By: Lindsay Martin | Staff Writer
This has certainly been a long time coming. On February 12, acapella group Pentatonix finally released a brand new original album, entitled The Lucky Ones. Not only has it been nearly six years since the release of their last original content, but the album’s release date was announced all the way back in October 2020. Despite the long, anxious wait, however, this album did not disappoint.
But let’s be real: could Pentatonix ever disappoint?
I think it’s safe to say that almost everyone has heard of Pentatonix at this point. Formed in 2011, the acapella group features the voices of Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, and Kirstin Maldonado, with Kevin Olusola as beatboxer, and Matt Sallee as bass. They rose to stardom after winning NBC’s The Sing-Off. Their YouTube covers have amassed millions of views. They have won countless awards, including three Grammys. Their true claim to fame is, perhaps, their Christmas music. Embarking on worldwide sold-out tours, they attract people of all ages.
“Still can’t believe we were the lucky ones / Look how far we’ve come.”
The title of their new album is certainly appropriate.
The title track is nostalgic, heartwarming, and inspiring. In five-part harmony, with no percussion or bass, the group sings, “Still can’t believe we were the lucky ones / Look how far we’ve come.” It’s an anthem to the group as a whole, who, ten years ago, couldn’t have known that they would become a worldwide phenomenon.
The first track, “Happy Now,” was the promotional single, officially released in August 2020. It is perhaps my favorite song on the album; if you have ever moved on from someone or something, this song is for you.
As a whole, this album has a very different sound from past Pentatonix releases. It truly displays their maturity and growth in their voices and songwriting; compare this album to their first original, Pentatonix, from 2015, and you wouldn’t even believe that it’s the same group.
Many of these songs are in the style of current charting pop artists, which proves to me that Pentatonix has what it takes to be fully initiated into the industry, despite singing acapella. “Bored,” a track about preferring to spend time with someone rather than going out, and “Never Gonna Cry Again,” referring to what someone believes will happen if they change themselves for the Internet so everyone will like them, sound like they could be on Dua Lipa’s next album. Ed Sheeran would have so much fun with his loop pedal in “A Little Space.” And, honestly, “Love Me When I Don’t” sounds just like an old-school One Direction song. Trust me—go listen to it for yourself.
This is such a good thing! Pentatonix may be known worldwide, but their songs have unfortunately not been given radio releases. We hear Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran everyday on pop radio, so this can only mean that Pentatonix now has a real chance and, therefore, more popularity from the general public outside of their Christmas music.
With this being said, it is no doubt that, with this very album, Pentatonix have truly become “the lucky ones” in solidifying themselves in the mainstream pop industry.
Cover Image: “Pentatonix performing in Dallas, Texas (2018-07-26)” by RalphArvesen is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
