Christina Perri - Lovestrong (20/07/2011)
Number two on the iTunes charts sounds like a good place to be, which is exactly where Christina Perri’s single ‘Jar of Hearts’ has happily climbed to since her album release, with no sign of heading south.
The single is from her long awaited debut album 'Lovestrong.’ released last month on Atlantic Records, and it’s also proving to be a crowd pleaser. Following the release of her EP The Ocean Way Sessions in November last year, the 24 year old songstress has been enjoying huge popularity after her single was featured on the American version of Dancing with the Stars and after being snapped up by the producers of Glee, the single instantly became a romantic teenage anthem.
The album opens with Bluebird, showcasing Perri’s naturally melodic voice asking how to mend a broken heart and is backed only by simple piano notes. My first impression was initially reminiscent of Regina Spektor, but the tune morphed into a full blown pop song and all the way back again. Picking up the pace with Arms, you get the feeling that this young lady has already had considerable experience in love and loss. Follow this with the contrasting Bang, Bang, Bang, and Perri proves that fast beats and revengeful lyrics can be a happy marriage of sounds. Stand out track Distance combines arpeggios of piano keys with strings, and is another love themed song’ (for an album with an obvious common thread) leading the listener to a song familiar to anyone who listens to national radio. Jar of Hearts was released to the public this time last year and could easily be mistaken as a Rihanna hit with its big piano chords laced with beautiful strings, a combination that obviously make for a Top 40 hit. Next up are the synthy sounds and stomping drums of Mine which make you think you may in fact be listening to a soundtrack from a blockbuster movie, but unfortunately I can’t help but picture the cast of Glee thumping this one out with Mr Shue.
Into the second half of the album, track number seven is aptly named Interlude, with haunting voices and a plucking of guitar strings which actually does feel like an interval with a prelude to the second half. Absorbing Penguin, Miles and The Lonely we find the tracks beginning to blend together a little, but not enough to turn it off. It’s just a shame that Perri leaves the listener with Sad Song and Tragedy, as I did feel like I’d been left at the altar.
It’s a definite creeper, with each listen revealing another instrument or catchy riff hidden beneath the stereotypic pop. ‘Lovestrong' is 46 minutes of easy listening, fearless tunes with some awesome opportunities for a sing-a-long and a gutsy unveiling of Christina Perri’s music to the industry.
Andrea Davies
The single is from her long awaited debut album 'Lovestrong.’ released last month on Atlantic Records, and it’s also proving to be a crowd pleaser. Following the release of her EP The Ocean Way Sessions in November last year, the 24 year old songstress has been enjoying huge popularity after her single was featured on the American version of Dancing with the Stars and after being snapped up by the producers of Glee, the single instantly became a romantic teenage anthem.
The album opens with Bluebird, showcasing Perri’s naturally melodic voice asking how to mend a broken heart and is backed only by simple piano notes. My first impression was initially reminiscent of Regina Spektor, but the tune morphed into a full blown pop song and all the way back again. Picking up the pace with Arms, you get the feeling that this young lady has already had considerable experience in love and loss. Follow this with the contrasting Bang, Bang, Bang, and Perri proves that fast beats and revengeful lyrics can be a happy marriage of sounds. Stand out track Distance combines arpeggios of piano keys with strings, and is another love themed song’ (for an album with an obvious common thread) leading the listener to a song familiar to anyone who listens to national radio. Jar of Hearts was released to the public this time last year and could easily be mistaken as a Rihanna hit with its big piano chords laced with beautiful strings, a combination that obviously make for a Top 40 hit. Next up are the synthy sounds and stomping drums of Mine which make you think you may in fact be listening to a soundtrack from a blockbuster movie, but unfortunately I can’t help but picture the cast of Glee thumping this one out with Mr Shue.
Into the second half of the album, track number seven is aptly named Interlude, with haunting voices and a plucking of guitar strings which actually does feel like an interval with a prelude to the second half. Absorbing Penguin, Miles and The Lonely we find the tracks beginning to blend together a little, but not enough to turn it off. It’s just a shame that Perri leaves the listener with Sad Song and Tragedy, as I did feel like I’d been left at the altar.
It’s a definite creeper, with each listen revealing another instrument or catchy riff hidden beneath the stereotypic pop. ‘Lovestrong' is 46 minutes of easy listening, fearless tunes with some awesome opportunities for a sing-a-long and a gutsy unveiling of Christina Perri’s music to the industry.
Andrea Davies