SZA is finally back, people. After a five-year hiatus, the singer finally dropped her second album, SOS—the long-awaited follow-up to 2017's Ctrl. SZA released SOS at midnight on December 9, giving fans plenty of time to devour, praise, and nitpick the sprawling, 23-song-deep tracklist. So far, reviews have been mixed. Some listeners seem overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material, while SZA's Instagram is flooding with praise. To no one's surprise, Issa Rae is one of SZA’s fans who is simply happy to hear something new from the artist. The comedian and creator of Insecure commented, “Thank you for this album, girl.”
Say what you will, but SOS is undoubtedly a departure from the music SZA is known for. SOS is experimental. Different. Really, it’s a bit all over the place—and certainly a lot less polished than her previous work. Sonically, it’s a wildflower. The album's roots are planted in R&B, but it sprouts into a plethora of genres. Throughout the 23 songs, you’ll find SZA rapping, singing enchanting melodies, yelling (!), and even trying her hand at pop-punk. If you were looking for Ctrl Part Two, listen to the Ctrl's Deluxe Edition, because SOS is not that.
In an interview with People Magazine, SZA explained that creating SOS was an opportunity to branch out. "The sound is a little bit of literally everything," she said. "It’s a little angry as an overview, but some of it is really beautiful and soft and heartfelt. It’s about heartbreak, it’s about being lost, it’s about being pissed."
SZA opens SOS with its title track, a hearty welcome for those wondering what she’s been up to lately. (Yes, SZA got a BBL, and if you don't know what that is, Google it.) From there, the artist moves into "Kill Bill" and "Seek & Destroy," which tackle feelings of inadequacy. The tables turn in "Low," where SZA brags about not needing anyone. While she floats through topics of self-loathing and self-love, the singer comes down to earth in "Special," where she admits her own insecurities. Of all the songs on the album, it’s the most honest of the bunch—aside from "Notice Me," which captures the feeling of wanting to be with someone who doesn’t feel the same way. To put it simply: there’s a lot going on.
"It’s my first album in five years, so I’m ready to be a different person and step into this new part of my life," SZA said of the album. "Really exemplify who this character is and get to know myself better while everyone else gets to know me live, at the same time."
Though the project is uniquely her own, SZA had a bit of help bringing it to life. Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, and even a snippet of The Wu Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard are featured. Despite the praise SOS already garnered, SZA has teased that this may be her last record. (Personally, I’m just going to pretend like she didn’t say that.) In the meantime, SZA plans to release a series of music videos to accompany the album. The first video, for "Nobody Gets Me," is out now.
