On his only major release of 2021, Nashville-based rapper and singer/songwriter Jelly Roll offered up the short and surprising project Balladsof the Broken. The brief album took a different stylistic approach than his usual countrified rap on almost every track, going from country-adjacent hooks ("Son of a Sinner") to eerie, remorse-filled pop tunes ("Over You"). His soulful vocals and the twangy backing are the main points of interest here, which might shock listeners expecting material like "Creature" or "Fall in the Fall." (AllMusic)
