Perfume Genius's fourth album, "No Shape", is his most impressive effort yet. Focusing on love yet still being melancholic, "No Shape" is a pure sentimental art pop journey.
Rife with catchy melodies and choruses, perfume genius's music can stay in one's head for weeks. Heart-breakingly personal in his lyrics and never staying on one topic for long, Perfume Genius constantly keeps the listener on their toes. Many parts of the album are surprisingly experimental, to the point where the average listener can be turned off by it, however.
The song structures are varied and interesting, with clever melodies stuck in throughout. Sometimes the music can get overly passionate and seem cheesy or too glitzy, but because of the high variation of the work, this never lasts for too long.
Perfume Genius is far past repressing anything that isn't him, instead wholeheartedly accepting everything that he is and always has been. In 2014's "Too Bright" Perfume Genius mainly spoke on those who look down on him for who he is and how they're hatred filled and cowardly because of it.
2017's "No Shape" speaks more on religion itself, however. Instead of attacking this system with hate and disgust, much like it has to him for his entire life, Perfume Genius decides to follow the path of love and acceptance.
The first song on the album "Otherside", starts off the album with a booming clap, with "Slip Away" carrying that forwards with metallic sounds. The third song, "Just Like Love" has a catchy bass line and feels very eighties yet modern at the same time. Thus, three songs in the listener already knows that they're in for an adventure of textures and sounds; one that easily demands their full attention.
The best song, however, is by far "Die 4 You" which has an amazingly atmospheric and trippy texture. Other songs such as "Wreath" and "Choir", though chancing to be grating for some, also prove to be catchy and unique in their own right, if not strange.
One of the main problems the album has is, because it is so experimental and has so many different types and styles of songs on it, many songs feel as if they're not fleshed out enough.
Songs, though still solid in their own right, can still seem to fall flat and not grow entirely into their own because of how short they are and how many other different textures and genres of songs surround them. Songs such as "Alan", "Valley", and even "Otherside" fall victim to this, as it seems they had more to go to before they finish.
Overall, however, "No Shape" is still Perfume Genius's strongest effort yet, and one that leaves me very hopeful for his future as he continues to grow and become more talented. Experimental and varied, it is an album with a passionate message, and one that it gets across well. Even better, it is an album that will stick with you for the days to come afterwards, both in its music and lyricism; exactly what Perfume Genius wanted.
