Carly Rae Jepsen is a Canadian born pop singer who first came into the eyes of the public on the reality television competition Canadian Idol. After placing third on the show, Carly independently released her first album, and gained some exposure through the songs Tug of War and Bucket. However, it wasn't until early 2012 with the release her sophomore album's lead single Call Me Maybe, that Jepsen truly became a household name.
While many wrote her off as a one-hit wonder, Carly came back earlier this year to release a track that almost matches her international hit Call Me Maybe in terms of upbeat vibes and catchiness with I Really Like You. Upon hearing the single, I was worried that Jepsen planned on living off of the success and radio play of her lead singles, and would not turn in as good of a full-length as she provided us with back in 2012.
My worries were wiped away immediately upon my first listen to the record however, as Carly Rae Jepsen's nu-disco pop sound had been refined and improved on even more, and resulted in one of the catchiest pop albums in recent memory.
The album kicks off with your typical pop tune, as Run Away With Me features a slower paced verse leading into a catchy chorus that will have you singing at the top of your lungs within just a few seconds of hearing it. The second track is much of the same, but executed even better, and the eponymous track E•MO•TION is by far one of my favorite cuts on the LP. To finish the trifecta of near perfect pop hits that round out the first tracks on the album is the single I Really Like You, which at this point anyone who isn't living under a rock has heard at least a handful of times.
Things slow down over the next few tracks, but the lyrical content remains much of the same as on Gimmie Love and All That Carly Rae continues to discuss relationships and ironically, emotions, a theme which continues throughout the album. While similar in concept, All That features a production style that is quite different than the rest of the songs, as the synth on the track is a very clear blast of nostalgia from 1980's pop ballads. The slow pacing is finished with after that, as we're led into the sixth track Boy Problems, were Carly Rae discusses her boy problems (seriously, who named these tracks?) Following that is Make the Most of the Night which features a much more newer style of production, and makes for more of a club dancing sound.
The ninth track Let's Get Lost is another stand out for me mainly due to the production on the track, that is yet another blast from the past that wouldn't feel out of place on the Breakfast Club soundtrack. The tenth track LA Hallucinations is a forgettable take, but the album rounds off with a good couple tracks in Warm Blood and When I Needed You which features a very noisy beat that still carries some nostalgia along with it.
For anyone who has written Carly Rae Jepsen off as a one-hit wonder, or a basic pop singer, I recommend giving this album a spin and seeing what you think. Lyrically it's what you'd expect from a radio pop artist, but the voice and charisma displayed, alongside some of the best production you'll hear on the radio, makes this very good for what it is; a super catchy record.
Rating: B+
Favorite Tracks: Run Away With You, E•MO•TION, I Really Like You, Gimmie Love, Let's Get Lost
Least Favorite Tracks: LA Hallucinations
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