Unpopular Opinions || "The Kids Are Alright" is Better Than "Ungodly Hour"

The Kids Are Alright (2018) and Ungodly Hour (2020) are studio albums by the sister duo, Chloe x Halle, The Kids Are Alright being their debut. Discovered after uploading a cover of one of Beyoncé's songs, they became her proteges soon after. Chloe x Halle is a very talented duo. They are songwriters, actresses, dancers, producers, and their singing is absolutely stunning. Their work has been well received by the public, but it wasn't until their newest release, Ungodly Hour, that they became more well-known.

The Kids Are Alright was the perfect step for a debut album. They mixed elements of pop, RnB, and soul, but had their own spin to it. The record exuded confidence, honesty, and humility, all while giving us reason after reason to see why the duo deserved to be in the music industry, as the album progressed. The record had personality, charisma, and showed the sisters' individual strengths. Chloe, the older of the two, has a deep, but feminine singing tone, while Halle's is much softer and higher. Their voices compliment each other very well, not only because of their contrasting tones, but because they also know how to use their voices well. On The Kids Are Alright, they boasted their singing and producing abilities, creating an extremely cohesive and impactful album.

When news spread that their new era was about to begin, I was excited to see how they would follow up such an impressive debut. The lead single, Catch Up (feat. Swae Lee), was released on April 16, 2020, and I honestly didn't like it and still don't. I became nervous because as a lead single, I didn't understand what they were going for and it was underwhelming. There was truly nothing special about it. It sounded like an underproduced pop song with a feature thrown in for the sole purpose of having a feature.

The second single, Do It, was released shortly after and I loved it. As soon as I pressed play, it immediately caught my attention. It was a new sound for them, but it didn't feel out of place. You can't resist the urge to dance when listening. You could tell that they had grown a lot during their two-year hiatus, just because they seemed more comfortable. Do It was their first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, peaking at #63, and was nominated for a few Grammy Awards. Unfortunately, they didn't win any awards at the Grammys, but I still think they should have. It was one of the best songs of the year and their best song to date.

Ungodly Hour, the album, was released on June 12, 2020. After Do It, I was thrilled to hear their sophomore album. It started with an intro, which led directly into the second track, Forgive Me. At this point, I began seeing Catch Up as a fluke, because Forgive Me was an instant favorite. Though only two songs in, it felt like they were pulling off their new sound. However, as I continued listening to the album, I began losing interest. Nothing else stood out to me. The album wasn't bad, but I just kept waiting for something that would hit me as hard as Do It or Forgive Me, but nothing did. I relistened the album after my first listen and felt the same way.

Most of my issues with Ungodly Hour stem from their production choices. I am all for artists experimenting with their music, but it didn't resonate with me, which is fine, and the production felt underwhelming most of the time. The general public seems to be in favor of Ungodly Hour being their better album, but in my opinion, their debut was better.

They are still young and have so much room to grow. Their talent alone will ensure their success in the industry. I'm sure their next album will be different from everything we've heard so far and whether or not the next one tops their debut, Chloe x Halle is a great duo and an important force in modern music. If you haven't checked them out yet, this is your sign to do so.

Favorites from The Kids Are Alright: Cool People, Down, Happy Without Me (feat. Joey Bada$$), Everywhere, Fake (feat. Kari Faux), Drop, Fall.

Least favorites from The Kids Are Alright: Galaxy, The Kids Are Alright

Favorites from Ungodly Hour: Do It, Forgive Me, 80/20, Tipsy

Least favorites from Ungodly Hour: Busy Boy, Ungodly Hour, Catch Up

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