Carly Rae Jepsen is a name everyone has heard of, notably for her hits ‘Call Me Maybe’ and her collaboration with Owl City, ‘Good Time’. Defining the sound of 2012 as something sugar-filled and cavity-inducing, many had labelled the star as ‘one hit wonder’. Yet, hidden beneath these viral hits, the star released her latest album and it is the best pop album that never was.
‘Emotion’, stylized as E•MO•TION, is dripping with dance-pop belters and songs that are near perfect in the genre of pop. Opening with ‘Run Away With Me’, the clarion synths and opening saxophone beats mirror that of a battle call, with Jepsen using the track to carve her track back into the hallowed halls of pop royalty. It seems to ooze the pop sounds of Scandinavia, infamous for its pop and is set to be the future of pop music here in the UK. The track serves as a new era for Jepsen, shifting her from bubblegum-pop to a sound that can only be epitomised as pure, unadulterated yet sophisticated pop music.
Recalling the 80’s pop Renaissance that so often sneaks its way back into pop music, the album powers through with whizzing beats and perfectly simple lyrics that Cyndi Lauper or Kylie would love to have as part of their repertoire. ‘When I Needed You’ screams of the retro influences, mimicking the sounds of Tiffany or Belinda Carlisle and creates a sense of nostalgia for a time that many of her listeners haven’t ever experienced whilst ‘All That’ is an empowering ballad that requires singing at the top of your voice.
Jepsen calls on influences that she knows, using a relationship in the public eye to inspire ‘L.A. Hallucinations’. The track is simple and effective, calling on pop culture references such as Buzzfeed and TMZ combined with a beat that would be at home on any and every playlist. No longer is she a guilty pleasure, but a credible pop star. The biggest part of her charm is her ability to combine the simple with the complex. She hasn’t forgot how she was propelled to stardom through simple lyrics and music, and uses that as a subtle undertone so as to drive the album forward.
Yet despite its impressive sound and critically-acclaimed reviews, the album didn’t succeed commercially. This is unusual as the tracks are extremely radio friendly and the ideal tunes for a night out on the town. It is the best pop album that never was, an album that is worthy of infamy and a place in the history of pop music, yet never quite achieves the glimmering heights that it deserves.
Words by Adam Levick
@_adamlevick