Listening: MONTERO by Lil Nas X

At this point, I’ve listened to Lil Nas X’s debut album Montero about five or six times all the way through. It’s both confident and vulnerable, and serves as a fantastic showcase of his talent and range. It’s a masterpiece of a debut album.

Lil Nas X flows effortlessly between genres. There’s pop and hip hop as expected, but there’s even some indie rock vibes in there too. And yet, Lil Nas X is perfectly at home in each different sound.

But this album is so much more than music. It’s a coming of age moment. It’s a statement about Lil Nas X’s acceptance and celebration of himself. And therefore, it also feels like an acceptance and celebration of being gay for myself too.

I can’t recommend Montero enough.

My favorites:

1. MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
2. DEAD RIGHT NOW
3. INDUSTRY BABY (feat. Jack Harlow)
4. ONE OF ME (feat. Elton John)
5. DOLLA SIGN SLIME (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
6. VOID