It's Music Monday and have I got some delicious new pop for you! Since impressing me with a free download of his "debut" album 8Bit Heart back in 2010, Simon Curtis, the Boy Robot, has released another treat for his fans... and it's completely FREE!
Unleashed under the name of WWW (not sure what that means exactly), the new eight-track project is crammed with unreleased dance material Curtis was working on for the last two years, following the critically-acclaimed, still-one-of-the-best-pop-albums-ever, R∆. However, it seems that the artist's sound and inspiration may have changed, seeing the way he talks about his upcoming official single and how this new album represents the end of the Robot era... say it isn't so Simon!
If the sexy, titillating 90s-laced, Britney Spears-serving cover art is any indication toward the music on the album, it is safe to say we are in for a full-fledged, sweaty pop ride. Shall we dive in?
The new effort opens up with "Heart In 2", a track Curtis premiered at a Pride event over a year ago. It may be over 16 months old, but the infectious pop song has the same effect it did during its live performance debut. Thank God! "You will never break my heart in two, use to crumble, baby now I'm through", he sings before the dance-ready production kicks in to give the indie artist another huge hit in his impressive catalog.
"Neon Lights", not to be confused with Demi Lovato's upcoming single of the same name, is simply a party anthem to crank up when you're out painting the town red. Lyrically, it is not a complicated pop track packed with innuendos and metaphors, it gets its message across with a radio-friendly vibe and interesting dance production. It's short, it's simple, it's fun, what's not to like?
Along with "Heart In 2", Curtis also teased fans with "Diamonds on the Dancefloor", a track I was not too fond of when it first came out. The artist's vocals are impressive as always, but I feel the song sounds just like other dance offerings on the radio right now. Every time the hook comes up, I'm expecting to hear Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven Is a Place on Earth", but never fully get what I want from the three-minute track.
Featured on ABC Family's Twisted (does anyone know what that show was even about?), "Meteor" is a fist-pumping, electro-pop song that I'm sure dozens of reigning pop princesses wished they would have recorded. This is the type of music that would quickly get Curtis the recognition and attention he truly deserves. The soaring, love-at-first-sight track is insanely catchy and a bit reminiscent of Nicki Minaj's "Pound the Alarm". Love it.
With a 90s house-inspired intro, "Berlin Wall" ultimately becomes a fast-paced, hard-hitting, rap-like effort which quickly transforms into an up-tempo dance track which is more in line with Curtis' comfort zone. "Gonna start a revolution tonight", Curtis screams on the chorus before the energy of the empowerment anthem gets turned up a few notches. There's a lot of influences presented on the song, it's sort of chaotic, but it works beautifully.
"Fight For Your Life" is another powerful, encouraging, get-your-guns-up, dance track supported by dancefloor-ready production which sounds as if it came from the minds of today's top DJs. Curtis calls for a war, controlling all the dance floors in the world, as his charming vocals remain the highlight despite the loud synths and background beats. The song is good, it's not the best cut off the project, just a fun piece.
The heavy, pulsating basslines are loud and defined on "Satellite", as the soft intro may have hinted at something a bit different. At just two minutes in length, the track tries to accomplish a lot during the short amount of time it has to shine through the speakers, it kind of succeeds. It's only downfall is just when you think it is about to take off, maybe through the galaxy, it's quickly comes to a close. Sadness.
The new music concludes with "Do I Have To Dance", which really seems to be two, separate, near-perfect tracks fused into one. While the spotlight shines down on Curtis' show-stopping vocals on the first half, the second half soars thanks to the infectious production that deserves its own laser light show. The artist has created a moody, darker, dance environment with the closing track and it may be one of the most intriguing new efforts. This comes from an artist who breathes originality!
WWW is not a true, cohesive album. It is more of a look back into the vault of past, unreleased Simon Curtis gems. Like fans finally found the treasure they had been desperately searching for the past two years. Following the fresh sound Curtis presented on his last two full length albums, it seemed he has about to give fans an extra helping of uptempo dance/pop tracks to sweat on the dancefloor to. With recent talks of the Robot era conclusion, the artist may be taking his music down a different route. As a loyal fan, I'm ready for whatever he's about to dish out. The free project showcases Simon's still-flawless vocals, fun beats, and a love for the pop genre. Now to blast these until the next full album! Great work Simon!
Tracks to Hear: "Heart In 2", "Meteor", "Berlin Wall" and "Do I Have To Dance"
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