Jason Derulo - Everything is 4

Jason Derulo
Everything is 4
2015

What do you expect when you listen to a pop R&b singer these days? EDM hooks, bass drops, contrived lyrics, false enthusiasm; probably all of that. That's why when someone actually tries something new something mildly bold its quite refreshing. Justin Timberlake did it with Future Sex, Jason Derulo is trying to do it Everything is 4. While this album is not as avant garde or potentially successful as Future Sex it does have moments that transcend what Derulo has done in the past. "Try Me" is a really interesting song musically until Jennifer Lopez comes in and brings it back down to just a mediocre track. It seems like Derulo knows he can really do something with this record, but the label wants to make sure there are some "stars" backing him up, obviously not the case. Let the man be him, regardless of what that may produce.

This album is at times right on the peak of being something really special and then at other times pure Pop fluff. But the writing is on the wall that perhaps Derulo is no longer interested in just making club bangers or singing hooks, but rather taking risks and making important music. The track "Trade Hearts" featuring Julia Michaels is a prime example of really stretching and making a heartfelt rich song, but then you listen to "Broke" with Stevie Wonder and Keith Urban and you wonder what the hell is going on? Looking at Everything is 4 you see that Derulo is taking a step in the right direction. He is moving away from mediocrity and towards something different, something better. You can't look at this album as a failure or triumph, instead it is a swing and his next releases will show if it was a hit or a miss.

6 out of 10