★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 out of 5
There have been few rare, exciting moments when a remarkable voice unexpectedly stumbles into the unpredictable world of the recording industry. James Bay is that current "big voice" waiting to be heard.
Having been the latest recipient of the BRIT Awards' "Critic's Choice" Award, which has been presented to the likes of Adele, Jessie J and Sam Smith in the past, Bay definitely has some big shoes to fill. No pressure, right?
Luckily, the talented 24-year old artist proves he is worth all of the recent attention and praise with the release of his official debut album, Chaos and the Calm, late last month. The 12-track effort is a solid collection of mid-tempo ballads, that while not entirely fitting of the album's title, do make a strong case for Bay's eventual music takeover. Preceded by engaging singles including "Take Back The River" and "Let It Go", the album focuses on vocals and instrumentals, not glitz and loud production.
The albums kicks off with "Craving", a song where Bay is heard expressing the feelings of being stuck in a small town while dreaming of something bigger. "Take me far from streets and roads, lead me out in the night, don't show me the way back home," the artist sings over a soft rock vibe that only emphasizes his impressive vocals that much more. It's a harder, more chaotic start to an anticipated debut album.
Second single, "Hold Back The River", is an intriguing blend of blues, soul and gospel supported by a simple, acoustic guitar that builds into a climatic vocal layering that will definitely take the listener to church. The song does a fantastic job at showcasing Bay's vocal range, as he balances a delicate, blues performances with an edgier rock-like sound on the captivating and memorable chorus.
The heartbreaking and spectacular "Let It Go" sums up Bay's midtempo ballad approach to music. Instead of a techno dance beat, Bay allows his sweet and soft instrumentals tell most of his personal stories for him, as his sultry crooning will warm the heart of any listener. While many talented, innovative artists get overlooked each year, the neglect of this soaring number will go down as the worst crime of 2014.
"If You Ever Want To Be In Love" stands out from the crowd for its throwback vibe and structure. With a classic 70s rock style, Bay gets the chance to show off his strong soulful vocals, always alert and able to convey emotion. The artist's words will resonate with any listener who has wanted patiently for the one who has their heart. His voice is powerful, but this track in particular is carried by Bay's heartfelt songwriting.
Things take a turns towards the more upbeat on "Best Fake Smile". For those who have been stuck in a rut, contemplating life and all the difficult obstacles you've had to face, Bay has your song of optimism with a catchy chorus included for good measure. "If you don't bleed it, you don't need it anymore, if you don't need it, get up and leave it on the floor," he belts. According to Bay, if you don't like something, change it.
Bay gets lost in the grittiness of the rock-leaning "When We Were On Fire", a track featured on his first EP. Getting lost is not a negative, as the artist hits every note and delivers a bittersweet message of lovers losing their flame. Bay wishes for nothing more than to reignite the spark they had in the beginning with an exciting chorus, solid songwriting and a vocal performance that never falters or sounds unconvincing.
Most of the album is comprised of ballad-esque material, but "Move Together" is the effort's first ballad in the traditional sense. Kicking off with only an acoustic guitar, Bay sings of the distance felt between both parties of a relationship. Eventually things get more complex, added vocals and a full band come in to strengthen the impact of the song's slightly somber message and Bay's delicate vocals.
"Scars" represents Bay at his best in two different worlds. As the song starts off as a slow number where the listener hears the artist dependent on a former lover, frightened that they are leaving him behind, it becomes more 80s rock-tailored in the second half. "We'll have to hurt for now, but next time there's no doubt, cause I can't go without you anymore," Bay sings on the heartwrenching chorus.
It sounds like Bay would rather have a destructive, unhealthy relationship with someone than not have them in his life at all on pop/rock-inspired "Collide". As one of the few uptempo moments on the album, the song does a good job at showing that the artist can excel with more aggressive, dysfunctional material on a poppy, chorus-driven track. The hands claps, the production, it all comes together on the upbeat offering.
Many critics have called "Get Out While You Can" Bay's "Springsteen moment" and it may just be the perfect description. Instead of a pop/rock sound or ballad approach, the artist delivers a proper 80s-styled anthem carried by an energetic guitar and appropriate full band backing. The verses are subtle, which build up anticipation for a solid chorus that could be heard playing from any car stereo this summer.
Everything is straightforward and simple on "Need The Sun To Break", another previously released track to make the album's final cut. The artist shares a story of someone who is keeping him up at night, the only thing on his mind, hopefully he isn't too late to snatch them up. Bay sings of being shy and hopeful and both those emotions play into his fragile vocal performance. It's cute, well-crafted and another success for Bay.
The album closes out with "Incomplete", a gospel-like track that finds Bay reconnecting with a old lover and finding something new even if feelings of uncertainty may cloud the picture. "Gone is the emptiness, we just take what's best and move on, all of the hurt gets left," Bay sings in a somber delivery. The song shines a positive light on love and hope, with the thoughts of a failed past attempt keeping everything from being perfect.
Chaos and the Calm is a polished, cohesive and impressive collection of tracks from James Bay. While the title may be a little misleading, people will not know the distinction between "chaos" and "calm" on its surface, but it does shed light on the important relationship between Bay's touching songwriting and the full band production. With his attention-grabbing vocals always in the spotlight, the artist journeys through a range of emotions: love, heartache, hopefulness, fear, disappointment, just to still feel incomplete by the journey's end. Being compared to the likes of Adele and Sam Smith is a daunting accomplishment, however, Bay does not falter on his debut and one will never understand why the effort has received many mediocre reviews. It's brilliant work.
Tracks to Hear: "Craving", "Let It Go", "Best Fake Smile", "When We Were On Fire", and "Need The Sun To Break"
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