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Having been a fan of Marina since her brilliant 2010 debut, "The Family Jewels" I was quite curious and didn't know what to expect for this album. Knowing Marina's ever-changing style and sound, her departure from her indie/new wave roots into bubblegum pop with her sophomore effort, 2012's "Electra Heart" made sense. Each complimented each other; the polarized division of music in the end ties down to the two opposites: indie and mainstream.
So now, in the present, we have her third album, FROOT. And I must say that this is one of the best albums I have ever heard in my entire life. No hyperbole there.
Marina, who has written the entire album by herself and worked with just one producer, David Kosten, has managed to fuse the lyrical introspection of her first album with the pop hooks of her second. In short, she's successfully managed to blend indie and pop sound into this wonderful Marina-esque sound.
The opening track, "Happy" is a stripped-back sentimental piano ballad that advises the listener that this album is different than her sophomoric release.
The second track, "Froot" bearing the same name as the album, is a disco-influenced 8-bit galactic sounding song with infectious melodies.
The third track, "I'm A Ruin" is an unconventional song that focuses on a different perspective of romantic relationships. It showcases her diverse vocals impressively.
The fourth track, "Blue" is one of the most pop sounding tracks on the album, for all the Electra Heart lovers out there. It is slightly Katy Perry (without the bubblegum), and very catchy.
The fifth track, "Forget" is very introspective lyrically and one of the most relatable songs on the album. From live drums to live guitars, the sound is crisp and her high notes are dazzling.
The sixth track, "Gold" is very laid back. It is difficult to describe but to me it sounds like a mix of ocean/aquarium sounds and a relaxing time on the beach. The lyrics are full of puns, which can bring a smile even to the most jaded of people. It is very catchy.
The seventh track, "Can't Pin Me Down" is one of the shortest tracks on the album, but the most memorable. Lyrically, it's almost like a feminist song but with contrived viewpoints. It's not your conventional feminist song, but in the end, it's about a woman who cannot be tamed while also being content as the housewife. Fair enough. Sonically, it's a very rock-infused song with powerful beats and gritty, industrial-like effects.
The eighth track, "Solitaire" is sonically one of the most beautiful and eloquent tracks on the album. It's a very serene and soothing song, incorporating waves and echoey flutes. It is a very enjoyable track that takes a breaks from the prior sonically prolific tracks for the listener. Her low, deep vocals also mix in with the aura of the song perfectly.
The ninth track, "Better Than That" is one of the most interesting tracks on the album lyrically. It's a song with some justified spite against the person it's talking about. This is one of the most spoken about tracks on the album because of the hot and explicit lyrics. Sonically, however, it's another rock-infused song with heavy drums and a rebellious tune.
The tenth track, "Weeds" is perhaps the lightest track on the record. It is a very breathy track relying on a very small chorus. Even though it isn't one of the most lyrically powerful songs on the album, there are some clever lines that make the song enjoyable. The guitar solo on this song is amazing, definitely worth noting!
The eleventh track, "Savages" is in my opinion, the best song on the record and the record's strength. This is a dark song that you would find on "The Family Jewels" (her debut album). This song could give anyone chills. It is about rape, violence, humanity, evil and good. The message is clear, questioning and crisp. I absolutely adore this track because of how human it is. Sonically, this track is intimidating, provoking, dark and mysterious. You'll be surprised by how powerful it is.
To conclude the album, the twelfth track, "Immortal" is kind of like a Savages 2.0, except not as dark and cynical. Lyrically, Immortal is about wanting to stay preserved through memories. It is a track explaining how humans are mortal and how our time will come sooner or later. However, while the song is brutally honest, it incorporates an optimistic message: how our memories will keep us alive, regardless of how much time passes by. Marina concludes the album by stating that she wishes to be kept alive not literally but in the sense of memory. Sonically, the song shares the same nostalgic tune of the lyrics. Her vocals in this track range from deep lows to gentle highs. A great closer for the album.
"FROOT" is undoubtedly one of the best albums of 2015. As the saying goes, "the third's the charm," and for Marina, this couldn't be any truer. The album has been lauded by music critics, given her peak in worldwide sales and recognition, and the promotion for the album is everywhere! I'm proud of how far she's arrived while staying true to herself. Marina is one of the few artists in the industry to be this honest, and for that, she should be recognized and celebrated.
5/5
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It's Marina's best work to this date
I decide to start my vinyl collection so I got my first Turntable and vinyl ever and I wanted to start with FROOT by Marina And The Diamonds, this album is so personal and thought provoking. The songs are ALL written by Marina, they're all different ranging from stripped back ballads to funky pop. It's Marina's best work to this date!🌹
Top reviews from other countries
Douglas Nascimento
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