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Though Jessie J's 2013 album Alive had several singles enter the U.K. Top 40, it did little in the U.S. J followed the rather bland, ballad-heavy set with Sweet Talker, a collection of songs tailored to regain her footing as a pop star in the States. At the very least, the album is a lot more energetic than the misleadingly named Alive: filled with cameos by American artists as well as collaborations with A-list producers, Sweet Talker is the flashy opposite of what came before it. Sometimes the too-much-is-never-enough approach actually works: "Bang Bang," the Max Martin-produced hit single that presented J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj as a saucy girl group for the 2010s, goes so over the top with pop fizz that it demands listeners' attention. While it's arguable that Minaj's mile-a-minute rapping and 2014's pop It Girl Grande steal the show from Jessie, "Bang Bang" did get her back on the charts and on people's minds in the U.S. The rest of Sweet Talker doesn't quite capitalize on that hit's sound or momentum; recorded in just three weeks, it finds J trying as many sounds and styles as possible in the hope that something will stick. The album's second single, "Burnin' Up," nods to rap via a cameo by 2 Chainz and to EDM with strobing synths; elsewhere, she returns to P!nk-esque pop on "Masterpiece" and "Said Too Much," a decent riff on "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" and the brash attitude of her debut on "Ain't Been Done." Likewise, the album's ballads run the gamut from the pretty but repetitive "Personal" to the more overwrought territory of "Get Away" and "Fire," which ends up sounding more frantic than dramatic thanks to J's rushed delivery. A few moments on Sweet Talker balance the album's extremes: "Seal Me with a Kiss," which features De La Soul, channels "Bang Bang"'s sense of fun into playful retro-soul with hip-hop flair, while "Keep Us Together" opts for a more mature R&B pop sound that feels a lot less contrived than much of the album. While Sweet Talker's lack of a clear artistic voice makes it wildly uneven, it just might be loud enough to regain American listeners' attention.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
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David Gamson, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Galland, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ghazi Hourani, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Harris, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jessie J, MainArtist - Daniel Zaidenstadt, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Emily Warren, ComposerLyricist - Dave Rowland, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ike Schultz, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Tauheed Epps, ComposerLyricist - Jessica Cornish, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rickard Göransson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Brown, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jacob Kasher Hindlin, ComposerLyricist - Eric Frederic, ComposerLyricist - Jessie J, MainArtist - 2 Chainz, FeaturedArtist - Axident, Producer, Engineer, Programmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andreas Schuller, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Producer, Guitar, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Chloe Angelides, ComposerLyricist - Gamal “LunchMoney” Lewis, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Jessica Cornish, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Pentz, ComposerLyricist - Diplo, Producer - Chris Galland, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jessie J, MainArtist - Clément Picard, ComposerLyricist - Maxime Picard, ComposerLyricist - Yonatan Ayal, ComposerLyricist - Daniel Zaidenstadt, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Picard Brothers, Producer, Programmer - James Somani, ComposerLyricist - Ike Schultz, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Alessia Degasperis Brigante (Kai), ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Max Martin, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Savan Kotecha, ComposerLyricist - Taura Stinson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Joi Gilliam, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Onika Maraj, ComposerLyricist - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sam Holland, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Johan Carlsson, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rickard Göransson, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jonas Thander, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Minaj, MainArtist - Jessie J, MainArtist - Ilya, Producer, Programmer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ariana Grande, MainArtist - Paul Norris, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cory Bice, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Carlsson, Drums, Engineer, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Chonita Gillespie, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2014 Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Derrick McKenzie, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ivan McCready, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Richard George, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Humphries, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Booker, Producer, Mixer, String Arranger, Guitar, Percussion, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Gary Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fenella Barton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sophie Harris, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Tombling, Orchestra, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Parker, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Lale, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Cathy Thompson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Zielinski, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Barr, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Boguslav Kostecki, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Adrian Bradbury, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Bridget Carey, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Greg Warren Wilson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Joan Atherton, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Joy Hawley, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Laura Melhuish, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Payne, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sue Dench, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Audrey