After being relegated to musical limbo for years due to an overly tight contract, JoJo makes an triumphant return to the pay release world with Tringle (or triple single). While her freeleases over the past two years have had her going in a more R&B direction, this has the songstress embarking down the road of pop and pop-rock for an accessible but decidedly still adult sound.
The first track (they are reversed in the playlist), When Love Hurts, has JoJo declaring that you can only know love is real when the person you love hurts you because that means there’s real feeling there. The track is deceptively upbeat that has absolutely fallen apart but the participants don’t seem to want to be the first to let go. The lightest of the tracks here, the danceable production belies some deeper truths that the singer is espousing.
Save My Soul has the songstress trapped in love with someone who doesn’t return her feelings in the same way. The pop-rock production will remind some of mid-80’s power pop with its synthy chords and pulsing underlays.
Say Love has JoJo speaking out to the man she loves to tell him that he needs to tell her his feelings if he wants to salvage what they have. This is an amazing track with it power ballad production and the singer is absolutely up to the task of delivering on the emotional importance of the moment.
All three tracks show JoJo’s vocal range and abilities as she gives just enough to infuse each track with the appropriate emotion in the right places. She dials back when needed before ramping up and taking us home. The strength of the lyrics is strong as the three songs come together to tell the story of a love that has issues but could survive. Surprisingly listenable at all times for three songs about the hard part of love, these have us eager for whatever else the diva has cooking.
Click the button below the player to purchase this maxi single.
Kel & Mel Reviews 