Album Review: Pharrell Williams - G I R L

It's important not to have extraordinary expectations of Pharrell Williams' new LP, G I R L. The artist has had a hand in so many of the biggest pop songs of the modern era that it's forgivable to think he'll perhaps pull something devastatingly important out of his hat for his first LP in eight years. He doesn't. What you get here is slick pop with little substance. But is that such a bad thing?

As expected from the man with his production nous, the sound of the record is taut and terrific throughout G I R L; the shiny and slick light disco of Brand New, the slinky Gush and the lightweight funk of the Miley-featuring Come Get It Bae are all pleasant without making much impact. On one side of that you've got the classy Marilyn Monroe and Gust Of Wind, which are meaty, exciting pop tunes, and on the other you've got throwaway tracks like Hunter, which feels like a waste of time. Alicia Keys makes Know Who You Are worthwhile, Gush will take you back to the Neptunes' glory days and, well, you've heard Happy.

There's not enough substance for G I R L to be considered anything more than a very pleasant pop album, but there's no shame in that. Its crispness will ensure it finds a wide audience and it's no doubt going to be far more agreeable than other chart-topping fare in 2014, so you're best off soaking it up and waiting to see what the all-conquering Pharrell does next.