What's the criteria for a modern day "classic"? This should be hailed as one, least of all for breaking the Kardashian/Jenner curse.
Jokes aside, this album is sonically brilliant. This being he's third album, makes it a 3 peat. ASTROWORLD should cement Travis as the king of trap music as he's not dropped/fallen off one bit. There's plenty of features on the album that are cleverly uncredited, the standouts coming early on in Frank Ocean (CAROUSEL) & Drake (SICKO MODE).
The production is as layered and bombastic as ever. This is an art form that Travis has mastered better than most. The downside being that it often leads to notions that he can't straight up rap. That's ridiculous and he proves it on tracks such as NO BYSTANDERS. The album could perhaps have done without the slight missteps of YOSEMITE and WHO? WHAT? that feel out of place.
He's chemistry with The Weeknd however is back and without missing a step, they effortlessly feed off each other's energy. Energy. That's something that Travis' sometimes ridiculed robotic voice instills into the listener. He has energy in spades. The tracks aren't anything new and might not attract new fans, but Travis is well aware of he's fanbase. The overplayed Butterfly Effect feels as though it belongs as it's so far down the album.
This is another triumph for a musical servant who's found he's niche and footing within hip-hop.