Rating: A
Zara Larsson has been churning pop hits since 2013, when songs like the Pop/R&B ballad ‘Uncover’ reached number one on the Swedish charts and became a minor European hit. After a few platinum and gold hits (‘Carry You Home’, ‘Rooftop’, ‘She’s Not Me’) under her belt in her home country, she made sure her next move became conquering international territories – and with certainty.
Larsson’s debut showcases insane growth from her debut, and while she may only be 19 years of age, this pop journey is getting ready to be unfold and told to all.
The album’s intro track ‘What They Say’ introduces the lush production of UK producer MNEK, who also helped her achieve her first multi-platinum hit in the United States with ‘Never Forget You’, the drum and bass inspirational number. But it was ‘Lush Life’ that became her gold key to international chart stardom and gave her an identity among her other young counterparts such as Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato. Garnering vocal comparisons to Barbados singer Rihanna, the swift vocal inflections in songs like this and ‘Ain’t My Fault’ highly piqued the interest of many listeners internationally. It may have not exploded state side (should have) – but it gave her an enormous appeal in European territories (like the U.K. – where she became the first Swedish artist to bear a 2x Platinum hit).
Jamaican influenced and borrowed ‘I Would Like’, samples a late 90’s appeal to dancehall crossover ‘Dat Sexy Body’ by Sasha featuring the Queen of Reggaeton, Ivy Queen, while tracks like ‘So Good’ showcase her urban flagged vocals brightly and well.
‘Make That Money Girl’ is the albums empowerment crowned song, ensuring the listener that you to can become the next president and take the next throne as a Queen and halt the bored off and continued male-dominated political escapade.
But, it’s the albums vocal and partial-EDM ballads (‘I Can’t Fall In Love Without You’, ‘Symphony‘) that lets you clearly see the light of potential Larsson has to grow into a multi-faceted and beloved pop star of our current time. So Good is a portrayal of millennial pop at its best – all around influenced with sounds of House, R&B and tiny packets of Soul. She’s got the charisma and the vocal chops – so call this album what you may, this is the “Real Introduction of Zara Larsson, Part I”.