Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 1
by Calvin Harris
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Jun 30, 2017
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 144 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 119 out of 144
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 144
  3. Negative: 9 out of 144
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Kaderbenya31
    Jul 27, 2019
    10
    This an Album that i would never be bored off , Just a cool summer Vibe project . PERFECT.
  2. eagleeyeviking
    Jul 6, 2017
    7
    While not all R&B grooves hit the mark due to mis-casted singers, Calvin Harris' new album is a predominantly funky and universally laid-back throwback to the retro style of the 80's.
  3. Hec
    Jul 15, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. without a doubt a very attached to tones album imposed by the summer, is one of the best albums of Calvin, although I still don't overcome MOTION.....… Expand
  4. Beyqueen
    Jul 5, 2017
    10
    One of his best piece of music work, i really love the rhythms, the lyrics and the collaborations. all of this songs need a music video My favorites songs are Slide, Rollin, Feels , Cash out and Skrt on Me
  5. NETMUSIC
    Jul 7, 2017
    9
    Great pop-funk music. Defo album of the summer

    Best Song(s):
    Feels
    Faking It
    Slide
    Rollin
    Cash Out

    Worst Song(s):
    Hard to Love
    Skrt On Me
  6. TimW001
    Jul 7, 2017
    8
    The name matches the album. It's a very fun album with good funk and good grooves. It's a perfect additional to any summertime playlist. None of the features feel shoe-horned in, instead all of the features work quite well with the music.
  7. dtxphobia
    Jul 5, 2017
    10
    One of his best piece of work so far! I really love the vibe. I could totally listen to the album while watching the sunset on the beach sipping a margarita. I really don't get why people hate it. Calvin's trying some new stuff. Yes there are a lot of features and less Calvin but that's the vibe he wanted to create. It'd be doll if he would still do "EDM music" like Motion or 18 Months.One of his best piece of work so far! I really love the vibe. I could totally listen to the album while watching the sunset on the beach sipping a margarita. I really don't get why people hate it. Calvin's trying some new stuff. Yes there are a lot of features and less Calvin but that's the vibe he wanted to create. It'd be doll if he would still do "EDM music" like Motion or 18 Months. Congrats Calvin!… Expand
  8. DavidWasHere
    Nov 6, 2017
    7
    This album is fun! Calvin Harris deciding to change from hard and stiff electronica to warm, vibrant late 70s funk and disco is one of the best decisions he has ever had! The album is, like I said, warm and vibrant, and adds a lot of character to the summer vibes he is clearly aiming for. From breezy tunes like Slide and Holiday to straight up dance jams like Feels and Heatstroke, theThis album is fun! Calvin Harris deciding to change from hard and stiff electronica to warm, vibrant late 70s funk and disco is one of the best decisions he has ever had! The album is, like I said, warm and vibrant, and adds a lot of character to the summer vibes he is clearly aiming for. From breezy tunes like Slide and Holiday to straight up dance jams like Feels and Heatstroke, the album is one for summer listens. However, there is one major Achilles Heel to this album, and that is it's guest features. While some are great. like Frank Ocean and Migos bouncing off each other well on Slide, to Snoop Dogg and Takeoff being laid back and cooler than cool mixed with John Legend's soulful voice on Holiday, to the absolute party jam of Young Thug, Pharrell, and Ariana Grande on Heatstroke, there are others that just do not mix at all, like Travi$ Scott on Prayers Up just not meshing well at all (although the terrible synth choices on that song doesn't help matters), Jessie Reyez's slurry voice just drags on album closer Hard to Love, and Future's dull delivery does not raise Rollin as much as it does flatten it. Or other artists clearly doing heavy lifting for weaker performaces (I.E. Pharrell and Big Sean saving Feels from Katy Perry's utterly terrible inflection), and Kehlani ruling the R&B slow jam on Faking It before Lil Yachty monotone mumble kills the vibe. Like I said this album is better than Calvin Harris's past albums, and there is a lot of fun to be had. But the album is too inconsistent from reaching true greatness… Expand
  9. Jevus
    Jul 6, 2017
    9
    One of the best albums I've heard this year, I love that funky sound that has, the rhythms, the collaborations, everything perfect, except track 9, a genius and a musical growth in Calvin Harris, hopefully volume 2 equals great that this.
  10. DODODOD
    Jul 9, 2017
    10
    Gooood use the great guests, good production with DAW! I should praise his radical and brave change. Amazing album! I don't wanna be like people making fun of him because of his EDM image.
  11. jimykx
    Oct 10, 2017
    10
    The most amazing funky groovy fresh but old school tunes of 2017, and many years to come.
    It comes perfectly on time with all the tendy old school film-like summer visuals. I love it!
  12. Mike_Medeiros
    Jun 3, 2020
    10
    O melhor album da carreira dele, com uma sonoridade muito boa e otimas colaborações como em Slide e faking it, foi uma otima surpresa.
  13. PretentiousGeek
    Aug 16, 2017
    7
    Overall, this album is a nice departure from his usual style of electronic music, instead settling for a summery funky vibe that carries the record through about 80% of the track-list. Sure, it's easily digestible funky pop music, but there's a place for that in the mainstream market, with the likes of DJ Khaled acting as the main competitor to have the record of the summer. This album isOverall, this album is a nice departure from his usual style of electronic music, instead settling for a summery funky vibe that carries the record through about 80% of the track-list. Sure, it's easily digestible funky pop music, but there's a place for that in the mainstream market, with the likes of DJ Khaled acting as the main competitor to have the record of the summer. This album is such a vast improvement over the overlong mess of half-baked collaborations that was Grateful, but this isn't without its lows. Faking It loses most of the vibe and feel that makes this album such a good listen, and devolves to a meh-sounding Kehlani song with an ever-irritating Lil Yachty feature consisting of some of the most absurd struggle bars ever written. "Remember that time I put those pepperonis on your face / Made you a creature / Now I think about you every single time I eat pizza, ohh"... uh, sure. Great. His ad-libs and outro add nothing endearing to the track and are just plain annoying. Regardless, it's a good summer album and marks the start of a new style for Calvin.

    Best tracks: Cash Out, Slide
    Worst tracks: Faking It, Skrt On Me    … Expand
  14. gabrielcipriano
    Dec 21, 2018
    10
    This Calvin album exceeded all my expectations. I was expecting a very generous thing, but it was something different and it took a touching touches of the 90's and it made the album incredible. Partnerships have been super right. Expectacular for an album only!
  15. Cintra1
    Mar 17, 2022
    10
    The best album of the king of electropop! The vibe is insane and the collabs are so wonderful. Congrats, Adam. This is art

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Most Discussed Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Under The Radar
    Aug 14, 2017
    60
    The album is custom made for summer parties and long drives, just do not expect more out of multiple listens.
    Read full review
  2. The 405
    Aug 11, 2017
    65
    At times, you catch a glimpse of a singer on the verge of something great, who is only able to suggest it due to limited time, space, or an aesthetic misalignment.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    Jul 12, 2017
    70
    Funk Wav Bounces manages to avoid the stench of corporate contrivances and instead offers a laid-back experience that evokes hanging out with your friends.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »