The singer’s latest album might be joyful and playful in many ways – but it lacks much opportunity for reflection and depth of feeling on some of the songs …
Filled with British ska’s influences, this latest album from Olly Murs is filled with a playfulness and sheer joy that we have come to expect from him ever since his debut album.
Murs sets the intention of the album from the start with the bold and brash ‘Knees Up’ which feels like a celebratory way to begin, bringing to mind his single ‘Dance With Me Tonight’. There is no doubting that he knows how to create a song designed to make listeners want to get up and dance.
Yet, when it comes to going deeper emotionally this album is slightly lacking, with the music not always sitting perfectly alongside with the lyrics. For example, on ‘Save Me’ the upbeat tempo going alongside lyrics such as ‘We had a row, so I went out on the town
And I’ve got two black eyes, and I’m stumbling about lost my wallet, lost my keys, lost my mind and my soul ‘Cause I’m the worst enemy, I know’ – while there is a strong element of storytelling it doesn’t offer a lot of room reflection as the music juxtaposes the narrative.
This being said there are still plenty to enjoy and really sees Murs continuing to embracing the cheeky chappy persona that we have come to know over the years. On ‘Bonkers’ which celebrates embracing your own individuality and quirks this is particularly evident.
While perhaps it feels overall that the album is playing it safe, there is a surprising bite to ‘Yesterday’s News’ which is a witty dig at the media delivering false stories (although I’m not sure about the lyrics ‘Someone said I’ve been spotted nude In Tesco’s, by the mangoes in an old pair of shoes’…). The album concludes in an uplifting way with ‘Chin Up’ a song that offers comfort and hope in terms of getting through difficult times – it is a great and sincere moment on the album.
Other songs that reflect on relationships such as ‘Still Getting Used (to the Ring)’ and ‘Honest’ are pleasant to listen to but don’t seem to go anywhere and so aren’t the strongest tracks on the album.
The highlights belong to ‘Love = Madness’ which offers a vulnerable side to the singer as does ‘Cut to the Chase’ that showcases a character trying to stay connected to a person he cares about despite their busy schedules.
Overall, there are plenty of highlights on the album but it feels that it is slightly all over the place emotionally and in terms of the tone that means it doesn’t feel quite coherent as a whole.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️