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Rating: Ever heard of Greg Kurstin? Maybe not, but you have certainly heard something touched by his great hand as a producer and/or keyboardist: from Geggy Tah to Red Hot Chili Peppers, passing through Peaches, Flaming Lips, Beck, Ben Harper, All Saints, Lily Allen, not to mention "Action Figure Party," a project that lasted for two albums, of Acid-Jazz with great collaborations from the rock scene (most notably dear old Flea)... Having passed 5 years since this last project, Kurstin returns to the scene with an album (Blue Note label) written with American vocalist Inara George, described by the specialized press as an "Audrey Hepburn with an angel's voice"... ok, but how does this album sound?
It only takes thirty seconds, Wurlitzer and voice to mark a catchy melody, it's "Again & Again", the first single with a captivating rhythm and an award-winning chorus, the album proceeds with one gem after another, it's truly difficult to find a weak link, each track has its own peculiarity, its own mood. It transitions from the more markedly electronic "F*cking Boyfriend" to the beautiful "I'm a Broken Heart" in which David Ralicke's horns interweave a very fascinating plot with Inara's voice; other gems include the dreamy "My Fair Lady" that seems to pop straight out of a Disney cartoon, and the more markedly pop "I Hate Camera" with one of the many memorable choruses on the album.
In a few words, jazz-pop, enriched by a clever use of electronics, with varied arrangements certainly never banal, the closest reference coming to mind being the Japanese Pizzicato Five, but Inara's voice... truly magnificent, at some points (listen to the pre-chorus bridge of "F*cking Boyfriend") it brings to mind a Bjork suddenly turned pop...
The beauty of the album lies in being certainly easy listening, but a deeper listen is rewarded by the musical and production subtleties of Kurstin. It would be four and a half stars, but since nothing truly worthy has come out this year, I'll dare to give it 5 stars.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 F*cking Boyfriend (03:15)
There is something wrong
And there is something right
When you can take me by the hand
And I will close my eyes
When you laid down with me
You took the other side
When you laid down with me
You never slept that night
Are you working up to something
But you give me almost nothing
Keep me hopeless
Up to something
On my knees
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Are you an amateur
Or is it you're unkind
To torture all the other girls
You keep me by your side
Are you unsatisfied
You can't make up your mind
When you can take me by the hand
And I will close my eyes
Are you working up to something
But you give me almost nothing
Keep me hopeless
Up to something
On my knees
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
I would be so winning
So absolutely winning
A guarantee in melody
A promise in the sky
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
There is something wrong
And there is something right
When you can take me by the hand
And I will close my eyes
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
When you laid down with me
You took the other side
When you laid down with me
You never slept that that
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend
Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah
Would you ever
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