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PODCAST

Album Mode

Demar Grant & Adriel Smiley

Welcome to Album Mode where journalist, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist’s path to its release.

music music commentary

All Episodes

39:01

PinkPantheress Becomes the John Wick of Music with...

Album Mode ·

2025/05/18

This week Démar and Adriel discuss PinkPantheress' latest mixtape 'Fancy That', PinkPantheress the producer beginning to outshine PinkPantheress the artist and how PinkPantheress has become the John Wick of music.Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10The Love List: Illegal, Tonight, Noises, Stateside,Timecodes:2:42 - Demar is a superfan4:56: - Too short because it’s good5:30 - John Wick of music 7:28 - Doesn’t feel like a full project / HMV Days9:50 - Forza racing, when listening to

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46:46

Yung Lean leans Into Apathy on 'Jonatan' | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2025/05/13

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Yung Lean's latest album Jonathan, what he meant to cloud rap, his transition to rock and how his lethargic singing tilts into apathy.Démar’s rating: 3.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 4.5 / 10The Love List: Might Not B, Horses, My LifeTimecodes:3:30 - How do you feel about reviewing YL6:25 - The modern swaggy trap white rapper7:16 - His influences8:40 - Two stand-out lines - shut the world off14:45 - Album drags on you 16:16 - I don’t think he can really sing16:24 - Sing

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66:20

Wiz Khalifa Revives His Sound on 'Kush + Orange Juice...

Album Mode ·

2025/04/27

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Wiz Khalifa's latest mixtape Kush + Orange Juice 2 how he was one of the kings of the blog era and how his trademark sound is one step away from becoming cutting edge.Timecode:2:34 Freestyles leading up to the project 3:17 Most influential rappers of the last 15 years4:16 Wiz day to day vlogs5:46 OKAY Wiz Khalifa Voice6:46 The cargo shorts 9:12 Say Yeah9:32 Mixtape buzz11:41 Kush & Orange Juice12:28 Flight School13:24 Demar Kids comparison17:35 Mixtapes have

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56:01

Bon Iver's 'SABLE, fABLE' finds it's groove but never...

Album Mode ·

2025/04/21

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Bon Iver's fifth studio album SABLE, fABLE how it nears greatness before ultimately shying away and how it feels longer than its 41 minute runtime implies.Démar’s rating: 4 / 10Adriel's rating: 4 / 10The Love List: THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS, S P E Y S I D E, I'll Be ThereTimecodes:1:29 - Thought it was one dude2:36 - Sampha comparison 04:43 - Adriel’s Doppelganger6:16 - Best Feature8:26 - First disc songs were released on a separate EP11:13 - Loneliness

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64:38

The Greatest Debut Albums in Album Mode Review History

Album Mode ·

2025/04/13

Cue the filler music! Adriel and Démar are taking a look back into the annals of Album Mode history and to find the best debut projects they've ever reviewed. When you've been podcasting for nearly 5 years, you can do that. We're talking Unknown T, Olivia Rodrigo and of course the goddess, PinkPantheress and more!Timecodes:5:36 - Framework of the context of the artist6:28 - The album that is the furthest in their career7:39 - Arlo Parks15:34 - Has a lane can work with more of the street artists16:07

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55:21

Lucy Dacus Sets the Post-Boygenius Tone with 'Forever...

Album Mode ·

2025/04/04

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lucy Dacus' fourth studio album “Forever is a Feeling” how the album is a tone setter for her post Boygenuius and how her lyrical longingness escapes being cheesy.Timecodes:3:25 Songwriter-type music 5:23 The reset button and how that affects their career8:42 The origins of this album9:24 Longing vibes12:46 Romanticizing her past13:28 For keeps17:15 Vacation boo20:51 Sex and the City Comparison28:21 Imagery is very explicit37:35 Accentuate the loneliness 38:21

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37:34

'Equus Asinus' Cements Men I Trust as the Biggest...

