Strange Clouds

B.o.B.’s new album is a new high goal

Bobby Ray Simmons, who is leading his hip-hop activity under the alias of B.o.B, two years after the debut release is ready to present his new work, Strange Clouds. As before, the rapper radiates confidence and shines with desire to create. B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray was a great treat with a flawless synthesis of rap and pop arrangements, but on his following record the artist promises to deliver an even more decisive and fascinating combination. This restless and talented fellow is apparently fearless of setting high goals and doing tough tasks. To rapper’s obligatory functions of a lyricist and speaker, he has added those of a producer. B.o.B.’s captivates with its scales. The impressive list of songs, beautiful cover and names of guests celebrities make Strange Clouds an efficient promotion, while the product itself lives up to everything it claims.

Familiar issues on Strange Clouds

The magic of the name did its work in full on Strange Clouds’s opening track, Bombs Away. Morgan Freeman’s spell is an audacious and interesting option that keeps up the intrigue for the entire album. However, the intrigue itself is not much to talk about. B.o.B., relying on his trademark acridity and sarcasm, tries to do some soul searching on the one hand and open up seemingly secret sides of life of the famous and rich. Of course, it is difficult for the listener to make believe he hears all of this for the first time. The song Strange Clouds is another confession from another musician that he finds it challenging to get along with his fame. What looks like a much worn out topic is delivered here in a a sufficiently touching and sincere manner. Another question, savored by rappers, women, is discussed here as often, and somewhere, like on Ray Bands, the main character goes too far expressing his misogynistic views. It looks like rappers are born with already a very solid feeling of their uniqueness and importance, so listeners have to excuse that automatically.

Moments of perfection

Strange Clouds becomes much more interesting when B.o.B. distracts from his heartaches and hurt feelings, and decides to lighten up everyone’s mood all around. So Good is a gorgeous piece with a merry chorus and catchy piano passage that would look more in place in the previous album’s set list, where it used to be more fun. And, naturally, you will not leave unnoticed B.o.B.’s collaborations with other established performers. Taylor Swift needed only a couple of lines to turn Both Of Us into one of the CD’s highlights, and Nicki Minaj brings in so much needed vocal variety into actually quite a silly song called Out Of My Mind. In the closing part of this prolonged record you will enjoy several fine tracks with emphatic choruses, Chandelier, Never Let You Go, and Circles. Yet on the very final one, Where Are You, B.o.B. returns to the question of his fame, and if you don’t feel like hearting him out, you can just take pleasure in the marvelous ballad-like piano theme. In the end, we come to a conclusion that the only thin B.o.B. comes short of is experience, which is sure to come along to this guy and, probably, quite soon. This experience will help him make most out of his amazing abilities.