![]() ![]() ![]() Kyle you mentioned the sampling on "Like Mariah" - she personally came out as a fan of the track, a huge honor for the group. RM: I think the album is at its best when the group shows the most confidence and uses other role models as a way empowers others as in " BO$$" and " Brave Honest Beautiful." Pop culture references can go awry like in " Them Girls Be Like" referencing posting pictures on Instagram, "Do you ever post your pics with no filter / Hashtag I woke up like this too," but when they stick to pop icons, it fits with the overall theme of the album and elevates the songwriting to the upper echelon of pop. I wonder if they went into that part realizing that if done incorrectly it could sound somewhat cheesy. Even the sampling on "Like Mariah" was done rather well. None of it seemed forced, which is pretty impressive in my opinion. I thought it actually added quite a bit to the songs. The pop culture references on Reflection really didn't bother me. Two of those songs use these women strictly for female empowerment, and that's always been a great purpose of girl groups in the last 20 years (thanks, Spice Girls!). Obviously, the biggest "offenders" of this are " BO$$," " Like Mariah" and " Brave Honest Beautiful" with Meghan Trainor. On the other hand, I feel like the constant mentions of strong women in pop culture were well executed on Reflection, so I can't be mad at it. ![]() On one hand, constantly saying you're a boss like Michelle Obama or Beyonce really puts this album in 2015. Reflection represents their first step as girl group flag-bearers, something they acknowledge throughout the album with odes to their influences and predecessors.ĬM: I always have mixed feelings about pop culture references in pop music. Fifth Harmony are the first of their type as a prominent girl group in a decade and with that comes a lot of pressure to carry that storied pop tradition. Ryan Middleton: Though I may not have the same fondness for boy bands as you Carolyn, I do have a weak spot for a catchy hook and well-produced beat. There's no doubt that there is a talent within this group, and I think fans are going to look at this album in a very favorable way. While not being a record I'd choose to listen to outside of here, I will say that Reflection has some pretty standout tracks. After a listen, I would say Carolyn's thought is pretty accurate. Kyle Dowling: Unsurprisingly, I've never listened to Fifth Harmony before this Junk Mail. But there also seems like a lot of filler here. ![]() The highs (read: the singles) are bona fide #bangerz. Like most pop albums like this, my thought is kind of. Their fans, known as Harmonizers (and they're intense) are stoked about the release of this album, but does it live up to the hype? Feel free to join the conversation in the comments section, and check back next week for more.Ĭarolyn Menyes: Much like my fondness for boy bands, I have a soft spot for girl groups, which is why I'm sort of stoked that Fifth Harmony's debut album Reflection has finally dropped after way too many years and a fair share of album delays. This week, Carolyn Menyes, Kyle Dowling and Ryan Middleton chat about Fifth Harmony's new album Reflection. Welcome to Junk Mail, where a few Music Times staffers email back-and-forth about each week's biggest release throughout the work day. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |