Album- Sparks Fly
Artist- Miranda
Cosgrove
It is safe to say that the Disney channel have got the
formula down for turning their tv show actor/actresses into music stars, but
rivals Nickelodeon also try to do the same, and therefore we arrive at the pop
driven debut album of Miranda Cosgrove. Coming from a young fan base orientated
show, her sound mirrors this powerfully, with a bubblegum pop driven edge that
is sweet and friendly and never sounds dangerous, with a host of collaborators
such as Avril Lavigne and Kesha helping to create the album. However, is this
actually any good, or is it just another kids TV show star trying to find
another way to sell their celebrity?
Track 1- Kissin U
Her debut single and the records lead single, “Kissin U” is
a light and sweet number that features a powerfully bubble gum pop sound with
the preppy guitar riffs and airy tone, although the use of drum and bass is a
little bit of a cool element to the track. The vocals of the track are good,
with Cosgrove having a light vocal tone that suits the message of the track
nicely, although the use of Auto Tune seems a little annoying at times and
highlights that she is not the best singer in the business. The lyrical content
of the track is heavily clichéd, with the spark fly lyric that the album is
titled from being done much better by Taylor Swift in her song Sparks Fly.
Indeed the sentiment is sweet but it feels like we’ve been here before in terms
of a young girl singing about how great falling in love with this guy is. And
so whilst the chorus is catchy, this is a simple pop song that is inoffensive
but also something that you can easily skip on a playlist.
3/5
Track 2- BAM
The second track is another pop driven and inoffensive
affair, but this time the tempo is faster and a more vibrant sense of the
singers personality is shown. Created by producer Rodney Jerkins alongside production duo Rock Mafia, the song
is helmed by some of the current leaders of the pop music world, and so the
track is perhaps better than the opening number as it has a greater catchy
quality thanks to these guys. Lyrically the track finds Cosgrove singing about
this guy who suddenly came into her life and how he makes her life that much
better, but has come into her life so suddenly that it’s like he’s a firework
that turns into her into a little bit of an obsessive. The lyrics tap into the
mind-set of a teenage girl, and the chorus is a little repetitive but is
strongly hook driven and has a catchy quality. Vocally the singer is a little
bit better than the previous track, and although Auto Tune is used again in
this number, the use of the device is a little bit more effective at it creates
a cool distorted and crazy kind of a feel to the bridge that adds to the songs
catchiness.
Track 3- Disgusting
Originally written and recorded by pop star Ke$ha for her
debut album, the track definitely has that Kesha feel to it in terms of the
aggressive but very much pop fuelled and catchy lyrics. The song is almost the
flip side of the previous number as we find Cosgrove singing about how she has
such these strong feelings for this guy, but unlike the previous track she
hates feeling this love for this man and just thinks it is disgusting. Centred
around a strong pop chorus, the track is quite catchy, but vocally the song is
a bit weak as the Auto Tune usage in the track removes a bit of a sense of
personality, and her light tone doesn’t suit the song particularly well.
However, that said, it is also perhaps not the Auto Tune that is the problem
but rather just the song choice, as it feels like Cosgrove is trying to fit
into a mould that is already occupied by Ke$ha. Production wise the electronic
based sound with forceful drum beat is cool and makes for a nice pop listen
that builds well in terms of the transitions from the verses to the chorus, and
although not original it keeps the track ticking along nicely, with the bridge
being a cool breakdown moment that feels a bit 80’s influenced with the synth
beats.
3/5
Track 4- Shakespeare
Featured in her hit TV show iCarly, and actually a cover
that was originally performed by artist Susan Cagle, the fourth track is a pop
rock number that could easily have come out of the past as it has the same feel
as tracks from an array of teen, girly films. Here we find Cosgrove asking this
guy if he likes a range of things, cause they could be really compatible, and
the verses unfold like a kind of love story that is itself lifted from teenage
girl films. The chorus is punchy and catchy but the sentiment of the track is
too heavily clichéd. However, whilst the pop rock production is stereotypical,
the production does have a light energy that is also helped by a forceful drum
beat that makes for an impactful chorus. However whilst the production is quite
good, the vocals are not. Although Auto Tune isn’t employed for once,
Cosgrove’s vocals just aren’t powerful enough to really carry the song in the
way it should be, and at times she gets lost in the production.
