Album- Right Place
Right Time
Artist- Olly Murs
Olly Murs has to be the most successful male contestant that
has come out of the X Factor. Without even winning the show he has maintained a
hugely successful career that has produced some really great pop songs. Yet,
with his latest album, his third in three years, is Murs evolving as an artist?
Track 1- Army Of Two
The big orchestral opening of this track signals it as a
really cool, stadium kind of feeling track. This then paves the way for a
steady clattering drum beats and cool piano instrumentation, giving a cool
groove to the track. A song for the fans, lyrically the song is just a little
so so, coming off as a bit of a typical love song. But vocally its cool in that
in the chorus Murs really uses the higher register of his voice, giving the
track a little bit of an ethereal quality. It’s just a good stomping opener.
3/5
Track 2- Troublemaker
(featuring Flo Rida)
The albums lead single sees Murs in typical cheeky English
gentleman mode. The chorus is really solid with lyrics that can easily get stuck
in your head, and like many of these type of Murs songs you will be won over by
Murs charisma, which really comes out in the slow lyrical stresses of the
verses. The stomping beats will get you up on your feet in no time. The problem
is that the songs just that little too similar to some of Murs other songs in
terms of sound, although the production is slightly more poppy. And the Flo
Rida feature is just a bit of a waste of time, adding zero new quality to the
track.
3.5/5
Track 3- Loud and
Clear
This down tempo number is really annoying as the beginning kind
of fools you. Its starts with slow, sombre but steadily building violins and
has this melancholic but epic feel to it. Then the sound literally wanes, and
the song just goes into typical bland territory. The lyrics are typical sad
filled words intended to invoke some sort of emotional response from the
listener, and it features Coldplay style “oh oh” moments that just feel sloppy.
Vocally it just seems to be like Murs is going through the motions of singing
the track, and the powerful beats and violins that are present throughout the
track try to create a stadium feel to the song which will just not exist.
1/5
Track 4- Dear Darlin
This track follows the same vein as the previous track but
is better because the sentiment is sweeter so the lyrics don’t feel as bland,
and vocally the track feels a little more solid, especially within the chorus.
The piano instrumentation is great but when the drum beats and orchestral
moments in the production kick in it is a little overpowering at first, and
whilst you get used to it and it gives a sharper, more louder grip on the
listener, your left wondering if this could have just worked better as a very
stripped back number.
2.5/5
Track 5- Right Place
Right Time
The title track of the album is one of the best tracks in
that it fits really nicely into that territory of it could have been a ballad,
it could have been a proper up-tempo song. Whilst again the lyrics are just
that bit clichéd the hook of right place right time is one that does really
stick, and the strengths of the track may not lie in the lyrics but in the
sentiment overall, as while he speaks of a relationship, the message can be
construed to fit other situations such as Murs having been in the right place
and right time during his career, a probable reason why it was chosen as the
album title. Vocally he is at his best, with the key change in the chorus
giving a great sense of urgency to the song and a great energy. This is also
helped by the production, which is quite simple but also very technical,
getting it just right between the song being too fast paced or too slow. Easily
the standout of the record.
4/5
Track 6- Hand on Heart
Musically this is another pretty sweet song where you drown
in a sea of love cliché, but the more acoustic and mid tempo tone is a nice
change of pace, with the simple stop and start piano beginning allowing Mur’s
vocals to shine before they are joined by rousing drum undertones.
3/5
Track 7- Hey You
Beautiful
This is a great track because, like the title suggests, it is
Murs doing what he does best- laying on the charm for his fans, i.e. the
females. And it brings the album into more of a up tempo state, which is great.
The lyrical quality shines more in this song because it’s the simplicity of his
charm and cheekiness that really sells Murs, and these lyrics have that in
abundance. Vocally it’s also nicely fast paced, giving that impression we
actually can’t deny Murs’ electricity as the song states. And with clattering
drums and a great guitar based undertone the production makes this an ear grabbing
song.
3.5/5
Track 8- Head to Toe
Still keeping in that more up tempo frame of mind, this
track is more an acoustic sounding number, featuring Murs not being charming
but just stating what he wants. There are nice little moments in the track that
could go missed such as the choral responses to Murs in the second verse, and
steady, fast paced piano playing, cymbal clashing and drum playing production
really gives a bouncy happy feel to the song. Vocally it’s not great but it
could be worse, and the “you” ad libs are great.
3/5
Track 9- Personal
The start of this song gives a kind of bluesy feel to it
with piano key playing that’s also a little bit cowboy saloons reminiscent.
Then the actual song starts and were back into typical Murs territory in which
he lyrically talks about the perils of love, puts on that playful but hurt
persona vocally, and has that guitar and drum based production that feels all
too familiar. I recommend just skipping this song if you listen to the whole
album.
2/5
Track 10- What a Buzz
This track is a real walking down the street and feeling
good moment that does lyrically have that relationship centre and in that case
could be potentially annoying. But vocally its great as we really feel that
Murs Essex accent in this song that sounds nice, and the what a buzz speaking
in the chorus gives that sense of Murs truly being carefree. The up tempo
number is also nice, bouncy and happy like track 8 but feels just that little
bit more refined, and feels fresh unlike if the 8th and 10th
tracks had been put side by side. The production is typical but works and the whistling
effect employed throughout really ties in well with the idea of Murs feeling
great.
3.5/5
Track 11- Cry Your
Heart Out
This is another acoustic flavour track that has a small
summer vibe, perhaps produced through Murs’ light vocal performance. But apart
from that it’s another typical musical number from music that makes you think
the albums bloated in terms of the number of songs.
2.5/5
Track 12- One of These
Days
So this is like Dear Darlin, just rehashed into a different
lyrical number. And so its probably one of the worst ends to an album I have
ever heard.
1/5
Final Review
Yeah so unfortunately this isn’t the album that Murs should
be releasing at this point. Sure he knows who he is as an artist and can
produce some great pop numbers with great hooks. But unfortunately the album
just sounds too similar as whole in terms of production, lyrics and vocally,
and there really is no true sense of Murs stretching himself as an artist. If
this is the best male act that the X Factor UK has produced (and there is no
denying that with his high record sales and career longevity) it’s a bit sad to
think that he can’t move on musically at the album number 3 stage.
3.5/10
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