Case Study 01 — Album Review
A look at Daniel Caesar’s second studio album
After being “cancelled” by mainstream consumers after a drunken IG live, many missed out on a classic R&B album. Even after demanding to be cancelled (and succeeding by most standards), Daniel Caesar went out and created an amazing album which didn’t receive the love it deserves — ultimately, due to the timing of its release. However, if you find the fallacy of “cancel culture” redundant, then you will find this album to be a true masterpiece. Otherwise, look the other way.
This album feels like classic Daniel Caesar: beautiful singing ability backed by underrated lyricism with an emphasis on love and the human connection. With features from Brandy, Sean Leon, John Mayer, and Pharrell, the production of this album is very cohesive. The largest emphasis is Caesar’s singing ability, as it is not drowned out by the backing music or surrounding artists and the multifaceted meaning behind the highlighted songs. This is album I’ll be dancing to, while my grandkids look on in bewilderment, talking about, “What y’all know ‘bout this right here!?”
From the opening seconds, the theme of religion is apparent as a distorted voice speaks on the Hindu religious figure, Vishnu. Specifically the following line of scripture:
“[…] and, to impress him…
