Album Spotlight:
Emotion by Carly Rae Jepsen
Spotify
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the world of Carly Rae Jepsen, and one of my favorite albums ever. I'll let the music and my descriptions of the songs do the talking, as this is one you need to hear for yourself.
1) Run Away With Me
That saxophone. That damn saxophone.
The fact that this wasn't chosen as the lead single of this album over I Really Like You may turn out to be one of the big reasons why this album never made it as big as it should have. This is everything you could want in a pop smash hit. Literally. Just listen and try not to dance or move. It's literally impossible. This song is just a brilliant way to start off this fantastic album.
The fact that this wasn't chosen as the lead single of this album over I Really Like You may turn out to be one of the big reasons why this album never made it as big as it should have. This is everything you could want in a pop smash hit. Literally. Just listen and try not to dance or move. It's literally impossible. This song is just a brilliant way to start off this fantastic album.
2) Emotion
Groovy.
The title track here is one of, if not the grooviest song on this record, feeling like it came straight out of the 80's in a way that still feels new and fresh.
The title track here is one of, if not the grooviest song on this record, feeling like it came straight out of the 80's in a way that still feels new and fresh.
3) I Really Like You
"Like, I REALLY like you. like, REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY like you."
When arguably the most annoying song on the album is this catchy, it's hard not to see how amazing this whole project is. While certainly not her best writing (maybe her worst), it still comes through with the pop gold that we've come to know her for and that keeps me coming back to this album time and time again.
When arguably the most annoying song on the album is this catchy, it's hard not to see how amazing this whole project is. While certainly not her best writing (maybe her worst), it still comes through with the pop gold that we've come to know her for and that keeps me coming back to this album time and time again.
4) Gimmie Love
"Is that really how you spell gimmie"
Sometimes, we just need a good ol' piece of Carly Rae bubblegum pop to brighten the whole world's day. This song just oozes happiness from the infectious chorus. This song will definitely get stuck in your head.
Sometimes, we just need a good ol' piece of Carly Rae bubblegum pop to brighten the whole world's day. This song just oozes happiness from the infectious chorus. This song will definitely get stuck in your head.
5) All That
The slow jam that we didn't know we needed.
The chorus is surprisingly powerful, with the thought of becoming actual friends with a lover to be a lot more close of a relationship than traditional lovers have. I love this change of pace, and the song is fantastic and absolutely worth a listen.
The chorus is surprisingly powerful, with the thought of becoming actual friends with a lover to be a lot more close of a relationship than traditional lovers have. I love this change of pace, and the song is fantastic and absolutely worth a listen.
6) Boy Problems
Bass Guitar.
This song is possibly the 80's-est out of all of the 80's inspired music on this project. The funk of the bass guitar drives this song forward into great places, and as with all songs on this project, the production is incredible creating another great song.
This song is possibly the 80's-est out of all of the 80's inspired music on this project. The funk of the bass guitar drives this song forward into great places, and as with all songs on this project, the production is incredible creating another great song.
7) Making The Most Of The Night
Even More Bass Guitar.Oh my goodness the bridge of this song is fantastic, and the transitions in and out of it and incredible and add a whole other level to this song. The intensity of this song is a welcome change of pace and is a great addition to this project.
8) Your Type
"Is it possible for the worst song on an album to be an anthem?"Yes. yes it is. And here it is. This song is better than tons of pop songs in the mainstream and still somehow ranks as my least favorite song on this album. This album is that loaded with fantastic music. Worth a listen.
9) Let's Get Lost
Those pre-chorus harmonies though."Maybe you'll take the long way home" will get stuck in your head for days. Literally days. I listened to this album for this days ago and I don't even have to re-listen to this song. And that bridge with the sax is fantastic. Carly is just amazing guys.
10) LA Hallucinations
"B...But Carly... you're Miss Innocent you can't start off the song by saying you're naked!"But yet, here's the pop princess herself going from little child friendly to Y-7 with this edgy track. Honestly, this track is still super groovy and fun, like we've come to expect at this point.
11) Warm Blood
"wub wub wub wub"SHE PRODUCING THIS SONG WITH A FORMER MEMBER OF VAMPIRE WEEKEND. GUYS THIS SONG IS SO GOOD. It's Carly taking a different approach to the same general sound and results in a sound that sounds fresh after an album of very similar songs. It's her at her most mysterious.
12) When I Needed You
"Togetha, Foreva"You can feel this song in your soul. With probably the grooviest bass on this whole album on this song and the anthemic HEY's in this song. Also the song has a cool story it's trying to tell, of how even though Carly wants to change herself for someone, that person was never there for her so she doesn't think it's worth it, but her desire for him is still there.
13) Black Heart
The Bass Slides.Really showing the 80's electro pop on it's sleeve, this song is more experimental with using different sounds than were used on the rest of this album. Which results in one of the more different and unique songs on this album, something that I hope she takes with her to her next project.
14) I Didn't Just Come Here To Dance
Carly Rae Dance Song? Yes Please.
This sort of club-dance song is different for Carly Rae, especially on this album. But you wouldn't be able to tell from listening to this. This is a piece of dance pop gold, and something that did not get enough attention. Play this at your next big party. Or by yourself when you feel like having a solo party.
15) Favourite Colour
"We blend into your favourite colour"
This song is all about how much how much Carly's love interest changes her, and how she becomes more like him. Which, although very lightly and innocently addressed here, is really scary when you think about it. The person you love the most will change you, no matter who you are. And, as you can tell, Carly's scared that she'll change so much that he will no longer like the person he changed her into. Beautiful, meaningful song to end this fantastic album.
Tracks Ranked
1) Run Away With Me
2) Favourite Colour
3) All That
4) Let's Get Lost
5) Emotion
6) Boy Problems
7) Making The Most Of The Night
8) When I Needed You
9) Gimmie Love
10) I Didn't Just Come Here To Dance
11) Warm Blood
12) I Really Like You
13) LA Hallucinations
14) Your Type
15) Black Heart
Please go support Carly and listen to this album, I promise it's worth your time! And who knows, I may have another review for an album of her's up soon ;)
Thank you all for reading! And as always, this is Kenny Haller, over and out!
