Endlessly relentless hopelessness
THE end of a five-month relationship inspired the sophomore album from Sam Smith.
Listening to the record in its entirety though, might have one thinking that the love affair lasted at least fifty years.
That’s because The Thrill Of It All packs enough remorse and heartache to last a lifetime. In other words, it is ridiculously sappy.
Five months might seem like an inconsequential time period to provoke such melancholia. But his heartbreak provided enough material for an entire album, and this 14-track collection is genuinely moving.
Midnight Train has the Londoner worrying about what happens to minute details post-breakup (“What will your family think of me? They brought me in, they helped me out with everything”).
Meanwhile on Burning, the 25-year-old resigns himself to the fact that perhaps he just “wasn’t enough”.
That emotional undercurrent, coupled with Smith’s emotionladen vocals (that gut-wrenching falsetto...), will no doubt get forlorn souls fervently playing The Thrill Of It All in the months to come.
Tracks such as Palace, Nothing Left For You and One Day At A Time are so painfully lonesome, one could only imagine the emotional catharsis that goes on behind the scenes.
But the album’s downtrodden theme is a double-edged sword. Sure, one could argue that heartbreak is a bankable timeless theme in music. Just look at 21, Adele’s blockbuster of an album.
The trouble with The Thrill Of It All though, is that the sadness is simply too severe. It gets to a point where listening to the record becomes a bit of a drag.
With the exception of the breezy Baby, You Make Me Crazy, there doesn’t seem to be any reprieve – both musically and lyrically – that suggests Smith will emerge all right from this perpetual heartbreak. And that endless hopelessness is just not thrilling at all. THE track listing of Epik High’s latest album looks like a pantheon of K-pop’s who’s who.
From vocal darling IU to indie maestro Oh Hyuk and R&B sensation Crush; there’s certainly no shortage of star power on the ninth studio album from this seasoned South Korean act.
Not that the alternative hip-hop trio needs much melodic assistance. Epik High – comprising Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz – is perfectly capable of standing on its own with bold genre-bending experimentations.
The bold and brash opening number People Scare Me is a triumphant return after a threeyear hiatus. The exchange of sharp verses between resident rappers Tablo and Mithra Jin is pure genius.
Three is a crowd, four is a party but with six performers on No Thanxxx – it’s a fantastic riot! The members of Epik High get together with fellow rapper Simon Dominic, The Quiett and Mino (of idol group Winner fame) for a spectacular collaboration.
Featuring some swagger-worthy beats and fierce rapping, No Thanxxx is proof that the various collaborations on the record are far from gimmicky.
The right acts are paired well with the songs, making for a great synergy between artist and song. Like on the sweet Love Story, Epik High enlists the help of IU to deliver soft vocals that lend a romantic vibe to the track.
Meanwhile, Oh Hyuk’s raspy vocals go well with the autumnal balladry of Home Is Far Away. Elsewhere songs such as the mellow R&B-infused Here Come The Regrets, soulful The Benefits Of Heartbreak and nostalgia-tinged Munbae-Dong make the listening experience one heck of a rollercoaster ride that traverses well beyond Epic High’s signature hip hop sound.
If anything, the plethora of musical styles here will certainly tide over listeners across the musical spectrum. That’s a pretty wonderful feat.
Reviews by CHESTER CHIN
Maroon 5
ALL seven members of Maroon 5 are photographed on polaroid with different Snapchat filters on the band’s sixth studio album. That artwork might as well be a shameless reference to the type of music you’ll find here – all flavourof-the-moment music.
Look no further than the SZAfeaturing and hook-laden What Lovers Do. With frontman Adam Levine’s indistinctive auto-tuned vocals, the track sounds like any other formulaic tropical pop songs on Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits playlist.
The bulk of the record – with generic over-produced tracks such as opener Best4U , hyper sexual Lips On You and Julia Kendrick Lamar-featuring Don’t Wanna Know – reeks of desperation.
But if there is any indication of the brilliant debut Songs About Jane days, it would be the 11minute-long Closure that features a Santana-esque jam.
For the most part though, one can’t help but wonder: What the heck happened to Maroon 5?
Epik High
Taemin
ON his sophomore solo release, SHINee’s vocalist Taemin seems to have mastered the art for drama.
It’s an observation that is partly fuelled by the music video for the album’s titular lead single. The choreography has a sort of androgynous artsy quality.
It’s quite spectacular – even when you factor in K-pop’s penchant for bombastic dance spectacle.
Take away the music video though, and Move doesn’t exactly fit the bill of a K-pop bop at first listen. The electronic number takes time to build up to a climax that never quite came.
But the sensual tension – achieved through understated dance elements – makes the track an absolute gem.
Where Move is more subdued in its delivery, the following Love is the exact opposite.
Starting off inconspicuously as a ballad, the song culminates to an explosive high with the 24year-old delivering a high-octane vocal performance.
The majority of the nine-track collection don’t quite live up to the brilliance of its lead single though.
Heart Stop, a duet with Red Velvet’s Seulgi, boasts the same low-key dance music as Move. But the track soon ventures into derivative territory with weak synths and beats.
Elsewhere, Crazy 4 U – despite its commendable R&B vibe – is relegated to being a forgettable offering once those sanitised electronic beats kick in.
Taemin manages to find redemption in the powerful chorus of Rise. It’s testament that a controlled vocal performance – coupled with a dash of drama – is all this solo star needs.