I think he probably was avoiding shitting on something that also had lackluster production value and lyricism but obviously had a lot of the artists 'heart and soul in it'.
Not everyone who experiments with sound and has a darker, edgier sound to it wants to lean into just one genre. Some people just genuinely enjoy innovation and the experimentation with sound and music. Not all of us want to eventually just write in one genre. I hate this assumption so much. This album is not a trial run of anything. There was SO much work put into this album. I highly recommend watching all the interviews over it. Album is incredible.
Ashnikkos sound is amazing if you go into it with the right mindset. Are the lyrics grammy worthy? No. But damn does the music hit. I think Ashnikko is one of those artists that reminds us that music is supposed to be fun, and if you're so busy criticizing the technicalities, you're no longer having fun.
This album has been on repeat since it released here. Are some of the lyrics a little cringe? Sure, but that's kind of part of the appeal. So is the sometimes "annoying" sound. Idk, I think it all adds to the experience and is part of her unique appeal. Like, there's a charm in the directness of it all. I love the end result and most of the songs are probably gonna end up pretty high on my Spotify Wrapped at the end of the year.
the concert she put out for this album was amaaaazing. she went all out, had amazing backup dancers, put her all into the preformance. ik this has nothing to do with your review but live? holy hell it changed my appreication for this album.
I think this album was doomed by its protracted production time frame and then delayed release when her record label dissolved… the sound of this record would have been great like 1.5 years ago but it’s coming juuuust at the exact time when this sound/style is kind of fading and feeling a bit dated.
Is this album revolutionary? No. Will I still listen to it and enjoy it? Yes, because not every musical project has to be taken 100% seriously. Sometimes I just need something fun and upbeat.
I’m sick of ppl saying this as if like fun and upbeat music isn’t also worthy of high praise or criticism I mean albums like Carly Rae Jepsen’s Emotion, Robyn’s Body Talk even Jessie Ware’s last two albums are purely fun and are well acclaimed by critics and fans alike (including Fantano) and still worth taking seriously. It just feels like an excuse sometimes when good fun pop music is it’s own kind of art form and I think the issue is this album and Ashnikko’s discography is that it takes itself too seriously and thinks it’s darker and cooler and edgier than it really is.
@@modestrocker1 I didn't say I disagree with his criticism though? I didn't address it at all. It's just my thoughts on why the album can be enjoyable regardless of its flaws.
@@modestrocker1 I hope "It's annoying, poorly written and childish" is applied to everything she did previous to this record as well because this is the most mature she has been yet
@@tf6026 couldn't have said it better myself. Although OP didn't necessarily mean this comment as a defence against the review, I think. But I do agree with you 100%. So damn annoying when someone likes trash and just go for: "yeah but not all music needs to be technical, sometimes you just want something easy and fun." as if there aren't any really good albums that are also easy and fun.
As someone who’s never been the biggest Ashnikko fan, this album pleasantly surprised me. It has a lot going on and she takes herself in a few different directions that I didn’t expect!
I'm just happy that Anthony said that Blackout has "high-grade production" and "charm and vocal chops." One of my all-time favorite pop albums, and I've been patiently waiting for him to say something about it lmao
Gotta disagree hard - not only did I enjoy this record, to me it feels like her moving forward, not backward. It feels like her wanting to not just do silly horny pop rap but dip into heavier sounds and tackle more serious themes. "Miss Nectarine" and "Dying Light" I think are especially emotionally devastating, particularly from a queer perspective. Sure the execution is clumsy and the lyrics silly, but not that much moreso from Demidevil, and I think her target audience will be willing to roll with it. Plus, to me it feels like a lot of this is *meant* to be messy and raw rather than slick and cool, with the whole Mad Max post-apocalyptic framing, so I'd argue the rougher production kinda fits the vibe, even if I'd like to see her tackle concepts like this on a bigger scale at some point.
Also like, idk, if we're calling her out for goofy cringey bars, there's just as many on Demidevil. I'd even argue that's part of what makes her relatable, is having that kind of blunt teenagery bravado.
