Music Review
Olly Murs: Never Been Better - album review
By Amy Davidson
Released on Monday, Nov 24 2014
It's not an audacious claim to say that Robbie Williams' 'Angels' has become one of the nation's favourite songs to regularly slaughter during 2am karaoke sessions, tipsy wedding receptions and dodgy X Factor auditions… Oh the X Factor auditions. But when Robbie himself stumbled over his words in 2009, it was Olly that came to the rescue, reassuringly guiding their X Factor duet back on track.
Half a decade on and Murs has survived the rocky waters of reality show fame to the point where Mr Williams himself has song envy, admitting that he was gutted not to be a part of his album's eponymous track. And with 'Never Been Better' it doesn't take much probing to see why that might be; the easy big band swagger slotting nicely alongside a convincingly self-assured chorus. Question is, four albums in, has Olly Murs warranted his self-congratulatory album title, or is Never Been Better just premature back-patting?
The disco groove of 'Did You Miss Me?' quickly establishes that Murs' isn't in the wallflower business, rather he fully intends on running with his title without a whiff of uncertainty. The jaunting riffs and casually thrown in chuckles waste no time in showing that Murs has no intention of dropping the 'cheeky chappy' demeanour any time soon. All the while, echoes of Justin Timberlake's 'Take Back The Night' leap around making sure, if there was any doubt, that this is a song Murs wants you to move to.
In the same vein, Travie McCoy-featuring single 'Wrapped Up' shamelessly shimmies from start to finish with its funk drenched riffs and wink-nudge lyrics: "You got the lock, I got the key/ You know the rest, you know just where I want to be". What becomes clear as the album progresses is that it's the laid-back and easy-natured tracks where Murs' natural affability and charm shines through most successfully here.
Demi Lovato is the chosen one to foot tap her way through folk-driven collaboration 'Up', and Murs has made no bones about their hopes to expand their respective audiences on either side of the Atlantic. However, the predictable lyrics, which roll out unoriginal sentiments about the merits of perseverance, make it a duet that's difficult to get too excited over. Similarly, the plodding, piano-led 'Tomorrow' and moping regret of 'Nothing Without You' feels like an unnatural fit for the Essex smiler.
Murs can hang up his trilby and lean into more ballad-led songs - we witnessed it with 'Dear Darlin'. Nevertheless, the attempts on Never Been Better often feel like unconvincing stabs at painting him as a lone, pining figure lounged on the sofa eating a pint of ice-cream. The strongest moments on the album arrive when Murs channels his most powerful strength by letting his charismatic nature do the talking.
Tracks to download: 'Wrapped Up', 'Did You Miss Me?', 'Seasons'
Half a decade on and Murs has survived the rocky waters of reality show fame to the point where Mr Williams himself has song envy, admitting that he was gutted not to be a part of his album's eponymous track. And with 'Never Been Better' it doesn't take much probing to see why that might be; the easy big band swagger slotting nicely alongside a convincingly self-assured chorus. Question is, four albums in, has Olly Murs warranted his self-congratulatory album title, or is Never Been Better just premature back-patting?
The disco groove of 'Did You Miss Me?' quickly establishes that Murs' isn't in the wallflower business, rather he fully intends on running with his title without a whiff of uncertainty. The jaunting riffs and casually thrown in chuckles waste no time in showing that Murs has no intention of dropping the 'cheeky chappy' demeanour any time soon. All the while, echoes of Justin Timberlake's 'Take Back The Night' leap around making sure, if there was any doubt, that this is a song Murs wants you to move to.
In the same vein, Travie McCoy-featuring single 'Wrapped Up' shamelessly shimmies from start to finish with its funk drenched riffs and wink-nudge lyrics: "You got the lock, I got the key/ You know the rest, you know just where I want to be". What becomes clear as the album progresses is that it's the laid-back and easy-natured tracks where Murs' natural affability and charm shines through most successfully here.
Demi Lovato is the chosen one to foot tap her way through folk-driven collaboration 'Up', and Murs has made no bones about their hopes to expand their respective audiences on either side of the Atlantic. However, the predictable lyrics, which roll out unoriginal sentiments about the merits of perseverance, make it a duet that's difficult to get too excited over. Similarly, the plodding, piano-led 'Tomorrow' and moping regret of 'Nothing Without You' feels like an unnatural fit for the Essex smiler.
Murs can hang up his trilby and lean into more ballad-led songs - we witnessed it with 'Dear Darlin'. Nevertheless, the attempts on Never Been Better often feel like unconvincing stabs at painting him as a lone, pining figure lounged on the sofa eating a pint of ice-cream. The strongest moments on the album arrive when Murs channels his most powerful strength by letting his charismatic nature do the talking.
Tracks to download: 'Wrapped Up', 'Did You Miss Me?', 'Seasons'
