After two EPs, a scrapped full-length, and a stopgap mixtape,
Omar Apollo takes full advantage of the album format to indulge his natural versatility as an openhearted singer/songwriter. He launches into bristling pop-punk after the intro, and elsewhere offers honeyed hip-hop, convincing retro-soul, and a touching corrido, among other styles, refining his R&B-rooted bedroom pop throughout. He teams with
the Neptunes on the bumping "Tamagotchi," reunites with
Kali Uchis for the dead-end ballad "Bad Life," and with
Daniel Caesar delivers "Invincible," another aching number, if with one of his cleverest boastful couplets: "Latin boy, Frida Khalo brow/Jacquemus jeans, Ferragamo brown." ~ Andy Kellman