Calvin Harris - Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1

Calvin Harris
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
2017
Spotify

Calvin Harris is super easy to hate. 1. He's beautiful. 2. He's Rich 3. His success seems at times undeserved 4. He dates superstars. All these things are against him, all these things make me want to loathe this new record. Yet, despite all my jealousy Calvin Harris has delivered a record that in undeniable. For years it seemed like Calvin's talents were based solely in Pop-EDM and it was basic song after basic song that would end up being huge smashes. I'm sorry but "I Found Love in a Hopeless Place" just is not very good nor worth your time. But this album Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1 has Harris really flexing his producer chops and creating a total vibe album. 80s funk and boogie are front and center on this record, with DJ chops a plenty as A-Trak scratches up the end of "Prayers Up". This is pop funk, bright, sunny and light. This album feels like Harris took the pressure off, leaned back and started to enjoy himself. While the album is filled with hit maker collaborators they aren't as mainstream as Harris usually goes. Katy Perry and Ariana Grande are the only old school pop stars on the album with the rest of the album being filled with hip hop superstars. It's a risk, but one that pays off. The thirst for nostalgia is just right for this album to shine best. "Slide" the lead single really encapsulates this sound best allowing Frank Ocean and Migos to play with a sound that they may never have had an opportunity otherwise.

"Skrt" is Harris' best example of making a star shine. Nicki Minaj plays almost two different characters singing the hook then coming in with bars towards the end of the tune. It shifts from this fun caribbean dance jam into this sort of aggressive beat which Nicki simply kills. Yet there are things that don't work as well; "Feels" is really pretty bad until Big Sean's verse which is inspired,  and Katy Perry's chorus is just fucking stupid. Future also absolutely ruins "Rollin", using some of his most confusing delivery as Khalid just soars in his parts. Kehlani and Lil Yachty also bring an odd energy to their track punctuated by a Yachty adlib at the end. yet even with these the record is still a step forward in dance music. Calvin Harris took a risk with this record, He could have sat back and counted his money but instead He decided to press forward and really try something different. If this is Calvin Harris' breakup record then lets hope he dates and breaks up with a bunch more pop stars in the very near future. This shit bangs.

8.8 out of 10