Photo Courtesy of Billboard
After what now seems like years of teasing snippets and building hype, Lil Nas X finally released his debut album “MONTERO” on Friday, Sept. 17. Even before X announced the album’s official drop date, the first three singles “MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name),” “SUN GOES DOWN” and “INDUSTRY BABY” accumulated their fair share of attention for their catchy and varied melodies and for the videos’ unapologetically queer themes. The music video for the fourth single, “THATS WHAT I WANT,” continued the legacy with clever callbacks to “Brokeback Mountain.”
While the singles are already standouts, the rest of the album holds its own in terms of quality. X uses trumpets and both acoustic and electric guitars throughout the 15 tracks to create a cohesive feeling without blurring the songs together. “MONTERO” also shows off X’s ability to bounce between and blend genres – soulful ballads and pop punk anthems manage to coexist in a way that doesn’t feel jarring.
X already displayed an aversion to being boxed into pure hip-hop with his country-trap hit song “Old Town Road,” so the variety in this album feels like a natural progression for X as an artist who strives to defy one-dimensional labels. “DEAD RIGHT NOW” and “DONT WANT IT” incorporate gospel elements into the background vocals, and “LIFE AFTER SALEM” is the emo grunge record we never knew we needed.
The eighth track, “LOST IN THE CITADEL,” deserves the popularity that the four singles received. Its upbeat instrumental and mournful lyrics about trying to move on after realizing the other person doesn’t feel the same way are perfect for late-night yearning sessions. This is the sound that future Lil Nas X releases should expand on.
On the other hand, songs like “SCOOP” (feat. Doja Cat) and “DOLLA SIGN SLIME” (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) – both women have brief but iconic verses – are the brash bangers people expect from a rapper. However, X keeps the variety going with “THE ART OF REALIZATION.” This interlude is a recording of X’s voice as he muses on his mindset after the success of “Old Town Road” as well as the pressure to keep delivering with “MONTERO.”
The interlude is not the only glimpse into X’s emotional journey over the past few years. Many of the songs on X’s album draw on his personal stories, and things get a little dark. X covers everything from the downsides of sudden fame to the hopelessness he felt when he dropped out of college and couldn’t see a future for himself. While not every listener will be able to relate to X’s exact experiences, the emotion in the songs comes through all the same.
As seen by his social media presence and general demeanor, X is all about eliciting emotion, whether positive or negative. In the weeks leading up to the album’s release date, X went as far as taking pregnancy photos and releasing videos relating to the imminent “birth” of “MONTERO.” He also created a baby registry that featured links to charities that corresponded to each track. Each decision was accompanied by a range of reactions, but that was the point. At the end of the day, people can appreciate Lil Nas X’s approach to online promotion even if they never listen to “MONTERO.”
X said on Twitter that the cover art for “MONTERO” is about rebirth, and it does feel like this debut album is his chance to move past the image people formed about him during “Old Town Road” and its lengthy reign over the music scene. “MONTERO” more than accomplishes Lil Nas X’s attempt to simultaneously establish himself as a multifaceted artist and build anticipation for whatever he does next.
