Jon Bellion’s fan base has grown rapidly ever since he flew into the top 10 for songs like “All Time Low” off his last studio album, 2016’s The Human Condition. The pop icon hinted to his fans over Instagram about how his next record was going to be full of new sounds.
He wasn’t lying: Glory Sound Prep revolutionizes the simplistic standards of pop music. The album — which he fully produced himself — intertwines hip-hop, EDM, alternative and rock to create a sound that is creative while still being catchy and accessible to all music audiences.
From the first two tracks, it becomes apparent that Bellion was looking to bring something new to his sophomore album. The distorted vocals and driving guitar in “Conversations with my Wife” bring the high energy and anticipation of the album. On “JT,” Bellion incorporates syncopated percussion over his first verse, which transitions perfectly into the rhythmic melody.
Bellion brings his personalized taste for old school rap in “Let’s Begin” and “Adult Swim.” He has excellent features on both tracks and proves his ability to flow over the instrumentals.
This project’s only downfall is some of the basic lyrics found on certain tracks. This was most noticeable on the EDM-focused song, “Couples Retreat,” where Bellion repeatedly chants “Come say sorry with your body.” For the most part, Glory Sound Prep also follows generic pop song progressions, but Bellion carefully develops indescribable new sounds that make the album fresh and authentic.
Jon Bellion’s experience with producing and writing music is extremely evident throughout Glory Sound Prep. The artist has grown significantly from his previous projects, and he binds genres in a way that has not been previously heard in mainstream pop music.
