Album Review

Week Fifteen: Dua Lipa- Future Nostalgia

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Dua Lipa

Here is a track-by-track review of Dua Lipa’s second album:

Future Nostalgia:

This is the title track that blends rap with pop. This track was only thought of after the record was already named.

Don’t Start Now:

This track has been dubbed the best of her works since “Be the One” off her self-titled debut album in 2017. This disco-pop song shows she will not rest on her laurels and is looking to aim higher. It also just keeps getting better after every listen.

Cool:

Dua is trying her hand at the 80s, and this track is aptly named. It reminded me of what the Weeknd has done with his latest album. The 80s disco is well in at the moment.

Physical:

I should probably look at the singles released off this record, but I have heard that this track is a massive hit among her fans, and they find that this pop song stands out on “Future Nostalgia”. It has got plenty of attitude, suggestive lyrics and synths with a drum beat that will send shock waves through your body.

Levitating:

It’s another disco track that feels like it belongs on the album. It’s much slower than “Physical” and much more laid back. The song is surrounded by synths, a typical dance beat and some very teasing vocals. There’s even some swearing in this track um hahahahaha. Snowflakes will recoil in horror. Awww.

Pretty Please:

From going full throttle with her vocals on most of the record, Dua eases off on this track, but that doesn’t take away from the fact it is a great song.

Hallucinate:

Some may disagree, but this track fits the house genre. When the drop happens, you have the typical house pulse and the iconic bassline. And why wouldn’t it be? It is produced by SG Lewis, who is known for his work, not only as a singer but for his productions in house, deep house, drum n bass and techno and being a DJ within those genres. It’s certainly a surprise at this point because there has yet to be a song so far that fits into club-based. I see this being a potential single and being played out in the clubs (when they finally reopen.). It would fit in very nicely into a Carl Cox, Mad Fingers, Anne Savage, Lottie or Fatboy Slim set. The lyrics even talk about meeting someone on the dance floor. You can’t get more apt for the club environment than that.

Love Again:

We now come to the longest song on the album, and there’s a very recognisable sample. It was also No.1 in November 1996 and was played to death. Wiley has also sampled it. It is White Town’s “Your Woman”. Although the sample is the strings of the chorus, it cuts into a dance track. It works, though and deems this song a success.

Break My Heart:

Her latest single, which again follows the disco path, includes an Australian band INXS sample. It is quintessentially pop, rising and falling, complete with a bridge and chorus. There’s a very poignant lyric in there regarding the current situation the world is in. Now, it’s without question she wrote the lyrics ages before the lockdown, but the verse is “I should have stayed at home”.

 

Good in Bed:

Haha, what a name for a song and if you can’t work out the suggestive lyrics, then there really is no hope for you. It is as clear as day. This is an early Kate Nash song with Dua’s own style added. It is also the only track with a comedic element on the record.

Boys will be Boys:

It’s pretty odd that as we approach the album’s end, the tracks have changed direction and become more risqué. While surrounded by strings, Dua talks about the opposite sex but still manages to keep it in line with the record’s narrative. It’s more of a dig about the inequality that still exists. It’s typical for Dua if I am honest with you, she is never too shy to give her opinions on anything, especially this subject.

Overall review:

I may be wired differently from everybody who listens to her songs, but although the album is very good, my standouts are not among the favourites with her fans. I preferred “Hallucinate” because it is house music and very suitable to include in a set at a club, and “Love Again” for its White Town sample, but then kicks into a dance track. What I like about the album is that this is a very different pop angle and gives a nod to the 80s. Not to mention, you have a house track, so Dua is bringing the dance scene back into the mainstream because, let’s face it, it has been gone for a very long time; it’s mainly sing-a-long, happy clappy shite. With this and the Weeknd’s latest record, we now see the pop charts changing yet again, bringing back the dance and club element. Will this album stand the test of time? Well, that all depends on her fans. I will not get all nostalgic and listen to this record in twenty years. I was really shocked when she wasn’t No.1 in the first week because this, by far, a much better

