Laufey has certainly found her niche in the recording industry, making jazz accessible to the masses. Her third studio album, A Matter Of Time, is an instant favorite amongst long time fans and new listeners alike. After listening to the album three times in full, here is my complete review.
I would like to start off by saying, I don’t think there is a bad song on this album. The songs work incredibly well in conjunction with each other, and the album presents a clear and cohesive theme. The production quality is fantastic, and it is clear that immense thought and creativity went into the making of the album. There were some clear standout pieces, but also a few that felt slightly repetitive. My personal ranking in order of favorite to least favorite is: 1. Tough Luck 2. Mr. Eclectic 3. Lover Girl 4. Castle In Hollywood 5. Snow White 6. Clean Air 7. Carousel 8. Silver Lining 9. Clockwork 10. Too Little, Too Late 11. Forget-Me-Not 12. Sabotage 13. A Cautionary Tale 14. Cuckoo Ballet (Interlude)
The first track on the album, Clockwork, features a ticking clock and bell tones that function as percussion, adding a fun, playful feel to an otherwise melancholy song. In true Laufey fashion, she sings longingly about a love lost, only to joyfully pine over a new crush in the next track, Lover Girl. This rapid oscillation is a common theme throughout the album, evoking a roller coaster of emotions in just fourteen songs. She skillfully addresses difficult topics, such as the loss of a friendship (Castle In Hollywood) and societal beauty standards imposed on women (Snow White). Even my least favorite song, Cuckoo Ballet (Interlude), has clear merits and a definitive place in the album, but as the only song without lyrics, it is difficult to judge in the same category as the other tracks.
My only real criticism of the album as a whole is that it certainly isn’t a departure from Laufey’s previous records. Many of the songs sound quite similar to previous releases and at times, even other tracks on the album. This isn’t to say that I dislike the sound that she is producing, as I think that it works very well for her, but some moments left me hoping for a divergence from her usual style of jazz-pop. My favorite track of the record, Tough Luck, came the closest to a genre-bending effort, with edgier instrumentals and lyrics fueled by vitriol rather than longing. The result was a pop-rock masterpiece that stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Mr. Eclectic also leaned into an edgier sound, opting to make less than subtle jabs at a former lover over her typical pining ballads. This album as a whole will definitely become a part of my regular listening, and it seems the general public agrees, as A Matter Of Time is quickly gaining popularity and cementing Laufey’s place a very non-traditional pop star. Considering I thoroughly enjoyed every listen, and have found myself coming back to the album many times since I first heard it, I rate it four and a half out of five stars.