Time for some more eccentric eletropop dark wave! This edition is Alice Glass. For those of you unfamiliar, she was the female vocalist of electronic duo Crystal Castles. Things went astray after she left and accused the remaining member of fairly severe emotional abuse. Much of her solo music has incorporated a cathartic and storytelling aspect to this pain she experienced.
The album beings with the song "PREY", which seems like someone trying to escape from an abuser and deal with some of the emotional aftermath. The production makes it hard to tell what she is saying, which is a drawback, but stylistically it could also represent how abusers silence their victims.
"Pinned Beneath Limbs" carries a bit more direct anger lyrically than expected. Her chaotic sort of eletronica helps carry these sort of tracks.
"Love is Violence" I don't like too much stylistically. It feels like elements of Stillbirth without the delivery.
"Baby Teeth" is lyrically quite sad but at the same time a reality for many. I like the style of this track more than the prior for sure. She's found a way to capture her original sounds without her abuser at all.
"Everybody Else" really captures so much of the raw emotion that exists in prolonged emotional abuse. It makes it a very heavy song however. If you were looking for dance pop to forget your problems, Alice Glass is not here for that.
"The Hunted" shows off more of the anger, and I love the way she stylistically did this as a victim gaining power over their abuser.
"Fair Game" was the lead single, which sounded a lot like the words running through your head an emotional abuser says to you to gain control.
"Witch Hunt" feels like the distress of never knowing the right thing to say to make anything right or work out. Like they're just waiting to pounce on you any time you say the smallest thing.
"Suffer and Swallow" returns to the anger. She knows exactly who and what they are, even if no one else sees it. They are reclaiming power again.
"Suffer in Peace" feels a little less grabbing than the other tracks.
"Animosity" captures some of the reframing and difficulty of walking away from an abusive situation. You realize everything was built on lies but also, to leave you have to give up everything you once had to move forward.
"I Trusted You" is too mellow lyrically to get across the bigger themes.
The album closes with "Sorrow Ends", an instrumental pieces.
Lyrics: 8/10 - The album tells the story well but also allows those who feel victimized this way to feel through it.
Music: 6/10 - Sometimes the music held aspects back in my perspective.
Overall: 7/10 - Very solid full debut album for her. I have anticipated a complete release from her solo and glad she took her time to do it right.
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