Released: 6 August 2021
Will Young reinvents classic tracks by female artists on his latest album ‘Crying on the Bathroom Floor’.
Announcing the LP, Will set out his intention to record “an album that celebrates some of the modern female artists I so admire in pop”.
“In today’s times it’s so much easier and accepted to occupy other genders, ideas and explore new avenues,” he says.
“I wanted to understand what it might be like to sing their lyrics; a song about a boy called Daniel; crying on the bathroom floor, feeling like Elizabeth Taylor.”
It’s an intriguing concept that translates across the 10-song set, which explores a plethora of emotions through the female gaze.
The pairing of Will and producer Richard X is a dream and, three albums into their working relationship, the unity between the vocals and music has never sounded stronger.
Nor has Will’s voice, which is rich, warm and as distinctive as it was back in his Pop Idol days, commanding each track as both a singer and narrator of the stories he’s telling.
Impressively, he makes each track his own, with Everything but the Girl’s Missing, Lykke Li’s I Follow Rivers and title track, MUNA’s Crying on the Bathroom Floor instant highlights.
The ballads are, of course, stunning, with Will’s take on Clare Maguire’s Elizabeth Taylor a standout from the album and his career.
Where the album falters is its lack of variety; although Will sets out to explore female emotions, at times ‘Crying on the Bathroom Floor’ is crying out for a little self-empowerment – perhaps a ‘Part 2’ is in order…
Conceptually, Will’s eighth album is a triumph and fresh blueprint for covers albums to be born from creativity and not cash. Bravo, Will!
‘Crying on the Bathroom Floor’is available on CD, Standard Black and Deluxe Marbled Turquoise Vinyl, and Sage Green Cassette. A Signed CD and Photo Card bundle is available via Amazon.
