Though he only worked on a handful of musical projects after
TV on the Radio
went on hiatus in 2015,
Tunde Adebimpe
kept himself busy. His acting career took off in the late 2010s and early 2020s, with roles in high-profile television and film projects including Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Marriage Story, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Twisters. Those years in front of the camera gave him time to amass songs and ideas for an album of his own. On
Thee Black Boltz
, he distinguishes himself as a solo act while connecting to the broader strokes of his artistry. Echoes of
's drama, eloquence, and ear-tickling sonics reverberate in songs as diverse as "Magnetic," an electrifying funk-rocker in the vein of
Dear Science
's "Dancing Choose," and "Blue," a taut dystopian reckoning that borrows some of his band's ambition and urgent moods. However,
Adebimpe
gives
a lean, crisp sound that's notably different from
and lets him explore any genre that tickles his fancy. Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that an artist who juggles acting, directing, painting, drawing, and music can jump from style to style as effortlessly as he does here, but it's still a thrill to hear him fuse prog, funk, and electronica on the cautionary tale "Ate the Moon," throw some down-home pedal steel on "God Knows"' heartbroken alt-pop, or pay homage to
New Order
on "Somebody New"'s shimmery synth pop. "Pinstack" is an even wilder ride, interpolating the vocal pop chestnut "Swinging on a Star" in its glammy stomp before channeling its existential dread into a cappella harmonies that evoke the cover of
Pixies
' "Mr. Grieves" from
's debut EP. It's only fitting that
's voice should be the focal point of
, and that applies to his songwriting as well. Though his viewpoint is much more personal than on his work with his band, the stakes feel just as high on "ILY," a moving tribute to his late sister (to whom he dedicated the album) that lets its simplicity speak for itself. Similarly, musings like the hypnotic "Drop" and searching, stargazing finale "Streetlight Nuevo" arguably shine even brighter in this setting than they would with his band. Given
's legacy with
and his lengthy break from music, expectations for his debut album were high, but
' passionate, imaginative songs more than meet them. As he sings, "revolution sound/it's coming soon." ~ Heather Phares