REVIEW: H.E.R. ‘Back of My Mind’
Culture Editor Bianca Gregg reviews the highly anticipated debut album from H.E.R.
Let’s start off with a “FINALLY!” If you’ve been following H.E.R. and enjoying her music for the last few years, it may come as a shock that this is literally her debut album. Nonetheless, the streets have been waiting and H.E.R. delivered a soulful, fun and political debut.
With perfectly placed features, stellar production and her signature melodic voice, H.E.R. gave us a 79 minute ride through why she is one of the favorites among the new R&B girls.
Out the gate, ‘We Made It’ showcases H.E.R.’s guitar skills. Although not highlighted too often throughout this album, she sets a tone to remind people of just how talented she is.
Keep in mind, not too many of the girls are actually playing instruments now.
The following tracks, ‘Back of My Mind’ and ‘Trauma’ which both have features from Ty Dolla Sign and Cordae have the right pinch of feature while not overpowering H.E.R.’s style — something that seems to be a struggle in today’s music.
‘Damage’ has been a personal favorite of mine for some time now. The song samples Herb Alpert’s 80's classic ‘Making Love In The Rain.’
With production from both Kaytranda and Thundercat, ‘Bloody Waters’ is where H.E.R. gets political. Like her songs ‘I Can’t Breathe’ and ‘Fight For You,’ H.E.R. takes aim at America’s continued ignorance to it’s own atrocities and lack of accountability.
I personally enjoy when she gets political, but that’s just me.
‘Cheat Code’ is another solid track on the album discussing infidelity. Yes we’ve heard this story-line many times but it’s just something about H.E.R.’s delivery on this track.
Many of the tracks on this album deal in heartbreak which is not foreign to any woman, especially a 23 year old. ‘Mean It’ is definitely one we can relate too; H.E.R. communicating what she lacked in comparison to “the other woman.”
Other stand out tracks on the album include ‘Don’t,’ which features more of H.E.R.’s instrumental skill set and both ‘Hard To Love’ & ‘For Anyone’ which feature H.E.R. singing over an acoustic production.
I wish the remix to ‘Slide’ was featured on the album simply because I thoroughly enjoyed the late Pop Smoke on the track.
Overall I am giving the album a strong 4 out of 5.
She delivered.
Production delivered.
The features across the board delivered.
I would love to hear more of her guitar skills in future work. Alicia Keys made sure to constantly remind us that she could play that piano; I don’t mind the same from H.E.R. and her guitar.
The album is long and that may cause issue with listeners really keeping focus on the music but I say give the album a good listen anyway.
