crossover pop-R&B song could read as contrived (and please read this sentence in the voice from the Powerpuff Girls intro). But let us examine this further. We have two verses from Ty Dolla $ign (Issa voice) and French Montana, these guys are THE LITERAL GREATS. So far so good, but then we get into the production. Hitmaka and co. were probably following the script written by RCA and produced a fun, reggae-tinged song that found Tinashe singing in Ty Dolla’s signature cadence. The internet was up in arms over this aspect of the record, but as we will hear throughout the entirety of the project, Tinashe can literally do ANYTHING. Even sing like Ty Dolla $ign! Anyway, I love this song! The video is fun and gorgeous, and I will never forget hearing this played super loud at a club in Barcelona where I lost my shit! Good times!
"Ain't Good for Ya (Interlude)" – In what sounds like yet another ode to her first album, "Ain't Good for Ya” feels VERY Aquarius. It could feel a bit harsh to come down abruptly from the high of “Me So Bad”, chasing the up-tempo with the dark and twisted vibe we find here, but it makes sense when we look at the next song in the set. Tinashe was prepping our palates for the grungy and slick collab with Little Dragon.
"Stuck with Me" (featuring Little Dragon) – This is definitely a major collab! “Stuck with Me” feels authentic from both ends and is not married to one particular sound. And yet as an R&B fan, the sensibilities still resonate. Another record that had the internet talking, I personally believe this is one of Little Dragon’s best vocal showings. On this alternative record, Little Dragon fits nicely alongside Tinashe’s sultry and sexy vocal rasp. I also want to mention that Tinashe’s ad-libs bring some brightness to the overall grittiness of the production. When two seemingly different worlds collide, I can imagine that the output could feel influenced by one side more than the other. However, nowhere in the song do I hear any inkling of one artist prevailing over another. Textbook case for a perfect collab if you ask me!
"Go Easy on Me (Interlude)" – This moment immediately took me to Janet Jackson’s “The Knowledge”. A bit more fitting for a spot on Nightride IMO, but I think no matter where this track landed, it never hurts to ponder the social statements being proposed here.
“Salt” – I appreciate this song for showing another side of Tinashe that I had not yet heard. “Salt” is jazzy, bluesy, sits deep and brings out that lower register in her voice. Also, a surprise to hear this from producer Soundz. The murky vibe and electric guitar make “Salt” unlike anything else in the Tinashe catalogue. Tinashe is agonizing over a lover’s betrayal and is gut-wrenchingly honest in how she is addressing the situation and her feelings about it. Songs like this aught to tip the scales in favor of how great Joyride is and show that it is chock-full of these special moments that highlight Tinashe’s adaptability.
“Faded Love” – Having heard Tinashe cite multiple times that her collaborations with Future are amongst her favorites to date, “Faded Love” certainly exudes that. Tinashe is alluring, and this factor is amplified by the haunting music and production. The chorus spins with ferocity, packing a beat punch that could double as a Street Fighter combo sound effect. A song MADE for moments of passion; the entire record feels like the build up to an incredible hookup that has been in the making for some time. Adding to the tension of the song, Tinashe opted to have the music video shot vertically. Keeping Tinashe in the frame like this allows us to enjoy Tinashe in all her glory. I will never get over this video!
“No Contest” – This unquestionable, full-fledged R&B banger doubles as a great example of Tinashe’s vocal range. She shifts (car pun intended) between the tip-tops of her falsetto to her seductive lower register that is surprisingly deep. To craft a song like “No Contest”, you must get the references that inspire these sounds. “No Contest” has all the makings of great R&B and was compared to several iconic songs in the genre due to the heavy bass, skipping beat, and sexy hook. My favorite part of this song is right after the bridge, Tinashe holds nothing back and really shows what she is made of.
"Fires and Flames" – This one holds a special place in my heart. The stirring piano production feels SO PLUSH, my god! I could listen to that all by itself. Tinashe comes in to sing the beautiful melodies and she sounds SO CLOSE, her belts and runs are just perfect. They never feel too loud, but you still FEEL the emotion coming through. I love how the backgrounds crescendo at the bridge, leading us into a gorgeous finish to such a precious record. This song makes me feel so many things at once and it has a powerful way of connecting to lots of situations in my life. It has been five years since I heard this song for the first time and even today, it still stops me dead in my tracks. When I started this music blogging journey by just wanting to express myself and show love to R&B music, it is songs like “Fires and Flames” that inspired me to do it. This song touches my heart and SOUL. It has never once failed at being something that I can hold onto when it feels like I have nothing else. God bless this song!
DENNIS LEUPOLD
As disjointed as critics felt this album was and had they known the situation that ultimately molded the final product, I think they would not be able to ignore that the music here stands tall. The big moments on the album speak to Tinashe’s professionalism and ability to really perform in whatever arena she finds herself in. Joyride is a pivotal album for not only Tinashe but for the overall success of the genre and its ability to expand in vital and necessary ways. I think by Tinashe meeting the demands of RCA at the time, and with the alternative elements on the album, Tinashe pushed herself (and her fans) by smashing boundaries sonically (and professionally), ultimately creating a whole new world for her and fans. Witnessing the Joyride struggles firsthand made us love her that much more and as she has said herself, gave birth to her best album yet (Songs For You). No matter how you dice it, Joyride is an undeniable R&B album and one that Tinashe should be proud of.
