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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

69:02

Brent Faiyaz has lost his 'Icon' aesthetic | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2026/02/21

Démar and Adriel discuss Brent Faiyaz's latest album 'Icon' his misaligned aesthetic and him losing the grip on his songwriting.Timecodes: 3:26 Top 10 Albums of the Year:00 Past Brent Faiyaz Reviews12:30 Beauty Behind the Madness14:58 Two pop songs21:25 The World is Yours 28:25 Larger Than Life31:55 Positions era Ariana Grande39:40 Lyrics43:43 Concept Album49:15 What does icon mean for his career55:55 What does Brent do next?59:52 The Cover1:04:42 The Score=================================== Follow

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85:04

J.Cole's "The Fall-Off" is a love letter in disguise...

Album Mode ·

2026/02/16

Démar and Adriel discuss J.Cole's final(?) album, The Fall-Off, whether he accomplished what he wanted in his career and if "The Fall-Off is Inevitable" is one of the best songs in hip hop history.Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 8.5 / 10The Love List: The Fall-Off is Inevitable, The Villest, Bunce Road Blues, Poor ThangTimecodoes3:10 How Drake vs Kendrick affected The Fall Off10:49 The Fall Off lore16:45 The Fall Off is inevitable23:02 Disc 1 vs Disc 227:30 Future’s best features33:10

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53:38

Don Toliver is high "OCTANE"

Album Mode ·

2026/02/10

Démar and Adriel discuss Don Toliver's latest album "OCTANE", whether his lyrics matter and how his melodies and production are second to none.Timecodes:4:18 4th time reviewing Don Toliver7:50 Best Feature10:30 ATM15:55 Falestto for Falsetto25:25 Potential features38:15 Where does he rank amongst his peers?45:21 Covers47:30 The ScoreFollow us:TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepodAdriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar:

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40:17

Ari Lennox's "Vacancy" is renewed

Album Mode ·

2026/02/09

Démar and Adriel discuss Ari Lennox's latest album "Vacancy", her toned down lyrics and what a label switch can do for her moving forward.Follow us: TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram:Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter:Album Mode:

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30:11

Drop January and J. Cole's "Fall-Off" begins

Album Mode ·

2026/02/01

It's apparently "Drop January" as a plethora of artists have annouce they have new projects coming up Déma rand Adriel talk about what that means for music this year. Also J. Cole released his first single for his upcoming album, "The Fall Off", Adriel tries to dodge the question but Démar asks how he feels about the rappers alleged end coming up.===================================Follow us: TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel:

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79:15

A$AP Rocky's "Don't Be Dumb" is aged wine | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2026/01/25

Démar and Adriel discuss A$AP Rocky's comeback album "Don't Be Dumb", whether he took too long to return and if his music is experimental anymore.Timecodes:2:00 The Kanye Zone6:18 1st A$AP Rocky Review11:55 Is LONG.LIVE.A$AP a classic album?15:45 TESTING24:04 Favourite Feature31:20 Moshpit energy39:46 A$AP Rocky vs The Discourse53:15 The mature version59: 00 Female Rappers with A$AP Rocky1:08:25 Cozy Tapes 31:09:52 The Cover1:13:27 The ScoreTikTok:Album Mode:

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79:29

Album Mode's Top 10 Albums of 2025

Album Mode ·

2025/12/24

Finally the episode you've all been waiting for, Album Mode's top 10 albums of 2025! Adriel and Démar list their best albums of the year. After years of reviewing music together the duo divergence has become more obvious and this year's year-end list is evidence.P.S. Demar's Spotify listening age is 25, Adriel's is 45.TIMECODES:3:30 - A lot of albums that we did not review4:10 - Don’t Tap The Glass7:30 - West End Girl9:48 - Miley Cyrus supremacy15:55 - Yacht Rap16:49 - An Ambient Demo but good21:16

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65:51

Esdeekid and everyone else you should know from 2025...

Album Mode ·

2025/12/13

Démar and Adriel discuss who popped off in 2025 that we're looking forward to their work in 2026.Timecodes1:10 The Criteria2:20 Esdeekid6:50 Timothee Chalamet11:38 Uzi mixed with Future12:48 Odeal18:25 Young Miko20:26 Similar to early Don Toliver24:36 Kwn31:23 The Black performative male32:10 Dijon40:35 Rebecca Black45:06 Not New/But Changing51:48 Spotify Wrapped54:17 The Dominance of Drake56:37 Spotify Listening Age1:00:03 Old year-end playlists===================================Follow us:

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63:45

Summer Walker's "Finally Over It" is a feature fest|...

Album Mode ·

2025/11/26

Démar and Adriel discuss Summer Walker third studio album "Finally Over It", whether Aaliyah is the GOAT and the strength of the album's feautres.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel's rating: 7 / 10The Love List: Robbed You, No, Go Girl, Heart Of A Woman, BallerTimecodes:4:04 - Background on Summer Walker8:55 - The Singles9:49 - The influence of Aaliyah11:50 - What a Summer Walker song sounds like14:10 - Love for Doja Cat21:51 - Give Me A Reason30:13 - So Many Good Features34:48 - 1-800-Heartbreak38:58 -

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54:20

Rosalia's 'Lux' is technically brilliant, but is that...

Album Mode ·

2025/11/16

Démar and Adriel discuss Rosalía's fourth studio album "LUX", its technical excellence and whether an album that's so orchestral can be considered pop.Follow us: TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepodAdriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram:Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter:Album Mode:

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48:38

Dave's "The Boy Who Played the Harp" sometimes...

