Curtis Waters – BAD SON
Curtis Waters’ second album grapples with the lure and lust of stardom, and the crushing weight of its expectation and incessant attention
Racking up over a billion streams for his TikTok smash Stunnin’ during the height of the pandemic, Curtis Waters’ second album grapples with the lure and lust of stardom, and the crushing weight of its expectation and incessant attention. Some of the best moments come when the Nepalese-Canadian displays his knack for searing introspection and vulnerability, like on GOD'S LONELY MAN where he ruminates on how being obsessed with becoming famous from a very young age left him lonely, disconnected from his peers, and mentally unwell.
Filled with voice notes and recorded conversations with friends, family, and mentors, there are some strikingly touching moments on the album such as a childhood recording of his mother speaking to him in Nepalese. Waters doesn’t stick to sentimental for long though. The bouncy and fun HIMBO is peppered with cheeky lyrics like, 'I play hoes like Atari / I play both Ken and Barbie / They ride me like a Harley / On tape just like iCarly'. Meanwhile, BIRTHDAY begins with a soft acoustic folky breeze before unfurling into the hard-edged autotune rage Waters is known for.
With most tracks ending well before the three-minute mark, it means some come and go without landing enough of a firm punch, but BAD SON is fun and it momentarily stuns, even if it doesn’t always retain attention.
Listen to: GOD'S LONELY MAN, DEATH KEEPS CALLING MY NAME, HIMBO