As a member of the K-pop group GOT7, Hong Kong-born singer Jackson Wang has accrued a legion of fans from all across the globe. But the thing about boy bands is that even if they are super successful, eventually, members tend to splinter off to pursue solo careers. Wang’s debut solo album MIRRORS covers an eclectic array of genres and panders to radio trends.
While it’s clear that Wang has some talent and commercial instincts, he lacks a distinct vision as an artist.
MIRRORS starts off with “BULLET TO THE HEART.” Wang laments the demise of a romantic relationship over a slick guitar riff and generic Trap beat. From the get-go, subtlety is thrown out the window; the K-pop star expresses himself through well-worn, melodramatic cliches: “You spin me around like a revolver/ a dozen roses on my casket/ I thought we would end up in the altar.”
Unfortunately, the album lacks a knock-out hit. “ON THE ROCKS” and “DWAY!” are half-hearted attempts at the genreless blandness that’s bankrolled Post Malone’s lavish lifestyle. In the lyrical department, he doesn’t do himself that many favors either. “DWAY!” has the most cringeworthy chorus on the entire album: “Picture me rolling/ Like a rolling stone/ Your body my body/ Let’s rock and roll.” And on the verses, Wang squeezes the phrase “rolling stone” for all of its worth, name-dropping Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and the famous magazine.
For a solo debut, there’s scarce material about who Wang actually is. The gloomy “UNLESS I’M WITH YOU” has the star expressing regret about being too busy to sustain a romantic relationship, begging his lover to stay with him. Despite the solid chorus, any globetrotting R&B-Trap artist could be singing the same lyrics and it wouldn’t make a difference.
The best moments are when Wang lets his guest artists shine. “BAD BACK” is a conventional party track that has GoldLink effortlessly rapping along to a swirl of xylophone-infused trap. And “TITANIC,” featuring Rich Brian, is easily an album highlight. There’s a welcomed sense of unhinged chaos on the track. Over a kinetic beat, Wang raps about his rockstar lifestyle and pays homage to the notorious Ying Yang Twins whisper. Though his rap skills could use some fine-tuning and the whisper is definitely bizarre, for once, he sounds like he’s genuinely having fun. Brian MIRRORS his swagger, and delivers a verse oozing with charisma.
Even in its best moments, MIRRORS struggles to have a distinguishable identity that sets its apart from its influences. With worldwide notoriety, Wang surely has ample resources to flesh out a specific vision. Hopefully, on future projects, he will drop the clichés and delve into what truly makes him unique.
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K-Poop
There isn’t one song that isn’t likeable and catchy. The main track is amazing.
I truly love this album. Jackson really impressed me with the different styles of his vocals.My favorites are on the rocks, titanic I love you 3000 bulletto the heart.. I feel that his album is really original he had a totally different sound than I’m used to him having so I think it’s fantastic!!!
you are stupid jackson is an amazing artist. stupid fool, shut up you cant do better
I disagree with you, your jealous of him and his success, it’s a whole bop
Great music
This was a good debut project. Superb infact. Every time Jackson releases something you can truly feel the growth in his artistry. He improves and impresses with every new release and this album is concrete evidence of that.
Although lyrics aren’t his strongest point, you have to remember that English isn’t his first nor second language, so I truly wasn’t expecting much on that front. Nonetheless he delivered. It could have gone sideways where he would be overshadowed by the features on the album but he was able to match them, which is impressive on its own especially for a great lyricist like GoldLink. And the songs where he doesn’t have any features are songs that would be receive heavy radio play, if he were to go that route, since that is the sound of mainstream hip-hop in the US, which is were the inspiration for the sound on the album is from.
I do wish this reviewer took the time out to listen to his earlier releases which led up to this debut project, maybe then the article wouldn’t be half assed and seem like it was written in the 20-something minutes needed to listen to the album in its entirety.
dat be da truth. on da sixth track he just lets it rip!
Watched his growth and this is definitely a 5/5 debut album.
“Despite the solid chorus, any globetrotting R&B-Trap artist could be singing the same lyrics and it wouldn’t make a difference.”
It is different because it’s Jackson.
It sounds you didn’t even actively listen to it and looked into the meanings of the song. If you’re gonna review material at least do it well instead of half assed and put out a half assed review when you couldn’t even be bothered to really give the music some time
Did you actually listen to the album?!? cause it seems like you just said “oh it’s he is not american and he sings in a kpop group (coming back on nov. 4th check it out people) so it can’t be good” type of sh*t tbh -.- this album is a bomb!!!! On the rock and unless i’m with you are 10/10 and the others are a whole 8/9
You should just give up reviewing because a racist person like doesn’t deserve to give their pointless reviews. And before giving reviews on any thing you should check it out first and also find the meanings behind it rather than being an arrogant piece of sh*t
You are the one being cliché and you don’t deserve his music
If you really listened to the album with your ears and your brain and listen to what Jackson said about MIRRORS and this is your opinion, you are pretty pathetic mate
Man dis guy is a joke Did he even listen to the words! Yous gots to listen to the words! Me and my main stick Rufus was crusin in da 6 4 and I tells ya it was magic! I dint know if it was da pipe we shared wit some rock or what but da song reached my soul. bumpy bumpy bumpy we gots da get da stuffa. just pure peotry.
Meh.
meh
What the hell are you talking about? The album is a masterpiece. Just the title track alone “Bullet To The Heart” literally nobody in the entire global music entertainment business have ever done this, not even Post Malone, and you saying Jackson lacks direction? Jackson Wang is known to experiment in music and we should encourage and commend that. This is entire album is the signature Jackson Wang vibe and sound.
What the hell are you talking about? The album is a masterpiece. Just the title track alone “Bullet To The Heart” literally nobody in the entire global music entertainment business have ever done this, not even Post Malone, and you saying Jackson lacks direction? Jackson Wang is known to experiment in music and we should encourage and commend that. This is entire album is the signature Jackson Wang vibe and sound