When Leon Bridges released his first album “Coming Home” in 2015, it felt like putting on an old Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye record.
Nearly every song played so fine-tuned to the sound of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Bridges found an opening in soul music that was only ever so slightly filled by interludes on some modern albums.
Hailey Stewart | Argonaut
“Coming Home” felt like a good dose of nostalgia, without being too stuffy.
Bridges’ voice and lyrics were strong, but the album as a whole sounded just a bit too much like his predecessors.
So, in his newest album, Bridges cranked up the sound and added a bunch of extra spice. With the May release of “Good Thing,” listeners don’t miss out on the nostalgia of Cooke and Gaye. Instead, they are greeted by the old greats as well as more contemporary styles similar to Prince and Usher. And even though Bridges’ sound is incredibly similar to that of a ‘60s-era soul and jazz musician, he freshens up each track with a twist.
The 28-year-old artist from the South had a couple years under his belt to produce something with more oomph — an album in which he wasn’t tethered to any old singer or style.
In an unexpected intro, the first track on the album “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand” opens with a glittering mirage of bells, harps and strings. This song shows off Bridges’ impeccable sound and care for his R&B craft. His voice is smooth and silky against an even smoother and silkier backdrop.
Still, the opening track doesn’t stray far from his first album. It doesn’t scream new.
The new sound and slightly more daring attitude come in tracks like “If It Feels Good” and “You Don’t Know.” Both venture deeper into pop songs that Bridges has ever gone. But, they don’t sound like candy pop, they sound sophisticated — more developed than many of the obvious churned out pop songs of 2018.
The first of the two, “If It Feels Good,” sounds like a track straight out of Usher’s mind via 2004 — and in the best way possible. The throwback to early 2000s soul and pop music suits Bridges well. He pulls of the old school, meets only slightly old-school sound well.
“You Don’t Know” is an ode to Prince is more ways than just Bridges’ beautiful falsetto voice. The combination of synth and a strong bumping bass creates an early ‘80s sound that Prince would dive into. It’s disco without being overly dramatic.
It’s not the more adventurous side of Bridges that makes this album a strong second hit — it’s the lyrics and his ability to weave stories into his music.
The mellow vibe in “Beyond” creates a dreamy melody. Bridges voice illuminates the track and thoroughly showcases his strength in softness.
If it already isn’t. “Forgive You” really should be the anthem for broken and not-yet-mended hearts. It’s about tough, rough and near forgiveness that keeps love up at night. Now imagine Bridges crooning that sort of tune into the mic and you’ve got a hit.
This album shows Bridges can take on any sound and any old artist and make it his own. He’s a force to be reckoned with when it comes to storytelling through lyrics — a force that won’t soon slow down.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @Hailey_ann97