Elo’s Reality Check marks his return after what feels like a million years. If he can come back after all that time and bless us with greatness, then damn it, so can I. It’s time to review one of the best R&B albums of 2022, and yes, you can quote me on that. Let’s dive in without further ado. 

Got It Bae

As soon as I heard Zion.T‘s voice whispering the trademarked Gray, I knew we, the listener, would be in for a ride. Whenever Gray produces an Elo song, it’s fire. Combine that with PENOMECO (I know you remember their collab album) and Boi.B; it will be fantastic. This song did not disappoint. Elo is letting us know he understands we’ve got it all, and he’s not here to waste our time. We’ve been working hard, now feel free to come and see him… sir, I am on the way.

1, 2, 3

Whenever I hear Elo and Jay Park are on a track together, I think about the Turn Off Your Phone Remix and how Elo bodied Jay Park on his own song. You cannot change my mind on that. I know that doesn’t have anything to do with this song, but I always look forward to hearing Jay and Elo on the same track to see if Jay will return the favor and body Elo on his track. While I don’t think that happened on this song, Jay really did hold his own on here. I’m in that small percentage that prefers singing Jay to rapping Jay. He perfectly matched Elo’s vibe on this song as the two convinced the person they were singing would come to them. It’s a nice B-side that will play well in the car.  

FWB pt.2

When I tell you I’ve been waiting for this, please believe me. FWB (friends with benefits) pt. 1 with Hoody has been on my repeat list on Spotify for three years. While that song focuses on a friend with benefits relationship, this song speaks about what can happen after. Moon Sujin croons that she’s going back to Elo, no matter how hard she tries to stay away. In my mind, this song is about catching feelings with someone you were trying to have a casual relationship with. I can’t relate to that, but I will say this song definitely has an after-dark feel. Something that should be enjoyed with a glass of wine while you sit and reminisce about past loves. Even though I prefer part 1 more, part 2 is good. 

Also, there’s a sample of music they use in this song and it’s my absolute favorite. I wish I had a better vocabulary to explain but listen to this song, Justin Park’s Lo-Fi, and Baekhyun’s Ice Queen, and you’ll hear what I’m talking about. I swear I’m going to enroll in music terminology class so I can figure this out. 

You’ve Got Call

I scrambled for my headphones within the first 30 seconds of this song. The second thing I did as I waited for my heart rate to come down was to google how old Elo was because AIN’T NO WAY. He’s 31, by the way. This song represents the Elo I’ve become accustomed to. He is not beating around the bush with this one. He plans to do some things for no reason,이유없이. There are reasons, but we don’t need to think too hard about them. I did my due diligence and read the translations for this song, and while he is talking about what you’re thinking about, he’s also trying to figure out if it’s love or something else. Regardless, he wants what he wants. Aiai matches the style of the song perfectly, and her voice makes me want to learn more about her. 

She Got My

I feel like there’s a storyline here. Elo’s gone from having a FWB to thinking maybe there’s more but trying to play it cool to flat out saying he’s in love. This mid-tempo song fits with the realization Elo goes through when he finally decides it doesn’t matter what anyone says; his feelings are real.

Falling Dreams

Falling Dreams is my favorite track on the album. From the first listen, Elo’s voice, combined with pH-1‘s smooth flow, makes this song an easy listen that can be played on repeat. Once I turned on the lyrics, the song took on a different meaning. I try not to think too long on subtext in song lyrics and music videos, but I had to with this song. Elo talks about how everything is hurry, hurry, don’t waste my time, etc., so he feels like he’s continuously falling. I FELT that. pH-1 says he feels like his life is buffering and has to wake up before all the opportunity passes. Again, FELT that. How many times do you feel like there was something perfect for you that you didn’t go after because you were stuck in your life? Maybe you were afraid to go after a new job or thought you had more time to submit something only to realize the deadline had passed. Now you’re stuck in this continuous loop of falling, moving further away from your dreams—what a profound message from such an upbeat-sounding song. 

Can’t Be Happy

Sometimes I think artists are watching me. I know that sounds delusional, but let me explain. This song sounds upbeat and happy. If you’re walking around while listening to this, you’ll get an extra pep in your step. However once you read the lyrics, you’ll understand there is so much more to the song. While the music is upbeat, the lyrics aren’t. Elo is singing about why can’t he be happy. He’s laughing on the outside, yet on the inside, nothing’s changed. In one of the verses, he says everything that someone says seems directed at me.

Sir, did you watch me for a day and then write this? Because same. Now I know that he didn’t do that and probably has had feelings like this. It’s refreshing to have a song where the person is upbeat on the outside but, inside, is struggling with making that happiness real. I really appreciate this song. Also, the fact that this is the only track where he is on the song by himself makes me think this is personal.

Money or Die

I have questions about this song. Are we talking about money? Or are we talking about something more? Did a relationship end badly, so you want to focus on getting this paper? Or am I overthinking it? I tried reading the translations, but it still left me questioning everything. This is why I said I don’t like trying to find the meaning behind the songs because it can take away from the music of the song. Objectively, the song sounds great. I don’t know much about SFC.JGR but his part fit well with the theme. This one isn’t one of my favorites off the album, but still, it’s a decent song. I just wish I understood it more.  

Speed Up

First things first. A song with Coogie should automatically be certified gold. Now that that’s out of the way, this song is fire. Elo and Coogie perfectly match each other as they sing about staying relevant and wanting to do more while simultaneously taking their time to deliver quality work. None of us are getting younger, and I know I get that feeling of wanting and needing to do more before it gets too late. This song is another favorite. 

Cupcake

This is such a cute song. The claymation video adds to its sweetness, and to top it off, the song is named Cupcake. Come on. I’m almost going into hyperglycemic shock by how sweet everything is. The song is an excellent way to end the album. Punchnello does well with the song’s flow, and overall the music makes me smile. Who doesn’t like cupcakes? 

Final thoughts

Elo Reality Check was precisely what I wanted. He gave us music for the bedroom, car rides, and even music for the family cookouts. His voice and musicality seem to have improved, and honestly, I am so happy he’s back. Also, shout out that he’s listed in the writing credits of every song on the album. That is quality. If you enjoyed this fangirl review and want to check out some more, click here. Let me know which song is your favorite off the album!