Jon Bellion has been killing the internet game for the last seven years. His four mixtapes and his debut studio album, “The Human Condition” gained widespread attention and critical acclaim. He has been noted for his homegrown beats and production that seamlessly combines pop and hip-hop. He’s also helped write and produce major records such as “Monster” by Eminem and “Trumpets” by Jason Derulo. He was also the featured vocalist on Zedd’s track Beautiful Now. His latest album, “Glory Sound Prep”, which came out on November 9th, may be his best project to date. Madison and I sat down to discuss his album.
What do you like about the album?
Kevin: Personally, I think this album is his first truly sonically cohesive piece. It feels like every song on the album fits really well with every other song on the album. “The Human Condition” had great tracks and really interesting color. But, not every song felt like it had to fit on this album. That’s something he definitely got right this time around.
Madison: Agreed, though, he still maintains a strong lyrical capacity that carries over and multiplies. “The Human Condition” was comprised of songs that spoke directly to the heart of what it means to be human. And that is even more on show here in “Glory Sound Prep”. Bellion has a remarkable capacity to capture human experience in musical form.
Kevin: I agree with that I feel like “Glory Sound Prep” is almost the yin to the yang that is “The Human Condition.” Lyrically he deals with more of what is to be celebrated from life than he does with the trials of life. And, of course, the production is so good.
Madison: That he has helped other musicians produce some of their more famous songs is evident. “Blu” brings in exultant trumpets and soft piano moments in ways that perfectly mix in and mesh with electronic pops and bass.
Kevin: I don’t know that there is anyone in music right now that does as good a job at meshing pop and hip-hop as Jon Bellion did on this album except for maybe Childish Gambino. Although, Childish more combines R&B with Hip Hop. But, I agree that his ability as a top-notch producer and songwriter is most clear on this record.
What could have been done better?
Madison: There were a few songs that I just didn’t get. There are very few albums where I can listen to every song without exception. Bellion’s strength is his experimentation with sounds, beats, and lyrics. He is on the cutting edge, so inevitably he’s going to have a few that don’t work. A song like “Let’s Begin” just didn’t hit the sweet spot for me, but that could very well be my own tastes.
Kevin: It’s funny because I agree that Bellion isn’t able to put out an album without a few tracks that I don’t care for. On “The Human Condition,” I kind of skipped over “iRobot” and “Fashion”. But, “Let’s Begin” is actually one of my favorite tracks from the album. I think what could have done better for me would be an incorporation of the album’s title. The previews to the album with Stormzy and other animated characters gave me this hope that there would be some links to class, some fictional school in some fictional universe, or even a feature from Stormzy. And, the album didn’t really do justice to that possibility in my opinion. I was hoping for something like “Trench’ by 21 Pilots. And, that’s not what “Glory Sound Prep” is.
Madison: True. No matter how awesome someone is, it will always be impossible for all of our expectations to be satisfied. Something else is that when the album finished playing I just wanted more. 10 songs?! Please, Bellion give me more! I know some of his other albums were pretty limited but I would love a more robust showcasing of his talents.
Kevin: I thought the exact same thing! When he says “A song a day for six years” on the track JT I thought, “Okay if you really write a song a day then let’s get more than 10 songs on this album.”
Madison: But I suppose the fact that we want more is a sign that he’s working with real sonic magic. I’ve heard other albums from other artists with bigger tracklists and I’m bored halfway through. So Bellion, if you read this, know that I love your music so damn much that I’m saddened by only 10 songs. It’s like a steak that is just a touch too small.
Kevin: Hahaha. Yeah, I feel like when I listen to a Drake album I get bored after three or four songs. But, John Bellion definitely keeps me wanting more.
What are your top three favorite tracks?
Madison: The first is “Stupid Deep”. It’s a slower song that mixes piano solo with synthesizer tones and beats. Lyrics are so important to me and “Stupid Deep” is a song that just speaks to my heart. Bellion sings about things that are so subtle and yet it feels like he’s found profound answers to his own trials. Like this song could be the answer to his song “Human” from the last album. It’s just so good.
Kevin: First on my top three would be “Let’s Begin” The sonic progression in the song reminds me of his previous songs “Simple and Sweet”. He develops a great riff on which he and others can rap and then has a phenomenal electronic hook that acts as a chorus. I felt like that was when the album really began (pun intended) for me.
Madison: Second for me is “Conversations with my Wife”. This song has a joy to it that is hard to match. What I like most about Bellion is his ability to sing about life. The track speaks to anxieties we all feel about our love-relationships. “Who the fuck cares about these plaques on my wall? You’re still the only thing I’ve done right” are the lyrics of a man who knows what is most important in life. It also tells the story of someone who has found success but has desires to walk away from it all and just be “me and you inside real life.” Mix this with, my honorable mention, “The Internet” and you see Bellion has learned that huge success can steal you away from the things that actually mean the most to you. Ugh, I love it so much. Plus it has a crazy good sound that builds to a great cacophony of beat and music that almost seem to dance together.
Kevin: My second would have to be “Adult Swim” I feel like the productions that set up the verses are brilliant. And, I love all of the callbacks to old school cartoons including the features by the voice of Piccolo from Dragon Ball Z. Also, the way his vocals take on that sing-songy element. For me, that’s just golden. Also, I love the break down at the end that all of the good in his life comes from Christ. Each section has a separate beat and style. I guess I just love when Jon Bellion can make a song progress as he does on both this song and “Let’s Begin.”
Madison: That is so funny that you’ve chosen the two songs that I just don’t quite get. I loved the callbacks to old school cartoons but I just didn’t really love that song. So interesting that Bellion can appeal to such different audiences. Anyways, my third favorite is “Mah’s Joint.” For all the same reasons I love those other songs, Bellion finishes his album out with an ode to mothers everywhere. The first half of the song is a soft piece about a time when his “mother was a mother to her mom.” Then the second half is a wild brass and choral jazz explosion that has no lyrics which finishes with bells, violins, Bellion’s own remixed singing, and an oddly perfect deep, hard synthesized through-beat. This song demonstrates so perfectly what Bellion is doing so right — evoking a spirit so close to the human heart while combining sounds and instruments commonsense would think incompatible. Just fantastic.
Kevin: That is funny. The song that clicks least with me was probably “Stupid Deep.” I still like it. It just wasn’t my favorite. But, I am totally with you on “Mah’s Joint”. The song is phenomenal and probably the most important song that he’s ever come out with. I love how it deals with love and eternal rewards as well as the sad consequences of Alzheimer’s.
Could this album have a long-lasting impact?
Kevin: I think it absolutely could. I think it is up there with Give Up by Postal Service in terms of repeatability. But, as always it’s really hard to tell when an album just barely came out.
Madison: I have no idea what criteria gives an album the ability to impact music in general. But I know that personally, this album cements Bellion as one of my favorite artists. I’m sort of a music snob so it isn’t often that I find an artist where I like 90% of their work. “Glory Sound Prep” stands, in my opinion, as Bellion truly making a statement to the industry. What he is doing is the future of music. Be sure to pick up or download this album — you won’t be sad you did.
Update 11/28: Madison here. Having taken Kevin’s words seriously, I listened to “Adult Swim” and “Let’s Begin” a few more times each. I take back everything I said negative about the songs. Jon Bellion is a music god and didn’t fail once on Glory Sound Prep. That is all.
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