By Odeisel & Diamonte R
Emo-R&B and Dance music have dominated 2010 with artists like Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Drake and Ke$ha generating hit after hit. Mike Posner hopes to mimic that success with his debut album 31 Minutes To Take Off.
The title track intro is nothing more than a short burst with a pulsing piano and a couple lines that leads directly to the album’s second single, “Please Don’t Go.” Posner opens softly at low volume and goes higher and stronger as the beat starts to pick up and the drum creeps in. The phrase “Please Don’t Go” gets repeated throughout the song and is used for the chorus.
The porn music-inspired “Bow Chicka Wow Wow” has more Mike trying to get it in, already half drunk and hoping his lady friend is in the mood because he’s ready. The somnambulant beat is enough to put her to sleep without a workout and his computer- aided, adolescent-sounding voice doesn’t allow you to take him seriously on this type of song.
“Cooler Then Me,” the scorching single is teen pop gold; appealing to that idealist teen imagining of falling in love. Mike Posner starts to sing from the very beginning, his voice is joined by finger snaps in the background as the song moves forward. Instruments are added to the minimalist open. The song has been very popular, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Boyz II Men guest on “Déjà Vu”and add some much-needed depth and a bit of soul to the record. Their harmony and melody push the sound towards the R&B end of the spectrum feature, Boyz ll Men. The group brings a melodic sound with their synchronized voices in the background, which really brings out the R&B feel in the song. “Do You Wanna” features Whitestarr frontman Cisco Adler. The brass horns add a bit of gravity as Posner tries to get that special someone to be his. That happy carefree love stuff goes in the toilet on “Cheated,”as faint electric distortion powers Posner’s bitter hatred when he finds out he was “dating a whore.” His vitriol goes so far he actually names the girl (Caroline Stevens this song is for you).
“Gone in September” is whimsically placed. After just whining about being cheated on, he now lies to some new girl and tells her he loves her, while “creeping on her every night. In his words, “guess I’m an asshole after all.” The light-hearted beat runs counter to the song’s sentiment and energy.
The spare opening of “Save Your Goodbye” returns Posner to victim role, choosing to depart a relationship before his girl drops the bomb on him. He sees it coming this time and chooses self preservation . The beat gets dynamic on the breaks and changes with his emotion. More teen pop comes through on “Synthesizer” and the lame sentiment oozes all over this song. “Delta 1406” finds Posner feeling homesick and out of place; reconsidering the choices he’s made in his life in his search for stardom. His mention of his parents and their relationship add some real depth that is missing throughout the rest of the album.
The album closes with “Falling” and Mike Posner deals with the pain of love and the realization that puppy love. “My pride is worth more than your stupid little love,” notes Posner, as he realizes that faking the perfect relationship does him no good.
The production on 31 minutes To Takeoff is derivative and sappy at certain points, and contemporary and credible in others. Posner’s music is definitely aimed at a younger demographic but there are people who exist in that space that are either more talented and dynamic (Bruno Mars) or just flat out more fun (Ke$ha). The album does get better towards the end, but Posner does little to distinguish himself in an already crowded market.
Mike Posner-“Cooler Than Me”
Out of 5
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