album than “C A L M”. 7/10

Week Fourteen: 5 Seconds of Summer- C A L M aka Calum Ashton Luke Michael

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I looked forward to reviewing this as they did a few festivals last year, and the lads from Perth, Australia, were on point. However, they should have stayed as pop punk like they were with their self-titled debut album. Unfortunately, going into the pop arena hasn’t worked with them on this record, and it just sounds poorly produced. It’s pretty much like their previous album, “Youngblood”. This reminds me of that record, as there is little change in direction.

For me, 5 Seconds of Summer is falling into the same trap Maroon 5 did. Maroon 5, when they first got started, were releasing good songs like “This Love”, “She Will be Loved”, and “Sunday Morning”. Unfortunately, then they started making shite like “Moves Like Jagger” and “Phone Booth”. I don’t mind listening to early Maroon 5 material but since 2011? Forget it. I am saying that any song with the potential for 5 Seconds of Summer is being massacred and turned into dogshit. The band have said leading on from their previous record that their inspiration is drawn from the 80s, but I don’t know what section of that era because the songs are incredibly flat and underwhelming. It’s a shame when you consider the producers behind this project, Louis Bell and Andrew Watt, who have worked with Ozzy Osbourne, Halsey, the Chainsmokers, the late Avicii, Post Malone, Lana Del Rey, and several others to significant effect. Unfortunately, this falls into their most minor inspirational works category. I mean, not even U2’s Edge or Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello could add anything to this record because the producers, with all their effects, have pissed all over their contributions. I mean, let’s face it, Edge and Tom Morello are very unique in the way they play the axe and are fucking amazing too, but even they couldn’t rescue a lacklustre album. Maybe if the producers didn’t piss about on the songs they featured on, the album might be worthy of its No. 1 spot. It’ll probably get a lot of streams, but that could be people like me who are listening to make a review on it. The number of streams counts for nothing and needs to be a fair reflection of how well an album is doing. The sales of it could be a different story. I hope so; it’s awful.

What’s quite puzzling is that they are actually extremely good live and remind me of Muse. I am not a great lover of Muse’s studio material, but live they are in a different sphere, and those songs take on a life of their own. The same goes for 5 Seconds of Summer. Now, I was still deciding about giving them a chance live, but I was left really impressed with the performance and the interaction with the crowd. It also begs the question, are they with the correct label? Because they seem to want, the band to churn out generic pop shite rather than let them be as creative as they are live. 

I found “Thin White Lies” quite comical for its reference to cocaine, but the songs that really stood out for me were “Teeth”, which has a bass line that sounds like it was inspired by listening to Bloc Party or Maximo Park and “Lover of Mine”, which is the penultimate track for blending an acoustic guitar with dubstep. Those are the only genuine creative moments I heard in the thirty-nine minutes. I hope they consider their options for the next album and move to another label because this company stifles their creativity in the studio. Even though live performances are where it really matters, it helps to add some of what

you pick up on the road to your creativity in the studio. I can’t fault them live, but in the studio, there is much work to do, and they really need to work out what their identity will be on future albums. They need to leave this record label and find one that will let them bring their live qualities into the studio. 5/10

Week Thirteen: the Weeknd- After Hours

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I first heard of Abel Tesfaye in 2013 after listening to a live concert on YouTube, and I remember him for his unique look with his mad hair and crazy spelling of his alias. I was impressed with the songs “Wicked Games”, “Love in the Sky”, and “Pretty” off his debut album and a mixtape that featured his fellow Canadian Drake. Some have said that the debut “Kiss Land” was highly disappointing and didn’t live up to his work featured on the mixtapes from 2011 and 2012, but every album since “Kiss Land” has gone to the summit in his homeland.

