Review: Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It

Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It (2012, Matador)

Spotify

Mog

By Justin

“Hold my hand, I am afraid.”

These are the first words spoken on the second track of Perfume Genius’ second album, Put Your Back N 2 It. While it’s easy to use lyrics like this to connect the album to its artist’s haunting sound, it has almost become too easy to describe him as such. So while his style keeps an ethereal tone to it, there is something more to Mike Hadreas’ work on this album. Even when we feel weak and scared along with the artist, there is overwhelming sense of closeness, warmth, and confidence on this album that was lacking on his debut. Hadreas has focused his efforts and style on Put Your Back N 2 It, and produced a spectacular sophomore album.

There are few artists who can truly pull off being this sullen and lethargic in their style and make it as compelling as anything fast paced and upbeat. Hadreas is quickly joining Anthony and his ilk in this sense. His voice is so incredibly fragile and he seems to build his style on that fact. His music never feels forced or overpowering, and lets you follow along with it without breaking the emotional bridge he has built for the listener. This is why slower, sparser songs like “Normal Song, “17”, and “Put Your Back N 2 It” can feel powerful and suspenseful instead of boring.

While those songs are the strength of the album, we also get some more medium paced songs on the album that helps it stay persistently interesting (I don’t think it’s really fair to call anything fast paced on the album). “Take Me Home” doesn’t necessarily catch the world on fire, but it has a back beat that keeps it feeling faster than many of its contemporaries. The pounding drums on “Dark Parts” give it a similar feel. “Hood” combines both of these strong points into a slow build that becomes possibly the best song on the album.

Not every song can be saved by just Hadreas’ unique voice, though. Songs like “Dirge” and “All Water” don’t really add much to the album. Sometimes lyrics aren’t enough to carry some of these songs, and filling out his musical style will probably be something that Hadreas grows into on future endeavors. The fact that some of these songs beg for a more lush composition is about my only complaint with the album.

Put Your Back N 2 It is not necessarily a large step forward for Perfume Genius, but it shows that his talent is not a fluke. It is a beautiful album, and only gets better with multiple listens. His style can only get better as he evolves as an artist, and creates a more rounded sound for his unique voice to play in. For now, we get a solid album that shows that the promise Hadreas displayed on his debut is for real.

8.3/10 - Shortlisted*

Songs I Starred On Spotify

• Normal Song
• 17
• Take Me Home
• Dark Parts
• Hood
• Put Your Back N 2 It

*Shortlisted albums are albums that will be considered for my year end top 50 albums list. Being shortlisted means that an album is worth a recommendation.