Stardust

by Yung Lean

Released April 7, 2022 via World Affairs

Reviewed April 26, 2022

Top tracks (based on community voting)

Bliss (73%), SummerTime Blood (54%), Trip (50%)

Although Yung Lean is no stranger to releasing a genre-defining project, with a discography that’s growing like his, there’s always a chance for a slight misstep. After his release of Starz in 2020, an album that’s undoubtedly one of his best and most concise works, Stardust falls a little flat in comparison. Outside of his infectious collaboration with FKA Twigs on “Bliss,” along with Skrillex, Bladee, and Ecco2k on “SummerTime Blood,” the album struggles with maintaining that energy consistently. Some poor vocal performances and differing sonic directions cloud the overall focus of the record. However, “Lips” and “Nobody Else” are a couple of standout tracks that would be more impressive with a tighter tracklist. Stardust isn’t a bad project by any means; but from Yung Lean, the expectations for more greatness can be impossible to reach. – Ben (Synth) (7.5/10)

Swedish rapper Yung Lean has been on the scene for almost a decade. His latest entry, Stardust, seeks to build upon 2020’s Starz. Unfortunately, he falls a little short. The biggest highlight on the album is its opening track, “Bliss” featuring FKA Twigs; a punk-influenced cut, it shines in both scope and craft in a project that feels listless. Another bright spot is “SummerTime Blood,” featuring production from Skrillex. In my many listens I could not find a flow that was engaging enough to make me return. The chorus on “Starz2theRainbow” fits its celestial production, but a bar like “so many snakes I had to cut the grass” pulls the listener out of the immersion. The album is just plainly okay—nothing amazing, nothing bad, but not replayable in the way Starz and Frost God were. – Jacques (5/10)