Forced Witness

Alex Cameron is one of those artists that Spotify is always trying to make me listen to. I've never felt much either way for his music that I've heard, but this album was pretty good. Musically, it's highly listenable and Cameron's vocals are fine, if unremarkable. I get what he's doing with the scuzziness of the lyrics in contrast to the general pleasant sound of the album; I just don't particularly care for it. Fave Songs: Runnin' Outta Luck, Candy May

Quite funny in places. He loves the word pussy.

Enjoyable

It has a distinct 80s sound but it was released in 2017. Some of the lyrics were humorous. I probably won't listen to it again but I will round up.

Musically, it could have been released in 1987: the same synths, very processed bass, drum sound, saxophone, and flawless arrangements, and the same almost total lack of memorable hooks. It reminds me of totally forgettable late 80s sophisti-pop artists that I've totally forgotten. The overall feel of the music is unexciting, or even indifferent. It's good at what it does, but what it does isn't very good. The lyrics are alright.

Lyrics really interesting, music rather dull singer-songerwriter with very conventional full band arrangements. I don't feel I was forced to witness this, but was influenced certainly.

I honestly thought this was an average random 1980s album at first listen. Instead, it's apparently relatively recently released. I'm kind of floored that someone would make music like this in 2017. There are many 1980s albums in the same style that are much better.

I don't love Cameron's voice, and I found the music a little forgettable (veering in places towards irritating), although I enjoyed the Angel Olson feature.

quien?

Song one I thought there might be something here but it nosedived and at points was almost painful. It's a pastiche, sure ,but it's got mediocre lyrics and average songs.

There is literally nothing new or interesting here. It's all just, so bland.

I see a lot of reviews mention that he's playing a character and I guess I just, fundamentally..... don't get it? 🤷 Like, at all? The music is kinda mid, fine, but the lyrics are just fucking awful. Really, really grating - especially in the back half of the album. The joke is that he writes lyrics like an edge lord? The joke is that he isn't actually an edge lord, but I still have to listen to lyrics that sound like they were written by an edge lord? Through gritted teeth, I gave this a second listen, and I just don't.... get it. Am I just humorless? Is the "comedy" not actually the point? In which case, what is? Eh, I can't properly tell whether my confusion about what I'm not seeing is the same as outright dislike, so I guess I'll spare it a 1, but ugh. 1.5. 😒 Fave track - "True Lies", I guess. Everything that came after that was eyerolling territory.

Alex Cameron's "Forced Witness" toys with the styles of Bruce Springsteen and The Killers (even getting an assist from Brandon Flowers), but nothing is as catchy or undeniable, forcing you to carefully witness Cameron's songwriting. And that's where it falls apart. We're forced to witness Cameron create a variety of unpleasant scenes and characters, sprinkled with edgy language.

The moment I started this off I had to recheck the year. It's surely from 1984? It's ok but nothing special. The question is what raises it above anything from 1984 or 2017?

I think there were ups and downs to this. I see it’s unique ness, but I wouldn’t say it was like necessarily meant to be put on this list. I just didn’t really see anything good.

I thought I would enjoy this way more than I did

It was ok but not really my thing overall. A Unique and an interesting addition to the list nonetheless.

ok buddy, lets take it easy with the cheese tones on that synth. What is Runnin' Outta Luck. Is this homage or is it derivative? "Love is a dragon dressed in suede and leathery?" What in the hell?

I wasn't hating he bland retro 80s style so much, but this definitely lost a point for some of the lyrics. Ew.

Wanted to like this one but it just didn’t leave a mark – the arrangements feel dated and unoriginal, and while Cameron alludes to many genres in the instrumentation, none of them really stick and the whole thing ends up feeling a bit lost for a core sound.

Gross.

With lyrics like “she’s seen me naked, she knows I’m packing heat,” is this a comedy album? “Barely legal-aged teens” in a not-thinly-veiled song about internet porn being trolled by a Nigerian guy posing as a woman? An entirely different song with the lyrics “chasing pussy online”? Cease and desist.

Bland 80s worship. Doesn't do anything interesting or new.

“I’m waiting for my lover She’s almost seventeen”

"she has seen me naked, she knows I'm packing heat" really??? Ughhh. What an insecure Chad lyric. You're no Lou Reed bro, fuck off.