Due to the critics panning his debut record, he changed it up for his sophomore record “Beauty Behind the Madness”, which came out in 2015. The best song off that record was the commercially friendly disco funk “Can’t Feel My Face”, which was a very clever way of concealing the song was about meaningless sex and drug use (Listen carefully, and if you’re of a certain age, it doesn’t take a genius to work it out.) There were also songs like “the Hills” and “in the Night” that stood out. For the third album, “Starboy”, the following year, he got Daft Punk on board, which were easily the best two songs on a rather overcooked record.

On his latest record, “After Hours”, Abel is trying to make music that appeals more to the fans of the 1980s with the sound and traditional melancholic lyrics.”Blinding Lights”, which is the lead single off the album has been number one for the last five weeks in the UK and sounds like nothing he has ever done before. It’s definitely a track that will appeal to the fan of 80s music. Then, the other track that sounds different from the norm is “Hardest to Love”, which sounds like a commercial version of drum n bass, and I could certainly hear it being included in a vocal section of a mix by Nicky Blackmarket and the like. I’ve heard that “Too Late” sounds like a UK garage vocal song, but I honestly disagree; I didn’t hear anything remotely like any form of garage on it, and the last song that sounds original, “Save Your Tears”, is very experimental. If I didn’t know I was listening to the record, I would have mistaken it for a new track by MGMT.

What about his lyrical content and song subjects? Have they changed much? Well, not really. He does venture out, but it’s for a short time. Although on tracks like “Faith” and “Save Your Tears” (The latter, I have mentioned regarding the originality of the sound.), he is reflecting on what happened in past relationships and apologising, but he can’t do it without being self-indulgent. His reflection and apology appear like it is to him rather than the ex-girlfriends. The record is entirely egotistical, too, as he brags about fucking women in the studio and then proceeds to mock the plastic surgery they have had done on their faces. He might pause and say, “I don’t criticise” when he talks about that on “Escape from LA”, but it’s more about him once again congratulating himself for his mistake of mocking those women for their physical appearance rather than being sincere.

You may be thinking, after reading my review, “Is it worth even listening to?” the answer is yes. This record is very much what got his name out there originally. It has a consistent story, the songs all fall in together, and although the record may have 14 tracks of pretty much the same with its production, it does change for three songs, so that’s something to look forward to with his next album because I can’t see him playing safe all the time. The deluxe album has 20 tracks, but the additional 6 are just remixes. My other laptop is closed, so I can’t be bothered to go and check on the remixes (I think it is the singles so far.). “After Hours” differs from the rest of his records and offers a preview into the next phase of his career. 7/10

Week Twelve: Niall Horan- Heartbreak Weather

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Of course, the lad from An Muileann gCearr (Mullingar) found fame after appearing on the X-Factor in 2010, where the band One Direction was put together (they finished third in that series.) and rapidly rose to be a world-renowned boy band. The band is no more at the moment, but that is a very grey area as the members are embarking on solo careers. Niall has remained grounded by all the success One Direction had and would prefer playing Oasis songs on his acoustic guitar and playing golf when taking a break from recording and touring.

If we are all being honest (Well, the Directioners, anyway.), no one was making any fuss about Niall’s solo career. The focus seemed to be on Harry Styles and initially Zayn Malik as well, but through this lack of expectation, Niall has been free from having a monkey on his back, and it seems to have worked as he is having a better solo career than the rest of his band mates. His debut album “Flicker” in 2017 went to the summit in three countries, including his native Ireland. 

As I listened to the opening track, which happens to be the album track, I was unsure if I could endure the ensuing forty-three minutes. It reminded me of the 1975, and if you know me well, I cannot stand that band. Despite the opener, you do have a range of tracks. “Black and White” sounds like One Direction, “Dear Patience,” and the closer “Still” are like ballads over acoustic guitars. “Arms of a Stranger” feels like a Lewis Capaldi piano ballad, and funnily enough, Lewis will be one of the support acts when the “Heartbreak Weather” tour begins in October (Well, maybe. With what’s going on in the world

at the moment, who knows?).

