It’s ... refreshing so early in the record to both see how much his music has matured and how much attention he’s putting into his music.
Joji’s first full-length project features a host of guests in a quality effort to help push past the confines of his bedroom walls and tedious heartache.
BALLADS 1 feels like his progression into adolescence, trying a slew of different vocal styles and soundscapes to figure out what fits him best. And while it doesn’t all work flawlessly, he certainly shows enough to prove that he could make something close to classic with a few more reps.
Ballads 1 is elegiac and prettily pout-faced; Miller used to make you cringe, Joji makes you cry.
Joji's Ballads 1 has some great songs, but a thin appeal, as most of the tracks don't function beyond their moody vibe and lo-fi aesthetic.
#21 | / | Dummy |
#25 | / | Highsnobiety |