Mark Ronson has put together an unusual collection of steamy, jazz-infused tracks on his latest venture,Uptown Special. In fact, it’s hard to believe that this album was recorded this decade, with its cheesy synths and funk guitar that would fit in well anywhere from the ’70s to the ’90s.
While ‘Uptown Funk’ has proven ripe for commercial success, the rest of the album is not quite so formulaic. Though repetitive lyrics and themes are evident throughout the album, the musical styles are temperamental, changing from track to track. ‘Feel Right’ is perhaps the most unusual and energetic song, featuring a stunning performance by Mystikal as MC, with seemingly endless sass.
‘Leaving Los Feliz’ also embarks on a clever lyrical motif that sets a club scene and creates a sense of continuity, which is maintained over three tracks starring the almost unrecognisable vocals of Andrew Wyatt from Miike Snow. Meanwhile, Ronson’s collaborations with Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker add colour, but sometimes Parker’s echoey vocals can cause the tracks to drag.
Uptown Special transports the listener to another decade of dance and dreaming, but its strange mix of tracks leaves the album feeling slightly lopsided.
3/5.
Uptown Specialis out now throughSony.
