In 2015, Carly Rae Jepsen exceeded all expectations with the delicious pop album Emotion. Despite being a commercial failure that didn’t reach the popularity of “Call Me Maybe”, the LP was a critical hit that instantly gathered a cult following. On the new Dedicated, the Canadian singer unloads more of the best pop songs you won’t hear on Top 40. Though not reaching the same level of triumph her prior album did, the 15-track playlist is a blissful stroll through easygoing pop melodies, vibrant synths, and Jepsen’s energetic vocals.
Many songs hold the ability to put a smile on your face, like the ‘80s inspired “Want You In My Room”, wondrously produced by music mastermind Jack Antonoff. The instrumental choruses on “Real Love” and “Now That I Found You” tell just how important of a role the mixers play in giving Jepsen her wings. A huge plus is that these songs never feel overproduced, which sets it apart from much of the tiring pop music of today. With Jepsen’s passion on the mic, what results is an overwhelmingly cute pop record. Unfortunately, the sounds generally stumble a bit after the LP’s wowing first third. There’s a handful of beats that don’t really get any blood pumping, especially around Dedicated’s sluggish midpoint.
Emotion diehards will certainly fall for “Now That I Found You”, a single with all the ingredients to a CRJ banger. A creeping bass intro readies the canvas for a bubblegum pop tune that won’t bore its listeners even after the tenth listen. That’s something Jepsen and her production team have done so well these past few years: sticking the landing on the middle ground between radio pop to the likes of Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, but also catering to the style of indie poppers like Marina and the Diamonds.
It holds multiple certified smashers fit for Jepsen’s future greatest hits album, though not a single track reaches the four-minute mark. This is a fact that both boosts and hinders the album. On the one hand, it helps breeze through the lengthy tracklist and makes the LP an easy listen, but leaves some glossy standouts falling short of their full potential. Then again, that’s not a bad problem to have, and it’s one of only a few negatives.
Lyrics remain on the weaker end as they’ve always been for Jepsen. One could take a 50/50 guess the next song would either tell the story of our heroine wanting a guy’s love, or the opposite: staying strong amidst a breakup. This is, after all, a pop album, but the fruity production and excited vocals are enough to help this LP soar past pop standards. You can tell Carly loves making music, and if she’s having fun, we’re having fun.
SCAD Radio gives it an 8.4/10.
