Greyson Chance, Portraits | Album Review 💿

Eight years after releasing his debut full-length album, Greyson Chance returns, as an adult man, with his sophomore LP, ‘Portraits.’

“I know every girl’s searchin’ for romance / And I’m wonderin’ if you’d take a chance / On a guy like me with a girl like you.” Hmm… a lot has chance for Greyson Chance since releasing “Cheyenne”, a highlight from his debut album, Hold On ‘Til the Night.  For one, Chance is ‘out and proud’ now, not to mention a fully-grown, 21-year old man as opposed to being a teenage boy.  After releasing a five-song EP in 2016 (Somewhere Over My Head), Chance returns with his full-length sophomore album, Portraits. At 12 tracks running 34 minutes, the pop star delivers a tight, highly enjoyable comeback effort.  His topics of choice? Identity, love, and his roots.

“Shut Up” 

“I cannot hold my tongue, you give me much to say / I’m sweating bullets, nervous that you’ll push away / And when your eyes catch mine, I know I talk too much / So give me your two lips and baby, I’ll shut up.” Ah, ✓ “Shut Up” begins with a heaping dose of buttery smooth falsetto, as Greyson Chance sings the memorable, aforementioned chorus.  Even so, he shows off a much ‘bassier’ chest voice on the verses, far removed from his boyish pipes on Hold On ‘Til The Night (2011). Vibe goes a long way on “Shut Up,” which is sexy to the nth degree as Chance sings about a familiar, favorite topic, love.

Love continues to dominate Portraits early-on as the brief ✓ “Bleed You Still” follows.  Here, adult Greyson Chance is struggling to find love, having troubling executing what should be a simple process.  He copes through “cigarettes on cigarettes,” tries to move beyond the hurt of the past, and ultimately wants “…Chemistry on chemistry / That fucking vibe I can’t believe / Think you could be that remedy can’t find.”  Keeping Portraits on-point is ✓ “Yours,” which focuses on the effect of long distance between him and his many friends that have supported him. “Yours” is super groovy, masterfully blending cues from 80s and super smooth contemporary R&B.  While Chance sings most of the song in his full, chest voice, we also get a taste of his slick falsetto.

“West Texas”

After a skit referencing his 12-year old ignorance (“Plains”), on “West Texas,” Chance sings about his old stomping ground.   Additionally, he sings the chorus from his mom’s perspective, who essentially tells him to remember where he from:

“‘Boy, get this message, this ain’t no New York City
Born and bred in West Texas, raised you to be different
No matter how it ends, no matter all your sin
I hope you will understand
When I leave, you better be a good man.’”

“White Roses” moves away from long distance friendships and life in West Texas back to matters of the heart.  Greyson Chance continues to sound terrific from a vocal perspective, incorporating ample nuance and expression into his performance.  For as much fanfare as his falsetto creates at moments throughout Portraits, the richness of his chest voice can’t be understated. It’s particular effective on a yearning, vulnerable cut like this one – “‘Cause you cut me wide open / Left teardrops on all my white roses.”

“Black on Black”

Another interlude, “Lights” (referencing strip clubs) perfectly foreshadows the sexually-tinged ✓ “Black on Black.” Safe to say, Greyson Chance embraces his status of being a red-blooded adult man eager to have some fun.  He’s suggestive up until the bridge, where his horniness reaches new fucking heights you might say:

“California kid, you’re a nasty punk
Smoking them cigs, smoking all them blunts
M6 riding and you got that cash
Rock that black on black
California kid, you’re a fucking sleaze
But damn, boy, you got me fucking on my knees
M6 riding, making out in the back
Rock that black on black on black.”

The bridge reappears as the outro of the song as well.  Can you knock Chance for embracing the pleasure? It’s a pleasing, stimulating listening experience as well. “Seasons Nineteen” moves beyond matters of pleasure, focusing on introspection – personal identity, unrequited love, and such.  Chance focuses on moving forward, asserting on the pre-chorus that he’s “not looking back to rewrite my fucking past.” “Seasons Nineteen” is about becoming more mature and embracing adulthood, after all, as he says best himself, “I’m not a kid.”

“Timekeeper”

“Remember that feel of my hands running through your hair on your bedroom floor / Caught in the thrill of a life spending cash on shit that we can’t afford… And if you forget, the memories fade, I’ll be your time keeper.” Uh-oh, looks like Greyson Chance is totally in his feelings on ✓ “Timekeeper.” “Timekeeper” kicks off the fourth and final quarter of the 12-track Portraits.  It finds Chance reminiscing back on a relationship – emotionally and physically – which is always perfect fuel for the fire.  Chance doesn’t hold back, being honest and profane throughout its course: “Jealousy is quite a bitch, and you thought that I was joking when I offered the hitch.”  “Timekeeper” finds Chance flourishing in the urban-pop style.  His harmonized falsetto is definitely on-point here.

Penultimate record “Stand” is a lovely ballad, focused on identity and love.  Clearly, Chance has been hurt, and he also seems to question who he is, yet also references the fact, “I am my father’s man” on the chorus.  Lyrically, “Stand” has some of the best moments of Portraits.  “Lakeshore” concludes Portraits, commencing with dreamy production and a heaping does of some absolutely ripe falsetto.  Naturally, the topic on Chance’s mind is love. Interestingly, the bridge (or post-chorus if you want to label it as such) recalls earlier gem, “Bleed You Still,” at least in some respects:

“And if that fire’s to fade, I won’t leave you in the blue
And if that feeling dies, don’t lose sight, you felt it too
You say it’s rapture now, I don’t like feeling so used
And when those choirs fade, I’ll keep standing up for you.”

Final Thoughts

All in all, Portraits is a tight, well-rounded sophomore album by Greyson Chance.  He sounds much older and more mature compared to his two projects released as a teen.  Why? More life experience, including ‘matters of the heart’ which only amplify his vocal performances throughout the album.  He doesn’t “reinvent the ‘pop’ wheel,” but he plays to his strengths, particularly his incredible voice.

✓ Gems: “Shut Up,” “Bleed You Still,” “Yours,” “Black on Black” & “Timekeeper”

Greyson Chance • Portraits • GCM / AWAL • Release: 3.15.19

Photo Credits: GCM / AWAL