The CHIEF December 2021

Music

Review

By Mason Christianson

I did not have the opportunity to live through the disco era of the 70’s and 80’s, but I think Jessie Ware’s 2021 album What’s Your Pleasure? would be a great encapsulation of that era. Basslines, synths, and vocals are all reminiscent of artists like Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Donna Summer. The album starts with a gorgeous opening ballad accompanied by strings, but it breaks down into a soft pop tune. After the pop starts, the album does not let go of the funk. Throughout the next 85 minutes, the grooves of the 70’s and 80’s continue to creep into your soul and make you boogie. The instrumentation on the album is also pretty interesting. Most of the sounds are electronic synths, and the synth sounds change for each song to keep the songs from becoming stale. The drums are simplistic, but the minimalist aspect of the drums supports the groove instead of destroying it. The vocals are also spot on and Ware nails the balance between the softer songs and the bombastic tunes. The only issue I have with the album is that I would’ve loved to hear more slow tunes that are propelled by Ware’s voice similar to the opening track Spotlight . However, I cannot complain because each track on the record is groovy and clean. Overall, the album never gets stale or repetitive because the instruments are unique, the vocals are delivered tightly, and the groove never fizzles away. If this was what albums were like in the 70’s and 80’s, I understand why many 50-year-old people hate modern music. Music as complex as What’s Your Pleasure? comes around every few years. Blast from the Past: Review of What's Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware

Score: 9.3/10