James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
Jessie J has already had two hit singles this year: the challenging ‘Do It Like A Dude’ and the number one smash ‘Price Tag’, both still in the top 10 of the charts. This debut album, Who You Are, was brought forward due to the phenomenal success that the artist has received over the past few months. Tipped as a British mixing of the feistiness of P!nk and the sass of Katy Perry, there is no doubt that this album is in the spotlight as a showcase of emerging British talent (especially since she topped the BBC ‘Sound of 2011’ poll and received the Critics’ Choice award at the Brits).
Balancing the pop tracks, with ballad offerings and a few big band helpings thrown in for good measure, there is no doubt that the album is one delivered with confidence and a definite vocal ability on the part of the artist. It is so rare to find such a large number of tracks that are not over-produced and this forms part of the attraction of the album. It is listenable because Jessie’s vocals are so powerful.
However, a great deal of focus is placed on the ballad tracks. The pre-release singles do not accurately reflect the overall feel of the album and this is greatly disappointing. Those hoping for a brash, flirty, aggressive and loud album should return to Pink and Rihanna.
Opener ‘Price Tag’ is fun pop, with a serious message. This is why it has appealed to such a wide demographic. Subsequent ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ plays on these ideas of human nature established in the lead and talk of a need for forgiveness when betrayed. ‘Abracadabra’ sees the difficult of starting a relationship. Whilst these two are mid-tempo tracks, the failure of the album already shows in the fashion that the beat of each almost blends into each other. A sign of the lack of variation to come.
It is in this way that ‘Big White Room’ and ‘Casualty of Love’ introduce the listener to the softer ballads of Jessie, whose vocals soar over the piano and string arrangements. But the two appear quite similar and so the issue of ingenuity firmly establishes itself. ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Who’s Laughing Now’ both have a message of being yourself and not letting anyone change you. They are much in the vein of ‘Do It Like A Dude’. Between these three tracks, this is the last the listener has a true sense of the feisty Jessie and it is a side that I feel should have been exploited a bit more over the course of the album: the artist was first recognised for such music, why ignore such a fact?
Nonetheless, the album ends on the positive notes of ‘Stand Up’ and ‘Who You Are’, with lyrics “Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising, just be true to who you are” encapsulates the overall message of the album: to not care about others and to go against the stereotype if you have to.
Who You Are showcases the ability of the newcomer for sure, but it lacks any true dimension or focus. It is endlessly listenable, yet seemingly forgettable due to an unfortunate focus on too many ballad numbers.
★★★☆☆
Like it? Try P!nk, Katy Perry or Rihanna.
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