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Album Mode
Demar Grant & Adriel Smiley
309 episodes
3 days ago
Welcome to Album Mode where journalist, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist’s path to its release.
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Music Commentary
Music,
News,
News Commentary,
Entertainment News
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All content for Album Mode is the property of Demar Grant & Adriel Smiley and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Welcome to Album Mode where journalist, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist’s path to its release.
Show more...
Music Commentary
Music,
News,
News Commentary,
Entertainment News
Episodes (20/309)
Album Mode
Doja Cat's "Vie" for Pop Appeal is a Success | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel discuss Doja Cat's latest album "Vie", how her singing might have eclipsed her rapping and Janet Jackson's indelible influence on her music.

Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 8 / 10

The Love List: Cards, Jealous Type, Take Me Dancing, Acts of Service, Gorgeous, All Mine

Timecodes:

3:03 - Last Doja Car Review
7:30 - Best at Pop Rap
8:36 - Démar compares Doja Cat to Kyrie Irving
14:03 - Unpacking Jack Antonoff
22:12 - Adriel calls the album ‘Timeless’
26:34 - Lyrics
28:27 - ‘Take Me Dancing’
31:54 - Earl Sweatshirt featuring Doja Cat
35:30 - Sidequest album
38:49 - The Cover
40:42 - The Score

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant

 ===================================

Doja Cat - Vie / 2025 / hip hop, rap, pop rap, pop, R&B
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2 days ago
46 minutes

Album Mode
Cardi B's Viscious Bars Make it Clear "AM I THE DRAMA?" | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel discuss Cardi B's latest studio album "AM I THE DRAMA?", how her bars dance on the line of funny and vicious and why she seems to not care about album cohesion.

Démar’s rating: 7 / 10
Adriel's rating: 6.5 / 10

The Love List: Hello, Magnet, Pick It Up, Better Than You, Principal, Imaginary Playerz

Timecodes:

2:37 - Démar's Favourite Cardi B verse of all time
8:16 - Bodak Yellow was cool
12:55 - Invasion of Privacy
15:15 - Ranking all-time female MCs
23:39 - Imaginary Playerz
27:46 - What’s Going On with Lizzo and Cardi B
37:10 - Best feature on the album
45:24 - Lyrics
1:00:37 - Cardi B is still Cardi B
1:02:29 - The Cover
1:06:20 - The Score 

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant

 ===================================

Cardi B - AM I THE DRAMA? / 2025 / hip hop, rap, R&B, pop
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3 days ago
1 hour 12 minutes

Album Mode
Earl Sweatshirt "Live Laugh Love"s Complexity | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel discuss Earl Sweatshirt's latest studio album "Live Laugh Love", Earl's unorthodox song structures and whether his complexity is worth it for a regular music listener.

Démar’s rating: 7 / 10
Adriel's rating: 6 / 10

The Love List: FORGE, WELDONE!, CRISCO, TOURMALINE, exhaust

Timecodes:

01:35 - Demar is down on Earl
4:59 - FREE EARL
8:52 - An album with no singles
11:35 - Adriel's favourite Earl song
15:28 - Production on Gamma
21:16 - Is Static a Drill song?
33:31 - Demar on Earl abandoning the songs
39:00 - Lyrics on Crisco are genius level
45:34 - Onelongrunonsentence
50:20 - What does this mean for his career?
57:19 - No Skips?
58:16 - The Cover
59:06 - The Score

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant

 ===================================

Earl Sweatshirt - Live Laugh Love / 2025 / hip hop, rap, alternative hip hop
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5 days ago
1 hour 3 minutes

Album Mode
Chance the Rapper's 'STAR LINE' is a Lifeline | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel discuss Chance the Rapper's second studio album "STAR LINE", whether it's the comeback album of the year and how Chance the Rapper is underrated as a songwriter.

Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 8 / 10

The Love List: Gun In Yo Purse, Back To The Go, The Negro Problem, Ride, No More Old Men

Timecodes:
4:37 The Big Day
8:25 The Success of Coloring Book
16:35 Favorite Chance song?
23:40 How bad was Hot Shower?
28:29 A song only Chance could make
32:51 Demar doesn't think Chance is tough
35:15 Chance the Singer
43:00 Chance's Kendrick Lamar impression
48:22 Lyrics
53:20 The Negro Problem
1:02:26 Comeback Album of the Year
1:07:04 The Score

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant

 ===================================

Chance the Rapper - STAR LINE / 2025 / hip hop, rap, alternative hip hop
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1 month ago
1 hour 11 minutes

Album Mode
JID Thinks "God Does Like Ugly" And We Do Too | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel discuss JID's fourth studio album "God Does Like Ugly", how his music is now rappable and being able to adapt to sounds he's never done before.

Démar’s rating: 6 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7 / 10

The Love List: Glory, WRK, Gz, SK8, No Boo

Timecodes:
5:30 - His Past Albums
6:08 - Surround Sound
7:28 - JID & NewJeans
9:25 - Highest Charting Single
15:18 - Production is the Star of This Album
18:13 - JID does R&B well
21:22 - Démar compares Westside Gunn to Playboi Carti
24:00 - Did they choose the Right Singles?
31:14 - A Great Collaborator
36:28 - Adriel claims JID is underrated as a lyricist
46:46 - Demar is Unmoved
52:15 - What Does This Mean for His Career?
57:35 - The Score

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant

 ===================================

JID - God Does Like Ugly / 2025 / hip hop, rap, alternative hip hop
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1 month ago
1 hour 3 minutes

Album Mode
"DON'T TAP THE GLASS" Around Tyler, the Creator's Aura | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel react to Tyler the Creator's latest album "DON'T TAP THE GLASS", discuss whether he's a mainstream artist and if this is his first flop.

Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 5 / 10

The Love List: Sucka Free, Ring Ring Ring, I'll Take Care of You, Don't You Worry Baby

Timecodes: 

3:54 - Tyler does big 1st week numbers 
9:19 - Not a concept album
13:20 - Past Tyler the Creator reviews
15:49 - Favourite Tyler the Creator era
17:58 - ‘Ring, Ring, Ring’ should be a single
23:43 - A lot of 80’s references sonically
27:37 - Mommanem
35:44 - Demar is in disbelief
36:46 - Will Tyler find love?
42:40 - Is Post-cancellation?
49:30 - Is this Tyler, the Creator's first flop era?
51:45 - Second time releasing on a Monday
54:27 - His spot in Hip-Hop History
56:30 - The Cover
1:03:03 - The Score

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant

 ===================================

Tyler, the Creator - DON'T TAP THE GLASS / 2025 / hip hop, rap, alternative hip hop, Dance
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2 months ago
1 hour 12 minutes

Album Mode
Clipse "Let God Sort Em Out" and Won | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel react to Clipse's latest album, 'Let God Sort Em Out', geriatric hip hop and the idea of artists making hip hop well into their 50s

Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10

The Love List: E.B.I.T.D.A., Ace Trumpets, Let God Sort Em Out/Chandeliers,


Timecodes:

1:25 - Every corner of the hip-hop world that’s not part of the mainstream was waiting
3:40 - Is this album really happening?
4:59 - ‘It’s Almost Dry ‘ score
6:40 - Playboi Carti comparison
7:26 - The rollout is getting so much love
8:35 - The original Drake hater/comments about Travis Scott  
13:44 - The production
22:08 - Always has duality in their music / more human parts on the project
25:57 - 50-year-olds in hip hop
28:30 - Hip-hop is the only genre that can’t age gracefully  
28:55 - Hip-hop never got pulled away / never a normalization of how people aged in the genre
35:21 - The blog era of hip-hop is approaching their 40s
37:00 - Favourite song
46:15 -  Almost for the reaction on the timeline  
53:31 - The Score


Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant

 ===================================

Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out / 2025 / hip hop, rap
Show more...
2 months ago
57 minutes

Album Mode
Justin Bieber's "SWAG" is Back | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel react to Justin Bieber's latest album, 'SWAG', Bieber's closeness to the black community and whether he still is that guy we thought he was in the 2010s .

