As a whole, This is the Deluxe Vesion of The Lucky Ones by The Pentatonix (mp3/zip), stream and download effortlessly this new pop album. Though the pop album is undoubtedly authentic, it’s an unfortunate example of how authenticity isn’t always equivalent to creativity. Relatively few of the album’s 11 tracks stand out as noteworthy — essentially, if you’ve heard one Pentatonix song before, it’s not very difficult to imagine how this album sounds.
What the album lacks in lyricism, however, is redeemed significantly by rather seamless production. Pentatonix sings with a level of mastery that only a decade of true unified dedication can bring: The group’s marvelous vocals coalesce naturally, smoothly gliding and intertwining with radiant clarity. Long sighs and deep breaths on “Side” echo and resonate, and Kevin Olusola (vocal percussion) and Matt Sallee (bass) wonderfully mimic string pizzicato on the titular track. While The Lucky Ones’ musical composition isn’t quite as ambitious as previous projects, the production is still remarkably well-executed.
Pentatonix’s dynamism shines through most on the track “Never Gonna Cry Again,” featuring a bold chorus reminiscent of the group’s popular Daft Punk medley. This compelling song considers the mental effects of internet fame, and here, honestly exploring insecurity helps The Lucky Ones edge a little closer to success. Two of the more well-written songs on the album also offer looks into inhibition, though in the context of heartache: “Exit Signs” and “It’s Different Now” spotlight sincere performances from mezzo-soprano Kirsten Maldonado.
Pentatonix is known for excelling at covering pop hits, creatively twisting tracks to make them its own. Crafting original songs is an understandably more difficult feat, and Pentatonix just falls short of reaching its full potential on The Lucky Ones. Passion comes on almost a little too strongly in the oddly out-of-place “Love Me When I Don’t” and “Bored.” Elsewhere, “Coffee In Bed” pulls off its catchy melody, but the melodrama of the chorus doesn’t quite complement the lackluster lyric “When you get too in your head/ I’ll bring you coffee in bed.”
“Happy Now,” however, is one of the few songs where heavy repetition surprisingly feels more natural than pedestrian. A warm amalgamation of hesitant joy and lively gratitude, the hopeful song outlines the journey to find inner peace. Each verse builds steady momentum, piecing together palpable self-doubt with the persistent lyric “Is it illegal to move on without you?/ Am I allowed to when I’m without you?/ … Am I happy now?”
And the answer to this question lies in “The Lucky Ones.” Exuding gratitude and invoking nostalgia, the song beautifully reflects on Pentatonix’s career with not just confidence but modesty and joy. Serving as both the record’s titular and final track, “The Lucky Ones” is a strong ending to an uneven but genuine album.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, Pentatonix tends to play it safe instead of playing to its strengths. While The Lucky Ones isn’t the quintet’s most creative or memorable project, this collection of feel-good pop songs has just enough heart to be an enjoyable listen.
Tracklist
- Happy Now
- Love Me When I Don’t
- Coffee In Bed
- Be My Eyes
- A Little Space
- Side
- Bored
- Exit Signs
- Never Gonna Cry Again
- It’s Different Now
- The Lucky Ones
- Midnight In Tokyo
- Easy Love
- Anchor
- Petals
- You’re Out
- A Little Space w/ ATEEZ
- Midnight In Tokyo (Remix) ft. Little Glee Monster
Stream and download this new album below:
