Album Review: For All The Dogs | Drake
do we need another 90 minute drake album...
Drake returns with his newest album, For All The Dogs. The record is the latest of Drake’s musical identity crisis following his mixed-reviewed dance record Honestly Nevermind and well-received collaboration project with 21 Savage, Her Loss. For this project, Drake was clear with his intentions. “They say they miss the old Drake girl don’t tempt me. FOR ALL THE DOGS.” referencing Headlines off his bonafide classic Take Care in the album announcement, but how exactly does Drake define “old Drake”?
For starters, the city of Toronto (AKA “The Six”) has always been woven into his musical identity. In very Drake (AKA “6God”) fashion, he waited to release For All The Dogs until October 6th at 6 AM. To keep his Toronto identity in his music, Drake enlists OVO & Toronto artist PARTYNEXTDOOR for this album, among other features from SZA, 21 Savage, J.Cole and many more.
Most people would define “old Drake” as a unique sound blending R&B and Rap seamlessly. And while that is definitely trying to be present on this album on songs like Tried Our Best & Bahamas Promises, it’s no Take Care. Thematically, For All The Dogs touches very familiar territory for Drizzy. It’s still not apparent to us on this record if Drake has any new ambitions or motivations outside of wealth, fame, and women on this record. It’s the same “old Drake” for the maybe 6th album in a row.
When asked to describe his new record, Drake responded by saying, “Please don’t ask me how I feel if you can’t handle the real.” and also left a quick message to his exes: “You know the value of every purse but you definitely don’t know the value of hard work.” His answer shows a lack of direction and comprehension, which is also clear in this new album.
Despite its directional challenges, some things on For All The Dogs are worth discussing. The album itself is loosely built on a late-night local radio program, BARK Radio, which is located in Chapel Hill and hosted by DJ Curtis Cut-A-Bitch-Off (AKA Snoop Dogg). This feels like Drake’s attempt to create cohesion and a throughline on this record, similar to The Weeknd using Jim Carrey on Dawn FM, but it fails to be as immersive. This concept doesn’t quite land, but it’s a step in the right direction for Drake to make a distinct record. Not slapping 23 songs together, he feels it is similar to one of his son’s school projects.
Ultimately, Drake falls short because he is making music to make music. He lacks direction and something interesting to say that he hasn’t already said on every project post-Views. All in all, For All The Dogs is bloated and leaves one scratching their head. It’s difficult to sum up. Drake fans will still eat this up and spin 3 hits from it, and Drake won’t do any self-reflecting to improve his craft. Here’s hoping to some time-off to really think about his next body of work.
Check out our favorite tracks, listen to the album, and see our scores below:
Can’t Miss: Virginia Beach, First Person Shooter, Rich Baby Daddy
You Can Skip: Calling For You, Polar Opposites, Another Late Night
BY THE NUMBERS
Bennett’s Score: 5.7
Carson’s Score: 5.65
Album Score: 11.35
Notes from Bennett:
Instead of giving opinions I have on this album, I’m just going to compile a list of corny-ahh lyrics from this album, buckle up.
“Treat all my exes like Jehovah’s Witnesses” Daylight
“Nadine, Christine, Justine, Kathleen, Charlene, Pauline, Claudine, Man I keep ‘em in this phone like sardines” First Person Shooter
“I stay with that O like a bagel” IDGAF
“Feel like I’m bi ‘cause you’re one of the guys, girl” Members Only
“Girl I wanna slide in your box like a vote” What Would Pluto Do
“We heavy guys like obese men” All The Parties
“Conspiracy theories start floatin’ ‘round like the Kennedy guy” 8am in Charlotte
“Guess them ho-ho-hoes still believe in Saint Nick” BBL Love
“Start adoptin’ all my brothers’ beefs like a orphan” Away From Home (this one kinda goes hard idc)
“Bidin’ my time with you then things get political” Polar Opposites
There are a few more that didn’t feel Pop-Lobster appropriate that were pretty interesting as well. (looking at u lil boat)
Notes from Carson:
I went on a walk first thing Friday morning to listen to this entire album and the people I passed probably thought I was crazy how much I was giggling and laughing to myself at this record. This man is sooooo unserious like why is this the funniest Drake record ever? The barking noises, him trying to sing in Spanish, a interlude dedicated to his love for BBL’s, like WHAT is he doing. Classic Drake.
An almost 90-minute album….your life may be a movie Mr. Graham but I don’t want your album to be the length of a feature film please.
On Fear of Heights, Drake making a whole song about how he’s over Rihanna is so funny because if you had to do that….sir you’re in denial. Embarrassing song.
Immediate skip for me on any Lil Yachty song. Sorry.
So many songs on here left me confused. Like they are incomplete. The 21 savage song Calling For You is so disjointed and pieced together in such a strange way. Ever since Sicko Mode Drake has forgotten he doesn’t have to do a beat switch in every song.
Why did he have to say DJ Pooper Scooper on All The Parties. Chief Keef sounds like AI tho.
IDGAF is majorrrrrr jumpscare. Like damn. Kind of a bop tho.
Overall, I think this album is kind of a slog. It’s wayyyy tooo long and feels like a homework assignment to figure out which songs are good. He is making music to make music
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Funk Wav Bounces, Vol 1 | Calvin Harris | Score: 16.60
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Lover | Taylor Swift | Score: 14.42
AUSTIN | Post Malone | Score: 14.41
Sunburn | Dominic Fike | Score: 14.33
Zach Bryan / Zach Bryan | Score: 14.19
Endless Summer Vacation | Miley Cyrus | Score: 14.00
Unreal Unearth | Hozier | Score: 14.00
In The End It Always Does | The Japanese House | Score: 13.92
Barbie: The Album | Various Artists | Score: 13.88
Gag Order | Kesha | Score: 13.77
Snow Angel | Reneé Rapp | Score: 13.00
UTOPIA | Travis Scott | Score: 12.79
The Album | Jonas Brothers | Score: 12.67
I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet | Del Water Gap | Score: 12.58
Stick Season | Noah Karan | Score: 12.43
For All The Dogs | Drake | Score: 11.35
Scarlet | Doja Cat | Score: 11.24