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Music Review: James Bay Changes All the Time Brings Soulful Folk-Pop to Life |
Music Review: James Bay Changes All the Time Brings Soulful Folk-Pop to Life
James Bay, the British troubadour who first captivated listeners with his 2014 debut Chaos and the Calm, returns in 2024 with a deeply reflective and soulful album, Changes All the Time. Known for his breakout hit “Let It Go,” which soared to platinum status and cemented Bay’s place in the pop-folk scene, his new album builds on the emotional vulnerability that has become his signature style.
The album opens with “Talk,” a track that captures Bay’s candid introspection. “I don’t know how to talk to you / I gotta give you something true,” he confesses, before lifting the listener into a soaring chorus backed by his signature guitar melodies. It’s the kind of song that fans of his early work will immediately recognize — raw, honest, and emotionally resonant. As always, Bay's voice is rich with sincerity, drawing you into the complexities of relationships and self-discovery.
Changes All the Time comes at a fortuitous time for the folk-pop genre, with artists like Noah Kahan and Lizzy McAlpine leading a resurgence in folk-inspired music that thrives on deeply personal lyrics. Bay’s latest effort feels like a natural extension of this moment, with folk’s familiar strums mixed with modern flourishes that make it both timeless and relevant. His partnership with The Lumineers and Kahan on the lead single “Up All Night” is a high-energy anthem that blends stomping rhythms with hollering harmonies. The track evokes imagery of close-knit jams — whether around a campfire, in a pub, or on stage — as the trio sings, “Let’s talk about dreams / Let’s talk about lies / Let’s talk about all the things that keep us / Up all night.”
In this latest offering, Bay has crafted a collection that feels both intimate and communal. While Changes All the Time stays true to his folk-pop roots, it embraces a broader sonic palette, making the album accessible to new listeners while deeply satisfying longtime fans. There’s an undeniable sense of nostalgia embedded in these tracks, likely to appeal to those who first fell for Bay’s heartfelt style a decade ago and to new audiences drawn to folk’s recent resurgence.
A standout track, “Golden Days,” continues this balance of introspection and hope, offering reflective lyrics that remind listeners of the fragility of time and the importance of cherishing every moment. Much like Bay’s early work, the guitar takes center stage here, grounding the song in rich acoustic melodies that build into cathartic, sing-along choruses.
At 34, Bay stands as a seasoned artist whose music has evolved with him, retaining the emotional core that defined his early career while embracing new influences and collaborators. Changes All the Time is an album that invites us to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going — all with Bay’s soulful voice as our guide.
For fans of authentic, heartfelt music that bridges the past and present, Changes All the Time is a must-listen. Bay once again proves that in a constantly shifting world, there’s always room for raw emotion, vulnerability, and, of course, a little stomp and holler.