Jessie Reyez Is Back At Her Best With ‘A Little Vengeance’ — Album Review

On March 27th of 2020,  Jessie Reyez released a career-defining album titled ‘Before Love Came To Kill Us.’ The songs were heartfelt, honest, and emotional, but sadly overshadowed by the growing pandemic. Despite the positive reviews, the banning of social gatherings hindered Reyez from becoming a household name. Fortunately, this didn’t stop the artist from moving forward.

Following up in September 2022 and March 2025, Jessie Reyez dropped ‘Yessie‘ and ‘Paid In Memories.’ While entertaining in their own right, these albums lacked the poignancy and resonance present on her debut studio album. Still, both were adequate for adding steam to the musician’s legacy.

Shifting our focus to the present, ‘A Little Vengeance‘ refuels the fire lit 6 years ago, capturing nearly every aspect that drew her fans’ attention in the first place. Barring any worldwide catastrophes, this album should bring the star the long-awaited recognition she deserves.

“Crumble” opens the record with a somewhat catchy beat that isn’t quite danceable, but the singer’s beautifully imperfect vocals steal the show as usual. No one could ever accuse her of using auto-tune with this unique and unvarnished opera. Rawness is the name of the game, and Reyez is the mogul of today’s rhythm and blues.

Lyrics such as “You got something good you ’bout to fumble, it’s like watching Babylon crumble,” forego any humility and instead head straight for the artery. The imagery shows the destruction of a once-great empire in shambles. Relinquishing your hold on someone because of ingratitude can oftentimes make you look like a fool.

Count your blessings and evaluate the sacrifices before making any drastic decisions. You could lose your heart’s desire by acting too hastily.

“Ain’t You Tired,” featuring Muni Long, throws it back to a more customary r&b tempo — keeping the tune familiar yet authentic. Similar in tone to “Crumble,” this diddy vies for the attention of that person who misses your social cues.

Equally irritating, an impeded beginning to something with unlimited potential dampens the mood and infuriates the emotions. “Ain’t You Tired” confronts the situation, taking a face-to-face approach to the circumstances and radically accepting the moment.

Truthfully, this is how we should face all of life’s problems — direct and concise. Communication challenges the status quo.

A simple guitar chord plays in the background as Jessie Reyez rants on “N.Y.F.F.” Here, the singer refuses to turn a blind eye to betrayal.

Rejecting the premise of a flawed relationship, the musician stares truth in the eye, refutes stupidity, and calls a spade a spade. Some people see honesty as an option, not a baseline. Unfortunately, this sophistical deduction cannot be reasoned with.

Backing away from toxicity is the optimal solution.

Recorded messages are dispersed throughout the next song, “Dusty.” While Reyez never quite spells out her personal definition of the title, these voicemails imply a rather negative connotation.

The somewhat monotone voice explains, “If he asks what you bring to the table, he’s dusty. If he asks why you deserve to be provided for, he’s dusty.” At its core, “Dusty” feels like a modern-day version of TLC’s “No Scrubs.”

Essentially, the song implores the audience never to lower their standards, not for a man — not for anybody.

“iBreak” is reminiscent of Jessie Reyez’s earlier work, “Worth Saving” and “Love In The Dark,” conjuring images of an angel broken by lost love. Even though the emotional significance is haunting, it seems a bit contradictory after an anthem like “Dusty.”

Don’t tell me to stand against the bastardization of a relationship one minute, then sob over desolation the next. It weakens the focal point of both narratives.

Launching herself into some trademark fun and humor, “Fuck You Jessie” puts forth a valuable observation without forgoing some fun-loving self-deprecation. Quoting a line from a possibly fictitious therapist, “Save some of that love you got for yourself” is a powerful philosophy that can be used daily as a positive affirmation.

Similar to what the flight attendant tells you at the beginning of your voyage, apply your own emergency drop-down mask before helping someone else activate theirs. We all need food, air, water, and love. It’s great to share them, but we also need to keep some for ourselves — in other words, we can’t give what we don’t have.

In 1992, R.E.M. released their well-known single “Everybody Hurts.” It is still currently heard on radio stations throughout America and other countries where English is spoken. Far from a cover song, Reyez’s “Everybody Cries Sometimes” embodies the same spirit while adding an autobiographical tone that makes it uniquely her own.

