Mat Musto aka blackbear has written hits alongside Pharrell, Ne-Yo, Justin Bieber, and the likes, and Deadroses is the artist's debut LP from 2015. Anchored in Musto's well honed pen game and his mastery of bittersweet melodies, the 10-tracker mashes r&b/hip-hop with internet sensibilities, and resulting songs like "Idfc," "Dirty Laundry," and "Deadroses" check all the boxes for effective pop music in the streaming/Soundcloud era we currently live in. Instrumentals are heavy on synths and bass, but blackbear rightfully ops for a more minimal production style, and that choice leaves plenty of room for his singing/rapping. Other standouts include "90210" featuring G-Eazy and the addictive opener, "4U."

• black vinyl pressing
  
• Beartrap 2018

reviewed by rei kwondo 03/2018