"MORE LIFE" - First listen

I gotta say, after "Views", we all thought Drake became a lot softer and that his "If You're Reading This..." days are over. I mean, I really dig "Views" as the album is a lot different and has a really lovely vibe to it, as Drake said, it represents Toronto during different seasons, so that's why there are a lot of mood changes. But, hearing the first track from "More Life", I immediately thought: "Old Drake is back". The first track "Free Smoke" (which I actually thought was going to be a short interlude, like an introduction to this album) turned out to be a real banger and I was smiling throughout the whole song. The second one, "No Long Talk" was also a banger and the bass was just poppin'. The following few tracks were definitiely a bit Views-esque, which I really liked, personally, with a few interesting short interludes. I really like the beat on the track "4412", but I was dissapointed Drake didn't even have a single verse on it. Personally, I think Drake's high pitch singing would fit in really well in that beat. Then the song "Gyalchester" came on and we were back to the same vibe we had on the beginning on this album. The song "Portland" contains two great collaborations (Quavo & Travis Scott, but hey it's Drake, he can get anyone he wants on his song...) and the beat is off the charts (I really recommend checking it out). Generally, I'm really surprised by the beats on this album and the next few songs prove that ("Sacrifices", "Nothings Into Somethings", "KMT").  Another thing that stood out on this album for me was the track "Can't Have Everything" which has the same beat as the track "Back To Back" Drake did a few months ago while that Meek Mill beef era, which is not a bad thing, of course, the beat is powerful AF. The track near the end of the record called "Ice Melts" ft. Young Thug also caught my year and I was just smiling throughout the whole track... It's just very relaxed, funny song that was record purely for fun with zero expectations (at least that's what seems to me...) And that would be it for the first listen, I'm definitely going to listen to this thing a loooot more and I'll definitely be enjoying it throughout the year. There are many songs (22 to be precise) on this record and I think Drake has really put out an album which will keep the fans satisfied for at least another year.