It’s not often you hear a breakup album backed up by funky, big band instrumentals, but Hannah Williams does exactly that in her 2016 album Late Nights and Heartbreak. The first half of the album sets the scene with groovy baselines, vibrant horns, and driving percussion. Williams then cranks the emotion to eleven in the second half of the album, with heartbreakers that show the album truly lives up to its name.
To be honest, the first half of the album did not resonate with me that well. While the instrumentals were fun, I didn’t get the vibe of the album displayed by the title. I didn’t feel much emotion from the vocal riffs, and it was more so fun to listen to rather than a heartfelt album that would really resonate with me. “Tame in the Water” and “Fool” were solid but not meeting the expectations that I had for such a talented band. However, on the seventh song of the album, the title track, the momentum of the album completely shifts.
Sampled by the likes of Jay-Z in the song “4:44” and Tyler, The Creator in “Ziploc,” “Late Nights and Heartbreak” is exactly what I was hoping for from this album and the entire reason I reviewed it. Williams takes a classic breakup story and flips it on its head, choosing the perspective of the wrongdoer. Williams’ soulful vocals absolutely shine on this song, proving that riffs can be a rich delivery of emotion, not just a showy display of musical talent. Late Nights and Heartbreak ends its first half with a bang and the momentum doesn’t slow in the latter half.
The backside of the album keeps the ball rolling with “In Your Arms” and “Still in My Head”. A beautiful, mournful ballad, “In Your Arms” drives home the feeling of heartbreak gorgeously. “Still in My Head” proves that the album can have a jazzy, upbeat atmosphere and still deliver the emotions promised by the title. With “Late Nights and Heartbreak,” these three middle songs display exactly what this album could have been.
The album ends phenomenally with “Another Sunrise” and “Your Luck Can Change.” Williams brings back the grit heard in “Late Nights” that really made the album feel like a breakup album. With subtle anger and sadness in her voice, Williams puts the listener right there with her, “waiting for another sunrise.” “Your Luck Can Change” is the cherry on top of a beautiful second half. Williams accepts that her lover is truly gone and she cries out for him to come back, believing that their luck can change. The gospel-style harmonies from the backup singers and the dominant horns give this song a truly stunning sound. The second half of the album proves it’s not how you start, but how you finish.
At the end of the day, this album is entertaining to listen to, front to back. However, from the title track and on, the album shifts to extremely moving. The vocals are much fuller, driving home the feeling of heartbreak and sorrow. If Hannah Williams would’ve used the same emotion in the front half as she did in the back, this album would be among my favorites. Unfortunately, the emotions simply aren’t there in the former, dropping this album from truly great into simply groovy and fun.I give Late Nights & Heartbreak by
Hannah Williams & The Affirmations a 7.3/10 –Excellent.
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