Album- True
Artist- Avicii
Avicii has been a rising star in the DJ scene, ranking No 6
on the top 100 DJ list in 2011 and then rising to No 3 the following year. True
marks the DJ’s first studio album, and acts as another chapter in the DJ’s rise
to global music domination, particularly with regards to the success of the
single Wake Me Up. But this album is also markedly different to those produced
by Avicii’s peers, as the album incorporates other music elements into the artist’s
electronic dance and house music sound, such as country music. The question is,
does this actually mean we have an interesting and unique album, or is this
just a weird mish mash of genres?
Track 1- Wake Me Up
Lead single, album opener and a worldwide smash hit, Wake Me
Up is a powerful melding of EDM based dance beats with country flecked guitar
riffs to give us a vibrant, club ready music anthem that has that feeling of
being an instant summer anthem, which it has indeed become. Lyrically the track
is all about finding oneself and being woken up to the reality of the world,
with the chorus being a simplistic but catchy music piece. The vocal
performance of Aloe Blacc (of I Need a Dollar fame) brings substance to the
track and makes the music feel a little bit ethereal in a way, with Blacc
playing the lost then found, philosophical person very well. The dance floor
ready rhythms may be built up and sound similar to other dance music out there,
but with the variety that the guitars bring comes a much more interesting dance
piece with just that bit more musical depth.
4/5
Track 2- You Make Me
After the country rhythms of the previous track, You Make Me
takes things into more of a typical dance music setting, although there are
still flourishes of other genres here. Lyrically things are much more
simplistic as the song focuses on vocalist Salem Al Fakir singing of how he has
been waiting all his life for this person. The message is untraditional in today’s
music landscape, and particularly in terms of the way that the song builds in
power, the message sadly just feels that tad too clichéd. Vocally the song is
good in terms of the way Fakir’s range is shown, with the falsetto he employs
in the chorus making the tune that bit catchier. Production wise the track
steps into typical EDM territory but with slightly frenzied beats that are
infectious, and Avicii also adds some cool piano and wind instrument textures
into the music to give this track that touch more substance, so whilst it does
veer into I have heard this before territory, there is still enough going onto
make this an interesting listen.
3.5/5
Track 3- Hey Brother
A stomping, uptempo number with an even more prominent
country music influence than Wake Me Up, Hey Brother features vocalist Dan
Tyminski telling this person that he will help them through there hard times,
with the lyrics having that universal message of just being there for those in
need. Lyrically the song is quite powerful, but the song is given more gravitas
through the heavy country music styled vocals of Tyminski, whose rich, earthy
tone is really great to listen to and adds that extra bit of fire power to the
song. The country guitars and gritty sound of the record builds to a hands in
the air post chorus EDM moment but yet things never feel like they go into
bland dance music territory, and here Avicii really does show a mastery of
blending genres that many probably wouldn’t have expected to work together.
4/5
Track 4- Addicted to
You
Addicted to You keeps the acoustically tinged dance vibes
going, but here we are treated to a more soulful vocal and a more subdued tone.
Lyrically the track focuses on the songs vocalist telling this person she is
addicted to them in the way that it is like this person is a drug, with the
song managing to use a clichéd image to good effect in terms of the lyrical
intensity. Sound wise this song is more intriguing as the guitar riffs and
dance rhythms take a bit more of a back seat compared to the vocals, making for
a more commanding musical number. The vocals are strong and with the soulful
tones we are given a song that sounds sincere, but things are also sung in
perhaps in a way that is too powerful, and if there was more control here the
song would probably have a better impact. And at just under 2 minutes, 30
seconds, the track also sadly feels like an incomplete version of something
that could have been great.
2.5/5
Track 5- Dear Boy
After the incomplete feeling of Addicted to You, Dear Boy
seems to be an I’m going to make up for that song in that the songs clattering
dance beats give us a minute long intro. In terms of the lyrics things follow a
similar theme to the previous track, as we find a female vocalist telling her dear
boy that he and she are wild and she just wants to follow him always because of
her strong feelings. The message can feel a bit clichéd, but what elevates the
song is the vocals, which have that grainy, old radio sounding texture that
makes this feel old school whilst sounding very modern, and which is something
that is very good. The song is definitely more of an indulgent track for Avicii
as its nearly 8 minute long form is primarily taken up by instrumental dance
sections, but these dance sections are forceful and energise the listener, with
Avicii providing some great break downs and building up the sound in different
sections to show us just how skilful, brilliant and exciting he is as a DJ.
