Jessie J - Who You Are [PA]

Artist:

J, Jessie

UPC:

602527632384

Description:

Personnel: Jessie J (vocals).
Recording information: Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA; GCR Audio, Buffalo, NY; Grove Studios, London; Herminator Studios, London; Quad Studios, New York NY; RAK Studios, London; Santisound Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Stadium Red Studios, New York, NY; Strawberry Bee Studios, Hollywood Hills, CA; The London Scala.
Photographer: Lee Broomfield.
Described by Justin Timberlake as "the best singer in the world right now," and a recent recipient of both the Brits Critics Choice Award, and the BBC Sound of 2011, 22-year-old Jessie J has received the kind of hype that could suffocate the careers of lesser fledgling artists before they`ve even begun. However, backed-up by a thriving songwriting sideline (she penned Miley Cyrus` number two Billboard smash "Party in the USA") and some solid performing credentials (she appeared in Andrew Lloyd-Webber`s Whistle Down the Wind as a teen), her debut album, Who You Are, reveals she`s more than capable of coping with the pressure. Blessed with an astonishing voice which can effortlessly shift from emotive, tender restraint to hurricane-force powerhouse in the space of three minutes, the album`s 13 tracks are a vocal tour de force, which for the most part, wisely avoid the over-elaborate gymnastics of the likes of Carey and Aguilera. But Who You Are is more than just a showcase for her impressive set of pipes. Produced by Dr. Luke (Pink), Toby Gad (Fergie), and the Invisible Men (Sugababes), it`s a highly inventive genre-straddling affair which boasts at least half-a-dozen potential chart hits. Of course, lead singles "Do It Like a Dude," a brawling fusion of rock guitars, urban beats, and tongue-in-cheek female empowerment lyrics which ooze pure swagger, and "Price Tag," a Natasha Bedingfield-esque slice of infectious, summery hip-pop featuring the laid-back tones of B.o.B., have already taken care of business. Then there are the likes of "Nobody`s Perfect," whose thunderous synths, spacious drums, and splashy hi-hats recall Rihanna`s anthemic "Umbrella," the beautifully understated "Casualty of Love," which echoes the classic soul balladry of Alicia Keys, and the driving pop/rock of "I Need This," a faithful rendition of the track she penned for Chris Brown`s Graffiti album, which could all quite easily join them in the upper reaches of the charts. Elsewhere, "Big White Room" is a gorgeous stripped-back acoustic number influenced by her spell in hospital after suffering a minor stroke; "Mamma Knows Best" is a bombastic, old-school jazz number, albeit one featuring lyrics like "Always keep my Adidas on the ground", which could have been lifted from the recent Burlesque soundtrack, while "Who`s Loving You" is a feisty stab at En Vogue-style sassy R&B, where Jessie unleashes her rather unfortunate Madonna-circa-American Life MC skills. But Who You Are doesn`t always meet the same high standards. "Rainbow" is the kind of formulaic fluff you`d find on a Kesha album, "Abracadabra" sounds like a a Saturdays` B-side, while the inspirational message on the epic power ballad and closing title track is overshadowed by Jessie`s occasional but irritating nails-scratched-down-a-blackboard tendency to oversing. Who You Are, therefore, isn`t flawless, but it more than lives up to its weighty expectations, and in the process, heralds the long-awaited arrival of a U.K. singer who finally has the ability to compete with the Beyonc?s and Lady Gagas of this world. ~ Jon O`Brien

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Price Tag
2. Nobody`s Perfect
3. Abracadabra
4. Big White Room - (live)
5. Casualty of Love
6. Rainbow
7. Who`s Laughing Now
8. Do It Like a Dude
9. Mamma Knows Best
10. L.O.V.E.
11. Stand Up
12. I Need This
13. Who You Are

Album Information

Release Date:

01/01/2010

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Label:

Universal Republic

Catalog Number:

15337

Original Release Year:

2011

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

50 : 13

Guest Artist:

B.O.B.

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