Source: Official Album Artwork
Given the flourishing success of fun. and his feature on P!nk’s major hit ‘Just Give Me a Reason‘, it wasn’t long until Nate Ruess had a whole wave of admiration and expectation coming his way. Grand Romantic is the singer’s first solo effort, and as the title suggests, the record is nothing short of all things love and heartbreak.
On the one hand, the record is a platform for Ruess to let his booming vocals truly shine. He commands lead single ‘Nothing Without Love‘ to heavy percussion and a thumping piano melody, proving that he hasn’t brushed off the winning elements of ‘We Are Young‘ just yet. He commends love as the root to not only his record, but also his career and it makes for a crowd-pleasing anthem. The same goes for ‘Take It Back‘, a mid-tempo number which benefits from a classic eighties influence.
On the other hand, he doesn’t use his voice to his advantage. In ‘You Light My Fire‘, Ruess’ pitchy yelps are swarming in lyrics that are just as clichéd as the song’s title. To follow is a duet with Beck ‘What This World is Coming To‘, and although it sounds a winner in theory, the only vibe that comes across is country campfire, particularly when the opening lines of the chorus chant about getting high under the moonlight.
Of course if an album is titled Grand Romantic, piano balladry is essential. However, Ruess’ attempts ‘Moment‘ and the title track itself fare no better. Though you might see the lyrics as overtly personal, the singer comes across as excessively desperate: “I just wanted you so bad/I don’t know where I’m going/I don’t know who to trust anymore.” If Ruess is doing anything with this album, it’s almost as if he’s putting us off love rather than making it approachable.
However, things take a turn for the better with the album’s final piece ‘Brightside‘. In the end, Ruess finds himself wrapped in the arms of his beloved, and of course by using Paris as a setting, it seems he saves his most romantic until last.
Though Ruess has had his fair share of chart-topping glory, Grand Romantic sees the singer priorities creative control over commercial success. Though it might please a loved one, us listeners are offered a very little amount of tracks worthy of satisfying our appetites, therefore leaving us with an empty stomach.
