An Album Review: Gemini Rights

If you’ve been following the progression of my website since the beginning, you’d know that I used to have a section on here labeled “Album Reviews”. When you clicked on it, it said “Coming soon!” or something like that. Around May, I decided to change the name to “What I’m Listening To!”, and it directs you to my seasonal playlist on Apple Music.

I did this because I realized I hadn’t felt passionate enough about any album that’s come out this year to truly sit down and analyze it for you all. That is until 11:46 PM July 14th, when I finished Steve Lacy’s newest album Gemini Rights.

You see, I think this is the best album I’ve heard in about a year or two, maybe more than that. Why?

I’m going to answer that by answering another question: “Taylor, what makes a good album to you?” I’m glad I asked:

1. A Clear Theme(s) / Storyline

   1. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I hate albums where I think the songs aren’t cohesive or follow a story. It’s just there’s something beautiful about taking 2-4 minute songs that are strong enough to stand alone as singles and putting them together in a way that paints a larger picture. To me, stories or themes are the best way to connect to other people. When an album lacks one of those, it’s just always harder for me to relate to whatever the artists putting out.

2. An Even Distribution of Vibes

   1. I want to hear some range in an album. I need a song that I can listen to on a chill drive during sunset. I need songs I can add to my mid-May wedding day playlist. I need a song that makes me think about myself or my own life situations to the point where I might have to skip it so I won’t cry while I’m walking to class. Making albums where every song gives the same vibe (I think a perfect example of this might be Dayglow) limits the listener to one mood, when human beings have hundreds of emotions. It even limits the artist to one kind of fanbase. Maybe this point is hypocritical considering I’m also begging for cohesion, but there’s a way to give variety while sticking to a theme, and when artists create this duality within an album—it’s stunning.

Steve Lacy exceeded my expectations. I told my friend Lauren a couple of days ago that I was nervous that no song on the album could come close to “Bad Habit” which he released almost a week or two before the album. He proved me so wrong. He perfectly conveyed the mentality & traits of Geminis in this work— their indecisiveness, versatility, occasional dishonesty, cleverness, impulsiveness, and the sometimes off-putting likability that they possess. Before you think I’m shitting on Geminis, I’m not—it’s in my big three, so I get it. It just felt like an extremely relatable album regarding the pendulum swing of emotions that he takes you through. It’s probably going to be one of my favorite albums ever.

I’ve never done a written review of an album before, so bear with my first attempt. I decided to list the song, with its respective link, a rating, the timestamp of my favorite part, a description of the song, and extra opinions. Enjoy my take on the album, song by song.

1. Static | 7 out of 10 | 1:00-1:12

   1. Lacy is advising an ex that the distractions they’re using to cope, such as drugs or a new boyfriend, will not solve the inner conflict that ex has. No substance or person is fulfilling enough to make up for self-love. This major insecurity obviously caused a rift in the two’s relationship, making Steve long for “something secure”. Lacy ends the song by warning others that “If you had to stunt your shining for your lover” to dump them. Basically, don’t let a partner’s insecurities force you to stop your journey of growth, dull your highs, or even worse, begin to make you insecure.

   2. I think I enjoyed this song so much because, despite my interpretation of what this song is about, Lacy’s approach was honestly humorous. I mean the line, “Looking for a b*tch ‘cause I’m over boys”, definitely catches you off guard during the first listen, since it comes out of nowhere. The song isn’t very catchy or sing-in-the-shower worthy, but with it’s subject matter, I think I prefer it that way.

2. Helmet |10 out of 10

   1. The placement of this song after “Static” is an interesting one, in the way that it seems like it should’ve gone first. Assuming that the song is referring to the same person in “Static”, Steve Lacy is angry about the burdens of this relationship that he never truly wanted. It appears the person wanted permanence, while Steve wanted temporariness. He was originally willing to jump in since the two “were so automatic” at first but [most likely due to that aforementioned insecurity] loving the person became hazardous—probably to the point where he needed a HELMET to maintain his sanity. Genius. Anyways, while Steve has concluded he doesn’t want this person around since it’s a waste of his time, he still finds himself having trouble letting go. Talk about indecisiveness.

