Review: André 3000's album is a meditation banger
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André 3000 from 2020. He's currently got more gray hairs and a goatee, but he's never lost that Zen look, you know? Goals, man. Goals. Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
Wil here: I was thrilled when André 3000 released his instrumental album, "New Blue Sun," last month.
- And yes, my reaction was powered by the internet's memes of their expectations for the Outkast musician's flute riffs.
Why it matters: I took my time to reflect on this 87-minute experimental journey — the Atlanta native's first album in 17 years — because it's deep.
Fun fact: Dré set a new record for the longest song ever (12:20) on the Billboard Hot 100 with "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time.
- The album debuted at No. 34 on the Billboard 200, and the opening song debuted at No. 90 on the Billboard Hot 100.
💭 My thought bubble: I've been listening to this during my commutes, and so far my favorite songs are "Ninety Three 'Til Infinity And Beyoncé," "Dreams Once Buried Beneath The Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout Into Undying Gardens," and "Ants To You, Gods To Who?"
- Another banger is "The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off The Tongue With Far Better Ease Than The Proper Word Vagina. Do You Agree?"
- Everything about the album's second song — including its title, "That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control ... Sh¥t Was Wild," reminds me of a college acid trip. 🤷🏿
What they're saying: Pitchfork gave it an 8.3 out of 10, calling it a "devotional to new age, ambient jazz, and spiritual discovery" and "beautiful, demanding, and among the most fascinating artistic left turns in recent memory."
- "'Y'all n—- ain't deserve words' -André 3000,'" Erykah Badu posted on her Instagram story, with a picture of her ex-beau and oldest son's father holding his flute. "He didn't say that, but…"
- "The jazz lover in me thinks it's quite good," says Axios pop culture maven Troy Smith. "The hip-hop head is like WTF is this?! I did find it interesting that it's more of a group effort than a Three-Stacks solo album when you look at the collection of musicians who play on it more than even he does."
- "Those of us who meditate and listen to chill lo-fi, this is for us," tweets Dawn Montgomery.
- "I've played it every morning since Friday and straight-up, I think I can see my future a little clearer," tweets Mike Jordan, the AJC's senior editor for Black culture.
- "André 3000 comes from spiritual and musical roots, so the organ in the album makes me very happy," tweets Tiffany Roberts, public policy director for the Southern Center for Human Rights.
Worthy of your time: Do yourself a favor and check out "New Blue Sun." While you're at it, let us know if you liked it or if you have a favorite song from the album.