Jesusfreakhideout.com: Jordan Feliz, "Future" Review

JFH Music Review

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Jordan Feliz
Future

Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Pop / Soul
Album length: 13 tracks: 42 minutes, 57 seconds
Street Date: March 23, 2018

READER RATING:

When Jordan Feliz dropped onto the Christian music scene in the summer of 2017, his arrival was like a breath of fresh air. Eschewing the more staid, custom-fitted-for-the-congregation aesthetic favored by the majority of his Top 40 contemporaries, Feliz opted for a decidedly looser, funkier and, truth be told, whole lot catchier, brand of pop than that with which most radio dwellers were acquainted. Fans of his superbly syncopated previous effort will find more than enough of that same soulful groove-laden material to tide them over until the next release drops. And those who have yet to discover the California native's winsome syncopated stylings would do well to pick up his latest album post haste.

Purists may balk at the fact that there isn't much diversity on the record, thanks to the relentlessly mid-tempo rhythms, hand-clapped percussion and root-to-second chord-change structures that stretch, for the most part, from start to finish across the length of the proceedings. But, really, once the average listener makes it to, say, the ten-minute mark, that similarity actually begins to work as a sort of an advantage, lending the album an almost hypnotic cohesiveness that's hard to fault and even harder to resist.

To be sure, once the last song is finished, more than a few hearers will find themselves immediately reaching for the play button to treat themselves to a second spin. Admittedly not quite as eclectic as the last outing, Feliz's new undertaking has it topped in terms of accessibility, making both projects required listening for anyone with even a modest appreciation for uplifting, impeccably-performed pop.

- Review date: 3/29/18, written by Bert Gangl of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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JFH Staff's Second Opinion

Jordan Feliz exploded onto the scene a few years back with The River and won legions of fans with his soulful vocals and well-crafted, catchy pop songs. A songwriter and performer in the mold of recent Super Bowl performer Justin Timberlake, Feliz has the same sort of rugged charm and flair for the dramatic. But unlike Timberlake's recent album, Feliz's Future is listenable, likable and quality all the way through.

"Witness" kicks off the pop affair with a high-test Gospel number that uses both electronic and organic rhythms (check out those African djembe drums in the verses) and makes use of an old Southern church expression in a clever turn-of-phrase. As a first single, and album lead-off, the bouncy, soulful "Witness" is a great choice. Second track "Count That High" continues the soulful R&B flow, with a song that celebrates the endless blessings of the Lord and features a fantastic falsetto vocal. Other highlights include the rhythmically stuttering "Streets Of Gold," the 70's disco groove of the title track, and the driving, pulsating "My Shelter." The ending "Blank Canvas" is a great album closer, weaving its central metaphor into a moving ballad about the grace of "the master artist."

Future makes a great case that just because an album is "pop" and sonically up-to-date (everything here sounds radio-ready for 2018), doesn't have to mean it is vacuous and artistically lacking. Like fellow label mates Unspoken and Lauren Daigle, Feliz's brand of pop is both easy on the ears and good for the soul. Don't be fooled by the neon lights on the cover, if you dig down deep on Future, there is real heart and soul underneath all those beats (and that great big hat).
- Review date: 3/19/18, written by Alex Caldwell

JFH Staff's Additional 2 Cents

Jordan Feliz is back with his second full-length album since he first burst onto the CCM scene with hit songs "Beloved" and "The River." His sophomore release, Future, a reference to the popular Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, is instantly captivating with irresistible melodies, silky smooth vocals from Feliz, and lyrics purely focused on Jesus. The album tends to gravitate towards familiar lyrics and conventional pop structures, but within that framework Feliz soars. Give Future a try if you are looking for something to put a smile on your face and be encouraged by faith-based lyrics. Highlights include "Faith," "Streets of Gold," and "Changed." - 3/19/18 Christopher Smith