SiR Chasing Summer review

SiR, whose birth name Sir Darryl Farris, is a songwriter who has evolved into a singer. He comes from a musical family. In an interview with greenlabel, SiR has said his elder brothers have written and produced the song ‘Never’ for Jaheim back in 2007. His grandmother added ‘Sir’ in front of his name, so everyone address him respectfully. After signing with Top Dawg Entertainment, SiR released his first studio album, November, in January 2018. This summer he is out with ‘Chasing Summer.’

The album has 14 tracks with features by Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Smino, Kadjha Bonet, Sabrina Claudio, Jill Scott and Zacari.

Chasing Summer is a Love Playlist

SiR opens the song with a cocky song boasting about his success as a singer, even after he abandoned his basketball dreams. But this is just fleeting braggadocio, as SiR didn’t get a contract with TDE to put out a rap album. “If I take off my coat, do you promise to stay?/ If I give you my heart, would you throw it away?” Just because this is SiR’s sophomore album doesn’t mean the intro song lyrics have to be sophomoric.

In ‘Redcorn,’ SiR discusses the fictional character John Redcorn, hero of the sitcom King of the Hill. The love issues of fictional characters comes up again in the song ‘Lucy’s Love,’ that discusses about the love and marriage of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball from the sitcom ‘I Love Lucy’ of 1950s. You are not guilty if you are wondering why SiR has to refer fictional characters from fifties to add more soul to his songs.

Lil Tunechi AKA Lil Wayne’s verse in ‘Lucy’s Love’ is full of one question after another. ‘What’s a child without a phone/ what’s an adult without a drone.’ It’s very difficult to find a new album these days which doesn’t have a feature by Lil Wayne. The songs in chasing summer primarily discuss those scenarios that arise between people in early stages of relationship. Despite his songwriting background, SiR fails to deliver as a songwriter.

In the first-half of the album, you get an eerie feeling that these love problems expressed through music have been done before and done better. Lighthearted and semi-melancholic love tracks, especially in the second-half of the album are good. Features by Sabrina Claudio, Jill Scott and Zacari bring some life into the songs in second-half. In ‘That’s Why I Love You,’ Sabrina Claudio’s voice is reminiscent of Jessie Reyez’s in 6lack’s ‘Imported.’ ‘Mood’ is a song that tries to be a classic like ‘Love’ from Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN album. Both the songs feature Zacari, but Mood isn’t in the league of Love. SiR’s love for Los Angeles is clearly expressed through a track in the album.

If you are looking for R&B/soul that will stir you up with emotion, you may get disappointed with this. Chasing Summer is step down from SiR’s debut album November. Chasing Summer is a love playlist to play when you are in the mood and you want something that doesn’t demand your attention to play in the background.

Musicjo Rating: 7.5/10

If you like SiR’s Chasing Summer review, Read latest album reviews on musicjo

*Support Musicjo through Patreon*

Become a Patron!

Sir Chasing Summer Album Track list