Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 2)

Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 2)
EP by
Tkay Maidza
Released7 August 2020 (2020-08-07)
Label
Tkay Maidza chronology
Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 1)
(2019) 		Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 2)
(2020) 		Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 3)
(2021)
Singles from Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 2)
  1. "Awake"
    Released: 16 August 2019[1]
  2. "Shook"
    Released: 12 May 2020[2][3]
  3. "Don't Call Again"
    Released: 15 July 2020[4]
  4. "You Sad"
    Released: 7 August 2020[5]
  5. "24K"
    Released: October 2020[6]

Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 2) is the third extended play and second in a trilogy[7] by Australian singer and rapper Tkay Maidza. It was announced on 15 July 2020 alongside single "Don't Call Again" and released digitally on 7 August 2020 by 4AD.[4] The EP features contributions from JPEGMafia and Kari Faux.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2020, the EP was nominated for Best Soul/R&B Release. [8]

At the Rolling Stone Australia Awards of 2021, the EP won Best Record. [9]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME[10]
The Guardian[11]
DIY Mag[12]

Dhruva Balram from NME said "The second instalment of the three-part mixtape series serves as her playground, showcasing Maidza's stylistic range as she effortlessly flows between saccharine pop songs, anthemic hip hop and funky R&B." Balram continued "The eight-track EP displays her penchant for flitting between meaningless genres, dipping her toes into what she pleases. This may just be a mixtape, but it bodes well for the future, as if Maidza is cutting her loosies away from a major record, experimenting to see what sticks while garnering a wide audience. It's not perfect, yet Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2 does enough to be reminded of Maidza's talent while anticipating her next one." Balram called ‘Shook’, "the standout track".[10]

Kate Hutchinson from The Guardian called it "a bullseye between contemporary hip-hop and easy-breezy catchy pop"[11] Beverly Bryan from Pitchfork said the "eight varied tracks that allow her to showcase her versatility."[13]

Ben Tripple from DIY Mag said "Showing a greater flare for experimentation and rejecting many hip-hop and R&B staples in favour of a genre-crossing grit, Last Year Was Weird Vol. 2 channels the innovation of the likes of Missy Elliot on the unabashed 'Shook' and places it against the minimalist dance-floor ready '24k'. By the time the dancehall pop of 'You Sad' and the nostalgic groove of 'PB Jam' rear their heads, the obvious inconsistency of the mixtape instead presents itself as imaginative confidence."[12]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."My Flowers"
  • Takudzwa Maidza
  • Dan Farber
  • Takudzwa Maidza
  • Dan Farber
3:40
2."24K"
  • Maidza
  • Farber
  • Maidza
  • Farber
  • Roger Schami
3:53
3."Shook"
  • Maidza
  • Farber
  • Farber
2:42
4."Awake" (featuring JPEGMafia)
  • Maidza
  • Farber
  • Barrington Hendricks
  • Farber
3:31
5."Grasshopper"
  • Maidza
  • Farber
  • Maidza
  • Farber
3:02
6."You Sad"
  • Maidza
  • Farber
2:37
7."PB Jam"
  • Maidza
  • Farber
  • Maidza
  • Farber
  • Erik Shiboski
3:43
8."Don't Call Again" (featuring Kari Faux)
  • Maidza
  • Farber
  • Kari Johnson
  • Farber
  • Jah Loon
3:46

Release history

Country Date Format Label Catalogue
Various 7 August 2020
4AD —
United States and United Kingdom May 2021
4AD / Dew Process 4AD0296T

References

  1. ^ "Tkay Maidza Collab Single Awake". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Tkay Maidza Shares Audio and Video for New Single, 'Shook'". Rolling Stone Australia. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  3. ^ "First Spin: Tkay Maidza's new single and video will have you 'Shook'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Tkay Maidza Shares 'Don't Call Again' From Newly-Announced EP". Rolling Stone Australia. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Tkay Teases New Track You Sad". NME. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Watch The New Video For Tkay Maidza's '24k'". Music Feeds. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Tkay Maidza – 'Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3'". Music Feeds. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. ^ "ARIA Awards 2020 Nominees". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Tash Sultana, Tkay Maidza, and Tame Impala Lead Rolling Stone Australia Awards Winners". Rolling Stone Australia. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  10. ^ a b Dhruva Balram (7 August 2020). "Tkay Maidza – 'Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2' review: boundless creativity takes the rapper to incredible heights". NME. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b Kate Hutchinson (10 August 2020). "Tkay Maidza: Last Year Was Weird Vol 2 review – fresh as a poolside mojito". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b Ben Tripple (7 August 2020). "TKAY MAIDZA - LAST YEAR WAS WEIRD, VOL. 2". DIY Mag. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  13. ^ Beverly Bryan (10 August 2020). "Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 July 2023.