Thursday, 25 July 2013

Alexis Jordan- Alexis Jordan Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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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