| 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".
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]
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]
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".
Musicians
Technical
| 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.
All songs are produced by Amane Suganami.
Musicians
Technical
| Peak position | |
| Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[9] | 29 |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] | 33 |