Duckwrth - SuperGood [Album Review]
Duckwrth treats ‘Supergood’ as a kaleidoscopic sonic playground where unexpected flourishes can be found at every twist and turn, making his exciting left-field mix of funk, soul, pop inflected hip-hop all the more enthralling.
Born Jared Lee, LA artist Duckwrth is a graphic designer, producer, songwriter, singer and rapper. In the last five years, Duckwrth has quickly become a star following the release of four critically acclaimed albums. Last August, the artist released the hotly anticipated ‘SuperGood’, a 14-track project that shows Duckwrth majestically and unapologetically in his element.
The breadth and vibrancy of this outrageously fun, 14-track project is unreservedly spectacular. Listening to ‘SuperGood’s seemingly endless stream of audacious bass and beat filled bops is intoxicating and demonstrates that Duckwrth is adept at brightly blending the old with the new - melding the iconic essence of 90’s and even noughties era hip-hop with decidedly futuristic production. Whether it’s his use of warped, swooping synths and addictive, sticky bass lines or funk-inflected riffs, Duckwrth knows how to get you hooked from the first listen.
Vocally, Duckwrth operates without constraints, fully throwing himself into the performative aspects of both his singing and rapping. Tracks like ‘Tuesday’ and ‘Say What U Mean’ demonstrate Duckwrth’s flawless flow and expressive, idiosyncratic delivery. Outside of Duckwrth, the album is full of other voices that enrich ‘SuperGood’s character, including EARTHGANG, Jean Deaux, Kyle Dion, Julia Romana and G.L.A.M. The vocalists feel like an essential part of the songs they feature on rather than a last minute add-on, which is refreshing when compared to so many mainstream collabs that are constantly cropping up in the charts (WAP excluded, of course).
‘SuperGood’ has a hell of a lot of range for an album that flows so seamlessly. Tracks like ‘Money Dance’, ‘Too Bad’ and ‘World On Wheels’ are Duckwrth’s high-energy exercises in pure joy, while intense, seductive dancefloor tracks like ‘Kiss U Right Now’, ‘Say What U Mean’ and ‘Super Good’ have an energy that will make your spine tingle. If you’re struggling to catch your breath, the fierce energy is broken up by plenty of lighter, soul and groove filled tunes, such as ‘Too Bad’, ‘Super Bounce’ and ‘Did U Notice’.