“Cross Your Mind” is a blend of the old with the new. I say this because the acoustic guitar reminds me of something Johnny Marr would have played in the Smiths. It probably is a sample of a Smiths song or a Johnny Marr song. When I heard it, it did sound very familiar. I was very excited to listen to the track after hearing that Johnny-esque intro, but then it went all modern and sounded like a typical pop song of late. It’s an utter shame, really, because a Johnny Marr-style song is what this record needed. Yes, Niall was trying to appeal to the Directioners as much as possible, but this lad is an indie rock fan. “Nice to Meet Ya” is where Niall chose to go all indie rock, though. Sounds very much like Arctic Monkeys infused with Kasabian. However, I think Niall is going to go down the synth route. 

I would like him to release something more to his taste as it’s risky and shows that he is not afraid to cause shock waves. The loudest ones in One Direction have had moderate solo success, but as they say, the quiet ones are to be watched. Even though Niall was quiet in the band, his actions speak louder than his words. I don’t mind listening to a whole One Direction album, but once a day is enough. The same goes for this record. If I was young enough to be in that generation, I might have got it more and be listening to it more than once a day. That being said, I like Niall and wish him every success. Why? Because he isn’t a dickhead and is more talented than the rest of the band. 7/10

Week Eleven: Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott- Manchester Calling

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Although their band, the Beautiful South, broke up in 2007 and they got together as a duo in 2014, there are still signs that they have kept alive the spirit of the band, and that is very evident in this latest record. You have those typical Beautiful South-sounding songs. Although you may be familiar with the wall of sound in this fourth album, it is also their most original record.

Paul Heaton, as we know, is very set in his ways and doesn’t care for adapting his style for the modern world, but on this album, he gave most of the control to Johnny Lexus and his musicians to give the record a more modern feel blended with Paul’s timelessness.

From the opening bell, you are greeted with the in-your-face rock n roll track “the Only Exercise I Get is You”. Now, after just the first track, I am already paying full attention as an album that usually starts with a bang suggests it will keep improving. Then you have tracks like “All of My Friends” and “Big News in a Little World”, which follow in the same vein, but Johnny has added sprinkles of modern computerised technology in there with loops, electronic strings and samples over this 16-track record. It also works whether he has used ProTools, Cubase or Logic. Fair play to Paul for letting go and putting faith in his regular collaborator, Johnny, to give this album a different feel.

“MCR Calling”, however, is a darker sound, which fits in with the lyrics. Paul and Jacqui lament how the city has changed recently, has lost its originality, and is falling victim to the falseness we see infecting almost every city. I wonder if Gary Neville will enjoy the song’s last verse, which mentions his head being on a spike.

Regardless of the originality of this record, it is still quintessentially Paul Heaton with its timeless lyrics and catchy songs. There’s nothing artificial about it, and it focuses on Paul’s knowledge of life lessons, stories of real issues across the spectrum, embracing the losers and littered with comedy. A prime example would be “Somebody’s Superhero” and “If You Could See Your Faults”.

I love his wordplay and poetry on this album, and it is very much what Paul is known for. Although there have been severe and very personal issues on his tracks with the Beautiful South, as a solo artist or with Jacqui Abbott, it still has a very comedic feel despite the nature. For example, in “So in Love”, there is a verse that says “promise of wedlock” followed by “trapped in a permanent headlock”. That’s the kind of point I am trying to convey when I mentioned his songs laced with comedy, yet aggressive, too. This is a bit like the message conveyed in the Beautiful South song “Don’t Marry Her”, sung beautifully by Jacqui Abbott. It is hilarious, yet serious simultaneously with lines like “She’ll grab your sweaty bollocks, then slowly raise her knee, don’t marry her, fuck me”. Do you see? Funny and fucking violent.

