“Nostalgia” is an album made by artist Rod Wave. He is a rapper from St. Petersburg, Florida, who has had many hits such as “Heart on Ice,” “Alone” and “Tombstone.” He gave his reasoning for naming this album Nostalgia in an interview with Apple Music.
“I always remember where I was at,” he said. “Every interview I did, every person, every face I met, every song, every video I shot, I remember where I was at, how I was feeling, what I was doing. So I just had to realize, this is nostalgia.”
My overall rating of this album is 8.5/10. There are multiple reasons behind this rating which include the variety of songs and the different themes throughout the songs. The beat selection for songs is also unique for each song, and the transitions in between songs and the singing that is displayed are some of the best I’ve heard from an album in a long time.
The variety of songs gives the album really good depth, which makes each song unique, and it doesn't become repetitive to the point where it gets stale. In every song, there is something that listeners can connect with personally. For example, in “Fight the Feeling,” he talks about the experience of a woman dealing with pain from heartbreak and how she tries to mask it by going to clubs but she is still hurting inside. This is just one of the many examples of the album being able to connect with people on a personal level. The song that personally resonates with me the most is “Boyz Don’t Cry.” The reason that this is the most impactful song for me is because he speaks to him bottling up his problems and how he is putting on an act but feels as though he is dying inside. I feel as though everyone has a point in their lives where they pretend that everything is okay but they are struggling and hurt on the inside. The beat selection complements each song and its theme. One of the main examples is the song “Turks and Caicos,” which gives off a playful vibe and that it is a song to have fun with, while at a gathering or party. A song that is unique with its beat is “Long Journey.” In this song, the beat has the tone of relief after getting through tough times. This is due to having a choir in the background that emphasizes being grateful for getting out of poor conditions and circumstances. My favorite beat is on the song “Back Lit,” and the reason behind this is because the fast tempo of the beat makes the song feel motivational.
The reason the beats work so well is because of Rod Wave’s ability to sing. One of the best examples of this on the album is the song “Call your Friends,” where his singing makes it feel as though the concern of someone’s friends has genuine meaning and comes from a genuine soul. My personal favorite use of his vocals is on the song “Crazy,” where he gives off the tone that his belief in himself triumphed over the thoughts of people who thought he couldn't be successful in music.
This album would be a great listen if you're a fan of the R&B and soul music genres. This album also is great if you are going through tough times or if you need some motivation to follow your dreams.