This album review was written and intended to be released in April 2023.
Fans have been eagerly waiting for SZA’s sophomore album ever since “Ctrl” was released in 2017. Released on December 9, 2022, “SOS” has been SZA’s best album yet and an album worth waiting for.
With a blend of R&B, neo-soul, cloud rap, and pop, SZA takes listeners on a journey from heartbreak to growth and recovery. “SOS” includes 23 tracks, along with four featured artists: Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
The first song, “SOS,” has the same name as the album and introduces the heartbreak and frustration she felt in her past relationship. This song made it ten weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200 after its release. In this song, she combines heartbreak with metaphorical language; repetitive lyrics such as “I want it back, I want it back,” and “I just want what’s mine” to demonstrate how her ex wronged her and her angry feelings toward him. Similarly, one of her very prominent songs “Kill Bill” SZA describes her fantasization about taking revenge on her ex-boyfriend, referencing Kill Bill: Volume 1, in which a bride takes revenge on her ex-lover.
Another standout song is “Blind,” where she admits that she seeks “love,” and “validation” from her ex, and she did not realize how “blind” she was about her toxic relationship. Meanwhile, SZA adds some themes of healing in her song, “Good Days,” where she sings about leaving the bitter feelings she felt in the past behind and focusing on the present.
Apart from her solos, SZA’s collaborations have certainly made her album sound catchy and harmonious. For example, SZA’s soothing vocals flow with Travis Scotts’ autotuned voice in “Open Arms,” portraying how they are seeking ones who will provide them with the love they always wanted and allowing listeners to be placed in their shoes even if they have never been in a relationship before.
With the help of Carter Lang, the Neptunes, Benny Blanco, Babyface, and DJ Dahi, “SOS” sold over 2 million units in the U.S. The album successfully conveys SZA’s stages of grief, starting with her feeling angry from past relationships, to accepting the ways things are and learning to love herself. Overall, “SOS” is a fantastic album that covers SZA’s wide range of emotions, amazing lyricalism, soothing voice, and a wonderful mix of music genres that resonate with her fans’ own experiences with heartbreak.
Score: 9/10