Crying On The Bathroom Floor

 

I pre-ordered a deluxe bundle of the new Will Young album (which included the album on turquoise vinyl, a signed CD and a photo book featuring photos from the video for the first single, Daniel) months ago, knowing it would be fantastic.  And I am not disappointed.  This is the 8th studio album from the first ever Pop Idol UK winner (way back in 2002), featuring reimagined "poppier versions" of songs from female artists that he admires.  The album has received praise from fans (I am certainly one of them) and critics alike. retro pop magazine describes it as "a triumph and fresh blueprint for covers albums to be born from creativity and not cash".

While Will makes each song his own, with his rich vocals, piano melodies, strings and subtle drum beats, he stays true to the originals, creating a brilliant tapestry of female narratives.  The tracklist is as follows:

1. Daniel (original by Bat For Lashes)

This was the first single from the album and is a cover of Bat for Lashes' 2009 single from her album Two Suns.  In the accompanying music video, Will plays an ageing theatre actor in the midst of his decline but desperately trying to hang on to some semblance of self-respect in the face of his addiction.

2. Crying On The Bathroom Floor (original by MUNA)

Definitely one of the stand-out tracks on the album.  Will had the following to say about the song ahead of the single's release: "Crying on The Bathroom Floor was destined not only to be a single but the title of the album. For me, there is humour in the album title as well as sadness. My respect for MUNA is super high – they are just the sort of exciting, authentic act that make music worth listening to".  The music video is also a prequel to Daniel.

3. Till There’s Nothing Left (original by Cam)

This song was a pleasant surprise.  I like a lot of country singer Cam's music, especially Diane, which I first heard when she performed it as the opening act on Shania Twain's Now Tour.  The song embraces sex-positivity and, while it is partly about "getting it on in the backseat" it also explores the thrill of losing yourself to a lover.

4. Indestructible (original by Robyn)

Another one of my favourite tracks, which comes as no surprise considering it's a Robyn song.  The original is a synthpop ballad that explores the conflicting emotions one experiences when meeting and falling in love with someone.  Will's stripped down version embodies the heart of the song perfectly (and is superior to Calum Scott's cover in my opinion).

5. Strong (original by London Grammar)

While it is a beautiful song (from London Grammar’s debut studio album If You Wait), it's not a standout track on this album for me.

6. I Follow Rivers (original by Lykke Li)

I am a little obsessed with this track, obsessed being an appropriate word to use since the song's lyrics explore obsessive romantic love: “Oh I beg you, can I follow / Oh I ask you why not always".  Will's tender voice and the subtle beat of the catchy melody make this a winner.

7. Everything Is Embarrassing (original by Sky Ferreira)

The original by Sky Ferreira appears on her second EP, Ghost, which was released in 2012.  Critics from several musical publications listed the song as one of the best of 2012.  Will once again delivers a smooth interpretation of the acclaimed track.

8. Losing You (original by Solange)

I must confess that I am not familiar with Solange's work but this version of Losing You, the first single from her EP, True, is great and has inspired me to explore some of her other work.  Luke O'Neil from The Boston Globe described the orignal as an "80s dance-pop-heartbreak in the early Janet Jackson mold".  Will's version, however, is an acoustic, piano-driven ballad. 

9. Missing (original by Everything But The Girl)

A brilliant interpretation of the seminal 1994 hit.  Bill Lamb from About.com wrote that "there has never been a more powerful expression of emotional and sexual longing in pop music than that at the core of Missing", a longing which Will captures perfectly, with just the amount of drums to stay true to the original pop version.

10. Elizabeth Taylor (original by Clare Maguire)

An exquisite piano and string-filled ballad, in which he compares himself to the late Elizabeth Taylor, to finish off the sublime album.