This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Rock musician Boots' production and songwriting on Beyonce's 2013 self-titled album showed he has the potential to become a great music-maker, setting the bar high for his debut album, "Aquaria."
Musically, his production on the 11-track album is stellar. The beats are hard-thumping and the instrumentals are edgy, creating a melancholy mood throughout. The sounds work, but each song lacks life vocally, leaving much of the songs unfulfilling.
The singer-rapper-producer's lyrics are often a struggle to digest on "Bombs Away" and "C.U.R.E." The vocals are too mundane and the words lack punch on "Dead Come Running."
There are some bright spots, such as the impressively slow-paced "Only" and the easygoing "Still." On the title track, he's joined by singer Angel Deradoorian, whose smooth vocals mesh well on the busy, clap-heavy song.
But even those songs seem like something is missing that could have made a major impact.