Album Review: Syd, Broken Hearts Club

Syd

Broken Hearts Club (released April 8, 2022)

In 2017, we were blessed with a banger.

And most of y’all missed it.

Transitioning from group to solo success is never easy, but Syd tha Kid made it look like light work, effortlessly morphing from fronting the acclaimed band the Internet to her first solo LP, Fin.

The results were pretty great, as I told y’all way back when.

In the years that followed, Syd’s gentle coo continued to resound, blessing us with occasional dopeness – including 2020’s “Birthday,” another lost gem from the Year Of Which We Do Not Speak.

And with each release I continued to scream, “WHEN are they gonna catch up to Syd?” She’s too good to be R&B’s best kept secret.

Knowing Syd, she’s probably not nearly as concerned as I am about inviting fame and unwanted attention. She’s too busy telling her truths on her own terms.

The premise of Broken Hearts Club, Syd’s sophomore foray into her solo career, is as old as R&B itself. At its core, it’s simply a story of love found and lost. While her earlier efforts highlighted her aloof demeanor – she always seemed too cool to be rattled by relationship drama – she’s much more vulnerable here, opening herself up to love … and sometimes paying the price for it.

Album opener “CYBAH” may be in the convo of best Syd tracks to date. “Could you brеak a heart? …Promise me you’ll always keep my heart in a safe, please” she asks with all sincerely, backed by 80s-inspired production that has Prince’s paisley fingerprints all over it. As usual, Lucky Daye continues to be the best assist player in the game, backing Syd up in one of the album’s true highlights.

Though Syd’s sound is often handcuffed to the dreaded VIBEZ label (and more on that later), Broken Hearts Club is certainly not afraid to experiment with the sonics. “Tie the Knot” introduces an addictive bounce that’s a lot more lively than the typical Syd offering. That slightly accelerated pace also drives “Fast Car,” one of my favorite songs of 2021. It’s not often that she gives us a track made for cruising, and this one fits the bill.

While I wouldn’t call “Control” as big of a departure as the aforementioned tracks, it does have surprisingly similar elements to Timbaland and Missy Elliott’s late 90s heyday, and her tone is a great marriage for those Supafriends sounds. Also, we gotta get Syd on more piano-based production. She sounds absolutely lovely floating over the keys of “Heartfelt Freestyle.” Although Syd stays in the same tonal lane vocally through the entirety album, the diverse production helps spice up the journey.

However, Syd’s reluctance to switch things up vocally does hurt her on some tracks. Her vocals blend in too well with the production on “Right Track,” which causes her to get lost in those 2000-era guitar licks. Also, when she returns to her more vibey roots, the results can be hit or miss. “No Way” creeps along much too slowly for my liking, though “Getting Late” works much better as a bedroom burner, thanks to the pulsating production. And while it’s not a bad song, something just doesn’t connect on “Out Loud,” her duet with Kehlani. The pairing don’t mesh well; kinda feels like two songs pasted together.

By the time Broken Hearts Club wraps up with “Missing Out,” another 80s-inspired bookend, Syd’s early optimism is depleted: “Hope you’re finding what you need/Or what you seek/Cause now I’m free/And maybe in another life/You’d be mine mine mine.” Despite that, she feels much more mature and unafraid.

In a sense, that mirror’s Syd’s journey as an artist. Broken Hearts Club is a bold step in the maturation of Syd the artist and though there are several missteps along the way, the journey proves much more meaningful than the destination.

Overall, it’s another win. Hopefully y’all won’t miss out this time.

Best tracks: “CYBAH,” “Fast Car,” “Control”

4 stars out of 5