In the spring of 2019, the hit single “Old Town Road” took the world by storm. Two and a half years later, Lil Nas X is one of the most respected figures in modern pop music. Because of the extremely high profile that Montero (a.k.a Lil Nas X) has maintained just from singles and song leaks, as well as the charismatic presence he presented within the industry and online, fans should have had every reason to expect a solid debut album. The musician did not disappoint.

Overall, MONTERO is a refreshing and innovative take on some of pop music’s most ambitious sounds. The hit singles “Sun Goes Down” as well as “Call Me By Your Name” are both extremely catchy, guitar-driven pop tunes with earworm courses, with “Call Me By Your Name” being an extremely romantic ballad which comes complete with a viral and raunchy music video.

“Sun Goes Down” however, is an introspective and solemn cut, with softer vocals and less of an aggressive message. It entails Montero’s struggle with being bullied as a child, as well as a meditative take on his rise to fame. Both of these are fantastic songs, but neither of them would point to the epic, horn-driven, energetic, and flashy energy of the hit single “Industry Baby”. 

The song kicks off with a wonderfully produced instrumental, and  fantastic verse from Montero, closing with a decent guest appearance from Jack Harlow. The highlights don’t stop there though, with songs like “That’s What I Want” and “Dolla Sign Slime” being some of the most catchy and well-performed pop songs of the year.  

Another admirable quality of this album is its originality. The project is very diverse, and rarely ever retraces its steps in terms of songwriting or musicality. Each song feels more like an extension of Lil Nas X’s legacy, and less of a hollow, personality devoid drone just attempting to top the charts. The personality that X brings to every track, even on some of the less musically adventurous moments, shows that his intentions are to be an artist and not just a pop culture phenomenon. 

That said, there are a few low points on this album. Because of the style of music, some tracks are bound to be a bit slow or lacking in a general stand out performance (examples are “Don’t Want It” and “Lost In the Citadel”). These songs aren’t necessarily bad, but they do lack the certain flair that you would expect from Lil Nas X. The vocal performances can be a little shaky as well. That aside, the album finishes strong with “Life After Salem” and “Am I Dreaming.” Both bring a well constructed closing tone to the album and offer a powerfully introspective tone.

To sum up, MONTERO is definitely a success for the 22-year-old artist. Not every track was perfect, but the overall message and themes of the album ran quite well with the fairly impressive production and lyrics that Montero brought to the record. If there’s any worry to be had after listening, it’s really just to wonder- where will he go from here? It’s clear that Lil Nas X has the skills and appeal to carry him past being seen as a one hit wonder, but he needs to maintain the genuine attitude and artistic integrity that are clear when listening to MONTERO. If he’s capable of that, it can only get better from here.