Fantastic Negrito: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? Review
After two acclaimed and Grammy-winning albums in 2017 and 2018, Fantastic Negrito returns to the scene with his brand new record Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?. And, you guessed it: his new album is again nominated for the 2021 Grammy Awards in the category “Best Contemporary Blues Album”. Further, the album peaked at #1 on Billboard in August 2020.
The album starts with “Chocolate Samurai”, a pseudonym that hides the album’s title vastly sung in the chorus. “I’m So Happy I Cry” is a cadenced song, previously released in a video format, bringing a partnership between Negrito and Tarriona “Tank” Ball, from Tank & The Bangas (this band is also nominated for Best New Artist category on 2020 Grammy Awards).
On “How Long”, Negrito shows a distinct songwriting feeling, with powerful melodies and meaningful lyrics. “Justice In America” and “Shigamabu Blues” are protesting preludes where Negrito uses music to spread his point of view about society. “Searching For Captain Save A Hoe” is a hip-hop song, featuring the rapper E-40.
There’s one song that we can barely recognize as blues, which is “Your Sex Is Overrated”, a slow-paced track, where guitars and keys do an excellent job, besides Negrito’s emotional vocals. “These Are My Friends” is a dichotomy song, sometimes sounding like a tavern anthem and sometimes like a pop song. In “All Up In My Space” Negrito reinforces his drum beats and electronic music tools, making an efficient and cozy mattress for the several vocal layers. I dare to say that “King Frustration” and “Platypus Dipsters” are the most balanced songs in the album, with a richness of tones where the guitars, synth, bass, drums, and vocals fulfill each other.
Comparatively with his previous albums, in Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? Negrito uses more technological tools, like drum beats and synth lines. But, in spite of that, it’s a magnificent album that really deserves all the nominations. His music still remains unique, without brands, or, in his words… “the show can be described as ‘church without the religion’ and crosses genre boundaries with no passport needed”.
The Review: 9/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Chocolate Samurai
– How Long
– All Up In My Space
– King Frustration
The Big Hit
– Chocolate Samurai
