That’s not to say there’s no vocal variation, but notes are often maintained across multiple words in a very “Bridgers” style. Ignoring the similarities between two great artists isn’t helped by the fact McAlpine shares what feels like a trademarke flatness to the vocals. ‘reckless driving’, ‘what a shame’, and ‘orange show speedway’ all contain that same contrast a contrast which hasn’t quite been pulled off since Bridgers’ Punisher or Stranger in the Alps. At times there’s the softer side of the likes of Gabrielle Aplin present, but more common is the strong craftsmanship of musicality against lyrics that we haven’t seen in an album since Lucy Rose’s underrated No Words Left. It plucks the strings of a violin, has a gentle drum beat and is backed by an almost indiscernible piano, but what sits in contrast in the sawing highs of McAlpine’s voice that balances emotion and brevity. McAlpine thrives in the style of sadness that juxtaposes emotion with sometimes vibrant and even uplifting melodies. McApline in the music video for ‘doomsday’. Lyrics like these are not far and few between either in fact, they dominate five seconds flat and become part of its unwitting charm. Songs like the album’s opening, ‘doomsday’, do well to ground the music in what you might expect, launching into lyrics like “pull the plug in September, I don’t wanna die in June / I want to start planning my funeral”. They don’t sound identical, but they both have that rainy-day appeal that really tugs at the themes of existential or mid-life crises (ironic when you realise McAlpine is only 21 years old). The comparison between McAlpine and Bridgers mostly comes from the indie acoustics, melancholic lyricism, and sultry vocals. However, this is not to detract from the record, which rivals Bridgers rather than stealing from her, but what they share, and how McAlpine borrows from a host of other writers around her, makes five seconds flat feel truly accomplished in every shape and form. Initially, it seemed that recongising these influences might take away from the credit that McAlpine’s five seconds flat deserves, but the similarities between her and Phoebe Bridgers crop up so often that the comparison needs acknowledging. Whenever you listen to Lizzy McAlpine, you always find yourself stumbling into her inspirations and influences.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |