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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

68:41

Top 10 Albums of 2024

Album Mode ·

2024/12/16

Finally the episode you've all been waiting for, Album Mode's top 10 albums of 2024! Adriel and Démar list their best albums of the year and hand out some honourable metions to cap off 2024. There's some surprises in both lists so strap in for our year-ender.TIMECODES:1:25 - 5 Top 10 albums of this year5:18 - Album from this year that people will remember6:40 - Lucky Daye10:40 - We don’t trust you 11:45 - Listening to the album in full is a different experience12:02 - Born in the wild14:14 -

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76:46

J Cole | Friday Night Lights

Album Mode ·

2024/12/09

This week Démar and Adriel discuss the re-release of J Cole's third mixtape 'Friday Night Lights' on Apple Music and Spotfy. The also talk about J Cole being the intial foil to Drake and how underrated J Cole is a producer.Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 9 / 10The Love List: Back to the Topic, Villematic, In The Morning, See World, Too Deep for the IntroTIMECODES:3:20 - Hip-hop fans have been holding onto these two mixtapes4:52 - Era where it was Cole vs Drake5:28 - Mixtapes poppin' online

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73:36

Kendrick Lamar | GNX

Album Mode ·

2024/11/28

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Kendrick Lamar's sixth studio album 'GNX', Kendrick Lamar allowing himself to make music without an overacrching concept and Kendrick taking his LA centric sound to an international audience.Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 7 / 10The Love List: wacced out murals, squabble up, peekabo, hey now, luther, gloriaTIMECODES:2:17 Jack Antonoff5:00 At a place where we don’t have to make any myths5:21 2 years removed from Morale5:46 N9511:49 Biggest surprised drop

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48:07

Cordae | The Crossroads

Album Mode ·

2024/11/23

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Cordae's third studio album 'The Crossroads', why what he raps about hasn't changed since his debut and his features being the stars of his album.Démar’s rating: 6 / 10Adriel's rating: 6.5 / 10The Love List: No Bad News, Syrup Sandwiches, Summer Drops, Saturday MorningsTIMECODES:4:01 - How many Cordae songs do you have liked7:00 - Young Nudy vs. Denzel Curry vs Cordae10:44 - The intro/artist that doesn’t exist in hip-hop anymore11:31 - What is the budget for this

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22:34

2025 Grammy Predictions

Album Mode ·

2024/11/23

The latest Grammys nominations just dropped so you know we had to make some predicitions. Since Adriel and Demar have lost all hope in the Grammys ever getting it right, we predict who we think is going to win in the most cynical fashion.TIMECODES:2:10 - Who was the Grammy’s fav white woman?2:40 - Context going into the Grammy’s where race does matter3:08 - Album of the Year always feels like a popularity contest3:30 - Adriel is guessing Cowboy Carter wins 4:22 - Demar takes a victory lap with

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38:27

SahBabii | Saaheem

Album Mode ·

2024/11/14

This week Démar and Adriel discuss SahBabii's fourth studio album 'Saaheem ', how amazing the prodcution is and his influences have become an unbearing weight around his music.Démar’s rating: 6.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 4 / 10P.S. Belt Boyz, Belt Boyz, Belt Boyz, Belt BoyzThe Love List: Belt Boyz, Viking, Mirror Picz, Sylvan Rd Ridin Down DillTIMECODES:2:56 - Confused to how we got here4:42 - Diehard fans5:46 - artificially pushed to album mode8:08 - The lyrics are not why we’re here8:54 - Expected

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55:47

Lil Uzi Vert | Eternal Atake 2

Album Mode ·

2024/11/09

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Lil Uzi Vert's fourth studio album 'Eternal Atake 2', how the rest of rage (and hip hop in general) has passed them by and if they can ever recover from being Kid Cudi'd .Démar’s rating: 3 / 10Adriel’s rating: 3.5 / 10P.S. Meteor Man has gotta be Uzi's worst song ever... Right?The Love List: We Good, Chips and Dip, Space HighTIMECODES:1:06 - Demar not looking forward to EA21:48 - Lil Uzi’s best album?5:25 - Debut album numbers6:50 - Lil Uzi being left behind10:45 -

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30:58

Album Mode Celebrates 200 Reviews!

Album Mode ·

2024/11/02

Somehow we've made it to 200 album reviews on Album mode! Shoutout to everyone who's been following us since the days of only video and shoutout to everyone who's subscribed since we've made the jump to YouTube. Here's to 200 more!TIMECODES:3:14 - Taylor Swift is one of the more interesting ones4:11 - Cleo Sol/biggest regrets7:18 - Leaders on the Nas resurgence8:05 - Separating the narrative from the artist10:48 - Kawhi Leonard’s album11:34 - NewJeans12:49 - Démar congratulates himself13:22 - Vince

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79:49

CC. Tyler, The Creator - CHROMAKOPIA

Album Mode ·

2024/11/01

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Tyler, the Creator's eighth studio album 'CHROMAKOPIA ', how his production has had a slight regression and how Tyler, the Creator has reached a point where we care enough to release such a personal album.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel’s rating: 7.5 / 10The Love List: St. Chroma, Sticky, I Killed You, Balloon, Hey Jane, Darling, I, Thought I Was DeadTIMECODES:3:26 - Fans that have to be like Tyler5:49 - Difference from Goblin to Cherry Bomb / Childish & Cudi7:26

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68:49

CXCIX. YEAT | Lyfestylë

Album Mode ·

2024/10/25

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Yeat's debut album 'Lyfestylë ', how his production has become a playground, whether his lyrics matter in anyway and if Yeat's music is something you need to 'get' to like.Timecodes 1:58 What’s a Yeat? 4:34 Is he building a world again / trailer?8:39 How many songs saved from this artist?10:13 Demar has 92 Yeat songs saved 11:30 You are watching a master at work11:37 If you are a producer and Yeat calls it’s the best day of your life/push all the buttons 13:07

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51:06

CXCVIII. GloRilla | Glorious

Album Mode ·

2024/10/19

This week Démar and Adriel discuss GloRilla's debut album 'Glorious ', how she's transitioned from being a singles artist, her masterful ear for production and the album's stunning features.Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 7 / 10The Love List: HOLLON, TGIF, STEP, I LUV HER, PROCEDURETIMECODES:2:02 - Background on Glorilla2:24 - FNF 3:29 - Live review of the FNF / saw the vision 5:57 - Fivio Foreign feature 8:30 - Understanding of how things work in the internet age in terms of Glo 11:36 -

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24:50

J Cole Doesn't Realize He Damaged His Legacy on Port...

Album Mode ·

2024/10/19

J. Cole just dropped his latest single 'Port Antonio' and it sounds like he doesn't understand the damage he's done. When he stepped outside the beef he sealed his fate but somehow he's still rapping about being the best. The duo breakdown Cole's misguided raps. TIMECODES: 1:05 Instagram only drops 2:25 Dat Piff / Going back in time 4:08 Coming from The Fall Off 4:44 Like when things are addressed in the music 5:10 Don’t think Drake and Cole will be cool 9:04 He made the adult decision 9:55 Drake

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24:32

Diddy Gets Hit With 120 New Sexual Assault Allegations

Album Mode ·

2024/10/18

The allegations are flying in. Diddy is facing more allegations in civil court, and the number of allegations is staggering. The patented duo breaks things down.TIMECODES4:50 120 allegations coming forward7:03 Going after the accomplices 11:03 Put doubt in celebrities 11:52 Trump comparison12:18 Power dynamics13:48 Every time their phone rings, their heart drops14:59 Diddy’s name is so corrosive17:29 What is going to be the burden of proof 17:36 50 cent + Ma$e on the right side of history18:32 Who

