Falling or Flying explained

Falling or Flying
Type:studio
Artist:Jorja Smith
Cover:Jorja Smith - Falling or Flying.png
Studio:Studio 13[1]
Genre:R&B
Length:43:39
Label:FAMM
Prev Title:Be Right Back
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Falling or Flying (Reimagined)
Next Year:2024

Falling or Flying is the second studio album by British singer Jorja Smith, released on 29 September 2023 through FAMM. The album was primarily produced by DameDame* and includes features from J Hus and Lila Iké. It marks Smith's first full-length album in five years and was preceded by the release of four singles: "Try Me", "Little Things", "Go Go Go" and "Falling or Flying".[2]

A reimagined version of the album was released on May 3, 2024, featuring live interpretations of some of the album's tracks including "Greatest Gift", "Little Things" and "Feelings".

Background

A press release stated that the album "thrillingly broaches any gap between jazz, soul, R&B and funky house", while Smith herself stated that the lyrical content "touch[es] on breakups, relationships with my friends, relationships with old friends, relationships with myself". Smith also called each song a "standstill moment".[3] Billboard stated that in comparison to Smith's first album, Falling or Flying has Smith "stepping into womanhood" and "more sure of herself than ever before".[4]

Promotion

The album was announced on 18 May 2023.[5] In addition to the first three singles released throughout 2023, Smith released the self-directed music video for the fourth single "Falling or Flying" on 30 August,[6] and also released the track list at the same time.[2]

Critical reception

Falling or Flying received a score of 74 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on thirteen critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that "Smith has kept her sound strictly focused. No matter how many layers are in the final mixes—and there can be plenty tucked in—the songs present themselves as minimal, with stripped-down riffs behind aching vocals. In other words, rhythms and blues".[7] Joe Goggins of DIY called the album "compelling evidence" that Smith "made the right decision" to "take her time in crafting her comeback", writing that "this is thoughtful, nuanced R&B that demonstrates Jorja's kaleidoscopic feel for her genre".

NMEs Thomas Smith compared the album to Solange's When I Get Home (2019), calling it "an uncompromising and arresting treasure of a record" as "scarcely any songs [...] sound the same, but the throughline of Smith trusting her gut remains and reconnecting with herself remains a guiding constant". Reviewing the album for MusicOMH, John Murphy opined that it "feels more authentically like Smith's real self. There's less in the way of down-tempo ballads, leaving her room to explore and develop her sound: and there seems more chance of flight than fall by the quality of her new songs". Aimee Cliff of Pitchfork felt that the "unhurried, self-possessed" album "soars when it lets loose".

Wesley McLean of Exclaim! wrote that the album "finds Smith exploring new sounds and crossing into different genres. A valiant effort, the album is sometimes hindered by this omnivorous approach, ultimately lacking the cohesion and vision of her previous release". Mojo felt that "Smith often finds herself stuck in a musical straitjacket of tired R&B tropes, rarely able to break out of a narrow comfort zone".

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Falling or Flying (Reimagined)

Falling or Flying (Reimagined)
Type:Studio album
Longtype:(re-recording)
Artist:Jorja Smith
Recorded:2023–24
Length:27:16
Label:FAMM
Prev Title:Falling or Flying
Prev Year:2023

Falling or Flying (Reimagined)[8] is an album by British singer Jorja Smith. Released on May 3, 2024 through FAMM, the album is a re-recording of a selection of tracks from the Falling or Flying album, arranged and produced by Amane Suganami.

Track listing

All songs are produced by Amane Suganami.

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[9] 29
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] 33

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tingen. Paul. Inside Track: Jorja Smith 'Try Me' - Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Riccardo Damian. Sound On Sound. December 2023. 12 March 2024.
  2. Web site: Jorja Smith unveils Falling or Flying tracklist, shares title track. The Fader. Lejarde. Arielle Lana. 30 August 2023. 13 September 2023.
  3. Web site: Jorja Smith announces new album Falling or Flying. NME. Shutler. Ali. 20 May 2023. 13 September 2023.
  4. Why Jorja Smith's New Album Is Her Most Inspired Yet. Billboard. Mamo. Heran. 28 August 2023. 13 September 2023.
  5. Web site: Jorja Smith Announces New Album Falling or Flying. Pitchfork. Minsker. Evan. 18 May 2023. 13 September 2023.
  6. Jorja Smith has released a new song and video, 'Falling or flying'. Dork. Taylor. Sam. 31 August 2023. 13 September 2023.
  7. News: Jorja Smith Puts a Beat Behind Mixed Emotions on Falling or Flying. The New York Times. Pareles. Jon. Jon Pareles. 28 September 2023. 29 September 2023. 28 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230928161725/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/28/arts/music/jorja-smith-falling-or-flying-review.html.
  8. Web site: Hussain . Shahzaib . Jorja Smith Announces 'falling or flying (reimagined)' Project . Clash Magazine . 3 May 2024.
  9. Web site: ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. 9 October 2023. 6 October 2023.
  10. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 9 October 2023. 7 October 2023.