Grace VanderWaal's debut album, "Evolution," is an ambitious and ultimately fulfilling collection of songs. "Sick Of Being Told" and "Talk Good," Grace's teen angst cries, speak of Grace's early struggles with authority and exercising her newly acquired power, to the more serious assertions made in "Moonlight" and "A Better Life."
Her producers, including Shawn Mendes' Ido Zmishlany, could have easily steered her into Taylor Swift territory with a collection of radio-friendly, boy-bashing chart pleasers, but VanderWaal bravely ventured into riskier territory by recording a few somber, more meaningful efforts that demonstrate her maturing songwriter chops. As a result, her record isn't only a breakthrough victory; it's also an amazing, well-crafted, and polished pop collection.
"Moonlight," the album's lead track, is an evocative reminiscence of a life devastated by despair. Its calypso melody conceals the sorrowful narrative of the lyrics. The urban-infused, driving "So Much More Than This," a techno-pop admonition to switch off your phone, open your eyes, recognize that life "is what it is," and live it truly, is the album's second highlight.
"Florets," a delicate, ephemeral masterpiece of lyrics and melody beautifully fashioned into a sequence of soaring dreamlike crescendos, is a triumph of lyrics and melody.
"Darkness Keeps Chasing Me," a lovely, terrifying song that shows VanderWaal's multi-talented musical arsenal, is the album's hidden masterpiece. Because of its intense emotional content, the song is unlikely to gain radio, but it reflects her developing maturity as a songwriter and willingness to take risks as an artist. It radiates real passion through VanderWaal's superb singing of the lyrical protagonist's anguished pleads among the misery of depression and longing.
The album's only flaw is what's left out rather than what's included. Two new tracks, "Lungs" and "Hope For Change," were added to the album's deluxe edition, which was only available through a national shop. They may not have been included in the original release because the creators believed the more complex lyrics would appeal to a more mature audience. Whatever the case may be, the two tracks, especially "Lungs," are well-crafted pieces that should be featured on Grace's follow-up album.
Popular songs of the "Just The Beginning" Album : “Florets,” “Moonlight,” “So Much More Than This” and “Darkness Keeps Chasing Me”.
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