ALBUM REVIEW: “SUNBURN” BY DOMINIC FIKE
BY HUNTER GIBSON ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA MCADAMS
Summer is one of the most fun and energetic times of the year. This time of year holds a specific type of energy and feeling that is very inspiring and magical for a multitude of reasons. Music plays a huge role in this. Many of the greatest albums of all time have been released in the summer, and there is definitely a certain energy and vibe around a summer album.
This summer, Dominic Fike released his second studio album, “Sunburn.”
Fike was born and raised in Florida, and you can absolutely hear that in this album. The album starts with a track titled, “How Much is Weed?” which is a song with an immediate upbeat and rap-style rhythm that walks the listener through Fike’s early years of life to where he is now and completely encapsulates what the album is about.
Fike has described this album as him closing a chapter on a part of his life that no longer exists. He has a very unique sound and plays with various tunes; it’s hard to even tell if it’s him singing at times, and that is 100% the case with this album. Fike has always said the music and sound itself is his favorite part of making music. To him, lyrics come last.
One of the most breathtaking tracks on the album is titled “Think Fast,” and it’s a collaboration with one of Fike’s favorite artists, Weezer. The song has a slow build that completely blows up in the end in the best way possible.
This album has a balance of songs that are just fun, to which everyone can relate and sing along. But it also shows when an artist really opens up and tells a little bit of their own story in a way that feels connected. That’s exactly what “Sunburn” does when going from a track titled “Frisky,” which is all about just letting go and allowing yourself to have a carefree night, to a track titled “Dark,” which tells a story from all the truly dark places Fike has been in his life and in his mind.
Fike did not disappoint with this long-awaited album that truly leaves listeners speechless. Listening to it is truly an experience you must have for yourself. It’s summer, go get a “Sunburn.”
