Album- Light Me Up
Artist- The Pretty
Reckless
Auditioning for the role of Hannah Montana and playing the
role of Cindy Lou in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, many people wouldn’t
predict that Taylor Momsen would grow up to front the alternative rock group
The Pretty Reckless. However she has, and with an in your face attitude and
strong musical sensibilities, Momsen and her band mates have created a cool rock
based sound that is powerful, aggressive and in a certain way fun. However as a
whole this album could really suck, and you could get bored of the aggressive
Momsen and her peers after a while. So as a listen to this record I prepare
myself for some great music or bad music.
Track 1- My Medicine
The opening track works perfectly in terms of emphasising
the in your face and aggressive sound of the band. The track finds Momsen
boldly singing of being in a warped state of being as someone has done
something to her and she is now just going crazy, using the metaphor of someone
“mixing your medicine” to convey this ideology. It’s a cool declaration that is
centred around a strong hook, but the lyrics do suffer in that the hook is
highly repetitive and so although strong you kind of get to the point where
you’re like ok we get what you are saying. However Momsen makes up for this in
her growling vocal performance which is nicely layered as the song continues to
creating a building sound that matches the forceful production with it’s
aggressive stop and start guitar rhythm and clattering, let’s get the show
going drum beats. It could be slightly better but it is a smart and strong
opener.
3.5/5
Track 2- Since You’re
Gone
The band up the rock ante with this strong number in which
Momsen more speaks and growls than sings and the drum beats become more
frenzied and cooler than the previous track. Lyrically the track is an
aggressive rock to the point number in which Momsen things of how great things
are now this person has gone and in the process basically tells him that he is
a douche. The vocals are strong has the distortion of her voice gives Momsen a
cool aggressive edge, and the group create a good sound in terms of the drums
and heavy guitar, with the track being kept short and so nicely not running the
risk of becoming boring.
3/5
Track 3- Make Me
Wanna Die
The records lead single is a little bit poppier than the
previous number but still has that rock base and features Momsen in full on
dark and grunge mode. In terms of the lyrics the song is centred around a
catchy screech along chorus as Momsen sings of this man who makes her feel so
good and bad at the same time cause she’ll never be good enough and he just
makes her feel so strongly that she would die for him. The lyrics are centred
around a strong and catchy hook that is powerfully propelled by Momsen’s
attitude heavy vocal that has a deep and rich tone. The production also really
matches the other components of the track, with a gritty guitar bassline and a
steady, addictive drum back beat. The intro is also really chilled and
mystical, immediately intriguing you, and so as a whole it is easy to see why
this was picked as the records first single.
3.5/5
Track 4- Light Me Up
The records title track sounds a little bit old school, 80’s
influenced and is a little bit lighter in tone than the previous tracks, even
if the lyrical content is still bitter. The track finds Momsen singing about
this guy and asking him if it’s right for him to treat her like this, and
either way she’s gonna be herself and be on top. It’s a cool statement that is
driven by a strong metaphorical hook that is quite catchy. The 80’s kind of
sound of the track comes through a little in the light sound with the clunky
guitar rhythms and kind of head bobbing groove of the drums, but it also
prominently comes through in the grainy vocal performance, with the verses
particularly seeming as if Momsen is speaking to us directly and having that
kind of past music quality (even perhaps sounding a little British)
3.5/5
Track 5- Just Tonight
A more thoughtful and perhaps delicate side of the band is
showcased in this track where Momsen sings of being stuck in a dysfunctional
and flagging relationship. The songs message is one that many will have heard
before from other artists, but when centred around teenage angsty chorus that
goes straight for the heart you cant help but really like the track, with the
dark energy of the track being backed by the clattering drum beats and cool
electric guitar riffs along with the flowing and moody violins. As well as all
this, for once you actually kind of get to see some of the power that lies in
Momsen’s voice and the sense that her best self musically lies in being
vulnerable whilst at the same time sounding strong.
4/5
Track 6- Miss Nothing
According to Momsen the sixth track and second single was
written about Mary Magdalene and how she felt after the crucifixion. It’s kind
of a weird statement and a weird base for a song, but when you listen to the
track you can get the sense of what Momsen is saying. Either way the song is
relatable without this weird religious relation, as Momsen conveys that sense
of both missing and not missing a relationship, something that many will have
experienced. The vocals feel a lacklustre compared to previous offerings, but
this is perhaps because the heavy rock sound with a slight pop edge gives the
track a cool fast paced groove and so the track is really dominated by the
production.
3.5/5
Track 7- Goin’ Down
Out of all the tracks on the record this one is probably the
one I feel would be most suited to a teen movie scene of fast paced frenzy. The
track is all about how Momsen is being taken over by this terrible emotion for
this guy and just needs to be saved in some way by someone, with the message
having a cool adulterous kind of edge. Vocally this is probably one of better
Momsen moments, with the fast paced bridge being really cool and making for a
cool, get up and rock finish. The only bad thing about this track is the
production, as the drums and guitars are good but at this point feel just that
little bit too familiar, and so you are kind of looking for a bit more album
variation.
3.5/5
Track 8- Nothing Left
to Lose
The band go even more tone down for this kind of lighters in
the air, mid tempo rock song that is seemingly powerfully influenced by other
artists, through lyrical references and the overall sound of the track. Here we
find Momsen in a deep place lyrically place as she sings about being able to do
anything because she sees that her and
her man weren’t meant to be, and now she’s just caught in this weird state of
being. The track is rich lyrically and stands out through the memorable quality
of the chorus with its strong hook. Momsen vocally sounds really strong, with
the gravelly tone suggesting that she is an old rock and roll gal rather than a
newcomer. Plus, with the darkness of the message being offset quite nicely by
the simple guitar riffs and light sounding drums, this is a cool change of pace
that brings the band and us down to a cool subdued state.
3.5/5
Track 9- Factory Girl
After the cool pace of the last track this offering feels a
little lacklustre, as Momsen puts on the role of a fun loving girl looking for
a good time. It’s a cool offering in terms of the aggressive vocal performance
from Momsen, who really shows that she is letting go. And although the
production feels bland at first, when the guitar riffs are kicked up a gear in
the middle section and the handclaps start you can get more into the track.
However these things are marred by the lyrical content which is so repetitive
it is ridiculous, and you get very easily annoyed.
3/5
Track 10- You
Ending the record finds the band being on a very soft and
sincere note in which we find the group in a very much down tempo state. And
the production, unlike the rest of the record, is highly stripped back, showing
off the fragility of Momsen’s vocal performance. Rather than being in your
face, Momsen plays it subdued and has a real deep but soft tone to her vocals
that show she can be both a strong and hurt individual. The lyrics are potent
in their repetition of the word you, as Momsen sings of needing this man who
doesn’t feel the same way she does. It’s a message that is quite beautifully
distilled by the group, and when backed by a light guitar riffs and some nice
strings, this is a great finish to the record and shows that they can do a lot
as a band.
4/5
Final Review
From promotion of this record and the persona of the group
you could very easily be misled in your view of this band as a full on rock
group who are aggressive and dark. But whilst that kind of sound does feature
on the record, it’s more correct to think of them as an alternative rock group
who can create powerful hooks and show the smallest sense of pop senisbilities
within their work. The album could be better in terms of variety of sound in
the middle group of songs, and Momsens voice could use some work in places, but
as a whole this is a solid debut that even if you don’t like will at least
intrigue you and maybe get you paying attention to this group.
6.5/10
Best Track- You
Worst Track- Factory
Girl
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