It’s rare that I find an album where I enjoy a majority of the songs or even all of them, for that matter. One such album, however, is “Ungodly Hour” by Chloe x Halle. Chloe x Halle are a duo consisting of sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey. They began their musical career by posting covers on YouTube, where they were soon discovered by Beyoncé. She became a mentor to the sisters and signed them to her label Parkwood Entertainment. Under Parkwood, Chloe x Halle have released one extended play (“Sugar Symphony”), one mixtape “The Two of Us,” and two studio albums (“The Kids Are Alright” and “Ungodly Hour”).
For this album review, I would like to try something a bit different. In the past, I would review each song individually and give my thoughts on them. However, I now want to try and give my concrete thoughts on the album as a whole instead. I find this would be more interesting and give the readers a chance to listen to the album for themselves if they’re intrigued by how the album sounds as a whole. So, without further ado, let’s dig in.
Of their discography “Ungodly Hour” has garnered Chloe x Halle the most acclaim. Released on June 12th of this year, the duo’s second studio album consists of thirteen tracks ranging from R&B to dance-pop. The sisters took part in writing for every song as well as producing eight of the thirteen tracks (with Chloe producing half of them herself). Critics have praised Chloe x Halle for taking part in their own music, which they have done since the release of their 2016 debut extended play “Sugar Symphony.”
Chloe x Halle have also received praise for their vocal delivery, artistic growth and the album’s cohesiveness in “Ungodly Hour” – and it’s not difficult to see why. The album is fantastic from start to finish and if readers plan to listen for themselves, I urge you to listen to the album from beginning to end without skipping any tracks. It deserves to be listened to this way. No matter the song, Chloe x Halle’s vocals are always a highlight. Their voices are crisp to perfection and are enough to carry the album on their own.
Personally, I believe the songs that showcase their vocals best are “Forgive Me,” “Ungodly Hour,” and “Lonely.” Their harmonizations, melodies, and beats are beautiful and the messages of each song are the same, as well as relatable. “Forgive Me” is about being unapologetic about who you are and believing in your self-worth; “Ungodly Hour” is about loving someone at their worst; and “Lonely” is about realizing that it’s okay to be alone. They’re definite highlights and I always find myself going back to them.
All in all, “Ungodly Hour” is one of the best albums released this year and it is also Chloe x Halle at their best. If you are someone who wants to get into the duo’s discography, “Ungodly Hour” is the perfect place to start. I assure that you won’t be disappointed.