Apollo XXI
Steve Lacy snapped on this one. The guitarist/bassist of The Internet (and acclaimed producer for Solange and J. Cole, as well as featured collaborator on Vampire Weekend\'s *Father of the Bride*) presents a kaleidoscopic tour of funk and R&B styles on his debut solo album *Apollo XXI*. The sound and drive heard on the album are deeply indebted to the freaky early days of Prince Rogers Nelson, from the way Lacy stylizes song titles (“Love 2 Fast,” “N Side,” “4ever”) to his voice, which ranges from growly lows to pleading, teasing falsetto. “Guide” has *Dirty Mind* on its mind, while “Playground” jumps on the one with funk guitar and slap bass. The nine-minute shape-shifter “Like Me” sparkles with psychedelic touches, as if he’s hitched a ride on the P-Funk mothership. On “Lay Me Down,” Lacy masters the art of patient seduction, taking his time to do it right, while “Basement Jack” and “Hate CD” feel like something Frank Ocean would ride to. Sprinkled among these gems are spontaneous bursts of creativity like “Amandla’s Interlude” and “Outro Freestyle/4ever,” which show Lacy exploring the outer limits of expression and spirituality.
The singer and guitarist’s debut solo album offers an introspective blend of R&B, hip-hop, & lo-fi pop but feels reluctant to claim the spotlight.
But on ‘Apollo XXI’, released today, the day after his 21st birthday, Steve Lacy reminds us once again that age is just a number.
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Since joining the Internet at 16, Steve Lacy has established himself as a quiet force. Unfailingly humble, the coy Compton native has been p...
“Wonderkid”, “heartthrob”, “genius”: the first album by Steve Lacy has been well and truly hyped. Apart from his work
Steve Lacy's Apollo XXI is an intriguing debut, albeit a flawed one: it's a scrapbook album, a glimpse into The Internet man's voracious musical appetite.
Lacy brings indie, soul, rock and rap to his self-assured debut, full of hooks and attitude
Since the 2017 release of his EP Steve Lacy’s Demo, he has produced for Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller and Solange, made a record with his band the Internet and lent his vocals to songs by Blood Orange and Vampire Weekend.