“The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions” doesn’t add much to Vegyns catalog. The April 5 release displays Vegyn at his most comfortable, and while it indulges in his strengths, it lacks nuance. The veteran producer and Coachella-esque DJ Vegyn came out of hiding to give listeners a pretty accessible and thick record for 2024 that turns out to be solid and approachable.
The laidback production takes the spotlight on these tracks, especially “Another 9 Days.” The analog and digital sounds are a good mix as, despite the reverb, the sounds still come out crisp.
The collection of songs is very melancholy, but interspersed between the tracks listeners can find moments where the heart shines through the skillful (yet impersonal) downtempo. The feature songs stand out, while some of the solo tracks… don’t, leaving audiences disinterested and bored.
For example, “Halo Flip” preserves the murky, tinny aura (that can feel overdone at other spots) while remaining interesting, catchy, and genuine. The transition to the outro is skillfully done, and the sections of the songs are weaved together gorgeously—all of the different textures and tracks that go into it are truly impressive (“Everything Is The Same”).
On the other hand, the solo track “Makeshift Tourniquet” is so overdone it’s annoying. It’s clear that someone needed to say no during the creative process here and didn’t.
Looking at the album after a few listens, it’s obvious that I enjoy it; but there might be a spot opening up culturally for Vegyn too. He knows the mainstream ( producer of “Blonde” by Frank Ocean) but his solo work has never attracted a wider audience. He might be able to change that around with strategic features, especially “Trust” with Matt Maltese (coincidentally my most-hated track on the album).
Despite individual issues, the album is a solid, cohesive project with a few standout tracks. It’s an enjoyable listening experience that doesn’t stick around after, which works on an average early May day.
