There has been some recent controversy revolving around German artist, Zedd's, newest album, "True Colors." Diplo another artist, recently slammed the album on Twitter. Cleverly utilizing my favorite emoji, Diplo tweeted, "True Colors is a pile of [crap]." While everyone has a right to speak their opinion, I must respectfully disagree. I believe the album is a decent sophomore effort. Overall, I would say that the album is worth a listen if you have streaming services. If you do not have Spotify, some standout tracks may be worth the money if you enjoy the genre.
Personally my favorite track on the album would be "Transmission." The track features both Logic and X Ambassadors. X Ambassadors have always been a pleasure to listen to. Their influences on the track are quite evident. "Transmission" carries the similar style that X Ambassadors embraced in their stand out track "Jungle," but Zedd's influence lands the track solidly in the electric house genre. The intro is all Zedd, but around the one minute mark X Ambassadors steal the show. Logic's rap break is also quite enjoyable. Its quick pace mixes well with the background provided by Zedd.
Overall, the featured artists on the album make their individual tracks exceed expectations. Another enjoyable track is, "Done with Love." Of course, one of the most popular tracks, "I want you to know," features Selena Gomez. The melodic nature of her voice is mesmerizing, as always. Selena's pop influence also makes the song very upbeat, a great song for any dance playlist. Unfortunately, the album does suffer from serious flaws.
The main problem I have with the work is the weakness of Zedd's performances. The featured artists are the real stars of this album. The work also suffers from heavy handed post-production. Some of the artists' innate ability is stripped away. A third and final flaw is that individual tracks are not as unique as they could be. While the featured artists provide a refreshing variety, later tracks in the album tend to blend together even on a second or third listen.
Overall, the album is worth a listen if you are passionate about the electronic house genre. If you are unsure, you may want to listen to some of the songs that feature other artists before diving into the album as a whole. Personally, I feel that only passionate house fans would be willing to pay the $9.99 that most retailers are asking. On the other hand, if you have a Spotify account, "Transmission" and "I Want You to Know" are definitely worth a listen.
