Drake A La Mode (The Take Care Review)

So I only found out Take Care was already in stores a few days ago. I had completely forgotten when it was coming out, but I thought it would be much later. I was so excited I went straight online and checked it out for myself. After listening to every song all the way through, I can conclude that this album is worth buying at the music store. 

A definite 8/10 star rating. Even the cover is bad like Michael.

Yes, I know, you've never gone near a real store since 2005, but in this case I suggest you do. I may not, but that doesn't mean you can't. To cap off the week before Thanksgiving, I leave you with my impression of the overall album.

If you remember listening to his early works, like "Room For Improvement" and "Comeback Season," you'll notice his style and production was constantly being sharpened and improved to fit his own vision. By "Thank me Later," he had come full into himself, and enough people liked his individual style for that album to skyrocket. "Take Care" is to his debut album as "Bad" is to "Thriller:" like MJ, Drake has found the right formula for him, and he continued to use it here. In my opinion, it was pulled off tastefully. 

Judging by the music alone, I don't think Drake is looking to please the strictly pop trend crowd. Compared to what I've heard from mainstream hip-hop today, his work is on a different, but no so distant, street from most rappers. Of course, he has the commercial-friendly jams tucked in there; "Shot For Me," "HYFR," "Make Me Proud," and "Practice" are the humorous club anthems you'd expect from Drake to keep the hip-pop masses drawn in.

Then there are the tracks that straddle the line between commercialism and self-expression, my favorite of which are "Marvin's Room," "We'll Be Fine," and "Cameras/Good ones Go." On "Lord Knows," which features Rick Ross and sounds like it should have been on Ross's album, Drake shows his flexibility when he can rap on any kind of track and make it his own.

My personal favorites on this album are, "Over My Dead Body," "Marvin's Room," "Lord Knows," "Doing It Wrong," which features an eerie yet marvelous harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder, " "Look What You've Done," a touching tribute to his mother and I believe his uncle as well, and finally, "The Ride," the finishing touch to an album reflecting on Drake's own personal growth; whereas his first album showed him trying to adjust to his new lifestyle, this album was an acceptance coupled with happiness and disappointment.  

Overall, it's a brooding, rich album with basically the same structure as his debut album, which I respect, because that structure ends up making the album a smooth ride, no matter what.  And I think you'll giggle at his last line. "My Sophomore they was all for it, they all saw it/ My Juniors and senior will only get meaner." Given his steadily rising career coupled with his constantly improved craft, this may turn out to be true.

But, hey, you don't have to take my word for it. Check it out yourself, come back here, and tell me your opinions.

I wish you all a wonderful and productive Thanksgiving! Take Care!

*pun intended*

- CDM