Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Avicii- True Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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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