Album Review: Jessie Ware- That! Feels Good!

Funky, nostalgic and pure ecstasy

That! Feels Good! is the fifth studio album from artist Jessie Ware released on April 28. Ware is known for her nostalgic sound that’s reminiscent of ‘70s disco-funk and ‘80s pop and this album fits right in with the rest of her discography. The album energetic, funky and perfect for dancing. 

The title track “That! Feels Good!” is the perfect introduction to the album. It is a combination of disco and funk and transports the listener to a club in the ‘70s. The whispers and soft vocals give the song a sexy and sultry feel and prepares the listener for the energy that will be heard in the vocals for the rest of the album. It takes disco and funk influences to the max and sounds like it would’ve been a hit in the ‘70s. 

“Free Yourself” was the first single for the highly anticipated album. The song has a modern feel through the producer’s electronic drum choice. It feels as if the song almost has EDM influences while the funk and disco influences still remain clear. 

“Pearls”, the second single released, is reminiscent of Japanese City Pop with the overall production of the song. The vocals are quite impressive and have a mature quality to them making it clear that Ware knows exactly what she is doing. The melody in the chorus is captivating and makes the listener crave more of the album. 

“Hello Love” is more mellow yet still has enough energy to keep the listener engaged. A common theme throughout this album is the incredibly full production and mix of each song and “Hello Love” makes this very apparent. The entire album is extremely clean and just simply done well in every way. 

“Begin Again” depicts how Ware is dedicated to her nostalgic ‘70s and ‘80s sound. The song has a BeeGees feel to it when they were at the top of their game during the disco era. “Freak Me Now” redirects the listener to the ‘80s through its heavy ‘80s pop influences such as Madonna. 

“These Lips” serves as a perfect closing track. It sounds similar to the first as if the intention was to play the album on a loop. It is also sexy, sultry, funky and everything Jessie Ware is known for. This album is for ‘70s and ‘80s lovers whether they want to feel nostalgic for the time they grew up in or if they have a fascination with the eras.