Tag: Review

After five years away from her last album release, Tiwa Savage returns with This One Is Personal; a 15-track body of work that pulls her away from Afropop dominance into a stripped-down, deeply vulnerable space. Where 2020’s Celia was bold, global, and radio-ready, This One Is Personal feels like the diary entries Tiwa never intended to share but bravely did anyway.

Sound & Atmosphere

The first thing you notice is what’s missing: the high-energy beats that once powered hits like “All Over” or “Ma Lo.” Instead, the production here is minimal, at times skeletal—pianos, soft percussion, and spacious R&B backdrops.

This shift is deliberate. On “I’m Done,” the piano feels like a stage light focused solely on her voice. “You4Me” reworks Tamia’s So Into You into a breezy Afrobeats-R&B hybrid. “On the Low” carries a smoky sensuality, its Afro-groove subdued to make room for Skepta’s rap.

It’s intimate, yes but also risky. The quieter sound creates room for her voice to shine, but it also strips away some of the dynamism that made her previous projects more versatile. For some listeners, the pacing may drag after a few tracks, as the emotional weight leans heavily toward sorrow and reflection.

Themes & Storytelling

Tiwa promised vulnerability, and she delivers. The lyrics carry raw honesty, often exposing cracks instead of polishing them over.

• Toxic Love: “Angel Dust” paints love as an addiction, seductive but destructive.
• Heartbreak & Bitterness: “You’re Not the First (You’re Just the Worst)” might be her bluntest song yet, sharp, even petty, but undeniably human.
• Faith & Spirituality: On “Change,” featuring James Fauntleroy, romantic yearning blurs into a conversation with God—a rare pivot that elevates the record’s depth.
• Emotional Fatigue: “Pray No More” feels like a sigh of exhaustion, a prayer from someone tired of constant battles.

The narrative arc is heavy: heartbreak, disillusionment, attempts at healing. It’s moving but narrow. One missing element is contrast; there are few bright or hopeful moments to balance the melancholy.

Collaborations That Complement

One of the album’s smartest choices is restraint with features. Skepta’s appearance on “On the Low” feels organic, adding grit without stealing attention. Rising star Taves fits seamlessly into “Addicted.” James Fauntleroy on “Change” provides the record’s spiritual climax.

In an era of feature-stuffed albums, this discipline gives This One Is Personal cohesion. Every guest feels like part of the story, not a marketing checklist.

What Works

• Honesty: This is Tiwa at her most unguarded. She doesn’t hide behind pop gloss.
• Cohesion: The album feels like one body of work, not a random playlist.
• Intentional Features: Skepta, Taves, and Fauntleroy serve the music, not the hype.

What Doesn’t

• Pacing: The mid-tempo mood rarely shifts, making some tracks blur together.
• Limited Emotional Range: Almost all songs sit in heartbreak and reflection. A moment of joy or defiance would have added balance.
• Commercial Appeal: Fans wanting another “Koroba” will find little to dance to here.

This One Is Personal is not a flawless album, but it’s a brave one. Tiwa Savage steps away from her comfort zone, risking commercial momentum to reveal her humanity. The result is a project that may not dominate charts but will resonate with those who crave authenticity in music.

It’s a record for headphones, quiet car rides, and solitary nights—not for the club. And maybe that’s the point.

Rating: 8/10

Calling Superman nostalgic will be a hyperbole, but it is. James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ takes me back to the days when I woke up at 3 in the morning to watch cartoons without my parents’ knowledge (I’m pretty sure my mum was aware), the days when everything seemed bright in the world, and the days that made me fall in love with superheroes and comics. 

James Gunn’s Superman is meant to remind us of why we fell in love with the character and comics as a whole, but did it achieve its job?

In the plethora of points made by the ever-divided fandom of DC, a standout point of argument is that “Man of Steel” is too dark. For the general audience, this means nothing; movies are movies. Why should a parent who has worked all month take their precious money to see this movie? 

The creatives and execs at the time of DCEU left a big dent in the DC brand, and with James Gunn steering the ship, will everything be bright and beautiful? Can this DCU rival the already falling MCU? Time will tell.

Movie Overview

Superman follows Clark Kent/Superman, who must reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing while saving the world from a self-centered billionaire with a saviour complex, determined to destroy him both emotionally and literally.

While the movie has a nod to today’s world, I will argue that this is a classic case of life imitating art. From tone to action and dialogue, this is a movie that raises the question, “What does being good in today’s world look like?”

The Positives

Think of the first time you opened a comic book, or the first animation you watched as a kid… In rare cases, your introduction to that world is an origin story. James Gunn has said this on multiple occasions: this is not an origin story; expect to be dropped right in the middle. 

The concerns of many, rightfully so, will be the amount of jokes in this movie and to my surprise, it’s way less than you will expect. 

James Gunn managed to create a film with heartfelt moments without his jokes, which may come off as corny to some. The funniest jokes are those in real situations that everyday people can relate to. Some jokes sadly did not stick, and some could be felt a mile away, but the funniest of them is a surprise cameo.

With past iterations trying to drag and showcase Superman’s power set, this movie is about who he is or, at the very least, believes himself to be at the core. Questions like, should those with too much power oppress or intervene? Superman ignorantly believes in the good of humanity.

The casting of this movie is arguably the best casting of all iterations of Superman. Every cast did 150% with what they had. More on our YouTube:

Neutral Point

Despite being the coal to the Orient Express, the score was all over the place. The nostalgia in the John Williams theme was useful in some parts of the movie, but in most places, it felt over the top.

The flying scenes were a choice, but the action mid-flight was beautiful.

Negative Point

Despite how “comic booky” this movie is, the number of characters could use more screen time, especially a female superhero. Each tertiary character tried to shine, but with such great talent, you forget this is a Superman movie.

To compensate for not being an origin story, James Gunn found the worst way to make the audience understand why things are the way they are. I don’t think there is a reason why actual people will have to explain, without being asked, why you only wear a gold chain. This movie found a way to make callbacks annoying. What’s worse is there’s nothing to call back to.

Conclusion

Superman delivers on its promises: a great movie experience that poses the question, “What does it mean to be good?” This is a great start to the vision of the DCU, but will it end up like the old DC and new Marvel?

Streamdorm Movie Rating: 8.5/10