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41:51

CXCVII. Leon Bridges | Leon

Album Mode ·

2024/10/15

This week, Démar and Adriel discuss Leon Bridges's fourth album 'Leon', why Bridges can't really make a bad song and whether he's actually a blues artist instead of R&B.TIMECODES:2:08 Largely successful at the start of his career2:30 Coming home4:09 Typed in Leon into Spotify / Who is the best Leon6:52 In this group, that doesn’t make bad songs7:24 Not as R&B when it comes to some songs11:34 Blues artists12:24 Rod Wave14:06 Needs Shaboozy15:36 Zach Bryan feature16:17 If they had a feature on

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54:24

CXCVI. Tommy Richman | COYOTE

Album Mode ·

2024/10/05

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Tommy Richman's debut album Coyote, why leaving off his break out singles 'Million Dollar Baby' and 'The Devil is a Liar' is a mistake and his unique combinations of influences in Michael Jackson, Tyler the Creator and Justin Timberlake.Démar’s rating: 6 / 10Adriel’s rating: 8 / 10The Love List: WHITNEY, TEMPTATIONS, LETTERMAN, ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, VANITYTIMECODES:1:59 - Million Dollar Baby4:41 - Great Expectations6:34 - What is it a mistake leaving the singles

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42:32

Diddy is Finally Arrested and Deciphering Kendrick...

Album Mode ·

2024/09/19

The feds have Diddy up of sex trafficking a racketeering charges and it ain't looking good. Diddy has already been denied bail twice and is officially awaiting trial. Also we reach back and talk about the Kendrick Lamar - Drake - Jay Z - Lil Wayne Super Bowl debacle and wonder if Kanye West can ever do the Super Bowl.TIMECODES:00:55- Diddy arrested4:15 - 1000 bottles of baby oil8:10 - What reason do you have to have that much baby oil?8:30 - A lot of people aligned with Diddy9:37 - Seems what he

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34:08

CXCV. Fousheé | Pointy Heights

Album Mode ·

2024/09/19

This week Démar and Adriel discuss Fousheé's second album 'Pointy Heights', her melding reggae with other genres and her trying to escape the shadow of her influencesDémar’s rating: 6.5 / 10Adriel’s rating: 5.5 / 10The Love List: 100 bux, birds, bees, feel like home, closer, warTIMECODES:1:29 Test case – black female artist not making R&B2:36 Female Teezo Touchdown?3:45 One of those names Demar sees everywhere5:30 Reason for the name of the album5:50 Birds, bees10:25 Not for the traditional

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31:28

CXCIV. Fat Dog | Woof.

Album Mode ·

2024/09/14

This week Démar is on a solo mission discussing Fat Dog's debut album 'Woof.' its über dramatic production and Fat Dog's repetitive lyrics actually give you something to grab onto while the production swirls.Démar’s rating: 9 / 10The Love List: Vigilante, Wither, Clowns, All the Same, Running, I am the KingFollow us:YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/@AlbumModeTikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom Démar:

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27:07

CXCIII. Doechii | Alligator Bites Never Heal

Album Mode ·

2024/09/07

This week Démar is on a solo mission discussing Doechii's third mixtape ' Alligator Bites Never Heal', her clear as day Fugees influences and how an album can feel like a drag even though it's amazing.Démar’s rating: 8 / 10The Love List: BULLFROG, BOILED PEANUTS, DENIAL IS A RIVER, SKIPP, HIDE N SEEK, DEATH ROLL, NISSAN ALTIMA, HUH!, FIREFLIES, ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEALP.S. Sorry for the wait, Doechii review later this week!Follow us:YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/@AlbumModeTikTok:Album Mode:

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22:54

CXCII. Sabrina Carpenter | Short n' Sweet

Album Mode ·

2024/09/02

This week Démar is on a solo mission discussing Sabrina Carpenter's sixth studio album Short n' Sweet, her underrated cheeky songwriting and her constant tug of war between pop country and pop R&B.Démar’s rating: 6 / 10The Love List: Good Graces, Bed Chem, Espresso, Lie To Girls, Don't SmileThe Love List: Losers, What Don't Belong to Me, I Had Some HelpP.S. Sorry for the wait, Doechii review later this week!Follow us:YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/@AlbumModeTikTok:Album Mode:

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