If there's someone who can be described as the "Breakout Pop Starlet of 2014," it's Charli XCX. This British pop singer first made a name for herself in 2013 by singing on Icona Pop's disgustingly catchy hit single "I Love It" and through the release of her album True Romance later that year, she became a household name this year by singing the infectious hook on Iggy Azalea's Number One hit "Fancy", and then again through her own hit song "Boom Clap."
This album, Sucker, placed at No. 6 on Rolling Stone's Best Albums of 2014, which is only weird because the list was made before this album was even released. I didn't want to give Charli XCX an unfair judgment before the album was released, but putting an album on a year-end list is cheating, don't you think? But that's beside the point. The placing of the album that high on the list got me a little bit curious about the album, which is why I'm here today talking about it.
The first thing I have to say is that I love Charli XCX's voice. It's not pretty by any means, but it's got personality, and that's what I wish I heard more of with female pop singers. Plus, she can sing on key, which is always a plus. Her voice hasn't really matured for this album, but here, it's not a bad thing. Especially on this album, where her singing style borders on pop-punk a-la Hayley Williams. Her voice compliments the production nicely, but we'll get to that in a minute.
The first song and the album's title track, "Sucker," present an explosive start to Charli XCX's third release. Hearing Ms. XCX yell "F*** you, Sucker!" is sure to get someone pumped and others angry at a sucker in their life. Everyone knows (or knew) someone like that, right?
Throughout this album, you get more of the high-energy, big-attitude pop that Charli XCX has become known for and that was on the title track.. The production is every bit as impressive as Charli's vocals, with some sweet instrumentals courtesy of co-producers Stargate, Cashmere Cat, Patrik Berger, Justin Raisen, and many more. I never thought I would see some instrumentals like these in a pop album, but I think I really like it a lot and I wish it was more present in modern pop albums. In particular, I have to point out the song "London Queen," a track produced entirely by Raisen. It's upbeat and, as I said before, full of attitude. It reminds me of a Ramones song, and all I could hear with the instrumental was "I Wanna Be Sedated." Also noteworthy is "Gold Coins", this time produced by Berger. Maybe that one doesn't remind me of a Ramones song, but it still has some pretty kickin' production.
After "Gold Coins", the production changes to more of a synthpop-style production with the album's hit song, "Boom Clap", which charted at Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and landed at Number 34 on the Hot 100 Year-End chart. While it's different from the album's preceding songs, I still really like the two songs this production style uses. They almost remind me of a more poppy Chvrches song. It doesn't last the rest of the album however, and goes right back to the pop rock on "Body Of My Own."
Another highlight of this album worth pointing out in this review is the song "Hanging Around," co-written with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo. It might just be me, but his influence on this song sounds pretty obvious to anyone who likes Weezer even a little, and I of course mean that as a compliment; it should be noted that although Cuomo co-wrote the song, Raisen handled the production.
The very next song on the album also has an unusual co-writer: Vampire Weekend's multi-instrumentalist, Rostam Batmanglij. The influence here is also pretty clear, as I can't help but think of Modern Vampires of the City while listening to it. It seems that Charli XCX likes to bring in all sorts of different collaborators for her music. Up to this point in the album, you have work from Stargate, Cashmere Cat, renowned pop songwriter Greg Kurstin, Rivers Cuomo, and now Vampire Weekend. Very smart of her, bringing in multiple collaborators from across the pop/rock spectrum.
All in all, this album has surprised me. I was expecting to dislike it, but instead, Charli XCX proved why her album deserves to be on anyone's list of Top Albums of the Year (although, I still think putting U2 at #1 and the Black Keys at #3 is a joke). She's finally come into her own on Sucker, and I'm actually excited to see what could come next from her. While it's hard to endorse what she's saying lyrically ("I don't wanna go to school / I just wanna break the rules"), it's an album where you can just escape the pressures of everyday life and just have a blast.
In conclusion: Sucker is where Charli XCX becomes a force to be reckoned with in the popular music world. It's an album that is good, a ton of fun, and is just everything that a modern pop album should be. It's barely over 40 minutes long, with all the tracks being less than 4 minutes long, the shortest being only 2:18. And the most notable thing? Not a single guest feature on here outside of the songwriters. Congrats, Charli XCX. You've made a fan out of me.
