Conor Maynard - Contrast
Artist: Conor Maynard
Album: Contrast
Label: Parlophone
Rating: 3/5
Connor Maynard is name on a whole lot of people’s lips. Ever since he broke out from his YouTube home, the Brighton teenager has had massive success, even beating Lana Del Ray to win MTV’s Brand New 2012 contest.
Now we’ve got Contrast, Maynard’s debut album, boasting collaborations with Ne-Yo, Rita Ora and Pharrell Williams, with the N.E.R.D man also producing the record.
With Pharrell even claiming that he “Will change the face of pop music”, Maynard’s first album has a lot to live up to.
Let’s get the easy points out of the way first. Conor Maynard is not the British Justin Bieber. That’s a compliment by the way.
While the comparisons with Justin Bieber are inevitable, Conor Maynard’s debut easily surpasses the Canadian singer’s freshman hit. Darker, more sinister and a whole lot more creative, Contrast feels more grown up than someone of Maynard’s age should be capable of producing.
Maynard’s vocal especially belies his age, with far more range and depth than a lot of other teenagers show.
It’s here, as well as the far cooler instrumental portions than make Maynard feel far closer to Justin Timberlake than anyone else.
Unfortunately Contrast feels like an album engineered for 2012 though. The obligatory radio friendly dubstep features frequently in the background, and its synth and sample heavy technological feel like they were custom made for ultimate relevancy.
Another misstep is that some of the records on the album are just a little too alike. Maybe not in instrumentation, but certainly in tone, far too often going down the traditional lothario route. When the album switches from its usual brashness is when it really grows wings though.
Both Glass Girl, and Mary Go Round are great change ups, but it’s the Frank Ocean penned Pictures that is easily the album’s highlight. Sensitive yet sweeping, it show’s Maynard and his highly skilled team in absolutely their best light.
While most of the album feels hugely overproduced, Contrast’s high outdo any lows and point to Conor Maynard possibly being more than just a teenage fad. Pharrell may have jumped the gun a little bit though.
Conor Maynard - Contrast is out August 30th
FemaleFirst Cameron Smith
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