On the British-Pakistani singer’s fifth solo record, a Carnatic percussion concept does the heritage work. The English lyrics are still the lost-love material he was writing a decade ago.
I agree there's less Indian/Pakistani influences than promised on the album. But your review is pretty soulless and technical. Zayns voice is otherworldly on this and the experimentation with vocal delivery is so unique. These songs are not lyrical masterpieces in a traditional sense but his ability to convey emotion with few words, or ones you can't even understand really shines on this album. Sometimes he's singing about feeling broken, um maybe because that's where he's been at? Personally I relate and rate the authenticity. Met tonight is a song about feeling freer, sure it's about sex but it's also a dance hall banger that surprised me. I feel your discussion of the single Sideways is quite representative of your surface level review. You leave out the best lyrics "your words are like diamonds, they cut me but I see through" from the bridge which is a beautiful sentiment. Also " you're so revealing, you're here but you're not tonight, your eyes on the ceiling your body away from mine" is him realizing his partner is not really present in the relationship. Sideways has a few meanings, he's missing not looking Sideways as in questioning his partners intentions as well as missing her in his bed. Anyhow if you've got this far just go give the album a few listens I'm really enjoying it it's something different.
He's English-Pakistani so his identity straddles both, equally. The album was pitched as a heritage record, sure, but that was Zayn's own framing, not a debt he owes anyone. The more interesting question the review never asks is whether it succeeds as a pop album on its own terms. instead, it spends the entirety measuring him against a cultural promise, with little curiosity for the English half of the artist making it. There's a particular irony, almost a reflex, even, in a white critic deciding which heritage a mixed-race person is obligated to honour and perform
I don't really know where to start... To be honest, I was hyped for the album and curious how he gets his heritage more into his music. The two singles were like we know him already, but first when I listened to the album I was very surprised. I don't think that his lyrics are weak or outdatet - he is always writing and maybe there are songs lingering in his mind for years - now ready to come out.
He said there is more of his heritage that influenced this album and I think he delivered well. I was waiting for a full Urdu song, but I really like the outcome of this record. I love Zayn for beeing experimental and not using a safetynet of things already worked out for him. He is a creative mind and I am truely impressed by his work. He has such a good feeling for emotions and transporting them through words and music... And of course his vocals are outstanding.
But that is my personal impression and not a professional look at mechanics or something like that. For me is more important what I feel when I listen to it... and I definitely feel a lot. And for me it is not necessary if he had already told us that he is heartbroken, bad for us or calling out our names. For me it is even more than just a repeatation of old feelings and situations. It is like therapy for me to listen to him... he makes me feel understood in some ways and that is what music should do. Music should make you feel something and Konnakol does that in so many ways.
I agree there's less Indian/Pakistani influences than promised on the album. But your review is pretty soulless and technical. Zayns voice is otherworldly on this and the experimentation with vocal delivery is so unique. These songs are not lyrical masterpieces in a traditional sense but his ability to convey emotion with few words, or ones you can't even understand really shines on this album. Sometimes he's singing about feeling broken, um maybe because that's where he's been at? Personally I relate and rate the authenticity. Met tonight is a song about feeling freer, sure it's about sex but it's also a dance hall banger that surprised me. I feel your discussion of the single Sideways is quite representative of your surface level review. You leave out the best lyrics "your words are like diamonds, they cut me but I see through" from the bridge which is a beautiful sentiment. Also " you're so revealing, you're here but you're not tonight, your eyes on the ceiling your body away from mine" is him realizing his partner is not really present in the relationship. Sideways has a few meanings, he's missing not looking Sideways as in questioning his partners intentions as well as missing her in his bed. Anyhow if you've got this far just go give the album a few listens I'm really enjoying it it's something different.
He's English-Pakistani so his identity straddles both, equally. The album was pitched as a heritage record, sure, but that was Zayn's own framing, not a debt he owes anyone. The more interesting question the review never asks is whether it succeeds as a pop album on its own terms. instead, it spends the entirety measuring him against a cultural promise, with little curiosity for the English half of the artist making it. There's a particular irony, almost a reflex, even, in a white critic deciding which heritage a mixed-race person is obligated to honour and perform
I don't really know where to start... To be honest, I was hyped for the album and curious how he gets his heritage more into his music. The two singles were like we know him already, but first when I listened to the album I was very surprised. I don't think that his lyrics are weak or outdatet - he is always writing and maybe there are songs lingering in his mind for years - now ready to come out.
He said there is more of his heritage that influenced this album and I think he delivered well. I was waiting for a full Urdu song, but I really like the outcome of this record. I love Zayn for beeing experimental and not using a safetynet of things already worked out for him. He is a creative mind and I am truely impressed by his work. He has such a good feeling for emotions and transporting them through words and music... And of course his vocals are outstanding.
But that is my personal impression and not a professional look at mechanics or something like that. For me is more important what I feel when I listen to it... and I definitely feel a lot. And for me it is not necessary if he had already told us that he is heartbroken, bad for us or calling out our names. For me it is even more than just a repeatation of old feelings and situations. It is like therapy for me to listen to him... he makes me feel understood in some ways and that is what music should do. Music should make you feel something and Konnakol does that in so many ways.