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An artist who gets to play a show the day that their album comes out might feel like a superstar athlete entering their first game of the season. There's been a lot of build-up beforehand, there's a lot of pressure to deliver, and you get to give fans a taste of what's to come in the following weeks and months. When joined the rest of Cactus Jack for their Summer Smash set this past weekend, it became immediately clear that his new album, , is a picture-perfect crowd-pleaser in the live setting.

Bolstered by fiery singles like " " and more vibe-inclined teasers, the project made impact as his most comprehensive, versatile, and well-rounded artistic picture up to this point. The live guitar for the Chicago festival represents just one of the various elements that make this record a pretty gratifying experience. Whether you're a longtime Don Toliver fan or a skeptical newcomer, HARDSTONE PSYCHO is well aware of the expectation to engage, captivate, and entrance on a sonic level.



The production is almost always layered and balanced, the Houston native's performances are as sticky as ever, and it's all brought together by an aesthetic consistency that's never appeared on a Don album to this level. It feels like a true sequel to the regal grittiness 2021's following the more sweet, soothing, and sluggish in 2023. However, some empty spaces in the songwriting, plus slightly hollow lyrical and melodic retreads, threaten to take away from 's cohesion.

Luckily, no bump in the road ful.

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