andrew chen - you just might

[independent: 2009]

Bedroom musician Andrew Chen sent Album of The Week his EP "You Just Might" that he released entirely independently a while back, and until recently we hadn't really given it due props. This dude writes the songs, sings the words, plays guitars, bass, keys, synths, drums, makes the beats and performs the samples all on his lonesome lone. Boyfriend got a bit of free time on his hands. But clever hands they are. This record is a nice little slice of neo-soul, r & b goodness direct from Andrew's boudoir studio straight to your ears. These tunes are definitely an acquired taste - so tune out now if R. Kelly ain't your thing. He starts off with a nice, under-the-moonlight Nineties-style r & b track "You Just Might" - very "soulful crooner's gonna get laid tonight missus" type shit. The second tune, the groove-driven "Come On Down" wears an obvious heart-on-sleeve Michael Jackson Off The Wall-era influence. You could definitely hear Usher (dance man, pants man and all round beefcake) singing it. This stuff is good finger clicking stuff, people. Our favourite song on the album is "Higher" - a neo-soul pants dropper that reeks of D'Angelo's best known track "Untitled" - the one which had that epic shirtless, pantsless, throbbing groin muscle music vid? He also pulls out some throaty Tom Waits style croaking on the lower register which is pretty awesome too. This guy has genuine songwriting talent - the stuff gets in your head and you can sing along to it almost immediately. So there's a few typically embarrassing r & b moments: "Stranger Girl" and "Fall Behind" are kind of gross - cliched romantic balladry with over-earnest 'love hurts' lyrics, and the first few tracks are infinitely more interesting than the second half of the EP, but Justin Timberlake would definitely sing this stuff. PS JT is cool. Andrew Chen will soon be discovered and be attending Puffy's White Party in a couple of years and that is pretty freaking cool.


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