While listening to my Discover Weekly on Spotify, I was caught off guard when “Need You Again” by Neal Francis came on. It wasn’t the quality of the song that surprised me—it was a flawless 70s-style funk track—but the fact that I had never heard it, or the artist, before. I’d like to think of myself as something of an expert in 60s and 70s music (my record collection certainly makes a strong case), so imagine my real shock when I found out the song wasn’t released decades ago, but rather this year.

This track sits in the first spot on Neil Francis’ third album, Return to Zero. Released on March 14, the album is a mix of 1960s/1970s-inspired soul, funk, and psychedelic perfection. The 36-year-old artist was born in Livingston, NJ, and currently has 254,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Return to Zero doesn’t stem from 60s/70s inspirations; it lives it. 

Like I stated before, “Need You Again” is the perfect explosive album opener to draw listeners into this record. The track contains a groovy drum beat, funky guitar line, and mesmerizing vocals from Francis and Say She She. Francis’ voice sounds like a slightly more polished Joe Jackson, and when mixed with Say She She’s harmonies and background vocals, this track can’t help but make you move. 

This album clearly draws inspiration from Steely Dan, Sly Stone, and Jackson Browne, while paying homage to these artists and their time period through unique basslines, synthesizers, violins, and various harmonies.

Say She She is featured on the first three tracks of this album: “Need You Again,” “Don’t Wait,” and “Broken Glass.” The Brooklyn-based psychedelic-soul trio brings harmony to this album through their reminiscent vocals. 

All of the tracks on this album contain excellent melodies that flow nicely into the next song. There truly is not one musical skip. Despite Francis working on the songwriting credits for all of the songs on the album, the lyrics are not what matters on this album– it’s the music. These songs wouldn’t be what they are without the love and care put into the instruments. 

But the one song that sticks out to me lyric-wise is “Dirty Little Secret.” This song contains a sensual, slowed-down drum beat paired with the piano and the words, “I don’t want to be your dirty little secret.” Francis performs this song as a duet with Carlile, as the two artists go back and forth with flirtatious lyrics. 

Francis ends this album with the title track, “Return to Zero.” A jump from the rest of the album, as the 56-second track consists only of a piano and synthesizer. Francis says goodbye to listeners in a bold exit, one even bolder than how he opened the album. 

With that, I don’t think Francis will be my “Dirty Little Secret” for much longer, especially now that he’s embarked on a world tour starting this year and garnered acclaim from Billboard, Rolling Stone, and GRAMMY.com. Return to Zero is an album that defies modern trends, leaving a lasting impression that resonates long after the final note fades.

Photo taken from steamboatpilot.com