Overall: 9/10
Favorite songs: Sucker; Break the Rules; London Queen; Breaking Up; Gold Coins; Boom Clap; Doing It; Hanging Around; Caught In the Middle
The first thing I have to say is that I love Charli XCX's voice. It's not pretty by any means, but it's got personality, and that's what I wish I heard more of with female pop singers. Plus, she can sing on key, which is always a plus. Her voice hasn't really matured for this album, but here, it's not a bad thing. Especially on this album, where her singing style borders on pop-punk a-la Hayley Williams. Her voice compliments the production nicely, but we'll get to that in a minute.
The first song and the album's title track, "Sucker," present an explosive start to Charli XCX's third release. Hearing Ms. XCX yell "F*** you, Sucker!" is sure to get someone pumped and others angry at a sucker in their life. Everyone knows (or knew) someone like that, right?
Throughout this album, you get more of the high-energy, big-attitude pop that Charli XCX has become known for and that was on the title track.. The production is every bit as impressive as Charli's vocals, with some sweet instrumentals courtesy of co-producers Stargate, Cashmere Cat, Patrik Berger, Justin Raisen, and many more. I never thought I would see some instrumentals like these in a pop album, but I think I really like it a lot and I wish it was more present in modern pop albums. In particular, I have to point out the song "London Queen," a track produced entirely by Raisen. It's upbeat and, as I said before, full of attitude. It reminds me of a Ramones song, and all I could hear with the instrumental was "I Wanna Be Sedated." Also noteworthy is "Gold Coins", this time produced by Berger. Maybe that one doesn't remind me of a Ramones song, but it still has some pretty kickin' production.
After "Gold Coins", the production changes to more of a synthpop-style production with the album's hit song, "Boom Clap", which charted at Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and landed at Number 34 on the Hot 100 Year-End chart. While it's different from the album's preceding songs, I still really like the two songs this production style uses. They almost remind me of a more poppy Chvrches song. It doesn't last the rest of the album however, and goes right back to the pop rock on "Body Of My Own."
Another highlight of this album worth pointing out in this review is the song "Hanging Around," co-written with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo. It might just be me, but his influence on this song sounds pretty obvious to anyone who likes Weezer even a little, and I of course mean that as a compliment; it should be noted that although Cuomo co-wrote the song, Raisen handled the production.
The very next song on the album also has an unusual co-writer: Vampire Weekend's multi-instrumentalist, Rostam Batmanglij. The influence here is also pretty clear, as I can't help but think of Modern Vampires of the City while listening to it. It seems that Charli XCX likes to bring in all sorts of different collaborators for her music. Up to this point in the album, you have work from Stargate, Cashmere Cat, renowned pop songwriter Greg Kurstin, Rivers Cuomo, and now Vampire Weekend. Very smart of her, bringing in multiple collaborators from across the pop/rock spectrum.
All in all, this album has surprised me. I was expecting to dislike it, but instead, Charli XCX proved why her album deserves to be on anyone's list of Top Albums of the Year (although, I still think putting U2 at #1 and the Black Keys at #3 is a joke). She's finally come into her own on Sucker, and I'm actually excited to see what could come next from her. While it's hard to endorse what she's saying lyrically ("I don't wanna go to school / I just wanna break the rules"), it's an album where you can just escape the pressures of everyday life and just have a blast.
In conclusion: Sucker is where Charli XCX becomes a force to be reckoned with in the popular music world. It's an album that is good, a ton of fun, and is just everything that a modern pop album should be. It's barely over 40 minutes long, with all the tracks being less than 4 minutes long, the shortest being only 2:18. And the most notable thing? Not a single guest feature on here outside of the songwriters. Congrats, Charli XCX. You've made a fan out of me.
Overall: 9/10
Favorite songs: Sucker; Break the Rules; London Queen; Breaking Up; Gold Coins; Boom Clap; Doing It; Hanging Around; Caught In the Middle