This, especially in songs like “you make me sick”, the sillier lyrics made it feel more raw to me, like when your so pissed your not worried about using eloquence or w.e (the ‘im mad’ line is super effective), it adds to it and it’s a key part of her style that she established earlier on, just because she’s tackling different subjects and getting a little rougher in her sound, doesn’t mean she’s just gonna stop the way she speaks and writes, and it doesn’t mean she should, she obviously could if she wanted to but she doesn’t have to for her music to reach some arbitrary standard
Hot take Fantano spent too much time looking up the lyrics and reading them on a page rather than how Ashnikko sings/raps them. Also she is goofy af and I love that
L take. This album is fantastic. I genuinely believe that a straight white man wasn't in mind when making this album. This album is so bi coded and feminine rage inducing. It's a wonderful album as a bi sexual woman. This isn't anything against him it's just not geared towards him, so no wonder he doesn't vibe with it
I loved the album, but I understand that the unapologetically edgier style isn’t for everyone, I liked her other songs, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve always enjoyed music that isn’t afraid to break and bend the rules of music, but given that demidevil was a bit more commercial I can see how folk who dug that sound might not like this one as much, and that’s ok, I had a lot of fun with it, almost all bangers
I like her style..I ain't gone lie if I listen to her music like 10 years go I probably wouldn't have liked it. But my ears are accustomed to her sound now and I fw it lol
Her first album was solid, had some good tracks. She opened up for Danny Brown last time he toured solo and she was great! But yeah two stinker albums since…
I honestly feel like it's the catchiness and aesthetic that people get hooked on. She has that "weird girl" vibe that artist like Grimes had, except Grimes actually put out some good albums back in the day 😂
fantano isn't rude he's just a critic saying his opinion abt the album lmao it's fun album but it doesn't mean it's the greatest of all time i personally think it's okay
I knew as soon as I listened to this album that most people would think it’s bad and cringe. I loved it though, it was better than I ever could have hoped. This album is for the weird and strange girlies who like their music loud.
I’m gonna take all the criticisms of this album in stride because I’ve always been an Ashnikko fan similar to Melanie Martinez. I think that a lot of people overlook the depth and the meaning behind what Ashnikko puts out do I like every single song on the WEEDKILLER album? No, but as a fan, I am growing with ash and some albums will be hidden mess. It’s been the same with other artists such as Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, etc..
why does he keep calling them just “nikko” lmao just call her Ash, nikko isn’t her last name 😂 it comes from their first and middle name Ashton Nicole.
@@OnyxDeity well you would think a music reviewer would do some bare minimum research lol a quick look at wikipedia is all it takes to find that out. i thought it was funny.
Tbh i really loved ashnikko's older works and have been supporting since her Unlikeable EP but this new album is just kinda meh. Some singles I liked, others I didn't care for and that's basically how the whole album was for me. My favourite song is the last one and that's just coz I love Ethel cain lol.
Sorry Bud, you should have reviewed it sooner, I already love this album. Can’t disagree more. Not that I’m surprised nor do I think it’s a criticism of Fantano, but I’ve noticed that albums from women for women don’t land as well for Anthony. Which like, duh, like I said I don’t think that’s something to be criticized for. As far as we know Melon is definitely not a woman and that’s also okay. Not that men can’t like this album, but the perspectives this album brings are so specifically experiences that will be relatable to women. Sure a lot of it is silly and over the top, but lines like “God made me pretty, you made me mean” aren’t going to land the same for someone who hasn’t been sexually harassed by strangers since they were a teenager (or younger), which thankfully isn’t an experience that most men have. I feel like the melodrama of the presentation is a compelling juxtaposition for dealing with incredibly real traumas that she talks about basically from front to back on this album. There’s a lot of irony and drama that I think are used to make problems otherwise too big to sit with into something digestible. Strong 7/10, if a bit short and one-note.
As a femme person with depression and a lot of anger with no destination, I've been loving it. The beats are catchy as hell, I can dance to it, and Worms made my latest heartbreak-induced major depressive episode feel understood. I love this album. It's made by a woman crushed by an impending, desolate future while still dealing with the anger of a queer person existing day-to-day. While I do appreciate Fantano's insight generally, this just seems especially tone-deaf for a dude who will never experience this grief. It feels mean just for the sake of being mean. Her other singles don't have the poignancy or coherence that this album does. It's multi-faceted and I love most of the songs on it. But hey, I'm just one person and that's my take. Always here for experimental pop that is dynamic. A 3 is an insult, in my opinion.
