Everyone’s favorite new pop artist, Lil Nas X, has finally released his long-anticipated debut album. The name “Montero” comes from Nas’s real first name, which is fitting due to how the project is mainly about Nas’s life up to this point. He sings of his origins, the troubles he’s been through, the romances he’s had, and his immediate rise to fame.
Nas is a very divisive character, as people either love or hate him. His fans are hardcore in love with his charisma. They enjoy his humorous mockings of haters online. Those haters, however, ridicule his absurdist, childlike humor that he “pushes” on others. These people despise how forward he is with his life, sexuality, and views of the world.
Both sides of this coin are positive to Lil Nas X because it means he is getting more attention. That attention means more sales for him, so he will eat every bit of hatred he can get. Why not milk it until it all dries up? That is, if it will dry up. He taunted the critics of his “Montero” music video, and that seems to only cause more and more attention.
With the whole world watching, whether that would be out of spite or out of love, Nas released his album on Sept. 17. The consensus has been very well received by fans and quite poorly received by haters. This comes as no surprise, especially as an observer of him and his work.
My thoughts on “Montero?” I find it to be a wonderful half-an-hour of music that could use some more work. What I find commendable is Montero himself. He has refined his sound very well and comes off as one of the compelling people to make an album. This is unmistakably his album, and you cannot confuse him for anyone else.
Nas also holds no bars, as he says anything and everything he wishes to say. He is outwardly queer and is in no way ashamed of it. The track “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” immediately beckons images of gayness, at the title is an obvious nod to the famous queer novel and film of the same name.
But the title only hints at what the song really has in store. Lyrics on the track are obscenely raunchy, so much so I don’t feel comfortable putting them in print. However, I adore the fact there is a queer pop star in the mainstream who isn’t afraid to say lines like that.
The best tracks on the album are “Montero,” “Dead Right Now,” “One of Me,” and “Life After Salem.” However, the worst track is probably “Scoop” with a lacking Doja Cat feature and a chorus that got on my nerves real quick.
Still, for his age, Nas impresses with his infectious hooks and eye-catching, theatrical antics. “Montero” proves he isn’t going to be a one-hit-wonder. Rather he has the ability to stick around for a while and make more addictive hits. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves modern pop music or wishes to hear more LGBT voices in music.
Alex Ross
Alex Rossis a third-year Communication student at Lock Haven with a focus in Journalism. This is his second year as an active member of the Eagle Eye and has been the Arts and Entertainment editor, News editor, and an active writer. He focuses on writing reviews for the A&E section, but has written stories for news, sports, and opinions. Outside of the newsroom, Alex enjoys record shopping, reading classic literature, and analyzing films. Alex hopes to work for a film or music news site as a writer or editor after graduation.