It's been a long time since I've reviewed anything on here, other than my commentary in my Song of the Day posts. With so much new stuff out there lately, I've been wanting to put out some thoughts on what's good and what's not. I've been itching to review Janet Jackson's Unbreakable, Avici's Stories, Ellie Goulding's Delirium, Adele's 25 and more, but I just haven't had the time. Well, I've got a little at the moment, so I'm going to share a review of my favorite album of the season and that's Robin Schulz's Sugar.
You may know Robin Schulz from his melancholy and mesmerizing working of Lilly Wood and the Prick's hit Prayer in C last year, and I've posted a few of his songs both from his last record, Prayer, and the current one that I'll be commenting on below. Robin Schulz is a German deejay/producer whose touches on the songs he reworks simply catch my ear with every tune, and after his successes with Prayer in C and remixes of Mr. Prob's Waves and Clean Bandit's Rather Be, Robin seems to be shooting for stardom and competing with the big name deejay/producers like Avicii, Calvin Harris and the like with his latest, Sugar.
Sugar begins where Prayer left off, only this time in a more pop friendly manner. With tender melodies and funky beats, differing guest vocalists on each track, Sugar is an awesome mix of funky jams and chill beats, and a must for anyone who loves dance music with chill vibes. There's not one song I can say I truly dislike. Check out my thoughts on Sugar...
Headlights
Oh, I know why you chasing all the headlights
Oh, 'cause you always tryna get ahead of light
Baby, when you go
You know I'll be waiting on the other side
And I know it's cold
But if you stay then I could keep you warm at night
Sugar opens with the song Headlights, a tender and beautiful song with sung by raspy voiced singer Ilsey. The song starts out with some very melancholy strums of the guitar, but soon revs up into more uplifting and inspirational strings. The song was released ahead of the album, way back in April, and it actually reached #17 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
Sugar
Now this was the song that got me from the start! What so far is the biggest single off the
album, the title cut one of the best tracks on the whole thing, and that's
saying a lot. With funky guitar riffs
and smooth vocals from Canadian singer Francesco Yates, this one's as smooth as
anything and oh so funky! Check it
out...
Sugar how you get so fly...
Heatwave
Yellow
This collaboration with English production team Disciple is
very mellow. Not my favorite, but it
still does what chill music is supposed to do, and that's provide some pleasing,
relaxing beats as a background to almost anything.
Show Me Love
From what appears to be the newest single, Show Me Love has the potential to do
very well. I posted it as Song of the Day last week and it garnered a respectable number of clicks. I've also played it for some friends who all
liked it, as well. This one is another
chill tune, melancholy and melodic and it features some really nice male vocals,
presumably from an artist named J.U.D.G.E., who is credited with collaborating
on this track. Great song!
Love Me Loud
Here's a super-pleasing tune that's also got potential. I simply love the vocals from folkish singer
Aleesia, and the chorus is both uplifting and super-catchy. Love Me
Loud is another favorite after the title cut. Check it out...
Pride
Oh, this one's just so sweet and happy! With jazzy horns and soulful R&B vocals,
this tune sounds like something that would come out of a modern-day Motown. Another great one with some help from the
French production team of Nius and soFLY, as well as some sampling of Marvin
Gaye.
Find Me
Find Me is a haunting
electronic jam that would work great on a late-night dance floor.
Titanic
The horns that begin this song sound like a call to arms
from the Planet of the Apes, lol.
Seriously though, this is another nice one, but it's pretty much as
dramatic as the movie by the same name. If we go down, we'll go down together...
This Is Your Life
Out of all the songs on Sugar, this one reminds me the most
of Robin's previous set. It's very
chill, very melodic, and again a perfect background song for any situation.
Save Tonight
When I came across this one on my first listen of Sugar I
immediately recognized it. Unfortunately
it is the only song I sometimes skip off the album, and that's only because the
original version of the song, by Eagle Eye Cherry, was such a good song that to
me it's hard for anybody to match the intensity of the original. This version features a female singer named
Solomay and it's nice, but no match for the original.
4 Life
I can't help but think of Macy Gray when I hear this
one. Guest vocalist New Zealander
Graham Candy has a most unusual voice for a male singer, but I checked out some
of his own stuff and sure enough, those are his vocals on the track. Nevertheless I will probably always hear Macy
when I listen to this nice love song.
Wave Goodbye
Here's a song that reminds me of something Avicii would
do. It's with bluesy, jazzy and a little
dancey/chill-loungey collaboration with producer Henry PFR and singer Jeffrey
Jey of Eiffel 65 fame. Great production
and definitely a nice complimentary jam to this set!
World Turns Grey
Moonlit Sky
Under the moonlit sky
The stars fall and die
How the sea rages, oh love
braises
It's like the world you've known
Before it's lost and gone
Unlike a world you've seen
Before it's lost to me
The final track has got a familiar voice, and feel, to
it. Electronic music legend Moby offers
up his services in this nicely produced tune, and The Void Pacific Choir lends
an ethereal, gospel feel to this beautiful song.
So there you have it!
If you're a fan of quality electronic music that's varied, danceable and
just utterly enjoyable then I highly recommend Robin Schulz's Sugar. One of the best albums of the season!
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