It may have taken eight years for it to happen, but Pharrell certainly gives us plenty to listen to his compact second solo Disc, G I R L. The melodic, fun and light Collection of ten Tracks is glossy, in-line with the Multimedia Mogul’s signature minimalist, rhythm/groove-heavy sound. The Celebrity Cameos certainly are bountiful on the Disc and we get the likes of Jojo, Kelly Osbourne, Tori Kelly, Daft Punk, Timbaland, Alicia Keys, Justin Timerblake and even Miley Cyrus lending a hand. The results are cohesive-sounding and Pharrell himself has never sounded better.
G I R L is a celebration of Women with Tracks like Marilyn Monroe which start the party. Lost Queen similarly is v. aware of its Audience with Pharrell singing “What planet are you from, Girl?/And are there others like you there?/And could you do that magic trick again?/Poppin’ up from nowhere”. A bright spot is Daft Punk Collabo Gust of Wind, stuck in the ’70s (like Get Lucky) and driven by Disco Strings. Miley Cyrus Collabo Come it Get it Bae is undeniable and one of the Disc’s finest; Single-worthy. The irregularly-timed Michael Jackson-esque Brand New featuring Justin Timberlake treads the lines of retro and fresh at once. First Single Happy, which had Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Lupita Nyong’o dancing at the Oscars, is saved till mid-Disc, but easily the Collection’s most polished, infectious Tune. Alicia Keys Collabo I Know Who You Are slows things down, a bit of a risk which paid-off.
If you’re still on the fence about Pharrell, this accessible Piece undoubtedly will win you over. Sony Music Canada releases G I R L – in stores now.
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