Calvin Harris has been around for a long time and he's made hit after hit with countless artists, from Haim to Big Sean. He has his very own signature sound that mimics 90s dance club tracks mixed with heavy dubstep drops that are commonly found at music festivals to jumping crowds.
18 Months and Motion were two albums that shared similarities in sound and production, but with Bounces, Harris is trying a new thing. A new thing that works, especially for the summertime. He was strategic in choosing who he wanted to collaborate this time around. Instead of the usual Rihanna or Ellie Goulding guest spots, he reached out to other artists that are currently relevant, like Frank Ocean, Migos, and Katy Perry. He also got lesser-known artists on the rise, such as Kehlani, Khalid, and Jessie Reyez. The 10 tracks that make up Bounces is something you can play at a hot pool party, a chill kickback, or on your own secluded island if you have one of those.
The albums definitely has more hits than misses, which suggests that it may be his best album so far, but that's not the case. However, itmay not be fair to compare this one with the rest of his discography since it kind of falls underneath another genre that can only be described as "tropical disco" that almost falls into Kygo's territory. Either way, it's still a strong album even though its sound is way laid back. There's no doubt that "Slide" is the summer jam, but there are other contenders, such as the crazy collaboration on "Feels" or "Heatstroke". Kehlani shines on the key track "Faking It" that you almost forget about Lil Yachty's stupid verse. A-Trak's DJ scratches, though short, are impressive on "Prayers Up" and you don't really have an album unless you feature Future or Khalid, both of whom can be found on "Rollin".
All in all, the title of the album perfectly describes what his album is. It's funky, wavy, and bouncy. Here's to hoping the "Vol." part really does mean there's at least a second one in the works because this is a sound fans have really gotten behind. ★★★½
★★★★★ Classic | ★★★★ Excellent | ★★★ Good | ★★Fair | ★ Poor
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