Overgrown
64/100
I just don't get this dude. He's reviewed well on numerous websites, and he's got a unique-sounding R&B-inflected voice. When he's backed by piano, he verges on gospel. When he's singing over a drum machine, the music tends to have the moody, haunting sound of dubstep. But there aren't any hooks. There just seem to be lots of stand-alone moments when you think, What an interesting voice this guy has. But where are the songs? Is this guy allergic to anything catchy? I guess you could argue that this music is super mellow, late-night fare, and so therefore the listener will be too tired to tell the difference. If so, I guess I'm just not a fan. Here's "Retrograde."
I haven't listened to this new album, but his "James Blake" album from 2011 had me thinking similar thoughts. I like different stuff, and quite often enjoy experimental type music, but his work just strikes me as incomplete rather then unique in a good way.
ReplyDeleteComplete agreement.
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