She's always been really edgy though, like look at the lyrics for Special, Daisy, or Nice Girl. I think she mentioned that this album is more so her finally like destroying or eliminating her past struggles. Which is why there's so much anger in the album in some of the songs.
Or maybe her taste is just different than yours, given she’s got plenty of people who like her album, some more than the first songs she made, that seems more likely, that her taste in music is just one you don’t like, maybe you liked her earlier work that was more commercial and that’s cool too, maybe you didn’t like any of it and just watched the video for shits n giggles, idk you, but u get the idea
Yeah, I agree. I haven't disliked anything ash did until this album rollout started. At worst some of her songs were mid to me. But out of the 5 singles she dropped for this album, I didn't like a single one. Here's hoping this is just a sophomore slump and she finds the passion and inspiration to focus on weirdo rap again.
Is it an amazing album? No. But I'd hardly call it a regression. It's a huge step up from demidevil. I think she is constantly improving with every bit of music that comes out. Strong 6 from me, there's some incredible earworms on this thing.
Honestly, I could kind of see this coming. Never loved her stuff as much as some, but at least it was never boring or felt like it was really trying to just be edgelord levels of feminine empowerment. Her other stuff felt like it was coming from a more emotionally centred place, without forgetting how to be better than the sum of its parts. Her vocals were never the best, but she made it work. She balanced it with the quirky music and the story told in the song. Hoping this is just the "sophomore slump" of the modern age. A lot of new artists pile up great songs before releasing a mediocre full-length album. I genuinely enjoyed the vast majority of her stuff up until this album. Daisy, Deal With It, Hi, It's Me and Invitation are all still bangers imo.
@@blarghblargh That’s totally fair. I just personally hated this album. There was a rawness to her earlier stuff that’s really lost here. Not to mention a lot more sonic variety. Plus, there’s so many cringey lyrics, as Melon also pointed out.
ive been waiting for this video. ashnikkos lyrics definitely arent the best but they are very catchy and can be relatable. i’m very biased to her because ive been a fan since unlikeable. i love this review though
In her discord, people similarly criticize her lyrics not making any sense, even in her girly pop world. The foot farts when the man shits. Melon used to be a fan too!
Eh, I like this album. I didn’t expect crazy lyricism but I wanted something over the top, brash with good production and I got that. It’s like an 8 for me.
was looking forward to this review im seeing ashnikko with my gf this month because she’s a huge fan this isn’t really my style, couldn’t really take all the auto tune on this album at first but i’m getting used to it and having fun with getting to know what my gf listens to lol Great review 👍🏽 Keep ‘Em up
@@leosafina2697 I didn't listen to any of the singles and tried the album on a whim. 4 tracks are a perfectly serviceable amount of time to give any album before you decide it's not for you
Big Ashnikko fan but this album had a couple skips for me. Love the overtly sexual style because it's fun, lighthearted, playful, but she has sexier songs (Invitation and Stupid) and she has songs that are more fun (Manners and Tantrum) That being said, I'm seeing her in Boston on the 25th and nothing in the past five years has had me so excited
I’ve nothing constructive to add. I saw in the doobley-doo that Ash is signed to Parlophone, just like Coldplay used to be back in the day. This record sounds nothing like Parachutes
it's a shame that Vasso Vu (the main cover art designer & photographer) ripped off x/o's art for Chrysalis Wrath, the single for their Chaos Butterfly album. it's still the best thing about this trash fire.
if it was called “to pimp a weedkiller” you probably still would not have liked it because the title of an album generally does not affect the listening experience
I really love Ashnikko and I love the new album. I used to take almost everything Fantano said about music as “objective facts” but obviously they are subjective opinions. Idk I think Ashnikko is pretty unique in sound, if not please give me recommendations
i was really looking forward to the album but in the end it was pretty forgettable which is a shame because i like ash's vibe and was hoping her fun persona would translate into equally fun album but oh well
Listen to “Being Human” by Mike Sabbath and the Moongirls, their debut album that came out in 2023, a band of all men that blends disco, funk, and pop. There are some great bops on the album, and the lead singer I believe is the prodigy of Pharrell Williams as well has had some features on some pretty prominent pop albums of the last few years. Obviously not the best album of all time, but a very solid debut with a lot of future potential for the band.
HEY I started listening to this and this is really good. I dont even listen to Ashiniko and idk why I am here but I got something good out of it so dope ty dude have an awesome day