Démar’s rating: 5.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 6 / 10

The Love List: ALL I CAN TAKE, DAISIES, DADZ LOVE, DEVOTION

Timecodes:

5:30 - This album is showing he’s spending time with the black community
6:29 - Past Jb review
8:29 - Interested in the rollout
8:45 - No single/single worthy
9:00 - Janet Jackson comparison
14:41 - Dijon and Mkgee
18:35 - Justin is a versatile vocalist
19:37 - Always thought Gunna was an underrated/ Bieber worst part of the song
21:05 - Sweet spot
23:55 - Technically, the bars may fit but its not working
24:30 - Not many songs like this / unique record
25:23 - Meg The Stallion comparison
27:23 - Druski
29:31 - Druski, the best comedian?
31:01 - Cosplay Bieber too much on the nose
31:56 - Iceland billboard
40:50 - The cover
44:35 - He’s not in his bad boy era he’s becoming a dad
47:47 - The score 

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================

Justin Bieber - Swag / 2025 / pop, new jack swing, synth pop
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2 months ago
52 minutes

Album Mode
Haim's Songwriting Barely Saves 'I Quit''s Bland Production | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel break down Haim's latest album 'I Quit', their closeness to black music and the idea of going 'indie rock mainstream'.

Démar’s rating: 6 / 10
Adriel's rating: 5.5 / 10

The Love List: Gone, Relationships, Spinning, Million Years

Timecodes:

1:41-  Where does one go after peaking above indie pop mainstream
2:26 - In some circles, people know them 
4:44 - MJ comparison
8:10 - First memory
12:28 - This album is kind of like to good and bad of this genre of music  
13:24 - Why do you need to reduce your sound to stomp clap 
17:13 - Love you right is better than what it is  
23:15 - Arlo Parks song
27:58 - A ton of songs that could be singles
30:00 - Almost too pop  
31:34 - Overall good songwriters
39:43 - Putting an artist in a category
40:41 - What does this mean for their career
44:56 - The Cover
47:05 - The Score

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================

Haim - I Quit / 2025 / indie, rock, pop, soft rock
Show more...
3 months ago
50 minutes

Album Mode
'Honestly Nevermind' Has Aged Like Fine Wine 3 Years Later | RETROSPECTIVE
Honestly, Nevermind was met with confusion when it first came out but its fandom has been growing over the past 3 years since it's release. Démar and Adriel do a little bit of a retrospective on the album and look into how it Honestly, Nevermind continues to age like fine wine.

Timecodes:

0:55 Original review – Demar said in the future people are going to fuck with this
2:25 Is a very much do you know ball convo
2:50 Setting the scene with the drake albums (CLB etc…)
9:18 One of Drake’s best aging albums
11:55 The one flaw with Honestly, Nevermind
14:35 Who else could do this?

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================

Drake - Honestly, Nevermind / 2025 / pop, club, house, rap
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3 months ago
19 minutes

Album Mode
Little Simz Blossoms With 'Lotus' | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel break down Little Simz's sixth studio album 'Lotus', how the production sounds nothing like a hip hop album and whether this is Simz's best written album.

Démar’s rating: 9 / 10
Adriel's rating: 9 / 10

The Love List: Thief, Hollow, Free, Blood, Lotus, Lonely

Timecodes:

3:08 - The view over her career because she is from the UK
4:55 - Black Thought comparison as a rapper
6:09 - 
7:39 - That’s their Dominic Fike
10:38 - Thief sets the tone for the album
11:35 - Non-Traditional Hip-Hop beats in this era on this album
12:09 - Did they get it right with the singles?
12:51 - Pharrell singing on the song – that should be the single
13:24 - Thief is more indicative of the album
14:13 - SAULT explained
15:58 - Hollow – haven’t heard some one making subs since Drake on Scorpion
19:41 - Songs that made me think of the creation of this project (rap rock mixes)
23:08 - Young’ is the actual song good
25:24 - I’m a little teapot with her whole chest
29:58 - You are learning about who she is as a person through her music
34:04 - What this means for her career
34:18 - Not an album that anyone else has made
40:59 - No Skips
42:04 - The Cover
44:00 - The Scores

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================

Little Simz - Lotus / 2025 / hip hop, rap, uk hip hop, uk rap
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3 months ago
50 minutes

Album Mode
Miley Cyrus' Raspy Voice is 'Something Beautiful' | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel break down Miley Cyrus' ninth (!!) studio album 'Something Beautiful', how her voice allows her to make music beyond her years and how underrated she is as a songwriter.

