Oxnard
| Anderson Paak
Oxnard
Oxnard is the third studio album by American singer Anderson Paak. It was released on November 16, 2018, by Aftermath Entertainment and Doug Morris's label 12 Tone Music with distribution handled by Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
.Paak can do nearly anything, but that doesn’t mean he should do everything.
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Consequence of Sound
A slight lack of focus, and an ending that’s more of a whimper than a bang, detract from an otherwise impressive major label debut.
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Rolling Stone
Oxnard doesn’t fulfill his dreams for creating a West Coast hip-hop soul epic for the age, but it’s not for lack of trying.
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Vulture
A Formidable Talent and a Work in Progress.
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DJ Booth
Every bar, note, and concept has felt concise and assured—until now. No matter what kind of record he created, his artistic identity was always in the forefront.
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Hot New Hip Hop
Polymath delivers on his first album for Aftermath, crafting a singular vision of California funk and rap.
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The Ringer
The singer’s major-label debut may not quite embody his full potential, but he’s still figuring out how far he can go.
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Independent UK
On so many of these tracks he sounds restless, like he’s already thinking about moving on to bigger and better things. And there’s no doubt that he’ll do just that.
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The Young Folks
As it is, Oxnard is a mess. Maybe less producers, or more artistic vision, would’ve fixed that mess.
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The Gaurdian
.Paak’s trademark grooves difficult to luxuriate in – but it is still a compelling mode, and one that rehomes his old-school tastes firmly in the present.
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NME
The rapper explores the fall-out of newfound fame, but retains the sunny disposition that made us love him the first time around
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High Snobiety
.Paak proves that he’s an artist built to last and a musician who has earned his place among hip-hop’s elite.
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KZSC
The only gripe with this one is that I was hoping for something a little more high energy with grittier bars from .Paak about his rise to the top and the trouble along the way.
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Soul In Stereo
Oxnard is a fun return to form for .Paak but falls just short of reaching the upper echelon of greatness.
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The Lantern
The only low about it is that not every song is great but just good — and that’s not a bad thing.
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Stereo Fox
To be honest, the album is still quite fresh - I'm currently on my 3rd full listen, but time and time again - Anderson .Paak killed it.
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Pretty Much Amazing
The bigged up production doesn't suit .Paak's soulful tendencies, which are further lost in his switch to rap.
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WTBU
.Paak puts his hometown on the map by delving deeper past the calm waves of Malibu and achieving greatness through differentiation.
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Daily Nebraskan
With .Paak producing such a well-rounded and well-thought-out project, the belief is “Oxnard” will be nominated for many awards.
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Black Squirrel radio
In the era of mumble rappers and trap music, this album is a refreshing reminder that hip-hop can be thought-provoking and catchy at the same time.
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Hip Hop DX
Now with all eyes on him as he hides himself behind tints, .Paak’s journey up the California coast has brought us to his California hometown of Oxnard, where .Paak attempts to paint a picture of the seaside community in all of its strawberry-infused glory.
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Now Toronto
The album is less cohesive and introspective than his modern day classic Malibu, but it's still a freewheeling and occasionally exhilarating ride
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The Breeze
In the end, “Oxnard” is a collection of well-groomed, well-executed and groove-infused tracks sure to entertain a wide variety of music listeners.
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The Musical Hype
No, .Paak doesn’t quite deliver the year’s definitive tour de force, but Oxnard has plenty to offer.
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Niner Times
It’s still a great addition to the rapper’s discography, and a generally a worthy tribute to Paak’s hometown.
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Albumism
At its worst, it mines tired, misogynistic material. But at its best, it shows the undoubted charm, talent and contagious spirit of its creator.
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SRU Mosaic
.Paak is back with soulful, genre-bending bangers on his third studio album, Oxnard.
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Barber Chair Digital
.Paak lets you into his eclectic world with "Oxnard"
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Sound Blab
For those of us who have grown tired of the pompous approach to rap, there’s too much filler here and not enough meat.
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Commedia
This album is great because it shows the true dedication he has for music and how they are able to share that experience with everyone.
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Brown Daily Herald
More highs than lows. Well-synthesized, energetic and dynamic, it does not leave listeners looking for ..Paaks signature style and personality.
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Medium
Anderson .Paak’s ability to bend genres, and make thorough and intricate songs made Oxnard one of the most enjoyable albums of the year…
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The Reflector
Where .Paak’s first album, Malibu, fell short, Oxnard excels, shifting tonally with precision while never losing the MC’s signature draw.
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Daily Trojan
Regardless, “Oxnard” makes for a groovy album that will no doubt be noteworthy in Anderson .Paak’s career.
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XXL Magazine
It may not be quite the full-marks classic he’d hoped, but Oxnard is an intriguing next step for the 2016 XXL Freshman
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Sputnik Music
"Oxnard" has a few shining moments, but that doesn't keep it from overstaying its welcome and leaving a bad taste in the listener's mouth.
