The Singles Jukebox

.Paak’s turned his car into a disco, and nobody’s invited.

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[6.50]

Crystal Leww: Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar are such a natural fit together that once I heard “Tints” it just felt like it made sense. “Tints” is a great song for them to showcase the reason why; they use tinted windows in a car as a metaphor for how people hide aspects of themselves from others. Really blowing out a concept into a full blown song (or album) is something that Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar, two critical darlings, would do. The song is fine – it’s not overbearing or overwrought and kinda grooves and bounces along, so yeah, checks out for these two, I guess.
[6]

Alfred Soto: The early ’90s house vibe faintly echoed in the strings, which itself was a disco echo, is this single’s most attractive quality. It’s neither labored nor a rictus grin. But Paak’s chalky timbre is the last I’d wanna hear at karaoke. 
[6]

Thomas Inskeep: I wish I’d paid attention to .Paak’s sophomore album Oxnard earlier, because the shit jams, and foremost among those jams is “Tints.” He’s kind of the singing version of his buddy Lamar — I know that .Paak raps too, but his singing is stronger. (And I’d love to hear the pair do a collaborative album.) “Tints” is an absolute windows-down car-rocker, perfect for sunny California days, complete with a rubbery bassline. It’s also my first favorite song of 2019.
[10]

Nicholas Donohoue: This is tap dance delivery over a disco beat and while not Anderson .Paak’s first foray into the genre this is the most lived in and comfortable he’s sounded in the style. It’s also nice to see Kendrick doing building block moves to cultivate a living legend persona.
[7]

Nortey Dowuona: Shiny, fizzing bass swims underneath glittering synths and stomping drums while Anderson glides right over while Kendrick tosses off a simple tagging to show he was here.
[6]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: It’s obvious that Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar would pair well together considering how similar they are, but much like “Deep Water,” “Tints” only hints at the potential of such a collaboration. .Paak ends up having the more hard-edged performance because of his gravely voice, and this only points to how Kendrick’s casual verse feel like a missed opportunity. I’d prefer a more flamboyant and bombastic song from these two. The female vocalists at the end are a nice consolation prize.
[4]