Ever since the leadoff track for Parachute's new album, Overnight, was released, faithful fans have been had mixed emotions and questioning whether the pop-rock quintet has abandoned the heartfelt, slower vibes they were originally known for. Luckily for fans, Parachute handles its slight change in musical direction with a high level of skill and versatility, which pleases both old and new listeners.
"Can't Help," co-written by One Republic's Ryan Tedder, captures the new high-energy electronic direction the group went with for its third studio album. The song has the perfect summer vibe with upbeat instrumentals, punchy percussion, and a polished, pop-influenced demeanor. This was a near perfect choice for the band's first single because it keeps fans happy with the group's meaningful lyrics while simultaneously adding a much-needed boost in energy. "Hurricane" rattles emotions as it describes someone's inability to shake old memories with detailed lyrics like "A photograph is all it takes, but I know I shouldn't let it in. And the memory is rising fast. It's seeping into every crack." Parachute's lead singer, Will Anderson, stands out with a wide array of vocal twists and melodies, making it a solid album front-runner.
The title track intriguingly builds its musical concept around Anderson's vocals rather than the pop elements of the album's other songs. It offers somewhat diluted energy when compared to "Can't Help," yet pleasingly fuses together much of the band's signature heartfelt messages along with their fresh pop-rock sound. If your looking for songs that replicate much of the music people fell in love with on Parachute's debut album, Losing Sleep, "Meant To Be" and "Drive You Home" will fit your needs. These are the type of sentimental love songs Parachute is best known for.
One of the more pop influenced tracks has to be "Higher," which focuses its musical groundwork on a slightly auto-tuned and soaring vocal chorus of "You got to go higher. Higher than you've ever been before." On the other side of the spectrum is "The Only One," a song with softer paced rhythm than the rest of the album. That isn't to say the other songs on the album are overly heavy or hard-hitting, but instead this one simply resembles Parachutes' previous work.
Just a few songs into Overnight and it becomes clear that Parachute has taken its music into an exciting new direction. However, it also becomes clear that the group brought enough of their previous sound back to easily set themselves apart. The heavier pop-centered elements lend the album a much-welcomed upbeat vibe and mark a promising chapter in their growth as a musical group. The main issue with the release of Overnight is that it seems to have come a little late in the season to make as large of an impact with some of their peppy, summer themed tracks. Regardless, the album is packed with several jams that faithful fans and new listeners will, without a doubt, enjoy.
Grade: B
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