Lloyd's all grown up and really, really wants you to know it. On TRU, the followup to 2016's Tru EP, Lloyd (quite literally) strips down and gets candid about his trials and triumphs, both in his personal and professional life. It's pleasant enough, but too on-the-nose to be taken completely seriously.
TRU has all the makings of a profound, coming-of-age album: mature, attention-grabbing artwork (Lloyd, naked in the forest with only a guitar to cover him); the obligatory soul-baring songs ("Appreciation Day," "My Bestie"), the redemption song ("Infinity," Lloyd's tribute to his son River), and even the controversial song that's supposed to elicit shock ("Blown," Lloyd's weed anthem). It's not an outright failure, but the effort is so formulaic that it comes off as juvenile and superficial — probably not what Lloyd intended.
While there are a few takeaways for hardcore Lloyd fans ("Tru" in particular), for others, there isn't much to hold on to.
(Young Goldie/Empire)TRU has all the makings of a profound, coming-of-age album: mature, attention-grabbing artwork (Lloyd, naked in the forest with only a guitar to cover him); the obligatory soul-baring songs ("Appreciation Day," "My Bestie"), the redemption song ("Infinity," Lloyd's tribute to his son River), and even the controversial song that's supposed to elicit shock ("Blown," Lloyd's weed anthem). It's not an outright failure, but the effort is so formulaic that it comes off as juvenile and superficial — probably not what Lloyd intended.
While there are a few takeaways for hardcore Lloyd fans ("Tru" in particular), for others, there isn't much to hold on to.
