Everyone’s heard Jepsen’s infectious No. 1 hit, “Call Me Maybe.” I bought, followed on repeat, along with tired of the one, such as a lot of people. I then received her album Kiss like a present, determined it was a crazy catchy album, great to exercise to. Honestly, I was a little sad because I thought there is more to her music than that. Like I always do, I into her determined out she had released another album, her debut album.
Fresh from Canadian Idol, Jepsen released her debut album, stuffed with songs she wrote by hand. With this record, Jepsen took influences from many genres of music, thus, making this album a collage of numerous types of music. She draws from typical pop rock, and adds some folk flair, and also brings in some country vibes at a few points. It makes her sound unique, which she lost after she decided to go mainstream with “Call Me Maybe.” This album seems like her personality, and sounds different.
The first song from the album is “Bucket”. In this song, Jepsen samples a children’s song and fuses acoustic pop, reggae and many sort of Hawaiian music. She uses the metaphor of creating a sand castle to dicuss of her troubles back with her boyfriend and life normally. This is the first look the listeners really enter Jepsen’s songwriting abilities. She’s able to take a children’s hobby making it to a suitable song for just a young couple. Another song about the album that in some way showcases Jepsen as being a songwriter is “Money as well as the Ego”. Along with “Bucket” and “Tug of War” Jepsen got nominated because the Juno Awards Songwriter in the Year on this track. Jepsen debates madness of life, but makes all the heavy topic more radio friendly with light acoustic production.
Two tracks with interesting production would be the title track and “Heavy Lifting”. The title track has several different parts on the song that will get played over the other person until the end where all of them are played simultaneously, making the track really challenging for you personally ears, looking to hear each part. It becomes an experience for the ears. “Lifting” is my personal favorite track about the record. It describes the tale of first love, and her first-time. It’s innocent and naive in songwriting, turning it into a truly joyful love track which the radio misses today. The song has heavy country pop influence with all the acoustic based production ad big bridge and chorus which fills out the track and helps it be a pleasurable listen.
The one below the knob on this album is “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” It’s a cover of John Denver’s classic song. A song this way is so tough to cover well because from the beauty in the original track. Jepsen attempts to make it more poppy also it doesn’t really work with her favor. This was her debut single to radio, and reflect her just as one artist, much like the rest of her album does.
Ending the review using a positive note, listed here is a song during which Jepsen really should have based her whole career and sound around. “Tell Me” is often a short acoustic folk influenced ballad, only clocking out at 2:21. It tells the storyplot of a breakup, as well as the need to have her lover tell her it straight, instead of try to dance around her feelings, because she can’t understand him. Jepsen’s vocals shine, using little imperfections becoming positive things on this revealing track.
It’s simple to grasp why Jepsen didn’t continue making these kind if records. This album failed to sell well, only selling 10,000 copies today and yes it came out in 2008. But this is actually the kind of music that creates Carly Rae Jepsen Carly Rae Jepsen, instead of just another Katy Perry/Britney Spears clone. I hope together with her new album, Jepsen decides to return to her roots a tad and create another album as incredible because this one is.