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MCR Live
Anderson .Paak is the current bestower of all things funky, a funky messiah, and it seems his musical sermons have only just begun.
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The Needle Drop
Oxnard has a stronger sense of direction than its predecessor and is a breath of fresh air in the current state of pop rap and neo-soul.
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Dopecausewesaid
I’ve never been to Oxnard, but if this album is any indication of what it’s like, it’s certainly on my list of places to visit.
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Ratings Game Music
The energy on it is impeccable, the game our hero spits throughout is nothing less than legendary.
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Thirst Key
Anderson did not disappoint at all. This album had everything I wanted from him. Great vocals, compelling songs and stellar production.
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Daily Free Press
.Paak’s album ‘Oxnard’ cements artist’s place as neo-soul breakout star.
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Uproxx
.Paak Hits His Creative Peak On The Funk-Washed, Sun-Bleached Ode To His Hometown, ‘Oxnard’
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Spin
For now, we can enjoy another set of exquisite summer jams from one of the most compelling neo-R&B artists out there.
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Acrn
Anderson .Paak’s return to the music scene may not have been the cannon-ball many were waiting for, but it still makes a respectable splash.
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Northern Transmissions
.Paak delivers so consistently on this record that it’s one of the most accurate ways to describe how great this record feels.
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The Line of Best Fit
.Paak is formidable but not masterly on Oxnard.
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State Hornet
Anderson .Paak is a talented individual, so let us hope his next project will be better than this.
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Magnetic Magazine
There is a cool suaveness to .Paak’s work that translates on this album.
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NZ Herald
Great tracks here that are a joy to listen to, but as an album it just doesn't quite reach the incredibly high bar .Paak has set himself.
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The Student Playlist
Anderson .Paak’s ‘Oxnard’ unfortunately sacrifices some of its creator’s personality for commercial gain.
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EW
.Paak is ready to push his ambition even further. .Paak’s wild, funky, psychedelic, and seemingly finished new album — still needed tweaking.
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Daily Emerald
At its high points the album provides well-crafted pop music that is almost impossible not to move to. Anderson .Paak seems be having a lot of fun with it as well, which is worth something.
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AP News
Even with a house full of guests, and veteran Dre at his side, .Paak seems to be in control, revealing new sounds and layers, serving up a solid (and-then-some) set.
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All Music
Although Paak. is still an R&B artist more so than a hip-hop one, he continues to be a stylistic outlier.
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WZND
.Paak has hit the nail on the head again.
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Erie Reader
If you're just discovering .Paak now, rejoice, and remember these tracks when the warmer months set in.
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Immortal Reviews
Finding the nice in between of free-spirited and political, Anderson .Paak makes a statement in Oxnard, his new record that makes the best of both.
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Flood Magazine
.Paak’s music so compelling in the first place, swapping out his easy-going, straightforward persona for stiff storytelling and jumbled verses that aren’t nearly as engaging as he is.
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Riffs and Rhymes
Hopefully Oxnard will serve as a key chapter in his journey to crafting many great albums.
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Vinyl Me Please
He’s long proven he can do everything, and can ration his everything out to the appropriate areas.
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Kore
Offers a refreshing sound that contrasts with a lot of the music that has saturated the airwaves as of late.
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Compose Yourself Magazine
.Paak’s personality is still as wide as that grin of his. He knows he is living fast, knows the joys and the consequences, and is ready to keep going.
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Keep Walking Music
This is definitely a top-tier project.
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WRBB 104.9
The polymath, neo-soul king, and protégé of legendary Compton producer, Dr. Dre, delivers a complex and layered album.
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Spectrum Pulse
It is still good. But man, if this was the plan to push Anderson .Paak towards the mainstream they missed the mark in a big way with this.
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Daily Titan
Many good songs but doesn’t live up to expectations from long time fans. For first time Anderson .Paak listeners, “Oxnard” might not leave the best impression .
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Philly
.Paak is a tremendous talent, but Oxnard’s songs don’t invite you in with personal details as effectively as those on Malibu did.
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Baller Status
Anderson .Paak definitely a timeless artist and Oxnard showcases that with ease.
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The Gateway
.Paak continues his funk-fueled musical journey virtually stumble-free.
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TheNational Student
This diverse and soulful album is quite frankly spectacular.
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Peanutbutter Pope
One of the great things about writing about the album is it’s made me realise just how much there is about it that I love, and how it really is one of my favourite albums of 2018.
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Brooklyn Vegan
And at least based on my very initial judgement, I’d say it’s a success.
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Nerdy Scoop
.Paak has bombastically exploited much of his potential in this album, but possibly, not all of it.
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RRHS Spitfire
This album is a very easy listen for any and all hip hop fans who are looking for an album that has a new, but very familiar traditional sound.
