The Daily Spin, August 4

Jacob Collier | Djesse, Volume 2

Welcome back to the Daily Spin, the series in which I review 365 albums during 2023. 

Each album will be given a rating on a scale from 0 to 10. You can look at the entire set here. Additionally, you can check out a list of my favorite song from each album right here.

Album: Djesse, vol. 2 (2019)

Artist: Jacob Collier

Link: 

 

Like many second steps in trilogies or tetralogies, Djesse vol. 2 has the unfortunate fate of being a little quieter, a little less flashy, a little easier to sleep on and forget. Over time, though, we’ve seen enough sequels stand alone by themselves to make clear that they’re worth looking at - not every sequel is going to be a Cars 2 type of situation, and that remains clear here.

While volume 1 was full of those bombastic moments, Collier clearly trying to demonstrate his competency in every single genre he’d ever heard of at once in one six-minute song time and time again, volume 2 feels a lot more like the work of a man growing that comfort with the studio and stage in tandem. There are leaps and bounds in the pacing of the album - and yes, it still runs a little long, but the ebb and flow is managed much more artfully.

The slower pace of this album is a welcome change - it’s hard to run one song at the intensity that much of volume 1 went at, let alone eight or nine, while volume 2 instead takes a lo-fi approach almost universally to great effect. Collier is allowed to shine through his impeccable arrangements, but instead of them being chaotic to the point of pain, it instead feels far more intentional, the surest sign of Collier’s confidence.  

Rating: 8.9/10

Best Tracks: It Don’t Matter; Time To Rest Your Weary Head

Worst Tracks: I Heard You Singing; Dun Dun Ba Ba