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Crucial

Starchild & The New Romantic Music Download - 2016 Community Rating: 4 out of 5

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“Champion Music for the Heartbroken.” That’s how Bryndon Cook, who records as Starchild, describes Crucial, his first EP for Ghostly. It’s easy to hear what he means: over the course of the record’s 30 minutes, Starchild creates songs that draw equally on electro and R&B;, with silky sheets of synth cascading over rubbery bass lines. And at the center of every one of them is an undeniable twinge of sadness.

Which makes sense - Crucial is an album born of risk. Starchild was the first member of his family to leave their home for New York and, though he was technically pursuing a BFA in acting, eventually his interest in music took over. “I really tried to go on a limb and find an expression of my own self, not what I was supposed to be according to anything else,” he explains. “I was leaving for New York with a head full of Prince bootlegs and Sade records, basically. I took what I knew, applied it to things I learned at acting school, and started writing songs.”

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

relaxing submitted by paladinpit on June 21, 2019, 7:57am I listened to this album while at work and found it to be quite relaxing. Starchild's voice is soft and smooth with a hint of sadness. The music isn't overpowering as some electronic music can be. Overall, I enjoyed the album a lot.

Crucial submitted by Varshini on August 31, 2019, 10:30pm Beautiful music. Very relaxing and calming. I listened while I was studying.

Smooth submitted by choichr on July 25, 2022, 10:31am This album was really easy to listen to. The songs felt smooth and soulful. I especially liked the dream-like quality of All My Lovers.

Music & Lyrics (Don't Match) submitted by Meginator on July 30, 2023, 10:07pm This album falls along the spectrum of R&B, with romantic lyrics set against hybrid acoustic/electronic backing tracks that provide a range of moods for the album. While the vocals aren’t bad, they are often overpowered by the instrumentals, and the music often doesn’t fit with the mood of the lyrics. This wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t come together in a way that sold me on the songs.

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PUBLISHED
Year Published: 2016
Format: Music Download