Album Review: Pharrell Williams – ‘GIRL’

Pharrell Williams’ severely anticipated second studio album, (it’s been a long eight years eh guys?), ‘GIRL’ seems to behold magical powers. One listen, like the wave of a wand, appears to instil happiness in any listener. With its feel-good Dance-Pop, R&B and Funk, this could be set to be one of 2014s top albums. With few contenders able to match Pharrell’s ability to whack a smile on a music lover’s face, this could be THE album of the year in the Pop charts, with it already reaching number one.

“Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof!” This is the uplifting track of the year, originally used on the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, ‘Happy’ is the perfect mood enhancer. With its funky climbing jazz chords on guitar, bop-along symbol beats and infectious sing-a-long lyrics, it had kids and their folks dancing out of the cinema last year. With its catchy, spirit lifting abilities, it isn’t hard to see why the track was included on the album, or why it was chosen as the leading single.

Teaming up with modern king of Pop, Justin Timberlake, on ‘Brand New’ the good feeling persists. “You’ve got me feeling brand new, like the tags still on me!” the pair sing in a high tenor range that causes giddy goose bumps. The fun lyrics dance over jazzy tones again, with an element of brass band. But Jazz and Soul are brought into the 21st Century with the pace of Pop and R&B.

‘Know Who You Are’, sees a pairing with the empowering Alicia Keys. “Bad day, at work,” spits Williams over jazzy guitar, “smile honey, no stress.” Pharrell certainly seems to be telling us to look on the bright side of life. And with ‘GIRL’ as life’s soundtrack, it isn’t hard to see it.