JAY B is Back With First Full Album, Archive 1: [Road Runner]
Following the end of his military service, GOT7 leader and soloist JAY B dropped his first full-length album, Archive 1: [Road Runner]. This album is packed with 11 R&B and pop tracks. Each song is carefully created, and each has a unique sound.
Archive 1: [Road Runner] Tracklist:
“Baby”
“if you”
“Make Me Right”
“Chosen”
“Take it easy”
“Crash” (Title Track)
“Preview”
“°C(Temperature)”
“Right back”
“Inside”
“Cloud nine”
Archive 1: [Road Runner] Album Review
The placement of the songs on the album stood out to me before even playing the album. Before we got to the title track, “Crash,” there were five B-sides before it. Typically, the title track is one of the first three songs on the album or EP, but the title track, being number six is something new.
The title track, “Crash,” is an upbeat pop/R&B/punk dance track. JAY B really took the combination of many genres and merged them together to create an unforgettable track. This song has many memorable moments that make you smile, rewind, and bust a move. For example, the line about having an attitude like Rihanna, jumping into the Jeep, and being asked who JAY B? “Crash” is about the feeling he gets from this girl. Just from how she is, he wants to be with her, but he doesn’t know how to be in a relationship. It just feels like he’s crashing. JAY B’s vocals are always a topic of discussion. We have known him for his exceptional vocal skills since his debut. You can hear JAY B hitting falsettos in the song, and the runs are smoothly performed.
The music video looks like it was so much fun to film. Firstly, the dancers. It is fantastic to see how the dancers are incorporated into the video to make it look like they are actors. Every time they started dancing, I felt like it was a party. “Crash” is such a fun song, and I can’t wait to see what kind of promotions he has planned for this song.
There are songs on this album to fit any type of mood that you are in. If you are in the mood for a good slow jam, then tracks like “if you,” “Right back,” “Inside,” and “Cloud nine” are perfect for you. These R&B tracks give us that slow, sultry sound that many people think of when they hear R&B. I do love how even though each song is in that range of R&B, they each sound so different. For example, in “Cloud nine” you can hear the strums of the acoustic guitar which adds a more personal feeling to the song. Every single one of these songs has been added to my R&B playlist. They are so good and showcase JAY B's vocals.
For those still looking for those R&B tracks but just want them to be a little upbeat, then songs like “Baby,” “Make Me Right,” “Chosen,” “Take it easy,” “Preview,” and “°C(Temperature)” are perfect for you. These tracks are more upbeat compared to the slower-sounding songs. With these songs, I felt like dancing. I can imagine these being played in clubs, at parties, or truly at any social event where dancing is involved. Songs like “Take it easy” and “Preview” have this more retro sound, adding this funk sound to R&B. These songs are so good and give the album a more upbeat, bubbly vibe.
There are only a few times when I add every song off an album to my playlists. This is one of those times. Every song is so good. So, check out Archive 1: [Road Runner] and see which one of these R&B bangers is your favorite.