Artist: Jessie J
Album: Who You Are
Release Date: 4.12.11 (U.S.)
She might ‘Do It Like A Dude’, but she definitely sings like a lady. After touring with Chris Brown and co-penning major songs like Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party In The USA’, English singer/songwriter Jessie J steps into her own shine with her debut album Who You Are. Conceptually, it’s mostly an album about finding oneself, with every song written or co-written by Jessie J herself. Though I’d heard the power of her voice before, I expected the album to be a lot more restrained, but instead it really does a great job of presenting the singer as a powerful vocalist, with a range that fits as nicely on the slow ballads as it does on the party jams.
Vocally the album is pretty big, and Jessie stylizes each song with her unique sound and her beaming confidence, especially the lead single Do It Like A Dude. With a rocking guitar line matched with the thumping bass, this ladies’ anthem introduced Jessie J to the mainstream as a rebel with something to prove. The lead single also contrasts quite sharply with some of the more sentimental ballads on the album like I Need This and Love, which show a softer side of the singer. The infectious Price Tag which features rapper B.O.B. is faring well on the charts and finds its place as a more neutral, warmer themed single. Other highlights include Abracadabra and Momma Knows Best, a nod to the big band, big vocal sounds of past music eras.
The biggest detraction from the album is the lack of flow and discernible direction. Most of the songs are pretty random, so it’s hard to pick out what type of artist Jessie J really wants to be. On the flip side, it is a bit refreshing that the album is so light and littered with feel-good jams. Even Who’s Laughing Now, which hints at anti-bullying and self-esteem issues isn’t weighed down with heavy lyrics but still addresses the issues.
Who You Are is a great listen: one of the better, more sensible pop albums that I’ve heard recently. It doesn’t take as many risks as say, a Lady Gaga album would but that’s what makes it so enjoyable. Jessie J knows her strengths and plays to them, topping off a well-produced album with an unrestrained vocal performance. I’d expect her next album to really define a direction for her sound and her overall message, as this one seemed more random with the songs and messages for the sake of showcasing the vocals. And I’m not mad at that, not mad at all.
Sound-Savvy rates Who You Are with 4 out of 5 platinum headphones.
