The only album reviews I read are those for artists I haven’t heard of before in order to get an idea of their sound and who they’re musically compared to. It was unusual for me to read the early reviews for Carly Rae Jepsen’s new album Emotion. I have been waiting for this album for a while. I already knew I was downloading it as soon as I could. The reviews I did read said the same thing, she had matured and the new album had a very 80’s sound. In my gay opinion, neither of these things are true, I think the reviewers were just spewing the same sound bites they were being fed from Carly’s publicity machine.
That being said; I really, really, really, really, really, really like this album. Some of the songs may have more mature themes but the lyrics and music are just as light and fun as any song on her last album Kiss. Singing about drinking tequila on the song “Emotion” doesn’t make one mature. Why artists feel they need to say they’ve “matured” in hopes of being taken more seriously is beyond me. What’s wrong with making fun pop music?
My teen years were spent in the 80’s so I know the sound well and there is none of it here. Throwing an unnecessary sax solo on the start of “Run Away With Me” to get 80’s cred is just wrong. Emotion consists of the type of music that you can hear on any radio station today but Carly delivers the energy and pleasure that 80’s music possessed. That’s the only similarity.
This will be my go-to album when I need something upbeat and fun to move to…I almost feel bad for my new neighbors when it’s cleaning day. The windows are going to be open, Emotion will be pumping and I’ll be putting on a concert in my living room with broom in hand. Their ears won’t know what hit them but their emotions will probably scream arson.
I’ll have my fingers crossed for a tour to support this album, she’s on my list of must see artists. “Call Me Maybe” may have been the song that got everybody into Carly Rae Jepsen but it’s music like this that will hopefully keep people listening to her for years to come.
