Mykki Blanco — Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep — Album Review
Alternative | Hip-Hop
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
I discovered the musical alias of transgender artist Michael David Quattlebaum Jr., known as Mykki Blanco very recently. And indeed, it felt like one of those times that made me question how I hadn’t known about her earlier.
It was actually through her collaborative track with Blood Orange, titled “It’s Not My Choice”, which appeared on my release radar playlist this Friday just gone, that I ultimately discovered Mykki Blanco’s newest album. I was certainly invested enough in the artist to venture further into their discography (as for Blood Orange, I’ve obviously been a fan of them ever since the release of 2018's Negro Swan), and right at the top of Blanco’s Spotify profile, lied her brand new album, Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep.
This is the sophomore studio album from Mykki Blanco, as well as the first full-length project in five years, following their 2016 debut album Mykki. Being my introduction to Blanco, it was of course the first project to give me a glimpse of the poet’s lyrical flow, and musical aesthetic.
Said aesthetic feels incredibly versatile on Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep; much more so than Mykki’s debut album, in my opinion. There is a wide variety of moods to be found in the production especially, from warm and hard-hitting, to more nocturnal vibes. And although some of the production (especially towards the end) felk kinda rough around the edges, the instrumentals that do it, do so remarkably well.
But despite how much I loved the best beats this album had to offer, the true driving force of this album for me was Mykki Blanco herself, and their unwavering sense of self-confidence, that has little trouble finding its way to rub off on the listener. Being my first experience of the artist, it was refreshing to be greeted with such confidence. Furthermore, it elevates the consistency of Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep to a much more engaging level.
What counterbalances this sense of engagement for me however, is the albums duration. It’s kind of a similar situation to the recently released Pendulum EP (which I also reviewed this week), but on a less offensive scale; considering that this is the first Mykki Blanco project in a while, I did leave the album longing for more. With its under 30 minute duration (despite having 9 tracks), Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep felt like an experience that was gone to soon; time flies when you’re having fun I guess. But if I feel this way as a new listener, it does leave me wondering how long-term fans feel about this album being so brief.
Reviewing this album feels tricky, as there seems to be a near equal split of elements that either add to, or take away from the overall enjoyment of the experience. But when I activate the more positive side of my mind, Mykki Blanco’s awesome personality stands firm in the centre of my minds eye.
Favourite Tracks: Summer Fling | It’s Not My Choice | Love Me
Least Favourite Track: Patriarchy Ain’t The End Of Me
Mykki Blanco | Transgressive Records
Enjoyment: 8/10 | Memorability: 8/10 | Atmosphere: 7/10
Uniqueness: 8/10 | Satisfaction: 6/10 | Narrative: 8/10