Album Mode ·

2025/04/01

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Men I Trust's latest studio album “Equus Asinus” how the band's production has shifted in this latest release and how you can get drop a Men I Trust lyric in your relationship to sound poetic.P.S. Where's the Clairo feature??Démar’s rating: 8 / 10Adriel's rating: 8 / 10The Love List: I Come With Mud, Bethlehem, Paul's Theme, Frost Bite, Girl (2025) Timecodes:5:11 - Soft enough for the bedroom but not so we are going to sleep9:06 - could be on Zach Bryan’s

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97:48

Is Playboi Carti's 'Music' Pure Aura? | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2025/03/20

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Playboi Carti’s third studio album “Music”, his new deep voice, the album’s incredible production, and how Carti’s aura and influence is pivotal to his fandom.P.S. SWAMP IZZO!!!!Démar’s rating: 7 / 10 Adriel's rating: 4.5 / 10The Love List: POP OUT, RATHER LIE, MOJO JOJO, WAKE UP F1LTHY, OLYMPIAN, OPM BABI, LIKE WEEZYTimecodes:6:00 - Hip-hop Christmas song9:16 - Features / narrative wise12:42 - Most famous but hasn’t released an album in 4 years15:15 - His fan base

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70:18

Lady Gaga | MAYHEM

Album Mode ·

2025/03/16

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lady Gaga's latest studio album 'Mayhem', how she's navigated her fame throughout her career and why this entire project sounds like it got pulled straight out of the 1980s.P.S. heavy Siouxsie and the Banshees vibes on AbracadabraDémar’s rating: 7.5 / 10 Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10The Love List: Disease, Die With a Smile, Perfect Celebrity, Vanish into YouTimecodes:2:26 - Bruno Mars 4:13 - A star is born8:00 - Rarely an artist is in their own lane like this9:23 -

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57:10

Lisa | Alter Ego

Album Mode ·

2025/03/07

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lisa's debut solo studio album 'Alter Ego', how it might be one of the most expensive albums of the year and whether her alter egos are just an excuse for a lack of vision.Démar’s rating: 2 / 10 Adriel's rating: 5.5 / 10The Love List: Moonlit Floor, Lifestyle, BADGRRRL, New WomanTimecodes:3:03 - Americans don’t listen to K-Pop4:00 - Gangnam Style7:32 - What genre is this?9:30 - Doja cat comparison10:12 - Very few songs Adriel likes the production the whole way

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95:13

Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR | $ome $exy $ongs 4 U

Album Mode ·

2025/02/24

This week, Démar and Adriel discuss Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR's collab album '$ome $exy $ongs 4 U', how this album is 10 years too late for old-school Drake fans and why this album is just another milestone in Drake's path of late stage mediocrity.The Love List: NOKIA, DEEPER, SMALL TIME FAME, MOTH BALLSTimecodes2:24 A lot of Drake fans wanted a Drake PND album3:12 Listening experience has changed6:06 Don’t hear PND enough 14:24 Songs saved16:29 The love for Nokia17:28 Felt like a Donna Summer

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57:07

Kendrick Lamar vs. The Narrative feat. Jorja Smith

Album Mode ·

2025/02/17

After all the dialogue Demar and Adriel drop their thoughts on the Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl performance. They also discuss whether Not Like Us is getting old and whether we should move on from a beef that is nearly a year running. Also the Duo talk about the Latest AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith song 'Crush' bringing back Demar's hot take on Jorja Smith making the wrong genre of music.Timecodes 2:23 - Was the setlist real?3:43 - Comparing Kendrick to past Super Bowl performers?5:25 - A diss record being

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104:11

The Weeknd | Hurry Up Tomorrow

Album Mode ·

2025/02/10

This week Démar and Adriel discuss The Weeknd's sixth studio album 'Hurry Up Tomorrow', how the album feels like a DJ set instead of an album, whether the name retirement is legit and how he's transitioned from R&B to being an electronic artist.Timecodes1:25 Is the End?3:03 Dawn FM8:34 Demar explains 18:27 We just wanna hear The Weeknd talk his shit20:09 Favourite Weeknd songs24:30 Wake me up - that’s just Thriller 26:05 The name of the project 27:20 Feels like a DJ set28:45 Cry for me sounds

