Tai Verdes - “HDTV” Album review

Story posted September 24, 2022 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by Megan Kelby

Singer-songwriter Tai Verdes rose to popularity in recent years with some of his songs blowing up on TikTok. Best recognized for “Stuck In The Middle” and “A-O-K,” Verdes is known for his pop style that he often mixes with various genres, much like his most recent album.

“HDTV” is composed of 20 songs ranging from catchy pop tunes to slow R&B beats, widening Verdes’ discography from viral internet hits.

Though the album features tracks that dabble in multiple genres, a majority of them lack anything special and seem to blend from one to the next.

While there are a few impressive tracks, Verdes appeared to bite off more than he could chew with his aspirations for “HDTV.”

To start off, the first three songs: “Kingdom Come,” “LAst dAy oN EaRTh” and “Trix in the Bag'' all have catchy, upbeat choruses, but are more or less the same song. While “Trix in the Bag” is more of a mainstream rap song and the other two lean more to a gospel melody, all three fall short of having a complex beat or engaging lyrics.

“Let’s go to Hell,” a single that was released earlier in the year and featured a sample of the 1985 hit “The Roof Is On Fire” by Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three, revived the album about a quarter of the way in. By far the most unique song on the album, Verdes is able to keep listeners engrossed with its quick pace and tonal changes.

The entire album is a rollercoaster for listeners. A few disappointing tracks in a row will lead into an interesting one, then back to subpar work.

Ironically, the biggest let down of the album came from “wit that confidence.” It opened with promising theatrical chords that quickly broke down for a basic beat and a sad attempt at a rap.

The rap beat and introductory chords continued to switch throughout the track, which only made Verdes seem off beat throughout the rap verses.

A majority of the songs on “HDTV” were some variation of a love song, which again came as a hit or miss.

“sheluvme,” an R&B song that sounded similar to Khalid’s work, along with “Clyde & Bonnie,” which went more of the gospel piano route, both were love songs that fell short.

On the other hand, “TWO SUGARS” and “3 outfits” were love songs that grabbed listeners attention, distancing “HDTV” a little from its previous mediocrity.
Though not lyrically deep by any means, they provided enough of an intriguing instrumental and catchy chorus to hold their own.

Both songs featured more of a rock sound, with “3 outfits” having a little techno funk mixed in, something that seems to be a common denominator with Verdes’ more successful tracks.

“HDTV” was disappointing to say the least. There were a handful of stand out tracks that will most likely appear on TikTok or the radio, but it wasn’t enough.

20 songs seemed like overkill at first glance and ended up proving to be too much. Though a majority of the tracks were boring and lackluster, that was the only consistent theme they had.

Those few exceptional tracks hold some promise for Tai Verdes’ growth in the industry, but a more focused approach on his sound and goals should be considered before he releases any more music.

Rating: 4/10
Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Let’s go to Hell,” “TWO SUGARS”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Songs: “wit that confidence,” “Trix in the Bag”

Megan Kelby is a third-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email mkk5701@psu.edu.