I wish I could paint our love
These moments and vibrant hues
Wordplay, turns into gun play
And gun play turns into pillow talk
And pillow talk turns...
If there are no obvious radio-ready hits on par with “Adorn,” his massive hit from 2012’s “Kaleidoscope Dream,” there is something more potent in their place: a stone-cold classic not tethered to time, genre, or expectations.
He doesn’t always try to play the good guy or the heartthrob, either. The music, meanwhile, places sinuous tunes, pushy guitars and lush vocals against uneasy backdrops--seductive, but never without second thoughts.
Wildheart impresses in parts, and Miguel’s vocals are a thing to behold. For the most part, however, it’s a record that struggles to fully hold your attention.
This album is perfectly balanced and crafted beautifully. Miguel shows his talents as a suggestive, soft and spectacular talent. He has anThis album is perfectly balanced and crafted beautifully. Miguel shows his talents as a suggestive, soft and spectacular talent. He has an amazing flow matching with the meaning of his lyrics and his vocals.…Expand
Short Review: Wildheart is amazing! Miguel once again proves that he knows how to create great music. His confidence shines through andShort Review: Wildheart is amazing! Miguel once again proves that he knows how to create great music. His confidence shines through and Wildheart pushes Miguel's further into his own lane as a R&B maverick. My Personal Favorites: The Valley, Waves, …goingtohell, Coffee, and Destinado A Morir. Rating:10/10
Long Review: I should start this review by saying that I believe Kaleidoscope Dream is one of the best R&B albums of the last decade. It is also important to note that Kaleidoscope Dream is one of my favorite albums of all time. This should paint how unrealistic my expectations were going into Wildheart. I was 100% expecting Miguel to float down from heaven and sing long lost chapters of the Holy Bible. In other words, I thought Miguel was about to change my life.
My expectations were tempered after his EP and a few singles. Miguel was still giving me the music equivalent of silk sheets with Coffee and Simple Things, but both songs felt like lateral steps from Kaleidoscope Dream.
After Wildheart dropped I knew he had done it again. *Warning Rant Coming*: R&B wasn’t always about vapid DJ Mustard style bangers (sorry Chris Brown) or one dimensional baby making music (sorry R. Kelly). On the other hand truly visionary albums like Kendrick’s “TPAB”, Lupe’s “Tetsuo & Youth”, and D’Angelo’s “Black Messiah” are marred by their abrasiveness. It seems to me like a lot of the recently critically praised albums are somewhat hard to listen to. Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” proves that socially conscience urban music does not have to be tuneless. Miguel is not Marvin Gaye just yet, and Wildheart isn't a deep analysis on sociopolitical concerns, but he does his best to give me sophisticated beauty on Wildheart. *Rant Over*
The first words we hear from Miguel are: “Don't ever sell yourself short for acceptance." This sets up listeners perfectly for what is to come. Miguel takes us on a tour through Cali from his and only his eyes. We venture through atypical R&B topics like growing up mixed race (What’s Normal Anyway) and Tinseltown delusion (Hollywood Dreams), but what sets this album apart is his take on typical topics. Fame, Sex, Drugs, and Money are all handled on this album, but are all done in Miguel’s unique style. Listen to “The Valley” for an example. On the surface this is just a slow jam about sex. While this is indeed a slow jam, and is for sure about sex, there is more at play. The lyrics are dirty. The sex is not romantic. It’s formulaic. It’s uncomfortable. It’s raw. It's San Fernando in all of its porn industry glory. This takes a raunchy song and gives it just a little something more.
Maybe I am over-thinking this album. Maybe I am not putting enough thought into it. My advice is to buy this and form your own opinion. I support Miguel because this is talent that doesn’t get support in the music industry every day. I even bought a physical CD, so you know the admiration is real. Rating:10/10…Expand
Short Review: Wildheart is amazing and once again proves that Miguel knows how to create great music. Miguel’s confidence shines through andShort Review: Wildheart is amazing and once again proves that Miguel knows how to create great music. Miguel’s confidence shines through and Wildheart pushes Miguel's further into his own lane as a R&B maverick. My Personal Favorites: The Valley, Waves, …goingtohell, Coffee, and Destinado A Morir. Rating:10/10
Long Review: I should start this review by saying that I believe Kaleidoscope Dream is one of the best R&B albums of the last decade. It is also important to note that Kaleidoscope Dream is one of my favorite albums of all time. This should paint how unrealistic my expectations were going into Wildheart. I was 100% expecting Miguel to float down from heaven and sing long lost chapters of the Holy Bible. In other words, I thought Miguel was about to change my life.