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88:24

Central Cee | Can't Rush Greatness

Album Mode ·

2025/02/03

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Central Cee's debut studio album 'Can't Rush Greatness', how America cares more about his music than the UK and how he's a pop rapper by UK standards but almost a lyricist in America.P.S. Young Miko just gained two new fansDémar’s rating: 8.5 / 10 Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10The Love List: 5 Star, Limitless, Don't Know Anymore, Gen Z Luv, GataTimecodes1:27 Album or mixtape2:59 I’m not really a newcomer5:47 Commitment issues7:56 Cover of wild west8:49 I’m a civilian

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29:44

Drake's Beef Elevates to UMG

Album Mode ·

2025/01/28

Drake's beef is no longer with Kendrick Lamar, it's with their mutual label UMG and Drake is suing for defamation. Watch as the dynamic duo of Demar and Adriel breakdown what exactly is in the lawsuit documents and what it could mean for hip hop if Drake actually wins the lawsuit.Timecodes:4:02 Upset at UMG for putting out not like us4:56 UMG is aware these allegations are false 7:18 If Drake wins this, that will forever alter rap beef12:59 Putting Drake in the diddy group15:28 Hyperbole16:46 Two

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76:59

Mac Miller | Balloonerism

Album Mode ·

2025/01/27

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Mac Miller's secpmd posthumous album 'Balloonerism', how mac was ahead of his time sonically and his eerie, Tupac-like lyrics.The Love List: Stoned, Mrs. Deborah Downer, 5 Dollar Pony Rides, Rick's Piano, Tomorrow Will Never KnowTimecodes:4:38 - Saved songs6:05 - Fav Mac Miller album7:03 - Westside Gunn comparison8:36 - Growing up between KIDS & Watching Movies with the Sound Off13:00 - SZA17:05 Soft launched his drug use17:32 - SZA pronunciations18:45 - Eery

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62:26

Bad Bunny | DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

Album Mode ·

2025/01/21

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Bad Bunny's sixth studio album 'Debí tirador más fotos', his double entendres to Puerto Rico, the album's varied production maintaining its roots and how he's doing what Drake should've done back in 2020.The Love List: The Club, TURiSTA, PIToRRO DE COCO, VOY A LLeVARTE PA PRTimecodes:4:17 - Not the Highest he peaked on Spotify 7:18 - What are you thinking going into this project8:09 - The Chairs10:18 - Lyrics12:00 - How do you approach an album when you don’t speak

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47:45

LiAngelo Ball Just Dropped the Song of the Year and...

Album Mode ·

2025/01/16

LiAngelo Ball just dropped the song of the year and we're only in the third week! Demar and Adriel break it down and how everyone around them was asking for their approval before admitting they liked it. Also the TikTok ban looks like it'll be heading into full effect the duo discuss what that'll mean for music. Lastly Billboard’s Top Artists of the 21st Century drops and they have a laugh.Timecodes:00:53 - Tweaker song of the year 4:01 - If the St. Lunatics sung by Nate Dogg 7:58 - Real house

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53:42

Lil Baby | WHAM

Album Mode ·

2025/01/14

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lil Baby's fourth studio album 'WHAM', his pump fake production, falling behind Gunna and Lil Baby possibly entering the NBA Youngboy zone (also what the NBA Youngboy Zone means).The Love List: I Promise, Listen Up, So Sorry, Streets ColderTimecodes:6:23 - Street Gossip / not on the train9:23 - People at that time were touting his rapping ability10:26 - Why my turn was so successful11:59 - Made a single artist become an album artist in one night12:20 - Having the

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57:59

SheelovesKP on the Drake vs Kendrick Aftermath & His...

Album Mode ·

2024/12/18

Album Mode is joined by its first ever guest, Kyle Parkinson! (@sheeloveskp) It's the end of the year so we've decided to breakdown our favourite music moments of the year and how the landscape has changed. Also Kyle gives us his top 5 albums of the year and exlpains how the UMG pulling its music from TikTok affected him. Strap in for a first ever and maybe first of many!Follow Kyle:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheeloveskp/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sheeloveskpYoutube:

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