Written By: Andrew Rainey

Courtesy of Top Dawg RCA, 2022

On SOS, Top Dawg Entertainment’s SZA amazes with a project showing why her music has such a unique appeal compared to other artists of our generation. The multi-talented musician surprises fans with her second album by successfully experimenting with numerous genres. 

There are many throwback-inspired tracks, with boom-bap and other styles popular in the 90s flowing through the compilation, with songwriting and producing from legendary singer Babyface to give it authenticity.

 “F2F” is sonically reminiscent of Gwen Stefani’s hits in the 1990s and 2000s, with its distorted guitars mixed with her SZA’s great pop sensibilities. 

Phoebe Bridgers also gives an alternative edge to the record with a fantastic performance on the ballad “Ghost in the Machine.” The two singers are an excellent pairing, but this is only one of the album’s exquisite collaborations. 

Travis Scott provides two great features with exciting adlibs on “Low” and a bittersweet verse that perfectly fits the vibe of “Open Arms.” 

Other partnerships from the entertainer’s debut album Ctrl are rekindled in this album, such as instrumentalist Carter Lang showing why he is one of the most sought-after producers working today. Notable composers such as Jay Versace and Benny Blanco also demonstrate how they are a few of the premier creators of their craft, starting with the opening song and spreading throughout the entire tracklist. 

SOS is among the more open and revealing records of today. Themes of loss, regret, and jealousy are all expressed bluntly. In tracks such as “Kill Bill” and “I Hate U,” the singer demonstrates the extreme feelings one can have after a breakup in a straightforward yet clever manner. Tunes such as “Nobody Gets Me,” “Far,” and “Special” explores rejection from both a hopeless and hopeful perspective, a trope common throughout this project.

 “Smoking on my Ex-Pack,” “SOS,” and “Conceited” all convey a sense of boldness and confidence that perfectly contrasts with the other more sorrowful songs. 

Overall, SZA’s second album is a must-listen. With its eclectic yet beautiful choices in production, features, and lyricism, this masterpiece is among the best of the decade’s R&B albums. 

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