Joji – Nectar
Genre: R&B
Score: 7/10
Joji has grown to be one of the most popular artists in alternative R&B today. However, I was never the biggest Joji fan in that his songs always sounded derivative of more capable R&B singers and songwriters. On his latest project, I’m just expecting quality songwriting and tasteful production and ideas that make Joji stand out from the alt R&B crowd.Overall: The album is a very moody & forlorn release, as expected of Joji. With a few lukewarm tracks in the listing and overall, it’s a bloated album. But it’s definitely a Joji album I’d recommend to first time listeners as the best songs are some of the best alt R&B songs I’ve heard this year.
Play by Play:
1. Ew – This intro sets the tone for the album really well. The production is really high quality and crisp. Joji’s vocal lines are very pretty and the string arrangements are really dramatic.
2. MODUS – I like the chord progression in this song. The beat is very smooth. Joji flows like the saddest rapper to flow on the mic. The chorus is very pretty. His deadpan delivery feels like he’s mindlessly going thru a routine that he doesn’t want to go thru (relatable)
3. Tick Tock – That Nelly sample definitely caught my attention. I hear a slight Travis Scott influence in how cavernous and nocturnal the trap beat is. He sings a lot like James Blake on this song. Definitely the most visceral song on the album with the strongest groove.
4. Daylight – His use of autotune on this track is really tasteful and adds to the robotic aesthetic. Joji sounds like he’s slowly losing control of his day despite the positive vibe of party. The song is too overproduced for me personally (sorry Diplo), but it’s a well written tune.
5. Upgrade – This song is so Frank Ocean. I like the minimal muffled drumbeat and the vocal harmonies. He doesn’t have the strongest voice but I like how it’s treated with the rest of the instrumentation in post-production.
6. Gimme Love – Driving nocturnal beat gives me future garage vibes (Burial specifically). George sounds protective and emotionally cautious. The bridge switched up the vibe followed by vocal harmonies that are pretty stunning. The chord progression is cheesier than a Hot Pocket, but he does sound great clogging up my audio bowels.
7. Run – This song is absolutely stunning. Joji completely kills his vocal lines. He sounds like a softer Weeknd that had one too many of his texts left on read. The instrumental is dark, dramatic, and very musically tight despite the nocturnal hazy vibe that it creates. This song is proof that you don’t need the strongest voice on the block to make a hit. The guitar solo at the end sounds so commanding and expressive. Definitely one of Joji’s best singles in a while.
8. Sanctuary – This song is as sharp as a tack. It sounds like a classic 90s boy band song with modern day trap aesthetics. Joji’s performance is expressive and his vocal lines put even the most lowkey of Swedish songwriters out of business.
9. High Hopes – This song fell flat for me. The beat is slow, and the vibe it creates is strong. However, Joji and Omar Apollo sound like they were just vibing to the instrumental, delivering pretty breezy and casual performances over the beat. Admittedly I won’t remember much from this track.
10. NITROUS – The production has gotten noticeably muffled and stiffer in this song. Joji sounds like he’s still holding back tears in his voice, which does weaken his vocal lines as he continues through the song. At best this song remind me of a Brockhampton love ballad.
11. Pretty Boy – This song is a fun banger despite the sad boy vibes coming in. The beat is so catchy despite its progressive structure, and Joji and Lil Yachty are flexing like they looked both ways before it was okay to do so. The vocal lines in the hook are an earworm and really help to pick the pace up for the album so far.
12. Normal People – This instrumental sounds like if Nujabes made a trap beat. Joji’s vocal lines are so catchy despite the dreary aesthetic. Lyrically and thematically it’s redundant, but the beat alone is definitely worth the revisit. Rei Brown’s verse was totally inseparable from Joji’s performances first listen, but after repeat listens I appreciate the subtle difference in vocal timbre he brings to the track.
13. Afterthought – This song sounds so much like James Blake I can’t help but feel distracted. Benee’s performance sounds great and provides a great contrast to Joji’s low croons. Given the production and the themes of heartbreak throughout the album, it’s hard to remember each song’s distinct style in the greater context of the album.
14. Mr. Hollywood – Joji and Kenny Beats perfectly encapsulate the term “babymaking music” with this song. The production on this song is so detailed despite the minimal instrumentation. Joji’s performance isn’t the strongest in this R&B style (cc: Boyz II Men, Jodeci) but how his vocals are treated along with the detailed production help him stand out as one of the more unique R&B singers of our time.
15. 777 – Is this his hyperpop song? He sounds like a mellow robot trying to find its emotional role in the universe. The driving beat is very smooth, and reminds me of an old obscure anime RPG game. Joji’s biggest strength on this album appears to be his ability to write these super catchy vocal lines throughout his tracks. Even though he may not have the strongest songs or performances, his melodies still stick in my head instantly.
16. Reanimator – I love the wave of synths cascading over each other as well as the drum machine hits as Joji sings over. I love Yves Tumor’s vocal and production contributions, but I feel like the sound could be structured better.
17. Like You Do – This piano is tear inducing and Joji finds himself perfectly crooning over the dreary keys. I hate to keep bringing up James Blake up in this review but I cannot deny the influence he has on Joji’s aesthetic choices on this record. The instrumentation swelling over his hook is so emotionally compelling. This is definitely Joji’s saddest sounding song on the album, and one of his best performed songs ever.
18. Your Man – Classic Two Step groove to end the album off. It’s a refreshing idea for an outro after the emotional climax of the album. The beat grooves, and Joji has great vocal lines, but the song fizzles out awkwardly. Overall, the outro is pretty fitting.
Score: 7/10
Favorite Track in Bold
Just my opinion