By Daniel Paiz

A Week’s Worth Review returns in a new direction, this time checking out a newer act that might not have the same notoriety as previous installments. However, don’t let that detract from the fact that this project just hits differently. Younger artists can get a bad rap for not doing things how some of us older underground heads expect. With this project, if you are still mad, I’m not sure what to tell you to be honest.

This project is a delight to listen to. Partially because of the sonic decisions made, but also partially because of the words presented to us. Starting at the beginning might seem most appropriate for Thru My Window. But, the good news is, if you jump around, the concept isn’t lost because chronological order isn’t the basis of this tape. If that sounds confusing that’s what the next parts are for: elaborating a bit further.

A collection of sorts with an odd dilemma

Timing is so important for every facet of life, and that’s no different when releasing new music. This album has that summertime feel, that both thoughtful yet relaxed aesthetic to it. At first glance, Thru My Window could be about accepting what comes your way (as in via a glass pane of sorts), or it could also be about observing what’s all around you (through the see-through glass, as it were). A lot of albums I review get the layered meanings treatment. This album has some of that, but more importantly, it has what’s popularized over the last half-decade or so: mood.

Jazzy sounds with summer lines here are fairly direct and to the point of romance, relationships, etc.. By the time we as listeners get to the third track, Sunlight, the mood is set. What’s curious to me is, if you look at the number of streams on Spotify, the first three songs have the most streams, especially the opening track. When track number four begins, the streams hit about 10% of the previous song; from there, the rest of the songs stay at similar levels. Perhaps it’s due to some kinds of expectation that goes unfulfilled. Check the mood below:

That’s odd because three tracks is both enough to give you a taste of the album, yet isn’t enough to suggest there won’t be a thematic change. Yes, most tracks interact with relationships, sex, and the joys and pitfalls of those layered topics. But lots of other artists address those topics as well and get a lot of listens. That’s odd to me. These guys are delivering lyrics that are slightly suggestive yet not all that graphic, which one would think might bring in more listeners. Especially those who complain or claim that suggestive lyrics are rampant right now would seemingly have less to complain about hearing this album.

Anyway, there are no bad tracks on this project. That’s hard to accomplish, so props to these three for such an effort. Two standout joints from this 10-track project are Past Love and Down The Road. The latter has some rhymes that just work so well with the saxophone and piano-bass combo throughout. The former nearly demands you keep smashing the play button as the track reaches its end. Raheem DeVaughn, Kaytranada, and Kamasi Washington all sound like they could be musical influences to these three, but it’s hard to verify that at the moment. Call it a hunch for now.

Also jumping back to the idea of a concept, if you take a look at each song title before listening, it almost feels like one romantic journey might be unfolding over the course of ten tracks. Lyrics discussing flying are also scattered across a few songs, but most importantly appear on opening track So Damn Fly and closing track Jasmine. Perhaps the trials of romance both lead one’s ticker to ascend and descend over the course of courting someone.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for the absolute top lyrical verses of 2021, then you might be slightly underwhelmed. With that being said, that isn’t the point of this album. This project focuses on making enjoyable and timely music, and these three overdeliver. The lyrics as mentioned above can be suggestive at times, but it’s unlikely that all of a sudden most listeners care about that (and why care now? there’s way worse stuff out there and this is done pretty tastefully). With all that’s transpired over the past 18 months or so, this is exactly the kind of music the general public needs to be jamming right now. It’s honestly baffling that more people haven’t heard or listened to this project as of yet. I guess that’s where sites like ours come into play.