On my coda (Most use the typical cliche of the final note.), it doesn’t matter what genre Paul might write for; he will always use his trademark lyrics and get the producer to get the music to compliment them. Although the Beautiful South have been disbanded for over thirteen years, they are kept alive in Paul’s music. When he and Jacqui get together, you feel like the band never went away. I have yet to say much about Jacqui in this review, which is not discrediting her contribution to the record, but Paul is the songwriter. I would be lying if I didn’t say Jacqui was as brilliant as she always is because she was. Her vocals still sound as fresh as when she took over from Briana Corrigan in 1994. The album hit a lull for me after the first four tracks but picked up after the halfway point, so all-in-all, it’s an outstanding, funny and sobering record. 8/10

Week Nine: Bangtan Boys aka Bangtan Sonyeondan aka BTS- Map of the Soul: 7

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I first heard about this Korean Republic boy band while going through security at an English airport, where I saw a plethora of young teenagers with various BTS merchandise from one of their London shows last year (Some torch seemed to be the favourite after the t-shirts.) and, being ever curious, I asked some of the ladies returning to their respective countries “Who are they?” and “Where has their popularity come from?”. I was told that they were a K-Pop boy band from the Korean Republic, and I should listen to some of their songs and see what the hyperbole was all about. 

So, eventually, at some point last year, I decided to give them a listen, and even though I wouldn’t go mad for them, I could understand the hype surrounding them and why they are so popular. What I found a bit odd upon discovering them via Spotify is that this “Map of the Soul” thing is both an album and a tour. There is also “Map of the Soul: Persona, ” a seven-song extended play featured on the album. What is good about the final instalment of “Map of the Soul” is that this one goes more in-depth about the members. Look at the “Interlude: Shadow”, about Min Yoon-gi’s (Suga) struggles with fame and popularity as a member of the Bangtan Boys. The whole record talks about their current conflict with music, and they question whether they are still in love and have the passion for it now that they have achieved world status. Now, other good examples of tracks that mention these perfectly on the record are “Black Swan” and “ON”, but unfortunately, due to the use of auto-tune, I am not a fan; I cannot stand the use of auto-tune. It just disguises that certain artists cannot sing to save their lives. 

That is not necessarily the case with BTS, so I am baffled by why they feel the need to use it. “00:00 Zero O’Clock” is a much softer song, but it pretty much has the same message; it also talks about optimism about getting out of this ill feeling you have in your life. You then have the trademark deliveries of all four members, which makes this song so unique; Kim Seok-Jin (Jin), the eldest member, brings a traditional Korean ballad, Jeon Jung-kook (Jungkook) brings a falsetto, Park Ji-Min (Jimin) brings warm and sensual. Kim Tae-Hyung (V) brings comfort that makes this song feel like you are at home, putting your feet up and getting warm by the fireplace. Not bad, considering dark elements are included in the track (Yes, I am Aware of Jung Ho-Seok, aka J-Hope, but he isn’t on this track in question.).

This record is very much a nod to their fans and that they are never far away from the members’ thoughts. Yes, it might be about their personal experiences, but as always, there is a deep connection with their fans in everything they do, whether through the songs, personal interaction via the official website, live streams or performing at concerts. Kim Seokjin even brings this into focus on “Moon”, which on the surface seems about falling in love with someone, but I think it goes deeper than that and is actually gratitude towards the BTS Army as they are known. The appreciation is expressed in the sleeve notes, but I listened via Spotify, so I wouldn’t know about that. 

I happen to engage with some Bangtan Boys fans within my circle. I honestly cannot remember what songs were my standouts because it has been almost two weeks since I listened, but I was impressed by them and only didn’t like “Black Swan” and “ON” for its use of auto-tune. I’m including the original version of “ON” and not the final track featuring Sia. The record deserves credit for touching on personal subjects but also for the production, which makes this more than just a typical pop album. It’s like talking to your inner demons. It’s the members addressing their fans and thanking them individually. It’s a record of optimism where there is hope from a position where you’re stuck in the same old hole. But above all, it can be interpreted as a record where someone, something, yourself or even the band members are here to grab your hand if you are about to fall from a great height.

