Jean Dawson’s only musical restriction is his own imagination.

You can’t distinctly categorise his sound, as he refuses to give in to the limitations of labels. CHAOS NOW* is just another reminder that Jean will do what he wants and give the middle finger to anyone who says otherwise.

As the album to follow 2020’s acclaimed Pixel Bath, there were high hopes and expectations for Jean’s third release, and needless to say, he exceeded them with style. CHAOS NOW* is a fitting title for the album, as it is an ever-changing piece of art, whose chaos can only be commanded by its creator. Jean gracefully takes the helm to steer the album through raging guitar riffs, softer balladry, and rumbling basslines with lyrics full of both angst and anguish.

The opener “THREE HEADS*” is the perfect appetizer for the feast that is to follow. The song picks up right where Jean left off in 2020, displaying his ability to evoke both excitement and sadness within the same song. The dichotomy Jean creates between the blood-pumping chorus and the isolated feelings that come with each verse both sonically and lyrically is one of Jean’s greatest strengths as an artist and can be seen back to his first release, Bad Sports. Immediately following is “GLORY*”, a coming-of-age anthem that demands to be screamed. Drenched in reverb, the drums and guitars aid Jean’s blistering vocals as he confronts others’ perceptions of him while trying to embrace his own dysfunction.

The album then delves into its first ballad on “BAD FRUIT*”. This track serves as a great change of pace for the album with beautiful orchestral instrumentation, with indie folklike guitars. Being on the quieter side, Jean’s songwriting skills are on full display. Some of the album’s best lyrics occur on this track, with Jean providing contrasting imagery in the form of lines like “I’m just a little moon running from the sunrise”. To top it off, the song ends with a guest verse from rapper Earl Sweatshirt, whose dejected delivery perfectly matches the soft guitar backdrop. Another feature comes as a surprise during “KIDS EAT PILLS*” in the form of an uncredited Isaiah Rashaad verse, whose hypnotizing vocals match the dreamlike themes of the track.

The chaos of the album and Jean’s genre-fusing is the most present on “BLACK MICHAEL JACKSON*”, an ever-evolving track that features everything from indie rock guitars to more commercial trap-sounding drums. Even some g-funk-rooted synths are thrown in because, well… it’s Jean Dawson. In just under three minutes, Jean takes the listener through an exciting rollercoaster of soundscapes that somehow manages to stay cohesive enough to not derail the ride.

Closing out the album are the two singles “SICK OF IT*” and “PIRATE RADIO*”, some of the best songs on the project. The two couldn’t be more different, as “SICK OF IT*” practically begs to be moshed to, with its high-energy guitars and vocals dripping in reverb making it one of the best punk rock anthems to come out of the album. On the other hand, “PIRATE RADIO*” is a ballad that seems to pull from indie folk legends like Bon Iver. With its melancholic instrumentation, this beautiful song serves as a fantastic closer to the chaos Jean has created within this album.

Jean clearly sees a lot fewer boundaries on music than most of his peers. This can sometimes make for some awkward transitions or an overwhelming sensation just from the sheer quantity of ideas Jean has and wants to express. While the cohesion and polished sound of Pixel Bath is still a slightly better overall listening experience, the unbridled, unapologetically bold whirlwind that is CHAOS NOW* is a telling glimpse into the mind of the most interesting artists currently out there.

There are so many genres Jean throws together that it makes anything he produces an extremely interesting and fun experience. His use of all these sounds is in no way derivative either, as he can somehow mix them all together while putting his own creative spin on them. That creativity is what makes Jean Dawson Jean Dawson and is what makes CHAOS NOW* such a great listen.