Ty Dolla $ign‘s second studio album Beach House 3 is a flat reminder that all that glitters is not gold. The album is a veritable party bus, featuring a cavalry of powerhouse artists like Future, Pharrell and Damian Marley. And yet with all the stars involved, Ty Dolla $ign is unable to meet expectations; when he has a chance to shine he shies away, relying too heavily on R&B standards. He’ll tease with some provocative lyrics, but his inability to string together a cohesive narrative leaves much to be desired.
Production-wise Beach House 3 is a wash. As the title would suggest it has a summer vibe that doesn’t match the timing of the release. There are a few highlights where he curates a style of beats that show depth and range, but they are few and far between. The album is wildly consistent, and is a creative lapse that should send the talented singer back to the lab with something to prove. A sloppy, ineffectual project with too many moving parts.
‘Famous‘
Kicking off the festivities by tapping into his inner critic. He’s disgusted by the fame game, and putting all the 15 minute clowns on blast. He’s taking a close look at their behavior, how a person will step on their neighbors throat just to get a little shine. John Mayer is the captain of the sonic ship, and his average riffing is the type of bland backdrop Ty needs to crawl out of bed: [LISTEN]
‘Famous Lies‘
A quick text message verse that tells his lady that he’s still there for her. It’s ride or die, all or nothing, the only co-pilot in the world he trusts. The title, however, adds a touch of irony; a condemnation of all the common platitudes used by money grubbers. The beat is heavy on the synth and a boogie bass line adds a subtle groove that would make Prince nod in approval: [LISTEN]
‘Love U Better‘
A detailed account of how an R&B superstar is going to steal your girl. It’s the ultimate insult, a showing of strength that in the end says very little. Braggadocio in the form of crooning is a juxtaposition that has found legs, and his empire is built almost exclusively around this juvenile concept. He invites a few of his closest pals, and within moments they outshine him: [LISTEN]
‘Ex‘
Greasy ’90s R&B butter that has Ty and YG sleazing on their girlfriends. They’re egging each other on, being the others enabler. The beat has a silly bounce to it that likens itself to frat boy antics, and it doesn’t take them long to descend into utter nonsense. It’s the sound of beer cans crushing against the forehead, and no amount of shaming will get them to stop the glittery party bus: [LISTEN]
‘Famous Excuses‘
Heavy vocal treatments and nimble strings underscore a frank admission of guilt. Ty loves the ladies, and the ladies love Ty. He needs to affirm his hold on the honeys and nothing in this world will have him thinking otherwise. The intermission is tantamount to staring in the mirror and checking for boogers. He’s taking a jab at the idea that when you’re famous casual sex is a right of passage: [LISTEN]
‘Droptop in the Rain‘
His lady is as swamped as a convertible in the rain. They’re driving back from the club and all over each other; endangering themselves and everybody else on the road. It’s your classic lust jam; that point in the night where carnal desires are the only thing on the mind. To match the passion, the beat is made up of two simple ingredients: bass and hi-hats. Man and woman, last call of the night: [LISTEN]
‘Don’t Judge Me‘
Having come from nothing, Ty is acknowledging that he had to do a few unsavory things to get to where he is. He’s asking those to reserve judgement and sympathize. He’s surrounded by leeches and he’s managed to dodge irrelevancy by following his gut. The beat is lithe and Future and Swae Lee add a distinct southern bounce. They’re on the rise and nothing will get in their way: [LISTEN]
‘Dawsin’s Breek‘
The hollowed out beat has Ty sounding like he’s holding court in the middle of an empty cave. He’s getting his Dawson’s Creek on, icing himself out so much that he’s suffering from frostbite. All the bling is attracting the usual suspects like bugs to fluorescent lights. He’s lapping it up, and his comrade Jeremih is just as happy. Two peas in a pod enjoying the majestic view from the mountaintop: [LISTEN]
‘Don’t Sleep on Me‘
Ty sounds the alarm, making sure that the world doesn’t snooze on his magic. He’s adopting the underdog persona, and fighting against status quo with his rags to riches story. No part of his game needs tweaking, but he is expressing a nagging suspicion that his girl is two-timing him. Seeing how he’s cheating too he only wants to make sure that she’s covert and keeps it out of his line of sight: [LISTEN]
‘Stare‘
With the help of superstars Pharrell and Wiz Khalifa, Ty signs off on an official stripper jam. It’s slow and buttery, made up of smoke and liquor. The premise is centered around a simple glance, a look that says a thousand words. They’ve been eyeballing each other all night, and when they finally meet he turns his game up a notch. He’s taking a page from Superfly, playing it cool the whole way: [LISTEN]
‘So Am I‘
Damian Marley and Skrillex enter the fray, adding a generic spring break party vibe. It’s equal parts reggae and dubstep, and the routine combination is a dumbed-down version of both. It’s the exact soundscape Ty is looking for; a cheap, sonic champagne that sends the bubbles straight to the head. Predictably it’s about him and his lady friend meeting for a late night rendezvous: [LISTEN]
‘Lil’ Favorite‘
A perky beat has Ty speaking honest truths. He’s fed up with the bloodsuckers and all the drama that they bring. They’re stealing his thunder and when his mind is on them it’s off the music, which is a big no-no in his book. Once he cuts the leash he’s free to focus on the grind. The fresh air is filling his lungs and invigorating him, sending him to a place where creativity reigns: [LISTEN]
‘In Your Phone‘
Nothing more infuriating than a significant other who can’t get away from their phone. It’s been a persistent problem for Ty, an annoyance that he can’t let go. But no matter how detached his lady is he still can’t help himself from returning time and time again. It’s a sickness, an addiction that has him fiending. The annoying habit is now something he has to endure to get his fix: [LISTEN]
‘All the Time‘
Standing upon the mountain top proclaiming his love for the ladies. He’s going completely against the grain, showing that it’s okay to be head over heels for a woman. In the business some try to play it tough, Ty is on the other end, staying 100% true to his emotions. His love goes right down to the nitty-gritty, advocating for all the cowards out there to give cunnilingus a go: [LISTEN]
‘Side Effects‘
Ty is lovesick and the side effects are leaving him breathless. The passion has enveloped every sense, and the lively beat suggests that he’s still in the puppy dog stages. His world has turned upside down and he’s unable to function without getting a taste of the elixir. Infatuation is his guiding light, and despite her warnings he still can’t stop himself from reaching into the cookie jar: [LISTEN]
‘Message in a Bottle‘
Glassy-eyed soul, a blunted vision of wild excess. The alcohol and weed have hit the head hard, and he’s too wasted to get in the car and leave. Being inebriated, however, has its advantages. He’s searching his phone and finding all the ladies who will be more than happy to give him a lift. The idea came from above or rather from the bottom of a bottle. A smokey nod to hard liquor: [LISTEN]
‘Nate Howard Intro‘
A brief spoken word piece by collaborator Nate Howard. It’s the foundation of Ty’s ethos, which is to live every moment as if it were his last. He has a gift and knows that the haters will be lining up to bring him down. But like a warrior he stands up to them, and what doesn’t kill him only makes him stronger. The motivation to succeed is enough to sustain him until the fire burns out: [LISTEN]
