Released September 25, 2020
6.5 / 10
Favorites
Ew, High Hopes, NITROUS, 777, Reanimator, Like You Do, Your Man
Least Favorites
Tick Tock, Daylight, Upgrade, Run
How sweet really is Joji’s ‘Nectar’? If we take its opening number (‘Ew’, no but really that’s its title) for gospel, it’s bittersweet to say the least. In his newest LP, the reformed YouTube prangster offers a variety of sounds, unwilling to completely do away with the R&B melancholy he’s come up with yet also making concessions in favor of some more upbeat and brighter tracks. There’s a marked determination to emote (that can get in the way of its very goal sometimes) from its first few seconds. ‘Ew’ is full with string sections, deliberately off-pitch keys, reverb in droves and a grainy production that works its way into the listener’s sense of nostalgia at least subconsciously. It’s the first of many immersive tracks, brooding in a peculiar sense of somber cinematography that desperately clutches to the allure of the modern day equivalent of Baudelaire’s ‘spleen’. The problem is the fixation on the idea rather than a sense of having lived those stories penned by Joji and co. ('co.' being close to 40 writers credited along the 18 tracks, including 7 on ‘Ew’ alone). Undeniably inspired by personal experience, just like any piece of self-expressing art is, ‘Nectar’ is even more prominently the product of a vision, a goal set forward by its artisan. And Joji isn’t shy about it, saying to GQ “My mission statement was to write love songs with a slightly darker twist. It’s no different from writing a script or giving a speech, or a presentation on something you learn about from the outside.”. This framework might explain why some of the sorrowful moments feel more engineered than actually captured.
After the slow burn of ‘Ew’ the listener is thrown into a realm of diverse but non-sticky tracks on the first side of the record. They make for some of the most forgettable pieces of ‘Nectar’. ‘Tick Tock’ was presumably written and produced when George Miller was only 16. Despite its instantly recognizable Dilemma sample it quickly fades in the background as one of the less transformative tracks of the album. The ticking ‘Daylight’ sounds a bit out of place on ‘Nectar’ - a ray of sunlight in an otherwise dimly lit recording booth. It’s also a song that sounds done and re-done and re-re-done to the point where I wonder if the Diplo feature was worth having on the record, let alone as one of its singles. The short ‘Upgrade’ doesn’t provide much to bite into although it constitutes one of the rare moments that almost sounds made in a flash, without much effort to mold it into something it wasn’t originally. And Joji is made to sound in disarray in the album’s second single, ‘Run’. ‘Made to’ is key here. His little runs on the first verse feel strange, leaning on the performative side of things rather than drawing from a genuine place of pain. The final head vocal flourish that accompanies the hackneyed guitar solo is nonetheless a strong finish to the otherwise bizarre number.
Nonetheless, the back half of ‘Nectar’ manages to surprise 16, 17, even 18 tracks deep, with more upbeat and adventurous ventures that pay off - and are, most importantly, extremely memorable. The pulsating ‘777’ flies by with clapped snares, dynamic synthesizers and a healthy (ok, a binge-worthy) load of autotune. It’s a bit of a banger if I may say so. Joji actually sounds like he had fun making the track - through the story of a no-string relationship that must come to an end because feelings entered the chat. The second track of the gratifying final home run stretch,’Reanimator’ is a galactic bop that starts off simmering angrily for a while before building up to a boiling point at the edge of synth frenzy before retreating and breaking into a gritty bouncy Pharrell-esque dance number about halfway through. The Pharrell influence is fleeting as it morphs into a Gorillaz reminiscent tune with the way it ties things up with a sense of ordered dissonance. ‘Like You Do’ sounds like the track so many of the earlier songs tried so hard to be. Joji begs a lover to stay, in a web of dense and sparse instrumentation woven for maximal effect, growing organically into the emotional pinnacle of ‘Nectar’. This and the final moment of the record draw easy comparisons to James Blake, whose recent return to dance music coincides with ‘Your Man’’s microcosm. The last track lets you feel the propelling beat before it even launches, celebrating heartbreak and comfort in an ultimate throwback to a bunch of inspiration, from 80s anthems to Robyn’s ‘Dancing On My Own’, unafraid to reference and not reference at the same time.
There is a notable feature to the greater part of ‘Nectar’: even when paired with forgettable melodies, Joji brings texture with an ear for multi-dimensional experiences. He does so through vocal layering - pitching down or up for stronger support - like in ‘Tick Tock’ or ‘Daylight’. There are a finite number of layers to unpack in ‘Gimme Love’ yet the combination of clapping snares, whirring synth, airy backing vocals and the compelling bassline make for a rich composition. While it takes time to adjust to the contrast between the enthralling percussion and the mid-tempo vocal delivery the bounty is only sweeter as a result - and that’s even before it breaks into the cinematic final leg two thirds of the way in. ‘Sanctuary’’s chorus also demonstrates Joji’s refusal to let a track sink into a unidimensional blurb - even though the track takes us on a road to nowhere, there’s no sleeping at the wheel. More successful in how they resolve their inner tensions, ‘High Hopes’ and ‘NITROUS’ are also dense numbers worth the detour. The former’s combination of plucked chords and sparse beats - along with Omar Apollo’s seamless insertion - make it a definite W for Joji. ‘NITROUS’’ bouncy beat atop a grainy backdrop is also a welcome change: it will probably have you bopping through its white noise excursion.
All in all, a trimmed down version of ‘Nectar’ could have made for ambrosia. Saving the best for last is a risky bet when your guests aren’t necessarily prepared for an 18-course feast.
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