8/10

Week Eight: Justin Bieber- Changes

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I cannot stand this little prick, and I honestly do not get the hyperbole around this arrogant arsehole. Anyway, I’ll put that aside and try to write a review longer than a sentence. I must confess that even though I went through the painful process of listening to the record until its conclusion, I could not wait for it to end, and I could feel the blood running out of my ears as my eardrums were subjected to unnecessary abuse. The only high point of the album is that it features guitars. I hated his vocals, but the guitar on “That’s What Love is” was very pleasing. The album never got going for me, and his vocals seem vacant. I’m sure he couldn’t even be bothered to try every time he entered the vocal booth.

Maybe, he was missing his wife or just wanted to piss about in the studio rather than knuckle down and try his best once inside the booth? After all, this arrogant prick befriended one of the most extraordinary Boxers, Floyd Mayweather Junior, and now thinks that by association, he is as untouchable as Floyd was during his Boxing career. I feel sorry for his fans in all this, but they are all fucking brainwashed idiots who think this guy is the second coming of Christ. He comes across as bored throughout the record, showing contempt for all his fans, and he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of the record. Not only are his vocals painful to listen to, but the production is just diabolical; every song seems like a repeat of the track that went before, and the lyrical content isn’t much better. Overall, The album is boring, and you can’t

wait for it to end. It was a very long 51 minutes, and I was relieved when it was over. I will never listen to it again, and I hope I will not be doing any more Justin Bieber reviews throughout the year. They said the title was meant to represent Justin moving with the times, but instead, you have an absolute hornet’s nest of a record. I have elected to not even give a mark out of ten. Pure shite.

Week Seven: Green Day- Father of All Motherfuckers

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Yes, I don’t care that I am using the full title, and if that offends you, I couldn’t care less. Get used to it. I am fed up with all the fucking bullshit in society that offends people. So, I have been a regular listener (I even watch their shows via YouTube or television. Haven’t been to see them yet.) since 1995. They came up in a conversation while I was in America, and I remember hearing them and feeling blown away by their energy. Later, I would discover bands like the Sex Pistols and draw on the two comparisons. Indeed, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said they inspired the band. So, Green Day started as Sweet Children in 1987 when they all met at school. (I believe Bassist Mike Dirnt was living with Billie Joe’s family or vice versa. I recently saw a documentary on the band and forgot the order.) Why Sweet Children? Well, a band in the East Bay of California was already called Sweet Baby.

The band then changed their name to Green Day after their affection for cannabis. The band would start to gain traction after performing numerous gigs at the DIY 924 Gillman Street club, known as the Gillman. After being spotted by Larry Livermore of Lookout! Records, they would sign with the independent label until 1993. When they joined Reprise Records in 1994, they faced some backlash from the regulars at the Gillman for ‘selling out’, but “Dookie” would go on to be their major breakthrough after scoring number one in three countries. Even in America, it only just failed to reach the summit. The band would get even more popular from there with a slight dip in “Nimrod”.

In the early 2000s, they had to change direction, so they entered the political arena with catchy three-chord songs like “Basket Base”, “When I Come Around”, et cetera and their lyrics laced with sarcasm. Not literally, but their songs attacked the presidential reign of George Bush Jr and his government. Now, we were seeing Green Day going full-on Sex Pistols. Turning from just Punk musicians to activists and “American Idiot”, the album was very politically-charged. After Bush’s two terms had finished, the first black president Barack Obama was elected, and everyone felt hopeful about the future. Indeed even the band’s lyrics and songs were more about hope and losing anger. Was it because the band members were getting towards middle age? Who knows. After Obama served his two terms, Green Day was not happy about the appointment of Entrepreneur Donald Trump, and many fans expected an album more prominent than all had gone before after 2016. Still, despite their opposition to the current president, it didn’t come.

