You can read DiS' acidic takedown of Jessie J and her 2011 debut Who You Are as smart aleck cage-rattling or a withering indictment of how homogenous modern pop/chart music has become. Three years on, things are even more grim. Sure, it's foolish to look to the charts for any kind of sustenance but there was a time when it wasn't all so obviously cynical. Now, the songs that dominate the Top 40 aren't really songs at all. They're showcases. They exist purely to further a brand, provide a platform for Featured Artists and, in the case of an accompanying promo, dot the colourful landscape with as much product placement as possible.
Enter Sweet Talker, lead single 'Bang Bang' and Jessica Cornish's latest roll of the 'crack America' dice. You can see the boardroom meeting. 'Hmm. Jess really needs to make an impression here. The last album was a disaster so it's sink or swim time. Nicki or Ariana? **** it, let's just get both.' Fitting that Jessie compares some poor unnamed girl's arse to a reinforced automobile, because this is a car crash of a song. A screaming, piercing, nails-on-a-chalkboard mess. The chorus belongs on the closing moments of a trailer to a particularly wretched rom-com, complete with Baritone Voiceover Man and brilliant white faces smiling brilliant white. Everything else is simply a soapbox for the trademarked trio. Grande is just kinda there, Minaj does her 'show up and spit inane lyrics really fast' thing and Jessie gets to go full Aguilera. Look what I can do, everyone! BUY ME. LOVE ME. Desperation drips from every micro-managed pore.
They gave it 2 out of 10. If you have time you can read Pitchfork's review of Who You Are where they dragged her to bits. I wonder how fair P4K will be this time around -- if they even bother to review Sweet Talker.
But did they lie? Bang Bang was waaay too calculated, everyone knows this. The article was a bit harsh but makes me wonder if the album is worth buying.
The sad part is I loved her first album a lot. Dunno what happened to her
Now, the songs that dominate the Top 40 aren't really songs at all. They're showcases. They exist purely to further a brand, provide a platform for Featured Artists and, in the case of an accompanying promo, dot the colourful landscape with as much product placement as possible.
Definitely some truth in there! They perhaps went a bit too hard on Jessie though, the gal just wants to be popular in the US not sure if it's ever going to happen though.
Jessie J's voice is what makes her stand out from the rest and what I stan her for. There's a raw, personal quality to her songs and though the material isn't the strongest - I will always stand by the sis and I love her new album regardless ...
It's not like they're lying. Jessie had to make sure this album slayed. It doesn't, actually. But it's way better than the last one. I liked the album but I felt like there was no personality in it. I liked the fact that she played with new elements but there are some songs that are just so annoying.
hatin her but still spendin ur time searchin for reviews no1 read but you
they didn't lie though.
not sure if it's ever going to happen though.
