CALVIN HARRIS DJs at Uniun December 28. See listing. Rating: NN
I saw Calvin Harris performing in 2008 at the Miami Winter Music Conference with a live disco rock band, and it was obvious that he had a real genius for a pop hook. He has since become one of the world’s biggest top-40 producers and is now better known for Rihanna’s megahit We Found Love than for his dance music roots. Given the money he’s made off that song, it’s no surprise he’s put it on his own album as well, nor is it shocking that he’s stacked it with guest appearances by people like Kelis, Dizzee Rascal, Ne-Yo, Florence Welch and other stars. It is, however, disappointing.
There’s nothing innately wrong with anthemic big-room dance pop, and Harris has a knack for it, but this feels like a cheap compilation of mostly half-assed collaborations and a handful of decent solo tracks. If he’d had the confidence to make this a genuine artist album, 18 Months could have proved to the world that he’s more than a hit-maker for the stars. Instead, this sounds like the soundtrack to the hell of cheese-ball Las Vegas bottle service clubs.
Top track: Mansion
