Anna de Oliveira —Staff Writer

In 2019, when pop star Lil Nas X released “Old Town Road” and the remixes that followed, he took the world by storm. The melodic harmony became universal. In the Tik Tok era, endless music videos and memes accompanied the song on social meida. Since the song’s chart-topping popularity, Lil Nas X has remained in the limelight due to a continuous stream of singles, but also in part from  advocacy for the LGBT community. 

Some of his listeners were taken aback when the artist dropped the music video for his popular single “Montero,” where Lil Nas X was pictured dancing on the devil’s lap.

Some were angry about Lil Nas X’s broadcasting of his sexual orientation and others believed he had used the opportunity to praise the devil. However, the artist explained in a series of tweets that his video forced the world to consider their homophobic tendencies.

Regardless, the music video turned heads and Lil Nas X used the opportunity to create buzz for his new album of the same name. He announced the album by posting a photo of himself that had been edited to make it look as if he were pregnant. 

Montero debuted on Sept. 17, 2021. The album is comprised of 15 songs, including featured artists like Jack Harlow, Elton Johan, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, and Miley Cyrus. A chunk of the album consists of singles that had previously dropped the year before the release of the album. A number of new songs also share a very similar sound to old-school hip-hop. 

The second half is comprised of more complex songs, talking about the artist’s history. It is in these songs that Lil Nas X is exposed, sharing how he feels about his past. Many songs showcase the softer side of the artist, while telling of past traumas and their impact in his life.

At the end of the day, I do not think that this album will be well remembered, just because usually artists’ first albums are not their best. However, I will say that Lil Nas X has a lot of potential. He has a lot of variety in his voice and his artistic expression, and so it will be a good thing to see how it develops in the future. But for now, this album seems very scattered and not well thought out.

Regardless of my review, you guys need to go listen to the album yourselves and create your own opinion. I do believe that there are some amazing aspects to the album, especially with the popular featured artists. Ultimately, however, it is not my favorite.