J Rawls & Middle Child

Rawls and Middle

Polar

Rating: 2/4

If there’s anything we have learned from the past decade of music is that it’s truly a producer’s world and vocal artists are just living in it. Since the birth of “the iTunes single” many MCs and vocalists have clearly been identified by the signature sound of the latest and greatest button pushers, and for some, to their own disadvantage. J Rawls (the hyper soulful Ohio-based producer) is truly a master at his craft. With his latest offering, titled Rawls and Middle, J clearly displays his ability to inject harmonious landscapes with every kick and snare. Track after track, Rawls’ lavish sonic gems pull you in for a closer listen but the only problem is that this album isn’t meant to be an instrumental. Rawls’ collaborator, Middle Child, though engaging and alluring, slightly fails at grabbing your attention as a songstress. Though her potential is clearly limitless, Rawls’ production unfortunately outweighs Middle’s effort to command the musical stage. Despite the minor pitfalls, Rawls and Middle do offer some luminous tracks. Song like “Music Over Madness” and “Put Something in the Air” are melodic and upbeat while tracks like “Can I be Real” display Middle’s ability to convert her passion into musical form. It’s true that the last decade may have been the age of the super producers but with every new opportunity, a vocalist has a chance to define what musical signature they want to leave with listeners.