After the success of Like a G6, Bass Down Low, artist DEV released her debut album The Night the Sun Came Up in August 2011 (March 2012 in the US with two bonus songs, including features from Enrique Iglesias, Timbaland, and Fabolous). An electro-pop album, the album actually has a lot more to offer, allowing DEV to craft her own lane as an original artist rather than just any pop artist. Not only does DEV both rap and sing on the album, she cohesively implements multiple genres into the album including rock, rap, R&B, and urban. The album, written solely by DEV and The Cataracs (plus a co-write from Enrique) and produced solely by The Cataracs, shows what a "perfect match" the two acts are together musically, bringing out the best in each other. The Night The Sun Comes Up opens with one of my favorite intro tracks ever, "Getaway", tied with Rihanna's "Mad House" off of Rated R. The song starts off very vulnerable, with DEV singing along a quiet piano. It quickly transitions to DEV singing louder with a pulsing beat behind her. But the best part is when the piano transitions to the second part of the song, powered by a lovely and powerful key change. Upon this key change, DEV begins to rap with her hypnotizing voice and soothing tone. The song serves two purposes: aside from its meaning, containing lyrics of escape and uncertainty ("I’m running south / Can you see it on my face, small town girl, never knew my place"), it also serves to let the audience know that DEV is neither solely a singer nor solely a rapper: she is both and will not choose one side. The most "different" song on the album on which DEV unarguably pushed the boundaries most both lyrically and musically is "Take Her from You". The song, in which DEV sings "You got to give me that girl, or I will take her from you", has evident rock influences. DEV adds her own touch with the light and airy singing on the second half of each chorus and the signature whistling featured on the song, adding an element of mysterious and eerie darkness in addition to the dark-rock sound of the song. The sensuous pop/R&B "Breathe" ("And if I take it way too far tonight / Out of control, lost in the light / Before everything fades to black / Put your lips on me and breathe") is another highlight of the album. DEV's seductive falsetto in the chorus in addition to her cheeky phrasing such as in the first verse and the R&B instrumental with upbeat elements of pop. For me, it's the more R&B-influenced sister of smash "In the Dark", the most suitable songs on the album for mainstream radio. "In the Dark" is pure excellence. The innovator of the saxophone trend used in future songs such as "Problem", "Talk Dirty", and " Crazy Stupid Love", the song exudes DEV's flirtatious and confident attitude. Unlike most mainstream songs, its verses are as catchy as its choruses and the transitions between the two are extremely seamless. The bridge jumps the gun and adds an R&B element, slowing the song down a tad until the final chorus explodes. Another signature of DEV other than her euphonious tone and fusion of rapping and singing is her rhythmically saying "It's the Cataracs" the way no one else can. Yet another signature is on the pop-rap masterpiece "Lightspeed", whose most interesting and creative element is the cough that serves as the transition between two excellent electronic breakdowns. The production on the song is a highlight: with DEV rapping on the verses and singing in the chorus, the song starts with a subtle spacey beat that builds throughout the song. "Lightspeed" and "Breathe" certainly should have been released as singles. The underrated single "Naked", which was only released on the album in the United States, definitely made the album delay worth the wait. It is another stellar pop song like "In the Dark", and DEV and Enrique Iglesias have much chemistry in their collaboration; their vocals complement each other's impeccably. In contrast to all the pop, DEV has some ballads that beautifully convey her singing voice: "Dancing Shoes", "Perfect Match", and "Shadows". My favorite is "Shadows" because of its folk elements and the fact that it's the most stripped down musically. DEV's angelic singing voice really shines through. The lyrics are equally as beautiful: "Ooh, help me out, holy ghost / I have lost the only thing I know /And all, all I have left are shadows / Everywhere I look I see shadows / Haunting over me / And I wonder when they'll let me be". Aside from the subtle strings in the background, DEV's voice composes the whole beautifully minimalist song. The song proves that DEV is not just a rapper/sing-talker. Featuring other songs such as the R&B/pop "Me", the urban contemporary "Kiss My Lips", the synthy pop experimentation "Killer", the urban-electro "Don't Hurt It", the album is a tremendous piece of work that shows DEV's versatility, attitude, and multiple talents. "Me" and "Kiss My Lips" don't add anything to the album and the ballads, despite being excellent, detract from the cohesion of the album a bit, but The Night the Sun Came Up is near perfection and timeless. One of my favorites of 2012.