Démar’s rating: 8 / 10
Adriel's rating: 6.5 / 10

The Love List: Prelude, End of the World, More to Lose, Easy Lover, Reborn

Timecodes:

3:23 - Hannah Montana – moved past that
8:44 - Did they get it right with the singles?
9:14 - End of the world
10:03 - Under-rated songwriter
10:49 - Reborn – 80’s revivalist track
13:19 - Sounds like and early 2000’s movie
15:04 - American Idol music
19:22 - Sex and the City reference
19:58 - Pretend your god/90’s pop
22:38 - Her voice sounds like a 50-year-old chain smoker
29:13 - This is a better vocal performance when we had in the past
30:05 - Olivia comparison
34:00 - Stove God Cooks   
37:40 - The world's burning but lets go to Greece
39:12 - Naomi Campbell
42:17 - Aesthetic overall
42:29 - Interlude 1 – Demar fav song
43:50 - Who released the best movie album
50:09 - The cover – unrated
52:00 - The Score


Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================

Miley Cyrus - Something Beautiful / 2025 / pop, country, pop country, synth pop
Show more...
4 months ago
56 minutes

Album Mode
Common's 'Be' is an Instant Classic That Still Holds Up 20 Years Later | REVIEW
Démar and Adriel break down Common's classic album 'Be', how much hip hop production has changed in the past 20 years and how intricate "real rap" was in 2005.

Démar’s rating: 8 / 10
Adriel's rating: 8.5 / 10

The Love List: Be (Intro), The Corner, GO!, The Food, They Say

Timecodes:

3:16 - Listening as an adult has a different tone
4:25 - Song bigger than the album
5:48 - Common’s longevity
6:36 - The Soulquarians are a real supergroup
8:49 - My Way Home
10:45 - His relationship with Erykah Badu (BE)
11:55 - 2005 Trivia  
18:50 - Good album to listen to on public transit  
22:57 - The last part of GO  - scratching on the single
24:42 - How much hip-hop has progressed from this sound
26:19 - This sound is a relic now    
28:30 - Same person who listens to Benny the Butcher also listens to Playboi Carti
29:30 - The type of sampling Kanye mastered
32:47 - Might be the last song on a DJ Khaled
34:26 - So many of these songs and lyrics have topics
36:34 - doesn’t seem like a topic on a Common song
37:35 - The complexity of the rapping was higher at this point  
42:36 - The way he put songs together is underrated
43:25 - his ability to observe things and rap about them    
53:30 - LL Cool J comparison
54:15 - The album colour  
56:00 - No Skips
58:06 - The Score

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================

Common - Be / 2005 / hip hop, rap, conscious rap, back pack rap
Show more...
4 months ago
1 hour 2 minutes

Album Mode
'13 Months of Sunshine' Cements Aminé's Summer Status | REVIEW
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Aminé's third studio album '13 Months of Sunshine', Aminé cementing himself as a summer artist and how mortal enemies Drake and Pusha T are his main influences.

