Top tracks — play these first
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If There's Any Justice — This track showcases Lemar's vocal range and emotional depth, addressing themes of love and longing that resonate throughout the album.
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Soulman — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its catchy hook and confident delivery, establishing Lemar’s identity as a soulful artist.
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Better Than This — Offering a more upbeat tempo, this song combines relatable lyrics with an infectious melody, highlighting Lemar's versatility as a songwriter.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and polished production but follows familiar soul-pop templates.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks that maintain a consistent tempo, while the second half shifts to slower ballads, creating a dynamic contrast.
- Several tracks incorporate layered vocal harmonies, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the emotional impact of the lyrics.
- The production employs smooth instrumentation with prominent use of strings and keyboards, contributing to a polished sound throughout.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo groove
- catchy melodies for sing-alongs
- heartfelt lyrics that resonate
- for relaxed evenings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced listening
- seek experimental soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Lemar's reputation in the UK music scene.
- Career context
- Released in January 2004, Time to Grow is Lemar's second studio album, following his debut record, Dedicated. At this point in his career, Lemar was gaining traction as a significant voice in the UK soul scene after achieving commercial success and critical acclaim with his first album.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Craig David· John Legend· Sam Smith
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Soulman 3:19
- 2 Better Than This 3:22
- 3 I Don't Mind That 3:35
- 4 What If? 4:28
- 5 Call Me Daddy 3:21
- 6 If There's Any Justice 3:49
- 7 Don't Give It Up 3:43
- 8 Time to Grow 3:43
- 9 Complicated Cupid 3:37
- 10 Maybe Just Maybe 3:36
- 11 Feels Right 4:10
- 12 All I Ever Do / My Boo (Part II) 4:13
- 13 Time to grow 3:43
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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