It's been a long, long time coming, ladies and gents but it's here and happening; Charli XCX has finally dropped her debut album!
I can't express how frustrating, yet exciting the wait has been for me since she announced the release date a few months ago, I've literally been counting down the days til I got the album in my grubby lil mitts! But now True Romance is here (I ordered a signed copy and it arrived 2 days in advance - woop woop!) - and what a treat it is!
To anyone who has been following Charli XCX closely for the past year or two, it is immediately apparent that there are very few tracks that are not immediately identifiable. This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially as some of the singles and samples on her mixtapes have been proper bangers, and even the short intro at the beginning of album opener, 'Nuclear Seasons', feels familiar. The latter is still one of Charli's best songs, and has held the test of time for me, especially considering that I first heard it at least 18 months ago, however in comparison to this, I still can't get overly excited by 'You (HA HA HA)', despite really liking the Gold Panda sample and knowing all the lyrics.
The first new song that is thrust upon us is 'Take My Hand'; it's an incredibly fun electro-pop number that will have you dancing around your room singing into a hairbrush (people still do that?) and is a perfect pre-piss up song, with Charli declaring 'Don't go to sleep - let's go out!'. Track 4, and we're back on firm favourites with the addition of 'Stay Away', the song that re-introduced Charli XCX to the world as a more serious artist, in comparison to her older demos. 'Stay Away' is a luxurious gothy number with an industrial edge that hums and purrs it's recount of a past relationship that turned sour, and it is easily the most mature sounding song on the album.
'Set Me Free (Take My Hand)' continues the more mellow mood, whilst 'Grins' gets somewhat trippy and experimental, but the next standout track for me is 'So Far Away' - a song that I raved about previously when it was included in its entirety on the You're The One EP; it's an addictive and moody lament to love and shows a more sultry side to the singer, with Charli half-rapping her way through the verses declaring 'I wasn't looking for a thug, I was looking for a bad boy'. Next is 'Cloud Aura', her duet with rapper Brooke Candy and the highlight of the SUPER ULTRA Mixtape, a song that I initially found somewhat irritating yet, months later, I find myself highly addicted to. Listen to it and channel your inner badass! The party vibe is continued by the chilled out R'n'B of forthcoming single 'What I Like', before we hit 'Black Roses', a song that I'm actually not as fond of, it feels weaker, but then again, given what I've initially written about other Charli XCX songs, this may be subject to change!
Next is the euphoric and catchy 'You're The One', before we're given 'How Can I' - a song first debuted on the HEARTBREAKS AND EARTHQUAKES Mixtape - and now, hearing it in its finished form, I am left a little befuddled by. It's gloomy and menacing and is easily the darkest track on the album, however the bridge section feels somewhat clunky and slightly out of place, however we are taken full circle with album closer, 'Lock You Up', a poppy number with a rosy - slightly '80's glow that rounds off the album in a satisfying manner.
Overall, True Romance has the feel of an extended mixtape; the songs flow that effortlessly into each other, and it works all the better for this. You'll find yourself thinking, at the end of 'Lock You Up', where on Earth did this entire album whizz by, it's of that much consistency and that much fun. Not a single moment drags.
So, whether you're a Charli XCX addict or waiting to be converted, definitely have a listen of True Romance, I highly doubt that it will be something you regret, and you may just find yourself your new favourite pop starlet in the making! I'm already anticipating album number 2!
Are you a Chalri XCX fan? What are your thoughts on True Romance?
PS: It wasn't until I was linking to all my other articles that I realised how much I had written on Charli XCX in the past 18 months!
http://www.charlixcxmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/charlixcxmusic
https://twitter.com/charli_xcx
https://soundcloud.com/charlixcx
No comments:
Post a Comment