Album- Alexis Jordan
Artist- Alexis Jordan
Alexis
Jordan, the girl who rose to prominence as an America’s Got Talent contestant,
the found herself getting Jay-Z’s attention through YouTube and eventually
signing to his label. Teaming up primarily with Norwegian producers Stargate,
Jordan created a good pop sound for herself that paired strong dance beats with
her light but powerful vocals. Yet with her music doing well but it can be
safely said not setting the world majorly alight, and no new musical offerings
in 2012, I find myself questioning whether her musical comeback in 2013 will be
one to listen to, or whether she is just an artist you can enjoy but also just
forget.
Track 1- Happiness
The
singers debut single and album opener is a light melody, sugary sweet kind of a
song in which Jordan lyrically speaks of having found someone who loves her for
herself. It could be a terribly clichéd message, but the chorus of the song is
strong and very hook driven, and is light enough for you to become absorbed by
the warmth of what she is saying. The song is also really helped by her vocal
performance, with the singers naturally light tone giving off that nice sense
of being lost in love, and the high notes reached within the latter sections of
the track emphasising her prowess as a singer. The dance-pop production keeps
it on a simple level of electronica , with influences of house music and as
noted by some critics a similar sound to the Kylie Minogue hit “Can’t Get You
Out of My Head”. However the sound here is less forceful and so the track as a
whole is more of a chilled listen. It perhaps isn’t the strongest debut in
terms of the need to grab your attention, but it emphasises her strength as a
vocalist and the type of sound that her music is based in.
3.5/5
Track 2- Good Girl
The
second track is another dance pop offering but this time a little more of an
upbeat flavouring is employed, and a bubblegum pop sweetness is more noticeable
lyrically and vocally. Described by Jordan as a “girls anthem” about ho you can
“better yourself”, the lyrics find Jordan singing to a guy about how he should
give her a chance, as she can be good despite her past discretions. The hook is
a little repetitive but strong, and the lightness of her vocals bring out the
soft but flirtatious ideology of the track in a great way. And the production
is another simple electronic beat driven sound, with the bassline being a
little stronger in the post chorus sections to give slightly more dance floor
orientated sound than the previous single, but still keeping things light enough
for you to enjoy the song just listening to it on your Ipod, and offering
another sweet if simple pop number.
3.5/5
Track 3- How You Like Me Now
Stargates
influence comes through in terms of the tracks familiarity in tone to the work
of a frequent collaborator of theirs, Rihanna. The track is a simple electro
pop number but has a small rock tinged vibe and an almost Island flavored swag
in the vocal delivery, particularly with the “na na na” motif. The lyrics of
the track are a welcome pace changer as this time a feistier edge to the singer
is exhibited, with Jordan talking to this boy who she used to date and saying
that their relationship was rubbish as he treat her badly, but now it’s over he
is the one karma has attacked as she has completely moved on and is doing
great. The vocals are light and the harmonization in the chorus is radio
friendly if not attention grabbing, but the production is strong with
clattering dance pop beats and some simple electric guitar riffs that are
subtle but effective, keeping the record on a good form.
3.5/5
Track 4- Say That
This
track is more of an acoustic feeling number that Jordan has described having a
“country tone”, although this is definitely more of a light pop and slight RnB
tinged number that harks back to production teams Stargates other signature
sound that was first heard in Beyonce’s 2006 hit “Irreplaceable”. The light
guitar melodies and bouncy but simple electronic beats make for a very chilled
sound that works with the songs sweet lyrical tone, in which Jordan speaks of
how she is all that her man needs and he is all she needs, and she just wants
to hear him say that they are meant to be. The track is also given a more
powerful side as she has stated that this is kind of a thank you to her fans.
The sound of the track production wise is familiar but effective non the less,
and her vocals have a nice lilting quality and work well in showing us a very
soft and laidback side of the singers personality.
3.5/5
Track 5- Love Mist
The
Caribbean, reggae influence on the record can hear be heard prominently in
terms of the light groove of this track and the clattering electronic beats of
the production. The production here definitely has that reggae jam sort of a
vibe, particularly within the verses in which the metal drumbeats are a
prominent feature. The strong bass is also good in terms of giving a good up
tempo sound to the track. However in terms of the lyrics the track borders to
heavily on cliché, with Jordan singing about the power of her man and how she
feels caught up in this love that is metaphorically like a mist. It’s a simple
sweet statement but feels to ordinary and not powerful, with the chorus being a
little to light and repetitive. The vocals are also to simple against the
production as her light tone makes it feel as if a number of singers with a
similar tone could have sung the track, and the male background vocals that
come into Auto Tuned prominence in the songs final section are just annoying
and stereotypical sounding.
