Joel Harris

First off, NF, more so than other artists, has to be considered by his comprehensive work as opposed to a singular album. This is part IV (or V depending on how you look at it) of the emotional journey of NF, not just a collection of songs over a period of a year or two. So how does this chapter compare to past pieces of this story? I believe when the dust settles people will say that it does. Comparing to his previous full length album, I thought that The Search was an absolute masterpiece from top to bottom and would be very hard to match. Did he match it? I would say "it depends on how you look at it." The Search had a very cohesive story and each song seemed to tell the next page of a compelling story of a man learning that he needs to start facing his fears, let go of his burdens, and find out if hope is even a realistic possibility for his life. Hope doesn't seem to carry that same song to song cohesiveness. That being said, you do see a very clear evolution as he has grown to find that hope is not a fantasy, healing can happen, and forgiveness is possible. It's touching and inspiring to watch on a personal level. What struck me on a musical level is (apart from the song Hope) he is lacking many of the dramatic builds he is most known for. His vocal ability is much more front and center with several tracks that seemed more vocal ballads than rap. To those who loved his old style marked by vocal aggression and cinematic orchestral crescendos, this might come as a bit of a shock. His tone is much more soothing and he has a more mainstream sound. This could be met with criticism or with excitement depending on your perspective. For me, it did catch me off guard, but at the end of the day I think it's an enjoyable development to listen to. I always felt that he had an underrated voice and that it could be utilized more often. I believe that when the dust settles, it will also allow for his musical talent to show itself much more prominently whereas in the past it could be drowned out by his dramatic sound. Additionally, I found myself saying "this is definitely a song I could see getting some radio play" to a number of his songs. As a fan, I've loved his work but I also recognize that many of his past songs don't translate to radio very well. To his diehards, they certainly don't care. They love his work regardless and will seek it out. To those outside of his devoted circle, though, they might never have an intersection with his work outside of maybe "Let You Down". With Hope, I could some serious crossover into an audience completely unaware of his work. For NF, his music is very personal and he is truly gifted in knowing how to resonate emotionally with the audience. That hasn't changed. His overall message and story is still solid and even if you don't like his style, he is truly inspirational. His style has changed/evolved/grown...whatever word you want to use. Is it for the better? To devoted fans I think the changes will likely grow on them or be met with an initial curiosity. Personally, I think when all is said and done I will find this a refreshing change of pace. To those unfamiliar with his work, I think they will be much more likely to cross his work and in turn dive into the comprehensive NF experience for themselves.