Joji, SMITHEREENS | Album Review 💿

Joji continues to exhibit his transformation into a gifted, truly intriguing musician on his short but utterly sweet, nine-track album, SMITHEREENS. 

Well, one thing is crystal clear: Filthy Frank is long gone! 🎙 Joji has transformed himself into a truly gifted, highly respected musician.  That isn’t always the case when you start out as a YouTube personality, particularly Filthy Frank! After wowing with 🎵 “Glimpse of Us”, among the best songs of 2022, and following up with another advanced gem, 🎵 “YUKON (INTERLUDE)”, Joji’s new album, 💿 SMITHEREENS, arrived with high expectations. Although it’s only nine tracks deep, spanning a mere 24 minutes and ¢hange,  SMITHEREENS doesn’t disappoint in the least. 

Side A 

“She’d turn the rain to a rainbow / When I was living blue,” Joji sings in the first verse of the stupendous ballad, 🤩 🎵 “Glimpse of Us”.  He continues, “Why then, if she’s so perfect / Do I still wish that it was you?” He recalls expired love that he still desires despite being in a new relationship.  His pain is our listening pleasure. His vocal performance thrives off its subtlety. Joji never gets too high yet comes off as quite expressive from the jump.  Approaching the same level as those radiant vocals are the authentic, honest, and relatable lyrics.  He’s NOT over his past love despite being with someone else. “‘Cause sometimes I look in her eyes / And that’s where I find a glimpse of us,” he sings masterfully in the chorus, adding, “And I try to fall for her touch / But I’m thinkin’ of the way it was.” The production (🎛 Connor McDonough) in this piano ballad matches the radiance of Joji’s tone and those vulnerable lyrics.  The subtlety allows for the voice and lyrics to shine on one of the most beautiful songs of 2022.

“Too many, too many things we did together / You used to promise me it would be forever / Feeling like the end, don’t think it will get better, baby.” Dang, those matters of the heart! 🎵 “Feeling Like The End” has a tough act to follow – 🎵 “Glimpse of Us” is a marvelous song.  That said, the good news is that this short record is enjoyable from its opening tip. It’s well produced (🎛 Tim Randolph and Whethan), perfectly matching Joji’s radiant instrument.  There is only one verse, sandwiched between two refrains.  Even with such a short duration and few lyrics, Joji makes his point loud and clear – it’s time for this relationship to cease.

Following the brevity of “Feeling Like The End,” the remaining three songs of Side A of SMITHEREENS are full-length, though not excessively long. 🤩 🎵 “Die For You” marks another beautiful record, thanks to a sweet vocal performance, dedicated lyrics, and lush production work (🎛 Jacob Ray, Wes Singerman, and Tay Dex). Saddened by a relationship that no longer exists, Joji – or the character he represents within the song – struggles with moving on.  The verses perfectly capture his emotions, while the chorus finds him giving her his blessing (“I heard that you’re happy without me / And I hope it’s true”) and asserting he’d give his life for her. Wow!

The mood doesn’t stop after ‘death’ – or potential death, I should say! The piano-fueled 🎵 “Before The Day Is Over” finds Joji in the zone, which is, um, in his feelings, etc. “I know it won’t be long / I know you’re almost gone,” he sings in the exquisite, tuneful chorus, continuing, “Hold on, let me in before the day is over.” The vocal production is stunning, particularly during the chorus.  Furthermore, the backdrop marks another moment from SMITHEREENS where it’s clear the production team (🎛 Justin Parker) ensured every detail was perfectly executed.  Vibe is far overused, but is there a better way to describe the penultimate track from Side A?  🎵 “Dissolve” concludes Side A with a slightly more assertive, rhythmic sound, thanks to an accompanying guitar. Still, Joji remains true to self, continuing to explore a breakup while singing indulgently.  Notably, he’s incredibly introspective, admitting his issues and, once more, discussing his feelings about this expired union: “Quite some time has passed / It fell through my fingertips, I still look alright.”

Side B

Side B of SMITHEREENS features just four tracks, all of which clock in under two-and-a-half minutes.  Notably, this includes the advance single, 🤩 🎵 “YUKON (INTERLUDE)”. But first, things kick off with the sleek, rhythmic 🤩 🎵 “NIGHT RIDER”.  Here, Joji makes it clear, in one of the track’s most memorable lines, “I’m too precious” in a refrain that follows the sole verse, precedes, and proceeds the chorus.  It seems Joji is reflecting on protecting his feelings and not allowing himself to be hurt again.  Also, the longing for a past relationship lingers on.  Think of “Night Rider” as being a bite-sized bop – it’s here one minute and gone the next.

🎵 “BLAHBLAHBLAH Demo” continues the compelling nature of SMITHEREENS.  Interestingly, it’s a two-parter, meaning there are two distinct backdrops – a beat/production switch if you will.  Part I is highlighted by the lyric, “I can make you feel it closer, baby, one more time.”  This also serves as a transition to Part II.  Also, it’s worth noting, Joji places emphasis on love, singing the word thrice in the sole verse of the first part.  Another ear-catching lyric hails from the chorus of Part I, where Joji sings, “When I hear your voice, I’m in too deep.” That sentiment sums up so much of SMITHEREENS, which has found the singer lamenting his ex.  Arguably, as far as the production is concerned (🎛 Wonton Jesus and Aaron Reyes), Part II is the most ear-catching, with a heavier, incredibly modern sound. It’s not all production though, as the lyrics shine here as well, notably, the repetition of words and phrases like cigarettes, intimate, lay to rest, levitate, and “I could see it on the paint.”

“And my eyes get low in that all-white truck, I can barely see shit.” A GMC Yukon is a large, cumbersome, gas-guzzling SUV! 🤩 🎵 “YUKON (INTERLUDE)” eschews a traditional form.  Following the intro, Joji delivers one verse.  Interestingly, that verse includes the excerpted line from the intro.  Lyrically, the musician is ‘all over the place’ asserting, “And I overflow like mercury / Glowing with uncertainty / Circles at the Chevron / I might be forever gone.”  So, he’s driving in circles at the gas station, seemingly in a compromised place mentally.  Perhaps. Joji also asserts, “I was throwing stones at Hercules / throwing them so perfectly,” before revisiting “Circles at the Chevron / I can’t be forever young.” “YUKON” is confusing and thought-provoking at the same time. All told, cerebral Joji is an intriguing Joji.

“You know you can make it / but you can’t make it alone…” 🎵 “1AM Freestyle” concludes Side B and this 24-minute project, running just under two minutes in duration.  His voice sounds utterly sublime here, thanks to his own giftedness as well as awesome vocal production. It’s a toss-up which section of the record is the best – the tuneful chorus or those sweet vocal harmonies of the refrain.  The theme is the same as it’s been throughout SMITHEREENS: the relationship is kaput, and Joji’s struggling with it.

Final Thoughts 💭

Although it’s an incredibly short project, 💿 SMITHEREENS is totally worthwhile.  Joji sounds dynamite throughout the course of the album, as to be expected.  With an assortment of producers over the course of nine tracks, he undoubtedly arouses our hearing, making our ears perk up.  SMITHEREENS, hence, earns my blessing 👏!

🤩 Gems 💎: “Glimpse of Us,” “Die For You,” “NIGHT RIDER,” “YUKON (INTERLUDE)” 

🎙 Joji • 💿 SMITHEREENS • 🏷  88rising / Warner • 🗓 11.4.22

[📷: 88rising / Warner]