Riley, Conductor - Jon Hill, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kathy Gowers, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jessie J, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Newman, ComposerLyricist - Roland Roberts, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Clare Thompson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Zaidenstadt, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Arek Kopera, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Smit and Antonio Rizzello, Programmer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Galland, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - William Wiik Larsen, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jessie J, MainArtist - Elle Varner, ComposerLyricist - Jenna Andrews, Producer, Additional Producer, ComposerLyricist - Will IDAP, Producer - Ike Schultz, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Josh Alexander, Producer, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Roewe, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Galland, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jessie J, MainArtist - Daniel Zaidenstadt, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Britt Burton, ComposerLyricist - Emily Warren, ComposerLyricist - Ike Schultz, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Kelvin Mercer, ComposerLyricist - Philippe Wynn, ComposerLyricist - Jessica Cornish, ComposerLyricist - Warren Felder, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Donnie Meadows, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Tanisha Broadwater, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Clinton, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Wansel, ComposerLyricist - De La Soul, FeaturedArtist - Chris Galland, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jessie J, MainArtist - Oakwud, Producer - "Pop" Wansel, Producer - David Jolicouer, ComposerLyricist - Ike Schultz, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Pop and Oak, Unknown, Other
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Jason Evigan, ComposerLyricist - Jessica Cornish, ComposerLyricist - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - TONY MASERATI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jonas Jeberg, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Jessie J, MainArtist - Sean Douglas, ComposerLyricist - Daniel Zaidenstadt, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Rowland, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Christopher Stewart, ComposerLyricist - Terius Nash, Producer, Programmer, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Wuepper, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - C. "tricky" Stewart, Producer, Programmer - Pat Thrall, Engineer, Programmer, StudioPersonnel - Jordan Lewis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Galland, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jessie J, MainArtist - Brian "B-Luv" Thomas, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsey Stirling, FeaturedArtist - Ike Schultz, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Godz of Analog, Producer
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Louis Biancaniello, Producer, Programmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Cory Rooney, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Galland, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Courtney Harrell, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jessie J, MainArtist - Stephan Taft, ComposerLyricist - Sevyn Streeter, ComposerLyricist - Lifted, Producer, Programmer - Ike Schultz, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Vojtesak, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Wayne Hector, ComposerLyricist - Steve Mac, Producer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jessica Cornish, ComposerLyricist - Chris Laws, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Hanes, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Kuk Harrell, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jessie J, MainArtist - Dann Pursey, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Rowland, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
Album review
Though Jessie J's 2013 album Alive had several singles enter the U.K. Top 40, it did little in the U.S. J followed the rather bland, ballad-heavy set with Sweet Talker, a collection of songs tailored to regain her footing as a pop star in the States. At the very least, the album is a lot more energetic than the misleadingly named Alive: filled with cameos by American artists as well as collaborations with A-list producers, Sweet Talker is the flashy opposite of what came before it. Sometimes the too-much-is-never-enough approach actually works: "Bang Bang," the Max Martin-produced hit single that presented J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj as a saucy girl group for the 2010s, goes so over the top with pop fizz that it demands listeners' attention. While it's arguable that Minaj's mile-a-minute rapping and 2014's pop It Girl Grande steal the show from Jessie, "Bang Bang" did get her back on the charts and on people's minds in the U.S. The rest of Sweet Talker doesn't quite capitalize on that hit's sound or momentum; recorded in just three weeks, it finds J trying as many sounds and styles as possible in the hope that something will stick. The album's second single, "Burnin' Up," nods to rap via a cameo by 2 Chainz and to EDM with strobing synths; elsewhere, she returns to P!nk-esque pop on "Masterpiece" and "Said Too Much," a decent riff on "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" and the brash attitude of her debut on "Ain't Been Done." Likewise, the album's ballads run the gamut from the pretty but repetitive "Personal" to the more overwrought territory of "Get Away" and "Fire," which ends up sounding more frantic than dramatic thanks to J's rushed delivery. A few moments on Sweet Talker balance the album's extremes: "Seal Me with a Kiss," which features De La Soul, channels "Bang Bang"'s sense of fun into playful retro-soul with hip-hop flair, while "Keep Us Together" opts for a more mature R&B pop sound that feels a lot less contrived than much of the album. While Sweet Talker's lack of a clear artistic voice makes it wildly uneven, it just might be loud enough to regain American listeners' attention.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:47
- Main artists: Jessie J
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Lava Music - Republic Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC ℗ 2014 Republic Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc & Lava Music LLC
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