"3.15.2020" Is The Space Odyssey We Didn't Know We Needed (Album Review)
Another song by song reaction, this time for Childish Gambino’s 3.15.2020. I’ll say this before I get into it, this was an interesting project to listen to. Like many of us, I was excited when I heard Gambino dropped a surprise project, even though I wasn’t necessarily anticipating or waiting on a new album from him.
But I’m still very confused about this release. I didn’t feel like I needed a new Gambino project yet, but he gave it to us anyway. I’m curious about what was going on in the background because maybe it had something to do with his label. Aside from that, I’m also a little bit confused about the direction of the album.
I don’t hate the project, but I don’t love it. There’s definitely a spacey futuristic vibe throughout it, however, it feels unfinished to me. Gambino has put out great projects with a lot of replay value in the past, but this album didn’t have that for me. I don’t think I’ll find the mood to revisit these songs again, but you guys let me know. What do you think of this project?
The intro song, “0.00” is vibey, which is what I expected based on what I heard from people online - some weird, spacey, astronomical shit LOL. Low-key this production has been under-stated though, I haven’t heard anyone talk about the production on this album. I know I’m barely into it, but to get instrumentation to sound like this has GOT to be difficult. Gotta check who did it. The subtle use of piano on here is dope too.
*Update: DJ Dahi probably did a majority of the drums that I like on this album. He, Gambino, and longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson have most of the production credits.*
Woah. The second tune, “Algorhythm”, is fucked. Same spacey vibes but with a much weirder drum pattern. It sounds Kanye-esque. It’s hard though LOL would gym. But damn, I was gonna say I don't like the vocals on this but then he brought out the singing voice. Jeesh, I’m feeling this- at least the singing parts.
“Time” slaps for something so fucked sounding. Who the fuck made these beats? How the fuck? Did Gambino just sing acapella or did he actually feel inspired to flow on top of these unusual ass beats? This song is great. He’s sticking to the singing voice that I like. Still though, I’m trying to decide what the replay value of this is, not just for me, but for the masses. When would other people listen to this?
Track 4, “12.38” got storyteller vibes from Gambino. 21’s verse is hard too, “I’m on a private jet eating Popeye’s chicken, I be flexing like I’m eating Popeye’s spinach”. Wow, and the beat switch is slappy slappy. Goddam. This bops hard. I'd listen to a whole song with this second beat/bass line.
*Discussion Point: He could have split all these switches into different tracks. The split tracks/interludes is an underrated aspect of Tory Lanez’s “I Told You”.*
“I’m on a private jet eating Popeye’s chicken, I be flexing like I’m eating Popeye’s spinach”
- 21 Savage (12.38)
“19.10” is an immediate bop. I'm grooving. I like this a lot, definitely my favourite song so far. The drums are moving, his vocals are smooth. The track still has the little like futuristic/spacey/robotic or whatever the fuck vibe he going for, but it’s still easy enough to listen to. That being said though, he’s already put an album with a sound similar to this in “Awaken, My Love!”.
The “24.19” beat is a vibe at the start, but the vocals are a little too much. The vocals calm down after the first couple bars though, now it reminds me of redbone. “Daaaaylight”, was replaced with, “sweeet life”. Definitely a listenable song. This is the second song on this album I feel like I could listen to. Shiet, his natural singing voice just came in and it’s hard. He’s got a cool voice. Unique. Raspy? It's high but not as high as The Weeknds, still impressive and nice-sounding though.
This next song. “32.22” is cool I'm not gonna lie, but I would never listen to this. It would be cool in a movie or something. Maybe a hunting scene or something. I should spend more time playing COD.
“35.31” is more my vibe. I like everything about this song. The instrumentation, how his voice sounds on it, the length of the song, everything. But I can’t help but think that the sequencing of these tracks makes no sense to me. It's a lot and all over the place. I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something. I’m sure I’ll hear this at a cook-out or something. Also the beat just switched, and I’m rocking with this too. I really gotta check out these production credits.
"why go to the party at all"
- Childish Gambino (39.28)
“39.28” is a concept, "why go to the party at all" 🤔. Again, this song is kind of a vibe, but in what context would I play/listen to this? It must have been fun to create, so I don’t want to knock it too much, but even in the context of this album, it seems oddly placed. I gotta be missing something. Is this project even meant to be listened to in full? I would assume so, but I’m not sure. It’s gotta be something that I just don't understand
Also “42.26”, samples “Feels Like Summer”. Great tune. Well this definitely sounds exactly like “Feels Like Summer” LOL- maybe it’s a variation of it? But yo, this the best song on here so far LOL.
*Update: Confirmed re-release of “Feels Like Summer” under a new name.*
This next song, “47.48” definitely has cool elements. Really groovy. Interesting vocal take. This album definitely got much better towards the end. This outro/interlude with his daughter is hella cute too.
The last song “53.49” popped off hard. I rock with this. Just dope. A song for the gym? Driving road trip music? Something to bop to when the time is right for sure.
Overall, i definitely didn’t love this album. It was a lot of music to digest. I didn’t realize at the time of writing this that it’s been 4 years since “Awaken, My Love” dropped, but still, I feel like Gambino did a great job staying active. It might have been because we see and hear him doing so much outside of music, but even if so, he complimented all of that so well with the impact of “This Is America” as well as the release of the Summer Pack. I’m glad we got new music from Gambino, but I’m hoping we get more soon.
Let me know your thoughts on the album!
Pleasure writing for ya,
Bhaven