2/5
Track 6- Habit
The idea
of love being a habit isn’t the most original concept in the world, and at this
point you can be a bit tired of the I am so in love persona that Jordan seems
to convey. However this track is a bit more enjoyable thanks to the stomping
electro pop production, with the dance beats being forceful and giving a good
rhythm to the track, whilst the bridge features some cool background vocals for
a little RnB moment. So whilst the repetitive lyrics may not be attention grabbing,
the production is strong enough for an enjoyable listen, and the vocal
performance is good, with the contrast of the forceful deep vocal with lighter
moments making for a nice listen.
3/5
Track 7- Hush Hush
Arguably
the most dance driven and up tempo number on the record, this track has a
slightly sensual edge in my opinion and flips the good girl image exhibited at
the records beginning, instead presenting us with a feisty Jordan who sings
with a powerful tone. The lyrics of the track are based around a breathless
sounding hook and strongly speaks of Jordan telling this guy to just shut up
because she has well and truly moved on. The Stargate disco riffs and dance
beats are powerful and definitely have that get yourself on the dance floor
feel, whilst vocally she is really strong and plays with her light tone to give
a nice and sweet but double sided feisty edge, with the chorus also allowing
her to really unleash the power in her vocals in the way the chorus builds.
3.5/5
Track 8- High Road
In this
number Stargate are relieved of producer duties and are replaced by Nightwatch,
and although the sound of this track keeps in line with the previous numbers,
the production has more of a buzzing and palpable energy about it that can
capture you, and the frenzied sound works well with Jordan’s smooth and strong
vocals. Lyrically Jordan continues with the strong independent woman persona as
she tells her guy that she has had enough, and she would get really mad but
instead she’s just going to move on (i.e. take the high road). The songs
sentiment is strong and is backed by a strong pop hook, as well as Jordan’s
vocal performance in which she allows the deep qualities that lie in her voice
to come to the fore in a powerful way. Perhaps a strong indicator that she
should mix a little more with different producers.
3.5/5
Track 9- Shout Shout
Featuring
elements of the song “Shout” by Tears for Fears, this mid tempo electro pop
number finds Jordan completely shedding that quiet good girl persona and
instead just letting herself go and saying what she feels. The bitter tone of
the track perhaps is hindered a little by the smoothness of her vocals, but the
lyrics are powerful enough and the use of Tears for Fears in the chorus makes
for a strong statement. And production wise it’s simple electronic beats with a
nice dance groove that is ok, although a little bit bland as if it was a bit
more frenzied the ideology of the song may come out more strongly.
3/5
Track 10- Laying Around
The
acoustic sounding and sweet Jordan comes back in full force with this cute
number which is all about how Jordan just feels complete with her man. The
lyrics are simple but effective and are really good in the way that although it
is clichéd the song unfolds as a kind of story, with the chorus being the
simple centerpiece nestled on a nice pop hook of sugary sweet love. Vocally she
is once again strong, but the harmonization here in the chorus works really
well, and her tone is really nice, so it would seem that the softer side of her
persona is a strong component. The production keeps a steady drum bass and
simple guitar riffs for an acoustic kind of chilled rhythm that melds well with
the tracks lyrical statement, and although you might find it familiar, the
familiar also sometimes really works. The highlight of the album I believe.
4/5
Track 11- The Air That I Breathe
The
acoustic level of the record continues with the final number, and the
exclamation of how great her man is comes around again. However unfortunately
whilst her soft and smooth vocals are strong and backed by simple acoustic
sounds, the lyrics this time are too clichéd and stereotypical, suggesting that
she has no depth as an artist. The down tempo energy of the guitar riffs and
clattering but steady drum beat is also just a bit boring, meaning that you
kind of can’t believe what she is saying, even if she sings it in quite a clam
and almost beautiful way.
3/5
Final Review
This is a
strong debut that is cohesively driven, with Stargate working well with the
singer in showing how good she is as a vocalist and emphasizing her youthful
disposition and cute personality. The first few tracks are also strong but
light pop numbers that a cute and catchy and so show she is a good artist.
However with the similarities to the work of other artists and a sense that she
is being molded to certain sounds rather than melding with them naturally as an
artist, this is also an album that feels like manufactured pop and lacks the
spark that is need to show that she deserves her place in the music world and
should be better responded to by the public.
5.5/5
Best Track- Laying Around
Worst Track- Love Mist
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