3.5/5
Track 6- Liar Liar
Liar Liar is a cool slice of dance pop in that things are a
bit more straightforward in sound, but the collaborative efforts of Avicii and indie
pop group Blondfire gives the track an alternative feeling vocal that makes it
more of a stand out number than if just any singer had sung this. The airy
female vocals give the track an ethereal tone that is great to listen to,
whilst Aloe Blacc returns to give us a meaty chorus that is catchy and something
you can really just belt out alongside Blacc. Lyrically the track is about
calling out this person to tell the truth, and although not all the lyrics grab
you in the way they should, this is definitely made up for in terms of the
songs frenzied sound, which blends traditional EDM notes with organs and piano
for this funky but interesting tone that would definitely get a club really
jumping.
3.5/5
Track 7- Shame on Me
The first of two collaborations with mega producer and
guitarist Nile Rodgers, Shame on Me takes a while for things to actually feel
like we are listening to a dance record, as the fast paced guitar rhythms just
sound like we are listening to funk and soul number. Featuring vocals from
Sterling Fox and Audra Mae, the track is a frenzied number which lyrically
focuses on the protagonist speaking of his shame at once loving this person,
and explaining that he now gets his kicks without this person. The blend of Fox
and Mae gives a nice two sided narrative quality to the track that is fun and
vibrant to listen to, with both vocalists really imbuing the song with
infectious personality. The lyrics could be a bit catchier and executed in less
of a clichéd way, but the lyrics are definitely overshadowed in a good way by
the quirky production which features this vibrant, funk energy and some robotic
vocals for a crazy sound that surprisingly works.
3.5/5
Track 8- Lay Me Down
The second collaboration with Nile Rodgers sees American
Idol star Adam Lambert take on vocal duties for a fun and funky, disco infused
track. Lay Me Down lyrically finds Lambert singing about how you sometimes have
struggles in life but if you rise up you can bask in love and happiness. The
chorus is instantly catchy and Lambert gives us a snappy, soulful vocal
performance that sees him utilise his range to good effect. The songs best
asset is definitely the combination of disco guitar grooves and a great EDM
breakdown and for a funky, dance floor ready sound that makes this an
interesting, more innovative tune that must be a single at some point.
4/5
Track 9- Hope There’s
Someone
Swedish singer songwriter Linnea Henriksson takes on vocal
duties for Hope There’s Someone, an atmospheric track that has a dark lyrical
epicentre and a powerful blend of haunting vocals with snappy EDM production.
The song finds Henriksson hoping that someone will be there to guide her in
life and keep her safe, with the lyrics having a dark intricacy that makes the
song rise above your typical dance tracks. Henriksson’s vocals are both powerful
and delicate at the same time, with the song being cool in the way her vocals
are initially affected and made quite grainy before we here the full rise and
fall of the singer’s voice, and she really brings an emotive essence to the
track. The production is perhaps a little safe but what is good is that Avicii
lets the vocals really work on the listener and knows when to subdue the sound
and when to unleash his EDM heavy production for people to go wild to.
3.5/5
Track 10- Heart Upon
My Sleeve
Final track Heart Upon My Sleeve is a great track to end the
record with in terms of just reminding the listener that whilst he has
collaborated with a lot of artists on this album, Avicii is first and foremost
a DJ, and so here he produces an awesome instrumental number that also ends the
record in a dramatic way. The song utilises dance rhythms with heavy string
arrangements and clunky piano melodies for a sound that feels very cinematic
and which manages to really hold the listeners attention for the whole track.
The use of guitar is also a great reminder of how this album is really
characterised by its melding of genres, and so with the final track Avicii
leaves a strong final impression to show just why he might be the best DJ
making music right now.
3.5/5
Final Review
True is a really fun dance album that is very different from
other DJ created albums, as Avicii doesn’t give you a set of the same kind of
dance track. Instead the artist masterfully mixes things up and utilises other
genres such as disco, country and folk music. The guest artists on the record
each bring something interesting to the various tracks and vocally the songs
are really powerful, whilst the DJ also perhaps shows that you don’t need a
list of big named artists to make a hit record. Furthermore, the lyrics are
really astutely structured and readily accessible for the listener. True is a
great dance record that deserves to see Avicii at the top of the game when it
comes to being the world’s best DJ.
8.5/10
Best Track- Hey
Brother
Worst Track- Addicted
to You
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