Don’t get this much. Seems I’m not alone.
The second album from wunderkind jazz duo Domi & JD Beck, has sparked a debate among fans online. Have a look at some of the conversations on Reddit and you will see what I mean. Following the deserved applause that greeted their 2022 debut, Not Tight, expectations were sky high. Yet reactions to this new one range from dramatic groans of disappointment to cheers for the pair’s cheeky experimental streak.
The main sticking point for most is the overwhelming avalanche of vocals and not particularly great ones at that. Whereas their debut relied on dizzying instrumental gymnastics and a star-studded cast of guest mates, this new release finds the two putting their own heavily autotuned vocals front and centre on almost every single track. For a large chunk of the audience, it’s a creative swerve that slightly misses the mark. Listeners have complained that the singing feels a bit monotone, effectively smearing a dollop of beige paint over their signature bonkers keyboard skills and complex drumming. With the tracks blurring together into a bit of a haze, plenty of disgruntled fans are already begging for a vocal-free version.
Still, amid the chatter of a classic second album slump, a few brave souls have stepped up to defend the record’s stubborn refusal to play it safe. These fans reckon the album shouldn’t be judged on standard pop-jazz rules or whether it has catchy, hummable tunes. Instead, they see the vocals as just another quirky instrument thrown into the mix – a bit like modern classical music disguised as jazz fusion. Jazz Emu without the comedy. They are showering praise on the album’s massive drum sound, harmonic bravery, and the pair’s refusal to just churn out another guest heavy, playlist friendly record.
