Malibu

Paak’s got the musicianship down to a science. Now it’s clear he’s working on what his music feels like.

For its lyrical and musical scope, Malibu brings to mind a number of excellent albums, ranging from Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions to, yes, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly.

A rose from concrete, Malibu offers a sense of wonder that's carefully rooted in funk and soul, and presents a complete vision from a blossoming new artist that's not only fearless, but leading something of a sonic revolution.

This is a sincere, soulful project, brimming with honesty and humble perseverance.

The year’s first R&B masterpiece.

Malibu defies categorization, which is a testament to Paak’s versatility and his willingness to take detours, not all of which work (the well-meaning but dopey celebration of boobs “Silicon Valley” is exhibit A). But even when his muse leads him astray, it’s easy to see why Dre got in on the Anderson .Paak business early and often.

Sunny yet substantive, Anderson .Paak’s second studio album shows he is as at home settling into a breezy club groove over euphoric brass (Am I Wrong, featuring Schoolboy Q) or unleashing James Brown-esque funk yelps as he is waxing autobiographical tales of family hardship.

On Malibu, melody unifies and smooths over divisions: rap and R&B, black history and black modernity, spiritual uplift with the rough material of the everyman's everyday, all made cohesive by Paak's considerable songwriting talent. [Apr 2016, p.64]

On the rich and dazzling Malibu, Anderson.Paak has truly found his voice. [Apr 2016, p.116]

Compared to the impressive and occasionally brilliant Venice, this album's mix of high and hard times has deeper resonance.

Malibu more than lives up to the high expectations facing Anderson .Paak.

Taken together, Malibu builds on the skills .Paak introduced on his first album, called "Venice."

The reason for this broad interest is his ability to aptly infuse various musical styles under the R&B umbrella. Moreover, his ability to make uptempo soul without losing his ability to invoke a response more typical of downtempo sounds is particularly impressive.

Malibu--his second album under this moniker, following a stretch under the name Breezy Lovejoy--is multilayered. It’s also incisive, languorous and deeply felt, a warm bath of studiously relaxed hip-hop and soul.

For as good as the melodies and ripe drums and bass beats are on the album, more impressive is the songwriting.

The tonal palette is warm and lush, with a transporting quality that’s twofold, sending the listener both to the artist’s western locale and back in time.