Score: 3/5
Alabama rapper Yelawolf has always been somewhat intriguing. Now, more than three years after the release of his last album “Radioactive,” comes “Love Story,” an album in which the rapper returns to his roots.
With a chaotic rap style, the eccentric Yelawolf is far from conventional. He may be a lot to take in for rap and music purists, but there is something interesting about his honesty and self awareness. This is exactly what “Love Story” brings to the table. It’s his story and his story alone, and though it’s messy at times, it’s uniquely told.
Throughout “Love Story,” the rapper makes no qualms about where he comes from or who he is. He constantly refers to himself as a redneck, and in the album opener, “Outer Space,” refers to himself as a “trailer park pimp.”
“Till It’s Gone,” arguably the album’s most known single, is no indication of what the rest of “Love Story” sounds like. The song is one of the most mainstream radio friendly cuts on the album, but every track has its own unique sound, which is never duplicated. This can sometimes be a downfall of the album, as it isn’t particularly coherent, but it also adds to Yelawolf’s mystique. The listener never knows what the next track will sound like.
This album features some truly remarkably layered production. One song that stands out the most for its production value is “Change.” The beat changes throughout the verses and choruses, going from midtempo to a faster pace, but it’s a smooth transition and never feels like too much.
It’s clear “Love Story” is not simply a hip-hop album, as it features some quite country and poppy tracks. Yelawolf even manages to sing a bit and not badly, like on the track “American You.” The midtempo song sounds like something straight off a recent Kid Rock album, and if not for the explicit nature of the lyrics, would work as a mainstream country single.
As far as lyricism goes, Yelawolf jumps between downplaying himself as a regular guy who was raised in the Bible Belt, to a more complex figure with deep thoughts and feelings. This juxtaposition keeps Yelawolf a mystery, but also makes the listener wonder who he really is. Either way, it’s fascinating to listen to.
“Love Story” is not for everyone, but is, no doubt, an interesting and eclectic collection of tracks. It’s a genre-bending album with good production, and it’s hard to pin down, much like the rapper himself.