Back in the day, NBC had a television show titled The Sing Off. The winner of season three was the a cappella group Pentatonix. They have gone on to sell tens of millions of albums and have toured constantly for almost a decade. They are arguably one of the most popular and successful pop groups in the world.
For the last several years, Pentatonix has relied on Christmas and cover songs, but now, they have released a new album of original songs titled The Lucky Ones.
The five members of Pentatonix have voices that blend perfectly and creatively. They are also a rare group that can reproduce their intricate harmonies in concert, where – without backing instruments – there is little room for error.
The band members may not plumb the depths of their psyches, but The Lucky Ones is a personal album. The title song is an autobiographical chronicle of the musical journey and their acceptance of a little luck along the way.
The topics vary from breaking up ("Happy Now"), to support ("Love Me When I Don't" and "Coffee In Bed") to mental health ("Be My Eyes"). The tempos vary, but there are a number of ballads that present the group at their best. "Side," "Exit," and "It's Different" all allow each of their individual voices to shine before combining into soaring harmonies.
The 11 songs are concise as the album checks in at just under 40 minutes. It is a format that serves the group well as they do not overextend their welcome on any of the tracks.
Pentatonix has taken a chance by leaving cover songs behind and that decision serves them well on The Lucky Ones. The album is a welcome new direction for their music and career.