“I’ve been blessed in this life in every aspect but love. Since that’s all I’ve wanted, this shit’s like swimming in mud,” describes a person desperately yearning for the one thing they haven’t got — a heartfelt link within the romantic realm.

Aiming for a relational connection can cause much turmoil when the feelings are not reciprocated. It can be enough to tear somebody apart from the inside out. Subject matter aside, the basic guitar riff barely does enough to keep things going — allowing the words to do the majority of the heavy lifting.

Next, Reyez dives back into one of her favorite places, the transcendent domain on “Salt.” A soothing piano melody introduces the song before settling into the traditional beats and meter.

The singer croons passionately, “Who am I to question the divine? God gon’ give me what’s good for me, good for me,” answering her own question before anyone else has the opportunity to. At first listen, it appears that she is saying God will always give her good things in life, such as blessings, prosperity, and love, but beneath the surface, it becomes apparent that God also gives lessons that reshape and prune us.

Unfortunately, what is good for us in the long run can be quite painful in the here and now. Basically, you live, you learn, and you grow. Temporary setbacks like a broken heart or shattered relationship sometimes give us more in a single moment than the perfect kiss under a starry sky.

Charging in with an a cappella chant, Jessie Reyez demands attention for the outset of “99%.” Without being too overly decisive, the musician tells her man he is running out of chances, and she is nearly positive things are over between them.

The bitter truth is, we can sometimes absorb too much pain from an individual with whom we hoped to spend a lifetime. Although the Bible says to turn the other cheek (Luke 6:29), it also says those who walk in wisdom are kept safe (Proverbs 28:26). For a more direct quote, consider Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

You are not a punching bag for someone who can’t see your worth. You can forgive but still choose to walk away.

The soul-crushing ballad “When You Hold Her” begs the question of whether a romantic rebound can resurface an amorous road covered in potholes. Is the new consort a replica of the old one or a poorly chosen counterfeit? Candidly, no two relationships are exactly alike, and swapping one partner for another never completes the puzzle the same way.

The big picture changes, leaving the past unfinished and the future more uncertain than before. Envy is the thief of happiness. A peaceful heart gives life to the body, but covetousness rots the bones (Proverbs 14:30).

Epic piano playing suits this song perfectly, emphasizing the dramatic flair and searing the rhythm into your soul. This is quite possibly the most perfect track on the record.

Elements of gospel edge their way into the refrain of “Ur Heartbeat (Who Do You Think About At 2 AM).” The underlying hum of male vocals complements the theme of two lovers finding comfort in each other’s heartbeat. Sometimes relationships aren’t about love or even personalities; they can also be about basic companionship — a warm body to hold at night.

Loneliness can sometimes become a great motivator, pushing us towards codependency. This excessive emotional reliance is a two-edged sword pulling us from isolation but marrying us to someone with similar character defects. Often, the wounded seek out kindred spirits rather than someone who could actually break the endless cycle.

Jessie Reyez closes out the album with a little help from the late Bob Marley on “Ego Astrophy.” The lyrics display a list of encouragements, forming a makeshift mantra that could help many through life if applied properly.

Featuring words such as “Free me from my demons and keep love in my heart. I believe in freedom, life, and inner peace,” the song anoints us with a healing ointment that calms the spirit and soothes our anxieties. With a kind and open heart, we can still overcome many obstacles and reconnect with our once lost loved ones.

It takes a lot of work and inner struggles to overcome negative thought patterns, but neural pathways can be redirected to a more meaningful passage through life. Like my driver’s education teacher always said, “If you keep on looking at the ditch, you’ll end up there.” Similarly, draw your eyes to the finishline to be aware of your future destination.

‘A Little Vengence’ combines 17 songs in a 46-minute timeframe, keeping Reyez fresh and to the point. With only 3 interludes dispersed throughout, the artist stays focused on the music, rarely pushing the tempo above lo-fi quality but rather honing her focus on poetic devices.

Altogether, the album speaks for itself, allowing room for celebration and commiseration, passion and apathy. There is flavor here for every kind of fan, whether they be a fair-weather friend or ardent veteran. Ultimately, there’s hope within the words of Jessie Reyez, sometimes hidden in warning but never watered down.

Like the saying goes, “The best revenge is living well,” and ‘A Little Vengenace’ is proof that Reyez is flourishing.

What is your favorite track on ‘A Little Vengenace?’ Let us know in the comments below.

Listen to ‘A Little Vengenace.’

 

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