A Smart and sweet Evolution of Jordana’s Sound

Review Score:

A-

November 20 / 2024 –

Jordana has proven herself a ridiculously versatile artist since her 2020 debut. Indisputably, her most popular body of work is her 2021 collaboration with TV Girl, Summer’s Over. As much as I enjoy TV Girl, their music doesn’t have the same indescribable quality as Jordana’s. And the dial on that quality is turned to max on Lively Premonition.

Her fourth record feels truly classic in many ways. “Like A Dog” is the first track I caught off of this album. It’s a tongue in cheek song about a problematic relationship founded on an unconditional love. Like one a dog might have for their owner. It’s not a new musical idea. But rarely do I hear it so joyfully composed and performed with the same wide-eyed wonder of the titular canine. That, and it’s paired with a music video where Jordana dresses and behaves…like a dog.

The opening track, “We Get By”, also has that level of joyous composition I would come to greatly enjoy across Lively Premonition. It features a handful of beautiful, upbeat string interludes. And Jordana, as well as co-writer and co-producer Emmett Kai, aren’t afraid to let those musical breakdowns take center stage. It’s a frequent feature of the record. Each track develops and unfolds gorgeously. Some, like “Anything For You” delve into the sort of country-tinged indie that’s grown to be quite popular these days. Others have a stronger 60s/70s feel, with happily strummed acoustic guitars and melodies to match.

Not every song feels quite as layered and timeless. “Raver Girl” feels like a song that didn’t make the cut from an earlier album. It feels out of place on an otherwise no-frills, no-skip, timeless album. Even still, Jordana’s vocals shine brighter on Lively Premonition than they ever have before. She demonstrates a lot of growth as an artist, despite only first appearing four years ago.

Review Score:

A-

Gubb wrote this review. You can’t get mad at Gubb.