Gemini Rights

by Steve Lacy

Overview

Steve Lacy's independent debut Apollo XXI earned the Internet member his second Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album -- to go with one for Ego Death -- and prompted a deal with major-label RCA for his follow-up. Between solo projects, Lacy as a collaborator was less active than usual, contributing to LPs by Thundercat, bandmate Patrick Paige II, and Ravyn Lenae, seemingly reserving a higher percentage of his energy for solo pursuits. More obviously, he went through a breakup, the inspiration behind Gemini Rights, and switched up his approach by turning the tables roughly 90 degrees with a host of fellow producers, songwriters, and instrumentalists taking seats to assist him with his vision. Gemini Rights naturally is less scruffy than Lacy's earlier releases. Without losing the off-the-cuff "don't overthink it" charm of Apollo XXI or the preceding Steve Lacy's Demo, it's greater in definition and detail, and the songwriting is more deliberate, with no evidence that Lacy is tamping down his free-spirited, deep-feeling personality. While he isn't above expressing a little bitterness and arrogance now and then, each song has some combination of warmth, tenderness, and a sadness combated at times with shrugging acceptance. The whole thing aches. "Bad Habit" is the emotional and literal center, a ballad with lovelorn diffidence so strong that its candid proposition at the end is (humorously) shocking. "Sunshine" is a post-breakup scene filled with unresolved tension between Lacy and duet partner Foushee. Lacy is at his sharpest lyrically ("Sayin' 'My ex' like my name ain't Steve...Still I'll give you dick anytime you need"), and his guitar toward the end takes bittersweet flight before landing softly. Although the fun and friskiness in past songs like "Playground" are missed, he does add some different bright colors to his mix here, as on "Mercury," a tough bossa nova groove in which his expressions oscillate between regret, acceptance, and longing. From top to bottom, Lacy's strums scratch an itch with a tinge of abrasiveness. Keyboards supplied throughout by sensitive and unobtrusive players John Carroll Kirby and Ely Rise, background harmonies from a quartet of women (including Lacy's sisters), and occasional production help from DJ Dahi and the Internet's Matt Martians all enhance Lacy's sound without complicating it. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	11/04/2022
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0196587397111

Tracks

1. Static
2. Helmet
3. Mercury
4. Buttons
5. Bad Habit
6. 2Gether (Enterlude)
7. Cody Freestyle
8. Amber
9. Sunshine
10. Give You the World

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Steve Lacy   Primary Artist,Bass,Guitar,Lead Vocals
Matt Martians   Primary Artist,Vocals
Karriem Riggins   Drums
Denise Stoudmire   Vocals (Background)
Ely Rise   Piano,Synthesizer
Crystal Torres   Horn
Britanny Foushee   Lead Vocals
Margaux Whitney   Viola
John Carroll Kirby   Bass,Organ,Synthesizer,Synthesizer Bass
Foushee   Featured Artist
Asia Lacy   Vocals (Background)
Vage Webb   Vocals (Background)
Valerie Lacy   Vocals (Background)
Valyn Spottsville   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Karriem Riggins   Composer
Diana Gordon   Composer
Ely Rise   Text,Composer,Treatments,Sonic Treatments
Mike Bozzi   Mastering
Matt Martians   Producer
Neal H. Pogue   Mixing
Dacoury Natche   Composer
Matthew Martin   Composer
Britanny Foushee   Composer
Steve Lacy   Composer,Producer
Karl Wingate   Engineer
John Carroll Kirby   Composer,Synthesizer Programming
Neal Pogue   Mixing
Matthew Castellanos   Composer
Dahi   Producer