Album Mode ·

2025/11/03

Démar and Adriel discuss Dave's third studio album "The Boy Who Played the Harp", its abscence of drums and Dave's ability to make songs instead of poetry with a soundtrack.Démar’s rating: 6 / 10Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10The Love List: The Boy Who Played the Hard, No Weapons, SelfishTimecodes:3:00 - Adriel doesn’t like EPs5:58 - The tone of the album6:43 - Favourite feature12:50 - Where are the drums?16:10 - Demar calls ‘175 Months’ boring21:04 - Dave vs. Kendrick23:25 - The Outro27:10 - Dave’s

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52:53

Tame Impala's "Deadbeat" Follows the Crowd | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2025/10/24

Démar and Adriel discuss Tame Imala's fifth album "Deadbeat", how Tame Impala became a follower with is production and the decline of a once great artist.Démar’s rating: 5.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 5.5 / 10The Love List: Dracula, Loser, Afterthought, My Old WaysTimecodes:2:44 - Have they ever been mainstream?3:58 - First time hearing Tame Impala8:50 - Adriel’s favourite song11:05 - Demar’s Dad cosigns14:17 - The Singles18:32 - Kevin Parker made a Drake song?20:50 - Afro House attempt24:30 - Best song

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42:46

Khalid is revealed "after the sun goes down" | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2025/10/19

Démar and Adriel discuss Khalid's fourth studio album "after the sun goes down", his lack of vocal colour and whether his simplistic pop lyrics are a negative.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel's rating: 4 / 10The Love List: medicine, nah, nobody (make me feel), impulsiveTimecodes:2:20 - Technically still very popular4:18 - Past Khalid Reviews8:44 - Demar compares ‘True’ to Kidz Bop9:50 - R&B Khalid13:20 - ‘Rendezvous’16:48 - Reminds me of…22:44 - Lyrics28:45 - What this means for his career34:30 -

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18:43

Embracing D'Angelo's Influence

Album Mode ·

2025/10/18

The Father of Neo Soul has passed, Adriel and Demar discuss how important he is, why so many different artists are mourning him and how boundless his influence has become in modern music.Follow us: TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram: Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar:

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23:00

The Disappointing Diddy Verdict + Nicki vs. Cardi B...

Album Mode ·

2025/10/14

Diddy has escaped the RICO charges but that doesn't mean he's gone unscathed. Also, the duo breakdown the Nicki and Cardi B beef, hip hop is ahead of the "head bitch" archetype but does Nicki know that? Keep it locked here on Album Mode.Follow us: TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram: Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel:

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94:52

Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" is a Farce |...

Album Mode ·

2025/10/08

Démar and Adriel discuss Taylor Swift's latest album "The Life of a Showgirl", how Taylor's songwriting has collapsed and why she's chasing the people that she's influenced.Démar’s rating: 2.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 4 / 10The Love List: The Fate of Ophelia, Ruin the FriendshipTimecodes:1:39 - Is the fandom bigger than the music?7:22 - Past Taylor Swift reviews13:30 - Fate of Ophelia16:56 - Actually Romantic28:56 - Pop music in 202530:18 - Honey feels desperate34:44 - Too much ‘stomp/clap’39:48 - Ruin

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46:44

Doja Cat's "Vie" for Pop Appeal is a Success | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2025/10/03

Démar and Adriel discuss Doja Cat's latest album "Vie", how her singing might have eclipsed her rapping and Janet Jackson's indelible influence on her music.Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 8 / 10The Love List: Cards, Jealous Type, Take Me Dancing, Acts of Service, Gorgeous, All MineTimecodes:3:03 - Last Doja Car Review7:30 - Best at Pop Rap8:36 - Démar compares Doja Cat to Kyrie Irving14:03 - Unpacking Jack Antonoff22:12 - Adriel calls the album ‘Timeless’26:34 - Lyrics28:27 - ‘Take Me

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72:07

Cardi B's Viscious Bars Make it Clear "AM I THE...

Album Mode ·

2025/10/02

Démar and Adriel discuss Cardi B's latest studio album "AM I THE DRAMA?", how her bars dance on the line of funny and vicious and why she seems to not care about album cohesion.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel's rating: 6.5 / 10The Love List: Hello, Magnet, Pick It Up, Better Than You, Principal, Imaginary PlayerzTimecodes:2:37 - Démar's Favourite Cardi B verse of all time8:16 - Bodak Yellow was cool12:55 - Invasion of Privacy15:15 - Ranking all-time female MCs23:39 - Imaginary Playerz27:46 - What’s

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63:25

Earl Sweatshirt "Live Laugh Love"s Complexity | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2025/09/30

Démar and Adriel discuss Earl Sweatshirt's latest studio album "Live Laugh Love", Earl's unorthodox song structures and whether his complexity is worth it for a regular music listener.Démar’s rating: 7 / 10Adriel's rating: 6 / 10The Love List: FORGE, WELDONE!, CRISCO, TOURMALINE, exhaustTimecodes:01:35 - Demar is down on Earl4:59 - FREE EARL8:52 - An album with no singles11:35 - Adriel's favourite Earl song15:28 - Production on Gamma21:16 - Is Static a Drill song?33:31 - Demar on Earl abandoning the

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71:53

Chance the Rapper's 'STAR LINE' is a Lifeline | REVIEW

Album Mode ·

2025/08/25

Démar and Adriel discuss Chance the Rapper's second studio album "STAR LINE", whether it's the comeback album of the year and how Chance the Rapper is underrated as a songwriter.Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 8 / 10The Love List: Gun In Yo Purse, Back To The Go, The Negro Problem, Ride, No More Old MenTimecodes:4:37 The Big Day8:25 The Success of Coloring Book16:35 Favorite Chance song?23:40 How bad was Hot Shower?28:29 A song only Chance could make32:51 Demar doesn't think Chance is

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