Release Date: 8 May 2026
Song Count: 20
Duration: 1 hour, 0 minutes, 20 seconds
Rating: 6.8/10
Description:
Song Count: 20
Duration: 1 hour, 0 minutes, 20 seconds
Rating: 6.8/10
Description:
A review on the same day as the release date? That is a rare sight.
Here comes Jenevieve Johnson, a Floridian artist breaking through from the start of this decade with her tasteful combinations of R&B, pop and disco music into a floating sound stream, with the deluxe edition of her sophomore album, CRYSALIS (CODA). Featuring the contents of the original record along with some new tracks, most of them featuring guest artists and their collaborations, this new release is one big bunch-up of breezy alternative R&B just in time for summertime rolling around.
Jenevieve's silky smooth singing carries a momentum through the tracks as the energy stays tranquil and consistent throughout the hour, the drums staying steady but unintrusive and the guitars and basslines emphasising the important melodic hits. It all flows into a particular light-weight style that is easy to digest and passes on by through its accessible sound and mentally tingling musical composition. Similar to the rest of the music's approach, the features in the newly included songs also follow in these footsteps, adding sparks of aural colour without blaring over the ambience set within the grander image.
An album far more driven via atmosphere than via track individuality, CRYSALIS (CODA) is a rushing force of calm and joy that focuses less on memorability and more on the feeling it gives the listener that leaves them wishing to return. Though not one for many replays for yours truly, the album does give a positive sense when listening that makes it an enjoyable run, even if things lull into a bit of stagnancy after a few songs in. Overall not a bad experience, and one that very much matches the days of better weather coming forward for the northern hemisphere.