Jaden Smith: the kid has always had it. Maybe it came from their love for classic music like The Beatles, this album’s cover being an homage to “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”, or the their DNA. Being the offspring of the Fresh Prince himself and, their namesake, Jada Pinkett Smith, talent seemed almost a guarantee. 

Now to set the technicolor stage: The year is 2015, and Smith is 17. The songs on this album are about the past more than the present, excluding “Cabin Fever”, a love song about quarantine. 

Released on Aug 28. “CTV3: Cool Tape Volume 3” is not just an ode to what once was, but a flashback to the life of Smith’s younger self. It is 17 songs and 51 minutes of kaleidoscopic reminiscence. 

“Circa 2015” is the first track. The needle drops, drawing one in with soft whispers and the gentle strum of a harp. It collapses into a melancholic recount and finally melts into a soundscape of beckon-calls and beach-lapping waves.

“Falling For You” with Justin Beiber, the second track of the album, is one that is sure to monopolize airtime with overplays due to its A-list accompaniment. It is a song about falling for someone, as well as the trademark craziness that comes with it. It tells its story in a lilting, playful fashion. The two artists have not collaborated since the 2010 remake of “The Karate Kid” on their featured track “Never Say Never”. 

Sporting a flow reminiscent of Kendrick Lamar’s, Jaden’s ninth song of the album is “Young In Love”. It is one of the more rap-heavy tracks and is definitely an earworm. The infectious, looping guitar solo that filters through the song does little to keep itself out of one’s immediate memory. In English, though, it is simply catchy.

“Cabin Fever” is number 10. This is another track that will spend significant time surfing the airwaves, but in this case for its historical significance. It is a song about love in quarantine-times. The music video features facemasks, homemade Black Lives Matter signs and the palpable feeling of loneliness. 

Of course the album has its obligatory Raury feature. It has been a staple of Jaden’s to feature the longtime friend and fellow hippie on his more recent works. Song 15, “Endless Summer”, is where he gets this feature credit. For the record, the instrumental is the track to “Young In Love” reversed, creating a more pensive sound and atmosphere. 

“Boys And Girls” is classically, as they say, “last, but not least.” It holds a powerful message, though one that is simple and conveniently imparted to all at a young age. Jaden sings about how boys and girls can change the world. It hops through topics like wanting justice (assumedly for the perpetually wronged black community) and spreading love, resonantly affirmed with backup vocals from sister and fellow music artist WILLOW. 

Another tune that is worth mentioning, but did not compare to the caliber of the ones mentioned above, would be “In The Hills”. There is a mystique about this song, a cunning that suggests that it may be an unexpected hit. It starts with a fluttering and energetic guitar solo that morphs into a tender chord. Dreamy vocals float free among the scattered strums until a change in tempo pulls the words into a tornadic freestyle. It ends in the tinny whisper of feedback. 

It must be said that there is no better year to peer into the past than this, the catastrophe that is 2020. Jaden did well to distract us with the soft, psychedelic ray of sunshine that is “Cool Tape Vol. 3”.