CLOSE, BUT NOT QUITE—KOI: ALBUM REVIEW
close, but not quite by koi, released on November 5th, 2024, only six months after his previous album, 2019, is filled with refreshing Hip-hop and Rap tracks that keep listeners tuned in track after track. The newest of eight albums, koi shows off more of his talent and music that fans love and have kept coming back to since 2018. Produced fully by koi himself, each track is sonically different enough to intrigue the audience, but follows a similar sound to weave and connect them together to create a unique sound and story. There is an authentic mix between the more chill tracks and the faster, hype tracks, though the album leans heavily into the “chill” territory much like his older works.
The album sits at 48 minutes with 19 tracks, with the majority of the tracks falling under three minutes, which allows koi to keep the sounds interesting and new while allowing each track to shine for their time. Each track is listed in lowercase, much like “koi” and assists listeners in understanding the relaxed vibe from the album.
“same page” opens the album with beautiful instrumentals and eases into the lyrics calmly. The beat in this song is steady, leading it gently throughout. The song feels consistent and reliable, ending with spoken words: “Alright, so that’s- that’s the first one.”
“2AM” is the only track on the album with a feature, and it definitely works with the themes of the album. Dro Kenji adds a fresh take on koi's song that brings it to the forefront of songs that catch attention, even on the first listen. “2AM” is one of the faster, upbeat tracks and sits happily in the middle of the album as a nice push to continue on with listening. koi’s production blends well with Dro Kenji’s style into a stand-out track.
“blindsided”, “canada dry”, and “nostalgia” were released before the album, with “nostalgia” coming out July 23rd and “blindsided” and “canada dry" being released together on the blindsided/canada dry single album on August 20th. These songs deserve their spotlights through their excellent production and captivating lyrics that elevate them above the album. “nostalgia” and “canada dry” sit towards the beginning of the album and provide distinctive vocals that help set the scene for the album. “blindsided” follows “2AM” which helps reroute back into something completely and authentically koi after the exciting collaboration of “2AM”. “nostalgia” features a callback to koi’s EP 10&2 with the line “You don’t know my music, she ain’t listen to me since 10&2” which shows off his smart lyricism.
The closing track “got the guts” ties back to “same page” with the same “wayback” line in the beginning of the song, which helps the album feel cyclical and connected from start to finish. These two tracks are also sonically similar, with “got the guts” carrying a bit of a heavier beat. The choice to have these open and close the album is a very smart intentional move that reflects the purposefulness of the album as a whole.
koi’s vocal work on close, but not quite is smooth and strong, staying consistent and charming no matter the vibe of the song. The mixing allows the instrumentals to cushion and lift the vocals without overpowering them. Each track features an explicit rating, but there isn't an excess of swearing, in fact, each feels earned and has a place in the song that adds rather than brings down the track.
close, but not quite is a solid album that showcases koi’s artistry in a way that draws in anyone who listens. The vocals, instrumentals, and the entirely self-produced nature of the piece builds on each other and creates what will be a timeless collection of work. Thus the album has created an urge to see what koi will do next.
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