Album Review

Travie McCoy – Lazarus

• 13th Sep 2010

So, if you have been following Katy Perry’s pop career then your sure to know that she was one time in love with this very man. However as I’m sure everyone is aware that didn’t pan out and she is now with the settled down ladies man Russell Brand. This has clearly affected Travie as he gets all his angst and pains over the break up out of his system on this record. This is not a bad thing, not at all! The best records are made from personal break ups that occur in the lyricists life. This is definitely one of them at least in the hip hop world. It’s smooth when it wants to be, it’s angry when it needs to be, it’s ‘fuck you, I don’t care’ as well as being vulnerable.

Opening track is testimony to the last of the above list of adjectives exploring the pain that has brought him to ‘Dr Feel Good’ the feel of this track is complimented by ‘Need You’ which is the most heartfelt track on this album and includes a wonderfully angry ‘I want to get over this’ attitude.

Debut single released from this album ‘Billionaire’ is the most ‘I don’t care what’s happened I’m still going to be better than the rest’ on the album and includes the beautiful sounds of Bruno Mars’ voice, who will be supporting Travie on his UK travels.

My favourite track on this record has to be ‘Akidagain’ . It’s chorus reminds me of Jay Z’s famous track ‘Hard Knock Life’ purely because it’s sung by kids. This reminiscent track beautifully describes a blissful childhood and how everything was simpler then.

All in all the this album is a beautiful description of how love can affect us mere men too.

The musical style shares it’s ethos with Travie’s previous band Gym Class Heroes that uses instruments instead of over tracks of pre-made beats.