The third album by this dark pop singer finds a mix of post-millennial dark-wave sounds with thoughtful hooks in a concept album theme of romancing the death as personified as the Grim Reaper. As someone who has a worshipful adoration of death myself, I can appreciate this, as well as an artist who steers clear of the normal pop tropes. Sonically this falls somewhere in the zip code of Poppy, though vocally not as aggressive, with a more introspective approach closer to Imogen Heap, Taylor Swift. or Chvrches. "Exit Plan" contemplates the chaos of crawling out of addiction and the thinking that comes with those behaviors.
"Another High" continues to ponder how you live when life has become something that is killing you. This album is well produced, with all the sounds very crisp and balanced in the mix. The more organic elements like guitars are not known until this song. "Doomed" finds her reflecting back on her early days making music in her room as a teenager. It's more of a ballad. Where melodramatic pop ballads normally would bore me this has enough raw honesty to make it work. "Curiosity Killed the Moth" exceeds expectations with more adventurous sounds than what your normal Tiktok pop dabbles in. 'Red" has more of a 90s alternative radio sound. The dynamic had the recoil/ expand formula from the 90s in place, but it still works as well here as it did back in the day.
Much like Blue Oyster Cult, her take on "the Reaper" shows little fear and focuses on an infatuation. There is a very Los Angeles sound to "Toxins" which has a playful electro feel. Reverb heady guitar rings in the background of "Afterlife" It's a smooth neon ride, with the rock guitar creeping up in the undercurrent. "Mirage" toys with the Western feel, as her sultry voice glides over the grooves when they kick in. Once again she proves to be a step ahead of pop artists trying to climb up to the Taylor Swift pedestal, but not playing the same game and creating a more original sound.
The title track is another bedroom ballad with strummed guitars pining for the Reaper. There is an acceptance of death in this song. The last song closes the album with more of a synth wave vibe to the thoughtful brand of pop she continues to weave. I will give this one a 9.5, and see how it grows on me, it finds her carving out her own place in the pop landscape, which appeals to those who find the more vapid radio-dominant forms of it insulting, the concept alone will win over darker hearts. If you want honest pop music that is in touch with its shadow side this is for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment