Album Review: "PISCES" - James Arthur

Cheyenne Johnson
May 3
4 min read

Photo credits: Genius

Embracing his astrological sign, James Arthur has released his sixth studio album, PISCES. The English singer-songwriter takes Pisces personality traits, like being introspective and sensitive, and weaves them into the fabric of the album's composition. Shedding light on his connection to astrology, Arthur shares, "I’m a Pisces, and I’ve always resonated with those traits. Each track on this album is a part of me, a building block of who I am. PISCES just felt like the natural title to bring everything together,"

TRACK LIST:

1. Summer

2. Cruel

3. All My Love

4. ADHD

5. Gucci (Interlude)

6. Celebrate

7. F.R.I.E.N.D.S

8. Embers

9. KARAOKE

10. Yeah, No.

11. Water

12. Hallelujah

Quickly rising to fame after winning the X Factor in 2012, James Arthur has been a staple in the pop world since his chart-topping cover of Shontelle's "Impossible." The artist has consistently found himself on the UK charts since his debut, enjoying the success of albums like Back From The Edge and You. Though Arthur is known for his heartfelt ballads, he has chosen to move in a different sonic direction with PISCES, turning to a more ethereal, soft sound. Explaining the shift in his artistry, Arthur states, "I wanted this project to feel different – dreamier and more intimate. People often expect big, emotional ballads from me, but I’ve always had more to offer. This time, I wanted to strip things back and explore a gentler approach."

Wishing to connect with his emotions and audience, James Arthur wears his heart on his sleeve in each song on PISCES. The album has a solid mix of ballads and light commercial pop tracks, staying in touch with the artist's roots while pushing his sonic boundaries. "Summer" starts PISCES off strong, engulfing listeners in an addictive pop rock soundscape. The track is one of the more explosive entries on the album, seamlessly moving into the next track, "Cruel," a soft, tender ballad that is a stark difference from the intense choruses of "Summer." "All My Love" picks the pace back up, keeping things sweet and touching while avoiding becoming stale by incorporating catchy hooks and driving beats throughout the track.

Turning to themes of mental health, Arthur opens up on "ADHD," addressing the difficulties of living with ADHD and how it impacts falling in love. The introspective track is accompanied by an irresistible pop rock soundscape, showing why it's deserving of being the album's lead single. "ADHD" is followed by a brief shift in genres with "Gucci (Interlude)," switching to a hip-hop inspired sound that breaks up the heavy use of commercial pop on the rest of PISCES. After the detour "Gucci (Interlude)" takes us on, Arthur moves back to intimate ballads with "Celebrate." The track was another single released ahead of the album, showcasing the artist's elite lyricism and emotive vocals fans know and love.

A nod to the hit NBC sitcom of the same name, "F.R.I.E.N.D.S" seems to mourn the death of actor Matthew Perry, capturing the hurt fans felt worldwide when the news broke. The track is written in a way that sounds like Arthur is speaking directly to Perry, showing how much the actor's work meant to him and questioning why no one was there for Perry in his last moments. "F.R.I.E.N.D.S" is truly a heartbreaking song that's relatable to those who felt grief over the loss of Perry but can also resonate with anyone who has experienced the sudden loss of a loved one. Moving to themes of lost love and lingering feelings, "Embers" is up next on PISCES. The track showcases Arthur's deep, powerful vocals over an acoustic guitar-laden soundscape, proving to be one of the most beautiful songs on the album. "KARAOKE" brings us back to a more lighthearted, commercial pop sound, featuring a peppy soundscape that makes it easy to dance along to. It's clear why the track was released as one of the singles to promote PISCES as it keeps the momentum going on the album with a fiery pop rock influenced sound.

Starkly different from the rest of the album, "Yeah, No." is a highlight on PISCES with its heavier pop punk sound. The track sets a blistering pace, featuring driving percussion, electrifying guitar riffs, and riveting melodies that deviate from Arthur's goal of delivering a soft, intimate approach to his artistry. An acoustic ballad similar to "Embers," "Water" serves as the penultimate entry on PISCES. The track features an acoustic guitar-laden soundscape, allowing listeners to be awed by Arthur's spellbinding vocal performance. "Water" has some of the richest instrumentals on the album, moving from acoustic guitar riffs to enveloping listeners with lush strings as Arthur belts heartfelt lines. Ending PISCES on a sentimental note, Arthur reflects on the pain he's experienced in life in "Hallelujah." The track starts soft and delicate as the artist exposes the rawest parts of himself over light piano lines, later building to the song's climax. Winding down from the ups and downs of the album, "Hallelujah" leaves listeners in a contemplative mood full of bittersweet hope that one day all the pain will be washed away.

Building on the success of his previous album, Bittersweet Love, James Arthur continues to deliver his signature soulful ballads while giving fans something new to chew on with the different direction he took on PISCES. The album is a reflection of everything the artist has been through up until this point, showcasing a culmination of love, loss, and pain that makes Arthur who he is. PISCES takes us on an emotional journey many of us can relate to, giving pop enthusiasts a plethora of songs that can be enjoyed for ages.

Written By Cheyenne Johnson