Madcook – Singles
Madcook – Singles Review
I’m always interested in what people choose to send me, and usually equally curious about what gets left out. Like, take good ol’ Madcook here for example…I’ve got six stellar cuts to talk to you about in review today, but somehow none of them are “Joy?” Lemme tell ya folks…that’s quite the omission considering how addictive that track is…it’s definitely one of my favorite cuts from the Madcook catalog so far. From what I can see, the dude’s been establishing his name online over the past four years, and we’ve got a sample from the range of tracks he’s been posting online, all the way back to his debut EP called Hyper Active in 2020, straight on through the singles he’s been releasing since then. Except “Joy” for some strange reason that is certainly beyond my comprehension – don’t forget…I’m not supposed to tell you about how awesome that particular track is in this review, so you didn’t hear that from me.
If you have been following along from day one, “Successful” Feat. Ozawo would have been the first track you likely ever heard from Madcook when he released the Hyper Active EP back in January of 2020. It’s a really solid first impression…Madcook reveals both the versatility in his style & the kind of personality you wanna cheer for – you want this dude to be “Successful” and find his way as an artist. There’s a seriously smooth flow that has the seamless fluidity of “Successful” sounding spot-on; it’s enticing stuff without a doubt…from the introduction to Madcook, to the assist from Ozawo, everything fits perfectly. Solid depth to the production, and perhaps even more importantly, you can tell that Madcook has had something authentic to say through his music from the moment he started making it. I might end up digging a few of the other tracks made later in his career as he evolved in his craft and progressed with his music, but there’s no doubt that “Successful” truly proves he’s had the magic in his material all along.
Whereas “Successful” is delivered in a more thought-provoking style, “Bounce” goes for the party vibes with no apologies. What’s most enticing to me in this track is the confidence of Madcook…you gotta admire the fact that he wasn’t afraid to get wild with the songs on his debut EP and really go for it when it came time to perform…I listen to a track like “Bounce” and it feels like the kind of cut you’d hear on an artist’s fourth record, not their first, know what I mean? Madcook came straight outta the gate with the “Bounce” in his step, ready to make a lasting impression on ya as he carved out a place for himself in the industry. The main chorus hooks of “Bounce” are essentially bulletproof & entirely memorable – and I absolutely love the vocals added into the background of this cut & the character they provide this song with. My gut tells me that there could probably be a bit more going on in the music of “Bounce” to really give it the depth it needs to get the party jumpin’ overall, but like I was tellin’ ya, this track traces back to his debut EP, and he still had some room to grow in that regard. The most important aspect of his music – the ideas – were right there on display from the get-go, and that’s what is genuinely crucial. So while “Bounce” might sound a bit on the thin/minimalist-side of what it could have potentially been, don’t get me wrong, it’s still excellent to listen to, and I’m convinced that you’ll never forget hearing it. All I’m saying is that larger swells in the sound itself will lead him to a bigger “Bounce” overall I’d reckon.
“Green” is the kind of cut that’ll help you put some of the pieces of Madcook’s puzzle together, and help you get to know the backstory of who he is, where he came from, and what’s made him into the man & artist that he is now today. In an example like this one, the minimalistic approach to the music is more effective…the lyricism of “Green” and hearing the words is much more the priority than the intentions of a track like “Bounce,” so to me, it’s more beneficial to have the sound dialed back like it is on this cut. Credit where credit is due too – it’s songs like “Green” that go a long way to prove Madcook’s got the skills & ability to carry the majority of the weight when he’s called upon to do so. With the sound of “Green” spread out as far as it is and as little as there is goin’ on in the music, there’s nowhere for him to hide…it’s awesome to hear that he clearly rose to the challenge so early on into his career. Not shy on the m-i-c, Madcook spits with supreme confidence, adding authenticity & vivid details to his words.
