8/10

Ever since she arrived with her breakthrough debut album 'SweetSexySavage' in 2017, Kehlani has always hit different compared to other artists in her field. While she has made a name for herself within the commercial R&B world, she has managed to cultivate a uniquely warm and adventurous direction, leaving her as one of the more compelling names in the genre. And after the enormous praise she earned for her sophomore collection 'It Was Good Until It Wasn't' in 2020, she returns with her third studio album 'blue water road', a record that continues that explorative spirit.

After just a few tracks in, it is clear that 'blue water road' is reaching to become her most diverse and passionate releases to date. With her sweet and seductive voice riding an eclectic layer of rich and pulsing production from start to finish, we are seeing Kehlani in a far more relaxed guise as she oozes charisma and charm from start to finish. While still continuing to hone what she has produced throughout her career, her newest offering is a fresh and inviting full-length that never feels overshadowed by the extremely high-profile collaborations littered throughout.

It is clear that 'blue water road' is not only one of her most accomplished works so far, but also sees her in a more confident light. It feels like this is the start of something new for Kehlani as she not only finds her feet completely, but also offers up something brilliantly forward-thinking as well.