Singer, songwriter, and San Diego native Jean Dawson dropped his sophomore album CHAOS NOW*. A genre-bending album that is filled with skittering guitar riffs that create conflicting moods. Each song on this album sounds completely different from one another. He is allowing us as listeners to immerse ourselves in his world. This album is so unique and distinct from everything else I’ve heard this year, it’s worth a listen.
Jean Dawson is an independent alternative rock and experimental pop artist. He released his first project, Bad Sports, in 2019 and since then, has grown immensely. So far, he has worked with the likes of Mac DeMarco, Earl Sweatshirt, A$AP Rocky, Kenny Mason, and many more. I discovered him during the pandemic with his album Pixel Bath, which left me impressed and wanting more. Now that he’s released his follow-up project, he’s showing vast improvements from his previous work these past two years.
The album cover for CHAOS NOW* by Jean Dawson features a seven-year-old boy named “Titus”
Looking Into CHAOS NOW* by Jean Dawson
The album starts with a 13-second intro then opens up strong with short verse on “THREE HEADS*.” Within the first minute of the song, it establishes the experimental vibe that Dawson embodies. The next track, “GLORY*,” takes a turn, as Jean reflects on how the world perceives him. In the end, he accepts the criticism. The fourth track, “KIDS EAT PILLS*,” has a surprise feature from rapper Isaiah Rashad, with his verse almost blending into the production. It was a surprise to me to hear his voice and the collab worked well.
After that, “POSITIVE ONE NEGATIVE ONE*” starts as a slow synth-heavy track, that finishes with an electric guitar solo. The next song, “BAD FRUIT*,” features an ambient acoustic guitar and Earl Sweatshirt. This song feels reminiscent of the pop songs played on the radio in the early 2010s. Earl proceeds to rap about his mental health struggles and feeling the need to put a mask on.
Jean Dawson “THREE HEADS*” Music Video
At the midway point of the album, “0-HEROS*” has lots of distortion and the rich production somewhat has an 8D audio element, giving the listener the concert feeling when using headphones. A seamless transition is made going into the song, “SCREW FACE*.” The lead single from the album is, “PORN ACTING*,” where Jean describes his friends and relationships as inauthentic, kind of like porn. “BLACK MICHAEL JACKSON*” is a track featuring George Clanton. The production is light but creates a juxtaposition with vocal reverb, both sounds are very different but work well together.
“HUH*” In the track, “HUH*,” you can hear the exhaustion in Jean’s voice. He seems to be fed up and tired of proving himself for acceptance and approval. That leads into the track, “SICK OF IT*,” which reinforces the idea of being over it and not caring anymore. The final track, “PIRATE RADIO*” is the best song vocally and an impactful track to close out the album. The track is a sense of relief and after all the waves of emotions and negative thoughts, he’s happy to be alive.
Jean Dawson “PIRATE RADIO*” Music Video
From his videos to the music itself, it is clear that Jean Dawson is a visionary. From the first listen, I really enjoyed this album. I hope the rest of the world can appreciate it as much as I do. His tour is starting soon with Junior Varsity, and this album really makes me want to see his live performance. This album was great, and I wish Jean Dawson nothing but big things in the future.