Démar’s rating: 8 / 10
Adriel's rating: 8.5 / 10

The Love List: 13MOS, Feels So Good, New Flower!, Cool About It, Temptations

Timcodes:

2:42 - Previous Aminé album rating – surprised how high
5:00 - Feels like an extension of Kaytraminé
8:13 - Drake influence
10:04 - Production is the star
10:39 - Aminé is a fun Pusha T on 13 MOS  
18:25 - Free Nationals / The Internet comparison 
20:08 - What other rapper is going to hear this beat and do anything with it
21:33 - The skits add texture to this album
22:59 - Clear pride for him and his family – keeping people alive with the photos in my house 28:45 Using multiple languages to rap  - compressing multiple references
35:30 - New Flower is a revamped Mutt 
39:35 - The Cover
42:00 - May be going into the Album Mode Hall of Fame  

Follow us:

TikTok: 
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================

Aminé - 13 Months of Sunshine / 2025 / tropical house, hip hop, rap, alternative hip hop
Show more...
4 months ago
50 minutes

Album Mode
Kali Uchis' 'Sincerely' is a Reversion to Glory Days | REVIEW
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Kali Uchis' latest album 'Sincerely,' how she's tracing her musical lineage throughout the album and whether her reversion is worth it.

Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10

The Love List: Illegal, Tonight, Noises, Stateside,

Timecodes:

1:34 - Demar’s favourite women's weekend
5:40 - No Features
6:39 - Song structure  
10:40 - thinks it has regressed a little
14:00 - Sunshine and Rain/pocket of drums
16:17 - Pre R&B
20:40 - For you
22:19 - It sounds like silk lingerie
24:50 - Her voice is an instrument
28:00 - Lana Del Rey comparison
36:45 - How do you feel about no features?
39:04 - Small breath for some extra air – could have enjoyed another artist
43:15 - Her cover game is weird
45:25 - The Scores

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 ===================================

Kali Uchis - Sincerely, / 2025 / R&B, Soul
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4 months ago
50 minutes

Album Mode
PinkPantheress Becomes the John Wick of Music with 'Fancy That' | REVIEW
This week Démar and Adriel discuss PinkPantheress' latest mixtape 'Fancy That', PinkPantheress the producer beginning to outshine PinkPantheress the artist and how PinkPantheress has become the John Wick of music.

Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 7.5 / 10

The Love List: Illegal, Tonight, Noises, Stateside,

Timecodes:

2:42 - Demar is a superfan
4:56: - Too short because it’s good
5:30 - John Wick of music  
7:28 - Doesn’t feel like a full project / HMV Days
9:50 - Forza racing, when listening to this
11:08 - Sounds like a toddler that needs to get outside
13:00 - Did she get it right with the singles?
16:34 - Feels like a normal person song
18:14 - ‘Illegal’ is what people think she sounds like  
18:34 - Basement Jaxx sample
19:24 - Producing her own music
22:24 - Song about weed  
26:22 - Previously, her music did not talk about sex
28:10 - She’s from the TikTok era, where the hype matches the quality  
29:41 - The music is bigger than she is
31:21 - The Cover
33:05 - The Scores

Follow us:

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Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================

PinkPantheress - Fancy That / 2025 / house, dance, drum n' bass
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4 months ago
39 minutes

Album Mode
Yung Lean leans Into Apathy on 'Jonatan' | REVIEW
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Yung Lean's latest album Jonathan, what he meant to cloud rap, his transition to rock and how his lethargic singing tilts into apathy.

Démar’s rating: 3.5 / 10
Adriel's rating: 4.5 / 10

The Love List: Might Not B, Horses, My Life

Timecodes:

3:30 - How do you feel about reviewing YL
6:25 - The modern swaggy trap white rapper
7:16 - His influences
8:40 - Two stand-out lines  - shut the world off
14:45 - Album drags on you  
16:16 - I don’t think he can really sing
16:24 - Sing rapping is a saviour for rappers who can’t sing
18:19 - Feels like an audition for Brock Hampton  
19:30 - Has harmonies, but his voice is the worst part of it  
21:03 - Singing at a pace of Dominic Fike
21:33 - The actual emotion of the singing is not being conveyed  properly
32:33 - Kanye couldn’t figure out the drums for Find Your Love
36:18 - Chief Keef comparison
38:06 - Feels like 808’s and heartbreaks
40:41 - The cover
42:11 - The Score


Follow us:

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Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

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Twitter:
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Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================


Yung Lean - Jonatan / 2025 / indie rock, rock,
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4 months ago
46 minutes

Album Mode
Wiz Khalifa Revives His Sound on 'Kush + Orange Juice 2'
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Wiz Khalifa's latest mixtape Kush + Orange Juice 2 how he was one of the kings of the blog era and how his trademark sound is one step away from becoming cutting edge.