   2. I have no favorite part—the entire song is amazing. It’s funky. It’s a sunny day song. It’s a dump-them-and-go-out-right-after song. As Lauren says, “It itches that part of my brain”. Despite being willing to blast this for the rest of the summer, I’d be on the floor in absolute agony for weeks if I knew someone wrote this about me.

3. Mercury| 8.5 out of 10 | 3:07- 4:59

   1. This song is quite the ride, just like the Gemini mind. With lines like, “Keep falling in love so fast then back out again”, “How can I measure, If I dont know?”, “Can’t tell if I’m winning or behind”, and “Excuse me if I lied, I forgot I said that”, you automatically know what member of the Zodiac that you’re dealing with.

4. Buttons | 6 out of 10 |2:20- 3:05

   1. This song is unsettling. You think it’s a love song until you realize whoever Steve is talking about is selfish, manipulative, and treats him poorly. He sings: “You took me all around, then treat me like a dog, and made me walk for miles, and then you help me up”. Letting someone, who has expressed their love for you and be vulnerable with you, get to the point where they are just painstakingly helpless and alone, and THEN you decide to help them out . . . it’s evil.

5. Bad Habit | 10 out of 10

   1. I’m going to wait to talk about this song for an in-progress blog post called “What’s Worse, Rejection or Regret?”. Stay tuned.

6. 2Gether (Enterlude) | 7 out of 10 | 0:00-0:10

   1. Interludes are typically used to create anticipation for the next song, to remind the listener of themes, or to connect certain topics, and “2Gether” perfectly achieves all three. The song sounds ghostly, like the idea of being with someone forever haunts Steve. While I wish it could’ve been developed into more, especially since Matt Martians is in it, it did its job.

7. Cody Freestyle| 8.5 out of 10 | 1:24-2:06 

   1. The “Cody” in the title of this song is shorthand for codependency. Steve begs the person “Don’t depend on me, no”—for anything that isn’t sexual. Lacy even admits that he “said ‘I love you’ never meant it”, most likely just to get what he wanted from the person. We realize that he can be just as manipulative and selfish as whoever he mentioned in “Buttons”. I feel like this song is very representative of many relationships that people face nowadays, where not wanting casual hookups is translated to codependency. It’s heartbreaking, really.

   2. I also really enjoy the self-confidence shown in this track: “Cause I could do better” & “There’s plenty through the city so be good or I’ll be tempted”. These brutally honest proclamations are reality, which was probably unbearable for the person he was with to handle.

8. Amber | 5.5 out of 10 | 1:53-2:18

   1. The juxtaposition of “Cody Freestyle” & “Amber” shows that Steve is somewhat of an unreliable narrator when it comes to his own feelings. He’s fantasizing about a relationship, when just prior he claimed he didn’t even want to be in one, that it bored him. He wishes that he never met the person anymore because he wants them off his mind. How does he really feel? The listener never truly knows. It’s chaotic the way he runs in circles with his emotions.

9. Sunshine (feat. Fousheé)| 11 out of 10 

   1. Steve runs into his ex months after they break up. Despite initially insulting them, thinking, “Safe to say after me you peaked”, he realizes that he still has feelings for this person. We also finally get to hear a different perspective in this album, which is refreshing since it’s nearly impossible to decipher where Steve’s head is at. Amazingly, Steve Lacy & the ex that Fousheé is portraying, are on the same page—they still love each other, and want to be right where the other is.

   2. This is my favorite track on the album, 100%. Fousheé voice on the track just makes this song pretty, and one thing about me? I love pretty music. I like the buildup of sounds in this track. I don’t know how to really explain that, but it makes you want to listen to it over and over and over again.

10. Give You the World | 8 out of 10

    1. I think this song is about Lacy wanting to try the relationship again. That instead of lying, being closed off, and worried about being tied down, he’s ready to give the world to this person. It reminds me of 60s/70s love ballads. I’d be willing to slow dance to this song.

Overall Rating: 9.2 out of 10

(The songs averaged out to an 8.2, but I added a point due to the construction and clear theme of the album.)

If you made it this far, thanks for reading! See y’all soon!