Album- A Year Without Rain
Artist- Selena Gomez and the Scene
The second studio album by Gomez (cause although she tries
to be a band like Florence and the Machine the fact is that the way that she is
marketed and the industry looks at her it is pretty much the Selena show) was
released not long after the first studio album and in the wake of the hit song “Naturally”.
Inspired by the sound of that song, the track features much more of a dance
pop, electronic feel compared to the more pop rock sound of the previous
record. However unlike the first and later third studio album, it didn’t
necessarily have that staple hit single to lift it into the public sphere as
much as the stars pulling power. But is the second studio album actually a
really good affair?
Track 1- Round & Round
This pop dance number is a great opener to the album that is
fun and fresh. The lyrics are quite so so as they are very much teenage, love
fuelled words, but the simple pop hook of “round & round” makes for a
catchy and chorus that might just have you singing along. Vocally the lightness
of her voice works well with the sugary love nature of this track, and the
raising of the key in the pre chorus also works well in giving across that idea
of Gomez needing her love. The production value is really strong, with strong
dance beats that will have you bouncing up and down and nice, if subtle electric
guitar undertones.
3.5/5
Track 2- A Year
Without Rain
The album’s title track is one of the best on the album and
is one of the few songs in which a sense of vulnerability can be tangibly
observed. From the very beginning with Gomez’s soft vocal “ooo” we know that
this is a real delicate track. And conceptually the song works really well,
giving of that sense of truly missing someone, even if some clichés are
employed. And whilst her voice is thin and perhaps not powerful enough to
really carry the song, she has a natural delicacy that works well in the more
downplayed verses, and the vocal layering and auto tune usage in the chorus
works well in creating an electro pop feel to the song without making the track
sound terrible. Plus, with a subtle techno beat that elevates the ballad into a
must listen, it’s simple to see why this would be chosen as the album’s title.
4/5
Track 3- Rock God
In contrast with the balladry of the previous track this is
a stomping pop number that features a great, harsh techno beat and has more of
a whimsical edge to it. Okay so the Rock Mafia vocal beginning is annoying
stereotypical nod to the producers. But aside from this the lyrics are simple
and fun, with the kind of story telling nature that makes it a great listener.
And the continually key changes in the verses given that rush of love that the
track is built upon, giving an innate strength to the song. Although it perhaps
doesn’t have that final kick that it should, the song is overall good, with
steady but harsh beats giving a heart pounding feel to the song.
3/5
Track 4- Off the Chain
This soft, more chilled out kind of love song is a nice
example of the blending of almost ballad like lyrics with a great dance core in
terms of production. The lyrics are perhaps the worst part of the song as they
feel a little to stereotypical, with the chorus being a bit too little
repetitive in terms of the hook of “off the chain”. But with the natural tone
to her voice the delicacy of the message real comes to the fore vocally, although
the auto tune usage is perhaps a little bit too forceful. And the simple
production is solid if just a tad underwhelming.
2.5/5
Track 5- Summer’s Not Hot
This frothy summer number contrast well with the more mellow
nature of the previous track, with the up tempo song really being a strong
track that is ideal for a summer party. This is easy to see from the great
exclamation of “it’s summer” at the tracks beginning, signalling that this is a
song to dance around to. And whilst lyrically it features many stereotypical
nods to summer it works in being just fun and light-hearted, with the pop hook
being something that people will enjoy and perhaps relate too and the short
Spanish line in the chorus giving off that sense of frivolity the is found throughout
the song. The fast paced nature of the track also works well with Gomez’s light
vocals, with auto tune being employed well to strengthen the song in certain
moments. The euro dance song also features great production that is just simply
consists of clattering dance beats that strengthen the overall enjoyment we get
from the track.
4/5
Track 6- Intuition (featuring Eric Bellinger)
For a track in which Gomez speaks of following her intuition
this feels kind of frenzied, but works. The auto tune is probably employed most
in this track and feels a little bit overused, but the lyrical concept is
empowering and the rap sections of Eric Bellinger, whilst very teen pop driven,
do help to lift the message. The techno beats give a back bone to the chorus
and gives an overall uplifting feel, even if it does feel a little bit all over
the place.
3/5
Track 7- Spotlight
This inspiring track is all about collectively joining
together to show that we all have that spotlight on us and are all worth
something. The lyrics are typically uplifting but have a sense of sass within
them, brought out mostly by such references as Angelina Jolie. And Gomez fits
into this sassy role, with the “in the spotlight” ad libs and the final verse
having that cheerleader collective voice that suit’s the tracks message,
although the auto tune post chorus moments are a little annoying. The
production keeps a simple electro beat that doesn’t add much to the tarck,
rather just keeps it ticking along.
3/5
Track 8- Ghost of You
The second of two ballad numbers is one that is even less
produced and vocally distorted, being a simplistic take that shows that Gomez
is young but also equally vulnerable. The lyrics are perhaps most potently good
in this song because they have an interesting flavour to them in that they are
lamenting rather than being positive. And whilst powerful it allows Gomez to
plays to the softer side of her voice and never have that worry of over singing
the track. And the track is produced great in that it keeps with delicacy,
holding a simple subtle drum beat and wind chime reminiscent sounds.
3.5/5
Track 9- Sick of You
After the delicacy of the last track this up tempo number is
a great contrast has it has an aggressive, biting edge to it and is perfect for
those who are sick of their partners. This bite really comes through in the
lyrics which are straightforward but work well in showing that Gomez has had
enough. And its another song which Gomez doesn’t have to work to had vocally,
with the fast paced nature of the track in this case suiting her voice. The
repeated s sounds in the chorus give a sense of venom to the song and the hook
really sits well in our minds, with us feeling that emotional sickness
alongside Gomez. The production is also light, keeping a great fast paced
electro beat that is propulsive and gives a great dance feel to the track
whilst also highlighting the overall message.
4/5
Track 10- Live Like There’s No Tomorrow
The closing song is a power ballad that tries to be
inspirational and get you to live every day to the full. It’s more acoustically
driven than many of the other songs on the record, and whilst pleasant enough
its sadly a bad end. The lyrics are so inspirationally driven that they fail to
do, and it doesn’t feel as if Gomez has enough power in her voice to pull off
the song. The positive thing about this track is that the heavy drum beats and
the guitar usage is a nice if maybe late change of pace from the electro
grooves of the album, but at the same time this is also a negative as it makes
this track feel like it’s been added on at the end.
2/5
Final Review
This is a really good second album in that it’s light and
fun, totally caters to Gomez’s fan bases and has a really cohesive quality.
Aside from the odd track the album is filled with great numbers that you can
dance around too. I feel like this album should have had more success than it
had.
7/10
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