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Rice Thresher
.Paak tries to include everything popular in the music industry, from political commentary to gangsta rap to personal tributes to sex, and fails to do anything as good as anyone else.
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Radio 13
.Paak has cemented himself well and truly as one of the top artists in R&B today.
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Side Door Magazine
Overall, .Paak keep us on our toes with the jokes and subject matter, all while delivering his fans with quality west coast vibes.
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Berklee Groove
Ultimately, Oxnard feels like music for the same old boy's club that hip-hop struggles to escape.
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Exclaim
It's evident that .Paak put care into this project. Perhaps its biggest fault is being a good album that's just not as strong as the other two in .Paak's "Golden State" series.
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NPR
.Paak probes topics from unceremonious breakups to his own position in the music industry.
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The Fresh Committee
This offering is good for now, but might disappear in the near future.
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Esynrtic
As this era begins, I really hope this album gets pushed to its true value. .Paak isn't no microwave artist, he has range for longevity and he will achieve it.
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Treblezine
I can think of no better closer to this updated version than this outstanding pop gem.
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Undr Magazine
.Paak a skilled musician in his own rite can instantly reach into different decades and in doing so take you on the ride with him.
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Noise Comply
The future looks bright for the Oxnard MC, and I can’t wait to see what that entails.
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Golden Gate Express
.Paak’s chill vibes transcend into his music that’s easy to listen to, and easier to bob your head to.
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Still Crew
While this album is definitely one of the better albums that have come out this year, regardless of genre or superstardom.
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Saint Audio
So, although Oxnard is a disappointment, it is by no means a bad or unlistenable album. Anderson .Paak is still one of hip hop’s greatest talents .
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Independent
Oxnard isn’t quite the epic final chapter .Paak clearly craved for his trilogy.
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Rutgers Radio
While the album isn’t perfect, it is a boisterous successor to .Paak’s 2016 album, Malibu.
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Beat Media
The production in collaboration with .Paak’s voice and songwriting ability make this album one that is easy to listen to from beginning to end.
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Live Wire
Oxnard is without a doubt Anderson .Paak’s most diverse album yet as he jumps from G-Funk to Soul with some of the cleanest instrumentation I’ve heard this year, even if it gets caught up in it’s own glory towards the end.
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4 Out of 5 Reviews
Overall, this is still one of .Paak’s best releases, and a welcome relief from the suffocating rap culture of this decade.
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Star Tribune
"Oxnard," whisks fans from the ocean breeziness of his Grammy-nominated second album "Malibu," and waves them into the passenger seat for a gritty, funk-filled ride.
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NWI Times
The trip is nothing short of thrilling. Paak's collaboration with executive producer Dr. Dre is a beautiful thing,
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Lewis Lit Journal
As for the here and now, all I can say for what’s presented here is YES LAWD!
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Viberant
.Paak who has ultimately placed himself towards the top of the rap heap, with help or not.
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Michigan Daily
Where .Paak succeeds on this album, his collaborators appear to fail and vice versa .Paak falls short.
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KSDB FM
Overall, this album is a pretty well rounded project that, although isn’t as full of soul as his prior work, keeps Anderson .Paak’s iconic sound alive and thriving.
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Enrg Music and Arts
Oxnard excels in its collaboration with its featured artists, with the likes of J Cole, Pusha T, Q Tip, Dr Dre and even West Coast legend Snoop Dogg.
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Stereo Gum
.Paak maintain his James Brown-like energy throughout the rest of the album.
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Radio UIC
This album is vastly different from Malibu and I am very fine with it as this project showcases .Paak's talent as an overall artist.
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The Star
He continues to be a promising part of the entire musical world, and his consistency can be read as a strong point.
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Channel 24
Anderson .Paak cruises home on new album Oxnard
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Stack AU
Full of Easter eggs that will encourage multiple listens, the true joy over the 14 tracks is the artist’s magnetic pull. On Oxnard, Anderson .Paak has truly established himself as an anomaly in hip hop.
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Tree Fingers Online
There’s a kind of underlying dreariness about Oxnard, one that, understandably, a lot of listeners may not have taken to, or even understood.
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SRU Mosaic
Hip-hop and R&B artist Anderson .Paak is back with soulful, genre-bending bangers on his third studio album, Oxnard.
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New Blog Flow
CONSENSUS: meesa likey
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Brighton's Finest
Luxurious and compelling, it’s a broader scope here for .Paak, but one he ultimately revels in.
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Legends Will Never Die
Aftermath artists leaving because of their albums being shelved, but I really think this is gonna give .Paak a lot more of the exposure that he truly deserves.
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WTOP
A gritty, funk-filled ride.
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Album Analysis
It’s not quite solid, but it’s a commendable success and a good one time listen, perhaps more if you can look past the sometimes sluggish vocal rhythms.
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