Rank: 3/5
Wait five minutes and a new version of Demi Lovato will appear.
The singer seems to change identities like she changes hairstyles.
For her new album “Confident,” she has become just that.
The album starts off with banger after banger. Opening with title track “Confident,” a warrior princess anthem with battle drums, the singer asks, “What’s wrong with being confident?” “Confident” makes good use of Lovato’s vocals, which are perfectly suited for rockier tracks.
“Cool for the Summer” follows, and its irresistible chorus remains one of the highlights of the entire album. However, despite being seemingly innocuous, the lyrics can verge on queer baiting as Lovato sings about her own “I Kissed a Girl” adventure.
It should also be mentioned that the chorus strongly recalls Jessie J’s “Domino” chorus. At this point though, what pop song doesn’t sound like a million others? In the pop world, when it works, it works. The way pop stars share writers and producers, it’s a miracle every Top 40 song isn’t identical.
After two unnecessary rap collabs with Iggy Azalea and Sirah, “Confident” becomes pop ballad-heavy and a bit forgettable. It’s not until the minimalist, piano-driven “Father” that Lovato regains her stride.
The personal nature of “Father” shows how impersonal the rest of the album is. Lyrically, most of “Confident” doesn’t go much deeper than standard empowerment anthems and generic pop. Only on “Father” is Lovato truly vulnerable and contemplative, and not superficially so, as she belts along with a choir about the death of her abusive biological dad.
In her father, Lovato paints the picture of a troubled, but good-hearted man and expresses her conflicting feelings about him. Whatever the album lacks in intimacy or introspection, “Father” makes up for it.
One thing Lovato certainly isn’t lacking is vocal ability. She showcases her impressive chops on every track, proving she can lift and liven up any chorus. Her vocals are what prevent the album from faltering even during the more lackluster numbers.
“Confident” sees Lovato grow as an artist, but not necessarily in a way we haven’t seen before. She’s one of many former Disney stars still trying to shed the Disney image.
With a few standout tracks and the strength of Lovato’s voice, “Confident” may not be relegated to the realm of unmemorable pop. However, the album offers nothing fresh or new, other than Lovato’s fabulous new haircut.