Songs such as “Dirge” quietly mesmerize with nothing more than a couple quiet chords, a dash of ambient filler, and Hadreas’ frail croon; similarly, the coolly surreal “Floating Spirit” seeps into the ears with atmospheric synths, a drum machine, and an echoing chant. Here and there, he does expand beyond Learning’s format, as lush arrangements and orchestral flourishes deliver the album’s most dramatic and beautiful moments. It’s a shame he doesn’t experiment more with a fuller sound, however, because much of Put Your Back N 2 It’s bleak mood feels calculated rather than organic.
Hadreas’ minimalism often comes off as compensation for a shortage of ideas; seven of the 12 tracks are less than three minutes long, and many sound incomplete. (Also, while metronomic piano chords are the name of the game, they do eventually get a bit repetitive.) On the plus side, he is a more than a capable songwriter, and most of the record’s foibles can be chalked up to an emerging artist simply trying to find his way. There are signs of Hadreas’ increasing willingness to play off his rising status—the album’s promo video featured a gay porn star and caused controversy when it was rejected by YouTube—and embrace his audience. Put Your Back N 2 It fails at recreating Learning’s tortured confessionals, but its confidence is promising.
