I have been eagerly awaiting the sophomore release of Annie, an extremely talented Norwegian "electro-pop" singer, and this wait has literally torn my soul apart. Sometimes the need for her new songs was so bad I would desperately search the net for even small clips of her new songs. But, the wait is finally over, as I have been sent her new edition of "Don't Stop" from a friend so I could preview all the tracks, and so I've decided to review each track in this post as I hear it for the first time (or the new tracks, anyways).
First of all, here's the comparison between the album artwork which changed between the two years:
I think it's obvious that there's been a
very big improvement.
The reason her album was originally delayed was because of her creative differences with her old label, Island Records, which caused her to leave. The label, according to some things I've read, seized her most popular tracks and didn't allow her to rerelease them on another label. So she's had to go back to the studio to rerecord new tracks (which isn't necessarily a bad thing! though some very good tracks are missing from the original) and she's kept some tracks which were average.
Anyways, the anticipation is killing me. Enough preface. Shh, let's start the record.
Track One - "Hey Annie"The first thing I thought of was that it reminded me a lot of "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani. However, this isn't a criticism - it's like an improved, more mellow version of it. There's a great combination of drums, clapping, and electronic beats which combine to create a sort of jungley-feel. It's ironic, because her album opener for "Anniemal" sounded reminiscent of a jungle as well. Hey Annie is a great opener that sets a brand new tone to the whole album. I'm excited to see the rest of the tracks.
RATING - 4.5/5 STARS
Track Two - "My Love is Better"I've heard this song already from the old version of the album. It's the same. I originally thought this was an average song, and my opinion hasn't really changed. I think it's too upbeat for Annie; I always preferred her darker, electronic-heavy songs to her bubblegum pop. But this is still a great track, and it's no surprise that she kept this on her album as it was a solid addition originally.
RATING - 3.8/5 STARS.
Track Three - "Bad Times"Again, heard this song from the old "Don't Stop". My review is similar to my one for "My Love is Better" - it's too upbeat. I prefer the experimental Annie to the mainstream sound that it seemed like she was trying to incorporate into her new album. Again, like I said for the other track, it's still a great track. I just don't think it's as strong as "My Love is Better". I think this would have done better a little more down on the track listing.
RATING - 3.5/5 STARS
Track Four - "Don't Stop"Ahh, here we go. This is the Annie I love. This is the unifying song of the album; this is what was missing from the original album to make it fantastic and as beautiful as "Anniemal". Very 80's reminiscent. I like the pitch of her voice as well. Sorry if my thoughts seem short and random - this is me writing as I hear the song. The beat is unsurprising, very much Annie's style. I love how this song, like "Hey Annie", still has that dark tone to it that was lacking from the rest of the album before. This is a solid track, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were a single in the future.
RATING - 4.3/5 STARS
Track Five - "I Don't Like Your Band"I was greeted by this track with an erratic, electronic beat + robotic voice. So far, I'm liking it. I know I've mentioned this before multiple times, but you can definitely tell which tracks were made in 2008 and which were made in 2009 - 2009 tracks have a better quality and relatively more thought than the other tracks, it seems. "I like you, but I don't like your band, your style, your sound..." "It's not you, it's not you, it's your tune..." This track kind of sounds like Kylie Mingoue's "Magnetic Electric" - the same distorted voice, similar electronic beats. This is another quality track...
excellent.
RATING - 5/5 STARS
PS: Upon reconsideration, this is by far the best track on the album so far.
PPS: "It's not you... it's the e talking."
PPPS: Sorry, I told you I was obsessed with Soulwax.
Track Six - "Songs Remind Me of You"This was the original champion of Don't Stop, Annie's best song ever made. I enjoy it as much as I did the first time hearing it; it's still got the mystical, dark electronic vibes with a poppy beat. The lyrics are as perfect as the beats. It's very 80's as well, as I mentioned earlier about "Don't Stop". "Every song I hear reminds me of you, of youuu. Does it make you feel the same as I do?" "How does it feel to hear your songs on the radio? And does it hurt to hear your songs on the radio?" Unfortunately, this single wasn't
that successful, so you never found out. Ha! Sorry Annie. Just kidding, I'm disgusted with myself. It's an AMAZING track. I think this and "I Don't Like Your Band" are going to remain in the top spots for best tracks on this album.
RATING - 5/5 STARS
Track Seven - "Marie Cherie"Marie Cherie is one of Annie's slower, darker, gentler songs. However, the tempo has no effect on the quality - this is another amazing track off the album. If I were to describe this in one word, it would be haunting. I don't really have much to say about Marie Cherie, to be quite honest.
RATING - 3.9/5 STARS
Track Eight - "Take You Home""The lights are low / I want to take you home". The songs alright. Another average song from her 2008 sessions, but that's alright. I don't really have much to say about it, which probably sums up this song for you.
RATING - 3.2/5 STARS
Track Nine - "The Breakfast Song"The only thing I ever remember this song is that Annie described it as something to listen to in the morning, when you have a hangover. The only problem with that statement is that if there were anything I was going to choose to listen to with a hangover, it would NOT be this song. I hate to say it, but it's borderline annoying. I don't like how she sings this. But I do like the concept. The most redeeming quality of this song is that the chorus goes "What do you want? What do you want for BREAKFAST!?" and her extra attitude towards the end, as if to shock the person who the question is directed, is what makes me smirk slightly at this song.
RATING - 3.3/5 STARS
Track Ten - "Loco"Sorry, Annie, boring, cliché pop. But I guess if you're okay with unrefined pop like that, then this song is fine for you. I obviously don't like it much. I just have issue with a lot of the old tracks from Don't Stop. And I'm not just disliking these because I've heard them for so long, I didn't really like them the first time I heard them anyways. Don't Stop did have some gems though; the only problem is that they weren't included. Oh well.
RATING - 3/5 STARS
Track Eleven - "When the Night"Another one of Annie's slow ballads. I do like this song and I did like this song when I first heard it. I think it's actually her most beautiful ballad to date. It's got great imagery, and it's almost liquid in its atmosphere. I don't really know if that statement made sense. Oh well. It's a great track.
RATING - 4/5 STARS
Track Twelve - "Heaven and Hell"This song is more boring than Loco. I don't ever pick this song out of the album to listen to. The only time I listen to this song is if I'm listening to the whole album through.
RATING - 3/5 STARS
Well, that's the review. I stopped about halfway through and came back, and unfortunately I came back and was more harsh to the last half of the album than the first. I was really genuinely impressed with the first half, however, the second half was like a combination of all the songs I didn't like off the original album. So, as a final rating for this album, I'm going to average up all my ratings of the songs and I guess that'll serve as my overall album rating.
Don't Stop Album Rating - 3.9/5 Stars
As an added bonus, here's "Don't Stop" off her new album. Enjoy!
Annie - "Don't Stop"
