Music Reveiw: "Angel" by Lizzy McAlpine
Hello, Lizzy.
14 new songs, including the two previously released singles, “The light in the painting” and “Ugly things,” graced listeners last Friday, Sept. 18. I have a lot to say, so let’s get into it.
I won’t go over the singles, as I did already review those separately.
The second track of the album, “Anybody’s fool,” is easily recognizable as a song that plays on the emotions of losing someone who was your everything. The piano backed vocals are highly emotional, and a heartbeat-like drumline in the background conveys the feeling of intense sorrow McAlpine is feeling in the loss of this love.
The next track, titled “A car wash and a new pair of pants,” is sonically interesting. To me, it is reminiscent of an Irish folk song, in the way McAlpine lilts and rifts. She sings about someone only loving her for her fame, someone so hollow and vain. However, this person is now lost without her. It’s strangely upbeat, especially given the lyrics saying she feels used.
Now, “I have a friend.” A friend and a lover. This one hit hard, and not just in the metaphorical sense. It pulls at the heartstrings, really creating a resonance for listeners that Lizzy has found a good, true and pure love. She notices the small things about him, like the way he tunes his guitar and how his voice fills a room. God, she’s so happy, it’s disgusting.
In the sense that, she makes you want to experience that type of love too. The sickeningly sweet kind of love that makes you feel like you’re floating. For some, this song is as close as they’ll get, and Lizzy knows that.
“The moon” takes listeners on a journey through the push and pull of love, wanting to have freedom but finding that your gravity is centered around someone else. Maybe you’re okay with it.
“Soldier of the road,” featuring Fleet Foxes, known for songs such as “White Winter Hymnal,” was certainly not a favorite from this album. I like the sound, but it’s not very Lizzy. I hear a lot of the Fleet Foxes influence in the lyrics, and it’s just not my taste. It almost feels out of place in this album.
The next track, “Peach,” is pensive. That’s it ... pensive. Lizzy is pensive over her life, trying to decide what the next move is. Thunder in the background of the track could symbolize a brewing conflict, a clouded judgment. The lyrics end, and the final minute of the song is instrumental, leaving listeners to sit in the uncomfortable thought of the unknown. “Over country” is devastating. Lizzy is coming to realize that someone loves her no matter what, and that is a feeling that cannot be bought or sold.
“Two elevens” has such a classic Lizzy feel. McAlpine really went back to her roots, and I like it. Do I love this song? No.
Coming up on the 11th track of the album, we have “Our strange ways,” and this song is once again about her feelings of being lost after a breakup. I like the sound of this song, but following the two singles, I’m starting to get bored of the breakup narrative. I thought, following “The light in the painting,” that this album would be about moving on and finding a new and better love. Now, we’re well into the album, and only have two happy songs so far, including the aforementioned single.
“Mason’s song.” Now Lizzy, who is Mason? Again, the lyrics on this song fall flat, something I find discouraging. I love McApline’s music for the incredible lyricism and composures, so I’m just frustrated, and we’re two tracks away from the end of the album.
“The crowd,” to me, is about her parents’ divorce, and trying to make her dad proud. I’m just, like, okay? This is so out of place for this album, it threw me way off, I’m irritated. I know many listeners will resonate deeply with this song, and I realize that. However, this song doesn’t have a place on this particular album.
Now, the namesake of the album rounding it out, “Angel.” Finally, what I’ve been waiting for. Lizzy sings about her lover, how she’s been waiting for the day she would know love. Learning how to lose herself in the love of another, finally feeling it real and raw.
It’s a beautiful song, lyrically, literally, metaphorically, sonically, finally.
This album was so far from what I expected, and it unfortunately left me wanting. I’m both tired of the breakup narrative and wanting it back, it just felt like she’s already made peace with this one and the songs weren't as good as they could’ve been. I so wanted to hear more happy songs, more love songs, more of her redemption post breakup and not her being stuck in it.
There are a few good songs, but outside of “The light in the painting,” and “Angel” I’m not sure I’ll be reaching for this album much. I think I’ll stick to her “Older (and Wiser)” album and sit in wait for the next release.
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