For the first time in what feels like forever, pop music has been dominated by men in 2013. From Bruno Mars to Justin Timberlake, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to Imagine Dragons, this has been a year in the man's club. This summer, there are two songs you can't escape (and if you listen to my hometown station, that number goes up to about 20): "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk and featuring Pharrell and a little ditty called "Blurred Lines" from Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I (yes, Mr. Williams is on fire). While all of the aforementioned acts have released their albums as well as topped the charts (and with Timberlake releasing another album in September), Robin Thicke is the next man in line to release his full-length effort.
Yet, here's what is interesting about Thicke: the son of actor Alan Thicke, there has always been public awareness of the singer, and after fifth studio albums, he finally really broke through with "Blurred Lines." Now, as he preps the release of his sixth studio album, his record label is now promoting Thicke's album as though it is his big debut. And to a large chunk of America, it is. So if you can take more than five seconds to stop humming "I always wanted a goooood girl," take a look and see if the rest of Thicke's next album can match up to the undeniable catchiness of the lead single.
1. Blurred Lines - What more is there to say about this one? I've basically loved this song since I first heard it a few months back, and as it started to gain popularity, I remember telling people that it was going to be a big hit. Next to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop," it's easily the biggest hit of the year. Pharrell's production and T.I.'s cameo (which could've been a deal breaker, as I'm not often a fan of rapper features on pop songs) are top-notch, and Thicke's ability to switch from his full voice to that sensational falsetto made this an easy choice for Song of the Summer.
2. Take It Easy on Me - There's an immediate difference in sound on this track. As opposed to the old-school R&B vibe of the first track, this one's got a driving minor electronic beat. It's got a darker feel than "Blurred Lines," but it's still a lot of fun. The chorus is insane fun, and just wait for the breakdown for the last fifteen seconds of the song. The lyrics, as one might anticipate knowing Thicke's "bad boy" persona, is likely to give one hot flashes, but it's fitting for such a hot song.
3. Ooo La La - Not to be confused with the Britney Spears Smurf anthem (yeah, you read that correctly), Thicke shows a different side of his swagger with this track that makes a callback to those cheesy midtempo dance tracks that graced the airwaves in the 1980s. There's a lot going on here, and it's surprising that Thicke doesn't get overshadowed by the fun, funky beat. Thicke basically coos over an angelic woman, so the lyrics get understandably ridiculous, but that's the fun of this track, which aims to be over-the-top, and succeeds.
4. Ain't No Hat 4 That - The funky party continues with a track Robin wrote with Alan, his father. The track also features a tiny feature by Robin's son, Julian (it's a real family affair). The song sounds very Michael Jackson-esque, and the percussion keeps the song moving. The lyrics are kinda confusing, I'm still trying to figure out why the hats are involved and why there are not hats for the illusive "that," but as long as I'm dancing, I guess that's not a major problem.
5. Get In My Way - I foresee many Robin Thicke/Justin Timberlake comparisons after this album. While I think Timberlake has a wider musical range, there is a clear influence in Thicke's music (and of course, there are plenty more influences that Timberlake pulls from that Thicke utilizies). This R&B/pop hybrid sound that has overwhelmed the first half of the album is delightful, and as long as the songs continue to deliver, there is no denying that this is just a fun album. I really enjoy this song, and there are some delightful risks.
6. Give It 2 U - Things take a very sudden turn toward the electronic/modern age that has dominated radio in these early 2010s. A song produced by will.i.am would seem out of place, but it works in an intriguing way here. As the songs preceding this Kendrick Lamar feature seemed to update the funky sounds of two decades past, this one takes the same blueprint and inserts electronics and dubstep to wonderful effect. Yet again, the rap guest doesn't ruin the song and actually adds something to it, so that's a plus for me. I live for the post-chorus breakdown, and if the rumors that this is Thicke's next radio single are true, I imagine this one will be all over the place just like the title track.
7. Feel Good - This one starts off with just Thicke and the piano, but you shouldn't be surprised when those pumping beats come in for the chorus. This one is another change of sound from tracks 3-5, and I dig it. It perhaps doesn't have the immediate "move your feet" urgency that some of the previous tracks had, but I view this one as a bit of an uptempo slow jam (that's definitely not correct, but that's my best definition). Interesting, but necessary change of pace.
8. Go Stupid 4 U - Another track that starts minimally, but once those low blasts creep in, you know you're in for something. The verse keeps the minimalist attitude, with Thicke's falsetto doing the work. But it's surprising because the song never really picks up like you expect. Maybe I've just been spoiled by the "go big or go home" attitude of music that has dominated pop culture the past few years, but this one is still a good song. I personally prefer the previous track if I'm not going to get a straightforward dance track.
9. For The Rest of My Life - From what I knew of Thicke before "Blurred Lines," he was the king of sexy, slow jams with his undeniable falsetto. This song is basically a perfect example of that. It's cheesy heaven. This is where every embarrassing song goes to die. That's why it's hard to decipher if this is a good song or if it's just kind of boring and out-dated. One thing I can say is that it's not really my style.
10. Top of the World - This song thankfully picks up the tempo again. The back half of the album definitely doesn't pick up the magic of the first half, but this one is still pretty good. It sounds like modern sophisticated dinner party music (I'm imagining royals and tuxedoes and a live jazz band). Thicke kinda raps through it, and that's a change. But the fun is definitely lacking here on the latter half.
11. The Good Life - The album continues with these draggy 80's prom songs, and it's a bit of a disappointment considering the solid head start the beginning of the album had. One thing that remains true throughout the album is Thicke's vocals, which fluctuate from soft to hard, airy to rigid, with ease. But there's not much else to state here, and it's kind of a disappointing note to end the album on.
Overall, the first half of the album is far superior to the second half. Thicke should continue to have radio exposure with "Give It 2 U" and other songs from the first half of "Blurred Lines". It's worth checking out the first seven tracks, and you can skip the rest from there. But that's just my opinion, so give the album a listen and give me your feedback in the comments section below!
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tandout tracks: Blurred Lines, Take It Easy On Me, Get In My Way, Give It 2 U, Feel Good
Evan
