Steve Lacy’s third album Oh yeah? begins with blaring synths that pull you in like a first-watch movie trailer. The opening title track sounds as if he’s trekking through desolate dunes, where he cycles through “tragedies and wins” with memories of home in the rearview, pleading, “I don’t wanna lose again.” Arriving four years after Gemini Rights, where he sought happiness after a breakup, Oh yeah? proves Lacy is still on that hunt to find love, one met with more questions than answers — and a handful of jokes.
The SZA-assisted “Is It Cool?” takes inventory of the emotional baggage Lacy is carrying. He uncovers how his upbringing made him inexperienced at loving properly, hence the habitual infidelity and self-sabotage. Yet, he still longs for commitment. “The Feeling” captures a deep yearning for reassurance, while the Erykah Badu-assisted “Pure Colour” is a desperate plea for reconnection. “I miss you, so I lose control of me,” he sings over a hazy backdrop.
Looking for love can feel daunting at times. The punk rock-inspired “Doom” uncovers how the Gen-Z dating scene feels apocalyptic. “Everybody f****n, but nobody gives a f**k ‘bout love, just validation,” he sings over crunchy guitar amps and thudding drum kicks. But even navigating romance, Lacy doesn’t take himself too seriously.
“Show Me You” is undoubtedly a vulnerable moment, where he’s pouring his heart out (“I think I’m in love with you”), but lines like “been a while since I had some coochie stuck in my teeth” reveal he still makes space to be silly even when he’s serious.
The album’s lead single, “Nice Shoes,” gets director’s cut treatment, turning the original three-minute record into a nine-minute epic with the hidden track “In Your World.” The first half unpacks the hurdles he faces in romance (“I can’t seem to fall in love”), while the second half takes accountability for his wrongdoings.
At first listen, Oh yeah? doesn’t feel focused on producing a flashy blockbuster like “Bad Habit,” the Hot 100 chart-topper from Gemini Rights, but Lacy has never been one to chase a hit. He just makes music that catches on. This is the same guy whose 2017 Steve Lacy’s Demo was recorded on an iPhone. With Oh yeah?, Lacy doesn’t overthink it. He lets his rawest thoughts live in the lyrics. And it’s quite an adventure — oh yeah!
Stream Oh yeah? by Steve Lacy below.
