Combining the vibes of the 70s with the aesthetic of the 2000s, bLAck pARty successfully brings an experimental album about heartbreak, love, confidence, and happiness to the top of my list of what I am listening to these days. This R&B/Hip-Hop album doesn’t fail to amaze, and if you’re a fan of upbeat, smooth lyrics and vibes, Hummingbird is the album for you.

Not one song was disappointing. It’s everything you could expect from an R&B album about the longing for love, bLAck pARty uses peculiar electric sound effects one might assume came from the 70s to add depth to the message he tries to convey. However, instead of matching the lyrics with the vibe that the instruments would’ve created if that was all you could hear, bLAck pARty sang slower, and fittingly too. “Flame (feat. DMP Jefe & Zoe)” is a prime example of what pARty experimented with. His experimentation with lyrics and sounds completely changed the way the music sounded overall, and the more I listened to the contrast between the instruments and what the artist was singing about, the more the musical choices made sense.

While the songs sounded beautiful, I thought it lacked a little lyrically. Many of the verses sounded alike, as did the choruses. That’s not to say that they didn’t sound nice – it was catchy for sure, but if I had to say one criticism, it would be that I wish there was a little more depth to the meaning behind the lyrics. I think all of his songs that have a feature overcome this problem, though, due to the style each featured artist brings to the table.

Of course, I couldn’t review this album without mentioning the biggest reason as to why I was drawn to it, being Donald Glover, or, aka Childish Gambino. bLAck pARty is signed under Glover, so as a result, Gambino did a feature on the very last track of the album. “I Love You More Than You Know (feat. Childish Gambino)” was the perfect ending to a beautiful album. The song sounded serene and hopeful yet nostalgic at the same time, as if pARty was experiencing heartbreak, but he seemed to be mature about the situation. Gambino brings a lot to the table with his verse on the song, and his use of tone combined with his masterful skill in Hip-Hop/Rap allows the listener to understand the story behind the heartbreak the speaker is going through.

While the songs have the same vibe, none sound alike (musically), which serves as a refresher from many projects where repetition keeps the listener away. This album keeps me wanting more from the artist, even though I think 12 tracks is the perfect amount – it isn’t too much or too little. All in all, I’d rate this album a 7.9/10 as I have the constant urge to keep listening to and wanting more from this artist. If you’re wanting to listen to something to make you feel poised and comfortable, definitely check out this album.