Unfortunately, the title suggests that this is the moment that this is the record that does it. On the contrary, I didn’t notice much politics in this at all. I found it more upbeat, Kind of like “Who Built the Moon?” by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. It’s nothing like it sonically, but the music is upbeat. I was expecting a political album from Green Day, but they may feel we need more uplifting things to listen to during the current climate. The biggest shock for me on their thirteenth studio record was the length of it. Even with the bonus track featured on the Japanese version, it barely touches thirty minutes. On the version everywhere else, it is only twenty-six minutes and sixteen seconds. Their shortest record since “39/Smooth”, their debut back in 1990. Billie Joe said during an interview that he didn’t feel creative enough when writing songs involving politics. Instead, we have more of a jam session album, and Billie Joe felt nostalgic by drawing inspiration from his record collection. It is an album that is more focused on instrumental than lyrical content.

More bad news for avid fans is that the band have got very experimental on these ten/eleven tracks. Of course, for someone like me who enjoys it when artists/bands dabble with different sounds and genres, this record is very intriguing, and I appreciate this concept adopted by the band. Indeed, Billie Joe has said this record is more Soul, Motown, Glam rock and traditional Pop punk. However, there is modern garage rock with tracks like “Meet Me on the Roof” and the Weezer-inspired “I Was a Teenage Teenager”. The delivery by Billie Joe is very different, too and goes in line with the record; instead of his usual aggressive vocals, he sings with a comedic falsetto.

Well, if you were expecting a record that attacks the current world leaders, this album is not it. I’m sure Green Day will no doubt release one sometime in the future, but for now, they have decided to go with something more uplifting and make you forget entirely about all the bullshit going on for half an hour at least. This record is more like one big party and reminds us all to have fun now and again. As I said, they have gone with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds approach. Let’s face it; it isn’t wrong to throw up the middle finger to the world and feel at one through the power of music. Now, I was torn as to what mark to give this record. On the one hand, you have an enjoyable and uplifting record, but on the other, you have a very un-Green Day record.

7/10

Week Five: J Hus- Big Conspiracy

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It has been a very testing time for the vocalist from Stratford since the release of his debut album “Common Sense”, which charted at No.6 in the main chart and secured the top spot in the R&B chart. However, on this record, he doesn’t really talk about any of his personal problems during the past two years or so. If anything, this record is much wiser for a kid that is only twenty-three years old. Whatever it is that he was dealing with has seen him come out on the other side with a more mature point of view of the world. The debut was more spontaneous and had a sense of “I’ve made it, so I am going to have fun and live fast” attitude to it, whereas his follow-up shows more of his talents, and that he feels a lot more comfortable with the direction, he is heading in with his music.

You notice this from the title track alone and understand the hyperbole surrounding J Hus. Another thing I particularly like about the record is how the producer TSB has made it feel more like a live performance than a recorded record in a studio. I will need to check if the tracks were performed as a live show (albeit not to the public.) rather than the usual method of recording these days. Although this may be his record, the performance of icee tgm catches my ear on the opening two tracks. Especially on “Helicopter”. I recommend looking out for this talented female vocalist in the coming year.

She is not the only artist to be collaborating on the record. J Hus has opted to showcase himself more and use only three collaborations with icee tgm, Burna Boy and Koffee. Although some tracks have pop elements to them, their references to guns and sex, like “Play Play” and the very comedic “Cucumber”, might not be deemed radio-friendly enough for the mainstream singles chart.

As the album goes on, it gets darker and darker. I liked “Deeper Than Rap”, as you get a real insight into J’s life through the piano instrumental accompanying his autobiographical story. What is especially good about this record and why it deserved the top spot is that it blends all the sounds associated with the UK through the decades. It is ranging from Jungle, Drum & Bass, Garage, Grime and so forth. With Stormzy and now J Hus already scoring No.1 albums this year, it raises the stakes for other Grime artists to emulate.

9/10