Timecode:
2:34 Freestyles leading up to the project 
3:17 Most influential rappers of the last 15 years
4:16 Wiz day to day vlogs
5:46 OKAY Wiz Khalifa Voice
6:46 The cargo shorts  
9:12 Say Yeah
9:32 Mixtape buzz
11:41 Kush & Orange Juice
12:28 Flight School
13:24 Demar Kids comparison
17:35 Mixtapes have died
18:07 Feel like he’s trying to capture his old sound
21:40 Ashbeck
25:29 Has Wiz been on a UK track
27:10 I might be
30:29 Max b interlude
35:05 Did Wiz get it right with the singles?
36:03 Could benefit from getting in the jazz drill space
38:15 Fits in with UK rappers
42:55 Wiz will never rap about something new
50:45 Juicy J
57:09 The cover
01:00:45 The score  


TikTok:
Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod
Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
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Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant

===================================
Démar’s rating: 7 / 10 Adriel's rating: 7 / 10
The Love List: What's Hannin, Just To See You Smile, Jet Taylor, Crime Bud and Women 
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5 months ago
1 hour 6 minutes

Album Mode
Bon Iver's 'SABLE, fABLE' finds it's groove but never embraces it | REVIEW
This week Démar and Adriel discuss Bon Iver's fifth studio album SABLE, fABLE how it nears greatness before ultimately shying away and how it feels longer than its 41 minute runtime implies.

Démar’s rating: 4 / 10
Adriel's rating: 4 / 10

The Love List: THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS, S P E Y S I D E, I'll Be There

Timecodes:

1:29 - Thought it was one dude
2:36 - Sampha comparison  
04:43 - Adriel’s Doppelganger
6:16 - Best Feature
8:26 - First disc songs were released on a separate EP
11:13 - Loneliness when it comes to folk
15:30 - If you’re going to do a long intro
21:48 - Frank Ocean vibes
23:14 - A 2025 song
24:33 - Mustafa comparison
26:53 - ‘From’ traditional format – boat rock
30:29 - Undanceable
31:11 - Missing the black part of the music
41:05 - As a full project, it’s a different kind of listen
42:05 - The production is hiding the lyrics in a bad way
42:25 - What it means for their career
49:15 - The cover
51:40 - Score 

Follow us:

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Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
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Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/

Twitter:
Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod
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Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================


Bon Iver - SABLE, fABLE / 2025 / indie rock, folk, rock
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5 months ago
56 minutes

Album Mode
The Greatest Debut Albums in Album Mode Review History
Cue the filler music! Adriel and Démar are taking a look back into the annals of Album Mode history and to find the best debut projects they've ever reviewed. When you've been podcasting for nearly 5 years, you can do that. We're talking Unknown T, Olivia Rodrigo and of course the goddess, PinkPantheress and more!

Timecodes:
5:36 - Framework of the context of the artist
6:28 - The album that is the furthest in their career
7:39 - Arlo Parks
15:34 - Has a lane can work with more of the street artists
16:07 - Folk artist but gritty
16:56 - The Last Dinner Party
22:37 - Silk Sonic
25:59 - Too retro?
26:16 - Credible but not eligible
30:55 - Music is more popular than she is
32:44 - In a sweet spot of being more then 12 songs but no too long
35:24 - (Sour) Taylor Swift meets Paramore / Avril Lavigne
42:02 - Lil Nas X
46:28 - Picking and choosing what’s a debut album
47:00 - Destroy Lonely
48:28 - Rise above hate – first review
55:04 - Glorilla
55:55 - Tommy Richman
59:03 - Best way to go about dropping a debut album 

Follow us:

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Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom
Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi

Instagram:
Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/
Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/
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Twitter:
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Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_
Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant
 ===================================
Show more...
5 months ago
1 hour 4 minutes

Album Mode
Welcome to Album Mode where journalist, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist’s path to its release.