Giveon’s sophomore album “BELOVED” is a bit boring. I thought the album was going to give more than it gives. For example, Giveon should have avoided making the songs sound similar. Compared to Giveon’s other albums and tracks, he could’ve done way better.

His newest contemporary R&B and soul album is more mature compared to his other projects he has done. With a 1970s vibe to it, it goes into more into depth about his emotions in a slow, burning manner. Some of the songs sound similar, which gives a boring effect, because you get the same beat and similar topics in songs; some of the songs sound very similar because of his rich vocals and the instrumental beat in the background, so while you’re expecting to get a new, completely different song, you get a similar-sounding one.

If he had changed the songs up, it would’ve been a good album, but that is not the case. The way it was hyped up, it sounded like it was going to be better than it was. I expected more from the album.

The features on it were a good part of the album: Kahlani on “Save Some for Me,” Leon Thomas on “Fool Me Once,” Sasha Keable on “Replica,” and Teddy Swims on “Keeper.”

Multiple critics are saying that people are praising his new album, but I feel like they’re just exaggerating; it’s just not good enough to get praised like that.

Casa senior Trinity Segura listens to Giveon, and she said, “My favorite song on this album has to be ‘Fool Me Once.’ I don’t have a least favorite song.” She rates the album as “a little mid, just because his other albums are better. I expected more because of the other albums. It didn’t wow me, but it’s not bad.” She thinks that the album “Take Time” is better than this new album. I have to agree. 

If Giveon had changed up the beats, vocals, and made his lyrics not sound so similar, this would’ve been a great album. It’s not terrible, it’s just mediocre.