Many new artists have been making a splash on the music scene and a splash on my blog, and another in that group is English electro pop artist, Frankmusik (aka Vincent Turner). After releasing his debut album in the UK back in 2009, the pop mastermind has returned with his second full length album titled Do It in the AM, which was actually released in the US on September 27th. The album differs from the sound of his previous effort, but still sticks with the up-tempo, pop music that he has come to craft so well. Preceded by three singles, “The Fear Inside”, the title track, and “No I.D.”, the album is a fresh approach on a genre that has dried up from all the generic material released in the last year or two.
The thirteen track album begins with “We Collide”, which quickly supports Frankmusik’s statements that the album is something completely new and different compared to his debut. The song contains a strong pop vibe that will please any lover of the genre, but there are hints of creativity and uniqueness when it comes to progression and production. It is a good start; however, the writing could have been perfected. The artist calls on fellow label mate Colette Carr for help with current single, “No I.D.”. The track is a cute love duet between the two artists who show some noticeable vocal chemistry which helps the song flow without a stumble. The track is still hardcore pop, but done in a way that is not currently being explored on the mainstream side of the genre. Fans got a second helping of the new project when the title track was released. “Do It in the AM feat. Far East Movement” is a nice club track that deals with everything that comes with a night on the town. The song is done very well, all the vocals featured complement each other the best that they could, but I feel that the artist created the song to earn a hit and did not focus on quality. One of the greatest moments on the album comes from “No Champagne” featuring fellow label mate- and one of my recent obsessions- Natalia Kills. Just seeing the collaboration on the track list got me excited and I am glad to say that the song did not disappoint. The track takes the form of a ballad, a beautiful one at that, which showcases the immense talent that Cherrytree Records has under their belt. On “Footsteps”, the song starts off soft and slow then changes direction and tone very quickly once the chorus begins. The track progresses while balancing both tempos very successfully without seeming to get lost in its own production. Frankmusik’s vocals are some to be commended and they are allowed to shine here. The song may not have much meat to it, but what it has is nothing but great. The first taste of the new album came in the form of promotional single, “The Fear Inside”, a track that honestly did not impress me as much as his debut did. The verses sort of get forgotten, they do not provide anything really special or memorable, which is what I was expecting from the artist. What makes the song enjoyable and worth a listen is the chorus which does contains a catchy beat. The album continues with “Wrecking Ball”, an addictive pop cut that is just screaming to get remixed over and over again. The woman of Frankmusik’s dreams is ripping him apart piece by piece, but he seems to like coming back for more. The chorus is music gold, and even though the song may repeat itself too many times, I will let it slide since the track is so damn good.
The second half of the effort kicks off with “Running”. The artist proclaims that he is poison on the upbeat track which features stammering vocals that hide the true talent that I want to hear. The song did not impress me much because I feel that the artist was not really singing at all. The beat is nice, reminds me of a Justin Timberlake track, but that is the only positive aspect I could point out. “Brake Lights” may be one of the shortest songs on the album, but it does pack a powerful punch. The track gives details to a past relationship that seems not to have turned out so well while fast paced beat supports the lyric being sung. After a quick musical breakdown, the song’s pace gets amped up a bit more which keeps it from becoming an ordinary pop track. A more dance-orientated approach is taken with “Struck by Lightning”, a track that shows the sweet, romantic side of the artist. Frankmusik is able to hit some very impressive notes throughout which prove he needs to be taken serious within the music industry. The song contains some similarities to preceding tracks, but the delivery allows it to stand out from the rest, which intrigued me. The artist tells the story of a fragile woman on “Ludicrous”. The song succeeds to a certain extent because of the songwriting present on the track, but other pieces could have been perfected to make the song truly amazing. The track’s verses are well-written and sung, but the hook falls a little flat and does not provide anything interesting which is a real disappointment. Not bad, just average. Things get a little explicit on “Blame It on Me”, the only track that carries the warning on iTunes. The track relies on a very repetitive chorus where the artist stutters through it, an aspect that I do not know if I should enjoy or hate. Some parts may become a little annoying at times, but overall the song is a well-crafted piece of work with some vulgarity thrown in for good measure. The experimental album closes out with “Cut Me Down”, a track where the artist throws out the loud beats and production in order to let his voice do the job on this heartfelt ballad. To me, the song is a great way to finish the project, it was the raw moment that I was waiting for and Frankmusik did not disappoint. The material, the vocals, and everything in between, come together nicely to provide a pleasant final moment.
Do It in the AM is a great pop album by an artist who is changing things up for the genre. Frankmusik has crafted an album that sets itself apart from his debut in a good way. The artist was able to perfect his sound, experiment with his amazing vocals, and put together a cohesive piece of work that tells the audience exactly what kind of artist he is. The album begins strong with some unique and interesting collaborations, keeps its momentum for a bit, but then sadly loses some energy towards the end. However, the album as a whole is one that will have people craving more from the artist. For showcasing a unique and different perspective on pop, great vocals, and some amazing tracks, the album receives an 85%.
Tracks to Hear: “No I.D.”, “No Champagne” and “Wrecking Ball”
Be sure to support this wonderful artist by buying his second studio album on Amazon now!
04. No Champagne (feat. Natalia Kills)
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