By: James Southworth
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Out of all the big figures in the pop industry that have huge recognition, Mark Ronson is one that I am glad has so much acclaim. He deserves the praise he gets more than a lot of the pop artists out there. I've always felt he has distinctive way of making pop that is accessible but not appealing to just the lowest common denominator. In fact, a big hit like "Uptown Funk" (legitimately one of the best mainstream songs of the decade) proves that he can make something that has impact beyond just the present. The way he creates his music makes it feel relevant for the time, but also something that I feel people can return to years in the future. Not everything he makes is a masterpiece, but I respect that he is dedicated to making music that is meant for more than just Hot 100 appeal. This is definitely the case for his newest album "Late Nate Feelings", which has Ronson giving an honest look into the nature of breakups while utilizing all women vocalists.
In talking about this album, Ronson described it as a collection of "sad bangers". The album cover cleverly reflects the sentiment, with the glamour of a disco-shaped heart being juxtaposed by the heart being torn in to. The album as a whole reflects the sentiment of that picture repeatedly. Sound-wise, this album can often be lightly upbeat, but lyrically its rather sad. However, it conceptually doesn't delve into hopelessness entirely. It still is rather frank about Ronson's feelings about break-ups. His sentiments come across legitimately because of his roster of vocalists who are, for the most part, dedicated to bringing that emotion to fruition. This is almost instantly evident with the title track, which is quite stellar. It does a good job at setting the pace for this album. The subtle electronics and pulsating beat make you lightly bob your head along. This sound also creates a somewhat foreboding atmosphere, along with Lykke Li's mysterious vocal cadences. The chorus of this cut stands out particularly well, and it's easy for it to get into your head only after a couple listens. This track is definitely one the biggest highlights of the album for me. I've never found Camila Cabello to be a particularly compelling vocalist in the pop scene, but I actually really enjoy what she brings to the album's second single "Find U Again". This song boasts some absolutely pristine production qualities. Cabello does a great job at letting her vocals go to places that they didn't go in her own solo album. As is typical of this album, this track has a great hook that makes it seem like its should have huge success on Billboard. Unfortunately it did not stay on the Hot 100 for very long at all. I've never heard of King Princess before this album, but I might be curious to hear more of her music upon hearing the cut "Pieces of Us". This song is lyrically one of the more gut-wrenching songs of the album, as the break-up depicted here is one that was shattered to the point where both of their hearts seem like they're beyond repair. Princess's vocals help in bringing across a certain vulnerability in this track.
A great collection of three songs comes from YEBBA, which all feel like they are conceptually related. I think she may be my favorite vocalist on the album (though she doesn't have my favorite song on this release). I really like the soulfulness in her voice; her vocal performance here is quite stellar. You can feel the desperation in her voice on "Don't Leave Me Lonely", which feels more like a cry for help than a confident command. Ronson's own sense of hopelessness is mirrored in the plaintively honest lyrics and YEBBA's increasing vocal intensity. My favorite cut on the whole album comes in the lead single "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart". Did I expect a song with Miley Cyrus to blow me away? No, I certainly did not. I'm not the biggest fan of Miley, and it's mainly because I've never been fond on her vocal style. But something about this song made me look at her differently. Musically, this song feels huge in almost every way. The way the swelling strings clash with the electronic beats and acoustic guitar creates a interesting intersection of different genres. This song is passionately country and passionately pop at the same time. It sounds like it shouldn't work, but it does. The song is shamelessly catchy in the way a pop song is, but Miley's voice has a raw twang to it that you would find in a conventional country cut. It works because it's so creative and interesting. The lyrics are very to the point, which I think is fitting for this track: "This world can hurt you/It cuts you deep and leaves a scar/Things fall apart, but nothing breaks like a heart". After this song, the album does fall off ever so slightly, but it does end on a very positive note with the gorgeous track "Spinning". I love the way this song vocodes Ilsey's voice to create this spacey and beautiful atmosphere. This song is a bit more hopeful than the other cuts here, which I think was a nice relief. I also appreciate that Ronson rounded out his album's loose concept by putting the lyrics "on and on" here again (like in the title track). It seems to indicate that this break-up he went through will always be something he has to mentally deal with, and there's a sense of acceptance for that reality here.
Like I hinted in my previous paragraph, this album does fall off in quality after "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart". I don't necessarily hate any song here, but there were several that felt just forgettable. This is especially true of "True Blue". Angel Olsen's vocals here are pretty, but that's about all the song has. Otherwise, it doesn't quite justify its nearly six-minute run-time, feeling rather aimless and uninteresting. I didn't really feel much emotional depth out of this song. The same goes for both "Why Hide" and "2 AM", which are tracks that leave my brain almost as soon as I am done listening to them. Nothing about them makes them distinctive enough to really stick out. The only song on this album I may actually dislike is "Truth". Something about The Last Artful Dodgr's voice just doesn't work for me. It started to grind on my nerves after listening to this album for the fourth time. I can't see myself returning back to it ever again.
Overall, I really enjoy Mark Ronson's "Late Night Feelings". It certainly stands high among its pop contemporaries. I predict this album will go severely underrated because it's not going with the big mainstream tide right now. But, I think people will still appreciate it. If you haven't heard the album yet, I definitely recommend it! Though, it's not perfect it is a fun release, and "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" is one of the best songs of the year!
Favorite Songs: "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart", "Late Night Feelings", "Don't Leave Me Lonely", "Spinning", "Find U Again"
Least Favorite Songs: "Truth", "True Blue", "2 AM"
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