3/5
Track 5- Hey You
Every record needs it’s heartfelt ballad, and this track is
Cosgrove’s. The message of the track is meant to be inspirational, with
Cosgrove telling this person how great they are and how much she loves them, as
well as how it is time for them to see how great they are for themselves. The
song’s sweet message is powerfully helped by the simple production with it’s
cool electronic undertones and the powerful use of strings and piano
instrumentation. Vocally the softness of the message laso really works with
Cosgrove’s light vocal tone, and so this is a track where her voice really
suits the sound and message of the number. However, the chorus of the track is
a little too simple and so can come across bland, whilst the message is too
overtly inspirtational. Furthermore the sound of the track is very
stereotypical of this type of song, and so whilst young girls will find this
number appealing, anyone older probably won’t be able to stand it after a
while.
3/5
Track 6- There Will
Be Tears
We transition from the balladry to a firm mid tempo pop
affair that holds a bit of a bite. The tracks sentiment also really contrasts
with the previous number, as Cosgrove sings of how this guy thought he was so
special and thought she would be upset after the relationship ended, but she
boldly declares that he will be the one who is sorry and sad, not her. It’s a
clichéd statement but the pop driven sensibility of the number, alongside the
mildly aggressive and catchy chorus make for a good sound that allows you to
ignore the cliché. Vocally Cosgrove is also stronger here than in previous
offerings, with the vocal harmonisation being strong and the delicate but
strong persona that she employs within the song being something that suits her.
The production is kept light and simple with a punchy back beat and nice
electronic beats that make for a pop driven affair with the smallest flaring of
rocks. It is definitely a solid pop affair, and when it was co-written by
Bonnie Mckee and co- produced by Ammo, to people at the top of the musical game
in today’s pop world, you can easily understand why.
3.5/5
Track 7- Oh Oh
Continuing on from the I’m a strong girl quality of the
previous track, Cosgrove once again sings about how this guy thought she would
be all sad about the break up, but instead she’s called up her girls and is
just out having fun. The verses have a very cheerleading quality to them and contrast
well with the punchy chorus with its nice hook. However the song is familiar
girl territory, and the use of Auto Tune in the pre chorus and bridge is
annoying, with Cosgrove as a whole lacking some personality in the song. The
production is also quite simple and familiar in todays pop world and so it’s just
a track you can easily like and just as easily skip, which is a shame when it
was helmed by pop music maestro Max Martin.
3/5
Track 8- Daydream
The final track is another song originally recorded by
someone else, as Avril Lavigne originally wrote and recorded the tune for her
second studio album Under My Skin. It is simple too see why this didn’t make
that record, as the light sound didn’t quite fit with dark rock tone of that
album. However here it works well, as Cosgrove sings of this kind of obsessive
feeling in which she is sick of this guy who is bad but she can’t get him out
of her head. The songs okay but it is another example of where she fits into a
mould that is already occupied, i.e. this is an Avril Lavigne song. She is
strong vocally and the lack of Auto Tune is a nice change, but the rock based
sound with it’s aggressive guitar riffs and pop sensibilities is an ok sound
but one that is familiar after years of these kinds of songs.
3/5
Final Review
The standard edition of the record only contains 8 songs,
which is quite short for a debut album: there is a reason for this. This album
is pure bubblegum, sugary sweet pop for all the young girls out there in its
finest form, and so for anyone else out there, you can maybe enjoy the odd
song, but there is no way you should buy the album as a whole. As well as this,
Cosgrove is also vocally not as strong as some of her peers, and other things
need to be done for this rather than just reaching for the Auto Tune button,
even if sometimes it’s effective. Unless you are parent and your daughter loves
her, don’t by the 12 track deluxe version, or even this one. I just hope that
as she grows her music does and she comes up with a stronger sound that doesn’t
find her fitting into different moulds and instead showcases her own
personality that can reach a wider audience.
4.5/10
Best Track- There
Will Be Tears
Worst Track- Daydream
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