Timeless albums have an incredible ability to transport you to the time and place where you first listened to them. Fireboy DML’s “Laughter, Tears, and Goosebumps” is one such album.
The record takes me back to Christmas 2019 - navigating the notoriously difficult roads in my parents' hometown of Ibadan with the harmattan sun finding its way to the car through a sheet of heavy dust. Fireboy’s album was the soundtrack to that holiday, where I was able to connect with family & friends back home and because of that it will always have a special place in my heart.
Many were introduced to Fireboy DML through one of the many breakout songs from the continent in 2021, Peru (and the subsequent Ed Sheeran remix). However, Fireboy has been making waves for a few years now.
Fireboy DML
The debut studio album from the Abeokuta native, born Adedamola Adefolahan, was released in 2019 and introduced the world to a man who’s in touch with his emotions but likes to enjoy life or as the Yoruba like to say, “jaiye”. Released under Olamide’s YBNL Nation album, the album has no features but we don’t get tired of Fireboy’s voice as he flexes an impressive range.
The album is far from one-dimensional, with upbeat numbers such as Jealous and party bangers such as Scatter punctuated with more somber emotional ballads such as Need You and King. The instrumentals on the album infuse a mixture of West African percussion & guitar riffs as well as some R&B elements which provide an excellent accompaniment for Fireboy. The singer’s lyricism is also worth noting on the album; the combination of smooth talk commonly associated with “yoruba demons” and his angelic vocals is potent and will have you coming back to the album even after several listens.
All in all the album is an excellent introduction to Fireboy and a sound the artist describes as “afro-life”, so if you haven’t listened before, this is your sign to do so.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Favorite Tracks: Need You, Gbas Gbos, Jealous, Wait and See
Favourite Lyrics: “You sweet pass mango, you sweet pass agbalumo”; “I miss you like an idiot misses the point”
Listen to the album here:
Spotify
Apple Music
What are your favourite songs on this album? Comment down below
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