the 31 best of 2008 – 2: Will Young – Let It Go

I want to start off by saying how it’s a damn shame that this amazing (A-M-A-Z-I-N-G) album will probably never be released here in the US, and as such, Will Young fans will be forced to shell out import prices to gain access to this amazing record. Additionally, it is a shame, because people that are not Will Young fans that would otherwise love his music will probably not be exposed to him, because of said release restrictions. Now that I got that off my chest, I want to talk about my favorite pop album of the year, Will Young’s amazing Let It Go.I first became a fan of Will when I heard the amazing song All Time Love (which is still amongst my favorite songs ever), from his previous release, Keep On. I ordered Keep On immediately, and never looked back; the brand of jazz infused, perfect pop that Will Young compliments with is gorgeous vocals fills the album, and makes for a truly amazing pop record. After falling so hard for Will with Keep On, I wanted more, and even though Keep On was his third album, his previous two efforts were bogged down by what one can only assume was a result of his contractual obligations from winning the first UK Pop Idol. While there are more than a few great tracks amongst them, the albums just don’t contain the confidence and sexy swagger that Will truly exemplifies on Keep On, and as such, I was anxious for something new (those albums are a little cover-heavy too). Well, given the fact that Keep On was released WAAAAY back in 2005, I was more than elated to hear earlier this year that Mr. Young would be releasing a new album in the fall. After hearing the lead single, Changes, I knew that the energy, power, and professionalism that Will had put into Keep On would be “keeping on” with his new album; Changes is a brilliant song.

Well, it wasn’t long before track after track was available for listen on the internet, and I instantly realized that I was sitting in front of one of the best albums of the year. There isn’t a dull moment on Let It Go; Will Young has made an album filled with heartfelt anthems of love and loss, all with his trademark sweet vocals and jazz influenced pop rock. The tenderness in his lyrics highlights Will’s brilliant song writing capability, and his choice of producer to bring the songs to life shows consistent brilliance. I can say without a glimmer of doubt, that there isn’t a song on this album that I don’t love; it is a perfect pop album. Will Young has gone from someone that I was meagerly interested in to one of my favorite artists that I will now follow with unfettered attention; as he grows, he has proven that his music will continue to grow with him, and if his last two albums are any indication, this is one of pop music’s new people to watch out for. Will seriously has the ability and skill to place himself amongst his older peers, like George Michael, if he keeps this game going as well as he has to date.

Impressive as it is, I am still disappointed that this album will probably never see an American release. It is sad that pop music that is this brilliant is being produced across the pond, and we are forced to take to the internet to find out about it; especially considering the utter shit that is forced down our throats by American radio each day. I would gladly give up most of the crap out there for a few more minutes with Mr. Young, who confidently sings song after song, bringing the sexiness and swagger of a seasoned professional through in each track. Since I cannot do anything about his album being released here in the States, I will do what I CAN do; I will shout about the brilliance of Let It Gofrom the rooftops, and continue to tell anyone that will listen how completely amazing, beautiful, well produced, and down right fantastic Will Young, and this his fourth album, is. The only reason that this isn’t my album of the year, is because the one that edged it out holds a little more of my love; for me, this album is truly perfect in every way, and I am pleased that Will is continuing to make music that is both this impressive, and has this level of consistent quality. I will conclude by saying how refreshing I find it that Will is also an out musician, and he doesn’t sugar coat it; these love songs are definitely about a man, and are sung to him. I love that he wears his heart on his sleeve, and that you know it has the potential to belong to an actual partner; rather than a fictitious character created to hide his orientation. It is all of these reasons together that make me swoon heavy for Will Young, and with Let It Gohe has only made it incredibly harder to resist him!

Sparkle Factor:
Stand Outs:
If Love Equals Nothing [audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/willyoung-ifloveequalsnothing.mp3]
Let It Go [audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_103_willyoung-letitgo.mp3]
Grace, Changes, Tell Me The Worst, Simple Philosophy, You Don’t Know, Are You Happy.