My expectations were tempered after his EP and a few singles. Miguel was still giving me the music equivalent of silk sheets with Coffee and Simple Things, but both songs felt like lateral steps from Kaleidoscope Dream.
After Wildheart dropped I knew he had done it again. *Warning Rant Coming*: R&B wasn’t always about vapid DJ Mustard style bangers (sorry Chris Brown) or one dimensional baby making music (sorry R. Kelly). On the other hand truly visionary albums like Kendrick’s “TPAB”, Lupe’s “Tetsuo & Youth”, and D’Angelo’s “Black Messiah” are marred by their abrasiveness. It seems to me like a lot of the recently critically praised albums are somewhat hard to listen to. Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” proves that socially conscience urban music does not have to be abrasive. Miguel is not Marvin Gaye just yet, but he does his best to give me sophisticated beauty on Wildheart. *Rant Over*
The first words we hear from Miguel are: “Don't ever sell yourself short, sell your acceptance." This sets up listeners perfectly for what is to come. Miguel takes us on a tour through Cali from his and only his eyes.
Miguel takes us through atypical R&B topics like growing up mixed race (What’s Normal Anyway) and Tinseltown delusion (Hollywood Dreams), but what sets this album apart is his take on typical topics. Fame, Sex, Drugs, and Money are all handled on this album, but are all done in Miguel’s unique style. Listen to “The Valley” for an example. On the surface this is just a slow jam about sex. While this is indeed a slow jam, and is for sure about sex, there is more at play. The lyrics are dirty. The sex is not romantic. It’s formulaic. It’s uncomfortable. It’s raw. It's San Fernando in all of its porn industry glory. This takes a raunchy song and gives it just a little something more.
Maybe I am overthinking this album. Maybe I am not putting enough thought into it. My advice is to buy this and form your own opinion. I support Miguel because this is talent that doesn’t get support in the music industry every day. I even bought a physical CD, so you know the admiration is real. Rating:10/10…Expand
This album is a perfected R&B in a psychdelic way. its beautiful good. This album is a perfected R&B in a psychdelic way. its beautiful good.This album is a perfected R&B in a psychdelic way. its beautiful good. This album is a perfected R&B in a psychdelic way. its beautiful good. This album is a perfected R&B in a psychdelic way. its beautiful good. This album is a perfected R&B in a psychdelic way. its beautiful good. This album is a perfected R&B in a psychdelic way. its beautiful good. This album is a perfected R&B in a psychdelic way. its beautiful good.…Expand
I must say this is the first time I actually listened to his music, on my way into work today the radio was playing "Coffee" and I was hooked!I must say this is the first time I actually listened to his music, on my way into work today the radio was playing "Coffee" and I was hooked! I am now busy listening to the other tracks on his album! Must say I do not regret buying this album today!!!! Love it!…Expand
Highly recommended, a must-listen for 2015. Not your typical r&b/soul album: Wildheart is boundless. Its a master mix of post-genre, synth,Highly recommended, a must-listen for 2015. Not your typical r&b/soul album: Wildheart is boundless. Its a master mix of post-genre, synth, alternative, ethereal-dreamlike soul..the best way I can describe it. Here, Miguel explores all the good stuff: lush synth-dream tones and a distinct, un-apologetic showcase of altenerative/indie rock influence at the backbone of a few tracks (guitar riffs in "leaves", Lenny Kravitz solo runs in "face the sun").. dressed-down with "trademark" Miguel-esque warmth + lyricism (boldly seen in: the valley, coffee..) to give you one of the most style-eclectic, and sonically satisfying albums of right now and easily the best yet from Miguel's discography thus far. No hasty generalizations can be made to define Wildheart, and that's what I think makes it the most compelling. Cover-to-cover, it can resonate with anyone who listens. It's an easy spin and easy favorite.…Expand
The sexy songs aren't sexy. The poppy songs aren't poppy. The vocals aren't interesting and the instrumentals are hollow. Not a veryThe sexy songs aren't sexy. The poppy songs aren't poppy. The vocals aren't interesting and the instrumentals are hollow. Not a very convincing statement for the man who said he was making better music than Frank Ocean...…Expand
