Jessie Reyez returns with a perfect breakup album, “YESSIE,” and garners the hype that came from her pandemic-ridden debut album “Before Love Came to Kill Us” in 2020.
This album takes listeners on a journey of loving and losing and through all the ups and downs of coming to terms with a breakup and finding one’s self-worth.
When she opens the album with “MOOD” and raps, “I get along with most men, more than I do with some women,” I was a little turned off. But, she continues spitting for the first minute of the song until the chorus hits. By the second verse, she flaunts about how well she’s been doing and raps, “Caskets, caskets for all of the has-beens/ Who wouldn’t help me out, now it’s zoom, zoom past you.”
Starting the album with “MOOD” is a commentary about what this album is about. Some people may have kicked dirt in Reyez’s face, but she is coming out on top in the end. In that same regard, ending the album with the Spanish-English track “ADIÓS AMOR,” gives both Reyez and the listeners closure. She sings about leaving the things behind that no longer serve her, like relationships and reminiscing on the past, and it feels triumphant.
Although it feels more like a breakup album, the production of the album is dynamic. Each song has a distinct sound, and one of my favorite songs production-wise is “HITTIN.” It has the makings of a classic R&B track. But, most importantly, when she sings, “’Cause there’s something in thе way that the moon ishittin’/ That’s making you look like you could be more than just a friend,” she really emphasizes the word “hittin’” with gumption.
The Spanish-English track “TITO’S” is noticeably produced by Calvin Harris. It is upbeat and sounds like just another pop track on the radio. Despite it being in the ballpark of basic, it is a refreshing track on a slower-paced album.
6lack is the only feature to appear on the 11-track album with “Forever,” which is a standout track. She worked with him on her last album on the song “Imported” as well, and the two prove to be quite the duo. The high point of “Forever” is in the post-chorus when she pleads, “Baby, you should stay forever.” And a deep background vocal complements her and sings, “I think you should put your bag down, you should never leave.”
In some songs she sounds like she’s over her ex like in “MUTUAL FRIEND,” which she debuted as the first single of the album on Jimmy Kimmel Live in August, and “QUEEN ST. W.”
“MUTUAL FRIEND,” another stand out track, alludes to a mutual friend being a source of the end of a relationship. She airs out her feelings and sings, “This heartbreak morphed into hate.”
Reyez’s vocals in “MUTUAL FRIEND” is really what makes it so prominent on the album. Although the track sounds somber, she finds a way to fire back at her estranged lover. She savagely sings, “If you died tomorrow, I don’t think I’d cry/ I gave you one too many nights.”
In the chorus of “QUEEN St. W,” she fuels the fire further and sings, “The bitches you want, want me.”
But, in other songs, like “STILL C U,” she shares the sadness and vulnerability that one experiences when coming to terms with a breakup. Reyez goes back and forth in the song between missing her ex and remembering how he treated her. Ultimately, she arrives at the conclusion and sings, “It never matters what I do, I just can’t get away from you.”
“EMOTIONAL DETACHMENT DEMO” is the lowest part of the album, emotionally speaking, but another high point in terms of Reyez’s display of emotion. She sings in a very low, somber tone and can convey to listeners where she is on her journey. Part 1 of the demo sets the scene of Reyez meeting her ex’s new girlfriend at a party. Part 2 begins by her saying, “You get better when you finally fucking tired of being sad.”
“YESSIE” is overall a relatable album that tugs at your heart strings or even may encourage you to seek revenge on an ex. However you may receive it, it is worth a listen.
“YESSIE” can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Pandora.