So…after having said all that good stuff so far, and hearing no real concerns in Madcook’s debut EP – I gotta say…he really seemed to take things up a level the following year with the release of “Raba,” which is without question one of my favorite tracks from the man so far to-date. This is the cut where you’ll hear Madcook really start to embrace his gift for melody, which is a perfect pairing with what becomes a more evocative song from the music to the microphone than we’d previously heard from him to this point in his career. Ultimately, “Raba” is the kind of single-worthy cut that not only sparkles and shines, it’s the kind of track that should be seriously encouraging and serve as inspiration for the road ahead…because artists rarely tap into something as special as this track so early on into making music. That being said…it’s hard to say whether or not Madcook fully realized or recognized that – he goes on to put out one more song in 2021, and a single per year so far from there on…and I’m tellin’ ya as simple & plain as I can my brother, that ain’t enough! Not with the level of potential being flashed at us in “Raba” – no sir! We need a whole lot more of the artist that made this track, and we need Madcook to really stand back, be objective, and understand how rare a song like “Raba” really is…this should be the kind of track that gets him completely excited about his capabilities, ready to find out what else he can do, you feel me? I love the way he sings it, I love the hooks, the verses, the whole vibe really…it’s fair to say that “Raba” isn’t necessarily the happiest track you’re gonna hear from Madcook, but it’s powerfully grounded, insightful, and real…to me, it’s cuts like this that reveal his innate connection to music, 100%. It’s a melancholy melody of sorts, but there’s no doubt about the fact it’s got a whole lot of beauty to it too…I think a whole lot of listeners out there would love to have a track like “Raba” on their playlists.
I also really liked that he tried something completely different on “Bigger Wave” afterwards. Arguably more of a Trap/Electro combo that’s pretty much perfect for what’s out there in the scene right now, I’ll admit, this style ain’t always my jam, but Madcook’s created a remarkably addictive rhythm & vibe here. All-in-all, it’s got a hard-hitting beat and strong bars to match, plus “Bigger Wave” is another track that goes a long way to highlight the versatility of an artist like Madcook. Flawlessly produced & performed from start to finish…I’ll say it again my friend, one or two tracks a year ain’t gonna cut it for me, for the people out there listening – and it shouldn’t be enough for YOU either Madcook! You know how many folks out there from all corners of the map would love to have diverse talents like this guy has? Put it to work brother – back to the studio, asap! I’ll say this much…I stand by the fact that if I was Madcook, I’d be in the studio 24/7 around the clock and doing nothing else with my time other than making music, but at the same time, if a slower rate of production is what keeps the quality of his tracks coming out so consistently solid, that’s not necessarily a bad thing either. I dig the fact that we can hear evolution in his craft and capabilities in his second year, but I’d also tell ya the man’s been an all-star from day one. I don’t know if he needs the tag-line/production shout-out in every single song he makes…I’ve never been convinced that’s a necessary thing, ever, but tons of artists out there choose to do that in their material. Anyhow. I’d argue that “Bigger Wave” might be the most relevant cut of the bunch when it comes to what’s happening in music right now; ”Raba” is still my personal favorite, but this is also damn good too.
“Turn Up” Feat. Onosz, the latest single from Madcook released back in the middle of May this year, shows that he’s still leveling-up as he continues to grow as an artist. Production-wise, I think it’s the cut that sounds the best of the bunch so far without question…I’m not necessarily saying that makes it a better song, but quality-wise from a producer’s perspective, the dynamics of his vibe come out brighter, more colorful, and more boldly defined on this track. Onosz does a stellar job in this guest appearance, and Madcook gives “Turn Up” real cross-cultural sound that is sure to have widespread appeal with the potential audience out there that has been waitin’ for his return to the scene. When it comes to content, I’m still gonna be the guy that will advocate for tracks like “Green” and “Raba” having more depth in that regard, but if we’re talking about relevant sound that the people will connect with and that they wanna hear right now, “Turn Up” and “Bigger Wave” probably stand more of a chance of making an impact on listeners overall. It all depends on the kind of artist that Madcook wants to be – and even though he’s about four years into his career now, let’s be real here – he’s still just getting started and has a long road ahead in his adventures for the future to follow. Lots of time to choose if he wants to create cuts that could be verifiable hits like “Turn Up” & “Bigger Wave” that might burn out on repeat quicker than some, or if he wants to be the kind of artist with the kind of dimension to his work that will yield tracks like “Raba,” and “Joy” that will likely hold up a lot stronger over time. Ain’t nothing wrong with having a healthy dose of both styles too if that’s the route he wants to go…I suppose that’s the point of what I’m saying – he’s got plenty of options and the level of talent required to pull anything that he wants to off successfully. So whatever else is in his way…whatever is stopping the man from getting in the studio…that’s the stuff I’d be cutting back on if I was Madcook. Everything I’ve heard from him is complete proof that the spotlight is where he belongs, and if I was him, I’d pursue it will full force daily.
Stream Madcook’s catalog at Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/madcook/1495268545
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