Apollo xxi
| Steve Lacy
Apollo xxi
Apollo XXI is the solo debut studio album by American musician Steve Lacy. It was released on May 24, 2019 by 3qtr, under license to AWOL Recordings America. It was preceded by the singles "N Side", "Playground", and "Hate CD".The album would later be nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, Lacy's first Grammy nomination as a solo artist. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
The singer and guitarist’s debut solo album offers an introspective blend of R&B, hip-hop, & lo-fi pop but feels reluctant to claim the spotlight.
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Loud and Quiet
It all makes ‘Apollo XXI’ an intriguing statement, albeit a flawed one: as a scrapbook of a record, and glimpse into Lacy’s voracious musical appetite, it’s fascinating.
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The Guardian
This casual approach is what perhaps stops this album short of being an all-time classic, but it’s also what makes it such a joy. Lacy is a man wise enough to leave rough edges on his perfectly rounded talent.
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DJ Booth
Apollo XXI is a fabulous clinic in mood. Apollo will feel rewarding for both Internet fans and Steve Lacy fans.
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All Music
Apollo XXI, his first album, is a little more refined, advancing his lazing, heartfelt mix of soul and funk with minimal varnish and no evident fuss. The rhythms have a rudimentary, still-demo-like charm, ranging from a functional plod to a hyperactive twitch.
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HipHop DX
“Apollo XXI” Proves Multi-Instrumentalist Steve Lacy Has A Promising Solo Career.
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NME
From the get-go, his highly-anticipated debut album delivers exactly what it promises with its stylish, nostalgic artwork: a distinct world filled with hazy strings, warped synths and vocals that range from a flawless ’70s-style falsetto to laid-back speech.
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Ear Milk
Apollo XXI gives listeners insight into his sexuality, toxic relationships, and romantic fantasies all while meshing multiple musical genres together to create a dynamic album.
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The Guardian
blissful LA funk and hip-hop.
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Crack Magazine
It would be a powerful debut for any young musician, but for someone as hyped as Lacy, it’s a bullseye that hints at many moments of magic to come.
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The Atlantic
Apollo XXI, out last week, has the feel of a scrapbook or tone-poem collection, with songs that are pert, funky, and dappled with California light.
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KTSW 89.9
Apollo XXI is really a joy to listen through: it’s hypnotic, personal and irresistibly funky to the ears. All the practice of playing guitar and pushing buttons on garage band have culminated into a polished yet rough-edged piece of work from one of the most promising and unique musicians of our generation.
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UCSD Guardian
“Apollo XX1” successfully establishes his distinct neo-soul music in the music industry with tracks that stick to Lacy’s iconic bass-and-drum formula at the cost of sacrificing potential experimental sound production and musical evolution.
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DIY Mag
At once ’70s nostalgia and forward-thinking black excellence.
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Magnetic Magazine
STEVE LACY EMBRACES COSMIC FUNK & SOUL ON DEBUT ALBUM 'APOLLO XXI'.
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The Edge
A raw and unique sound bringing jazz and funk back to mainstream music. At 21 he has created a masterpiece of an album and shows his true musciality.
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The Needle Drop
Steve Lacy still sounds as if he's in demo mode on Apollo XXI.
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Daily Republic
Just when you think you’ve got the streaming-era, post-everything alt-R&B renaissance pinned, here comes this 21-year-old internet/Kendrick/Vampire Weekend ringer with a sitar opener followed by a nine-minute bi coming-out party.
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WBRU
Steve Lacy’s first solo full-length is full of funky summer jams that establish the twenty-one-year-old’s musical identity.
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Highsnobiety
His debut album Apollo XXI solidifies this potential, suggesting an artist that, although still a little rough around the edges, has a glowing career in front of him.
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Uproxx
Little things that show me I’m in the right place and I could be one of them one day.” With Apollo XXI, that day feels a whole lot closer.
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HITC
XXI switches you from a rocking cradle vibe to rocking funk and rap without you even noticing. It's fascinating.
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The Fader
Six years of practice pay off on the Compton artist’s impeccably groovy debut album.
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The Daily Californian
Apollo XXI is an album that manifests the experience of coming of age into lyrics and beats. Each song treks across a different aspect of the journey from adolescence to adulthood, representing distinct facets of Lacy’s sexual, emotional and mental growth.
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Study Breaks
Still, he bares his soul on “Apollo XXI,” and his lyrics bleed with desire and artistry. Lacy’s sound will make you feel longing, lust and the desire to be free.
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Raw Meat
Steve Lacy comes on strong with his debut album Apollo XXI, delivering the soundtrack to our summer with his dreamy blend of alternative R&B and lo-fi indie pop.
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The Edge
Apollo XXI is a raw and unique record blending soul, funk, jazz and hip-hop to create an absolute masterpiece.
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Forbes
Apollo XXI doesn't go anywhere unexpected for Steve Lacy: while he's crafted a strong tracklist of summer-ready songs that speak to his artistry, he also doesn't present anything especially groundbreaking.
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Mystic Sons
'Apollo XXI' gives a uplifting and confident introduction to a man that has clearly been thinking about his solo work for a long time now. With many years in the making, this new album shows us the age and wisdom of its frontman in the most glorious, era-spanning way.
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The Ringer
Much of Apollo has this quality—simultaneously polished and homey; compact, but also loose and physical.
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The Michigan Daily
As a debut, this serves as a definitive statement on Lacy’s unwavering potential to make an impact in music — a task he will undoubtedly commit to given the excellency of Apollo XXI.
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Disctopia
Apollo XXI is definitely an acquired listen, but if given a chance, it certainly has the potential to wow the listener and take them on a crazy roller coaster that they may never want to get off of.
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The Spectator
I highly recommend “Apollo XXI” to not only fans of hip hop, but of all types of music because Lacy does a great job in really optimizing the genre of hip hop.
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Five2One Magazine
Overall, I feel like this was a great effort for a debut album. I think it displays a wide array of Steve’s talent, even on the weaker songs.
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