★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 out of 5
2014 will be forever remembered as the year for comebacks. Hilary Duff, Gwen Stefani and Fergie returned with catchy pop earworms, yet none of the powerful female artists actually released an album this year. Australian sister duo The Veronicas beat them to the punch.
Following the release of their Australian and UK hit "You Ruin Me", the pop duo released their highly anticipated third studio album, The Veronicas, seven years following their epic and still memorable sophomore effort. While the album was originally to be released back in 2012 under the title Life On Mars, the sisters faced some label trouble and the project was eventually scrapped altogether.
It took some time, but The Veronicas were able to escape their former contract, re-sign with Sony Records and finish the recording of their latest effort. Along with the recent single release of "If You Love Someone", the album shows a slight departure in sound for the talented artists, drifting away from the dominant pop/punk rock stylings of their first two efforts. It's a good sign of growth for the vastly underrated act.
The album's opening track, "Sanctified", could immediately cause confusion for most eager listeners as the song takes the girls to new artistic territory. Instead of a fun, upbeat vibe, The Veronicas dive into the gritty blues genre with an emphasis on the raw instrumentals and their intriguing, low vocal performances. It is an interesting way to kick off an album seven years in the making, but also one strong statement.
The reinvention of the sisters continues with the rap-inspired EDM creation "Did You Miss Me (I'm a Veronica)", a fierce, attitude-filled message detailing most of the label drama they dealt with for four years. "So baby tell me, did you miss me? Did you really think that I was done?", they sing on the infectious hook which is supported by clever lyrical content and a rock-influenced guitar solo halfway through.
"Cruel", the first track that truly builds a bridge between the artists' projects, is a summery pop anthem that sounds to be tailored specifically for Top 40 radio. The somber subject matter, the bright, uptempo production and the delicate vocals create a pure pop effort that any pop artist would fight to record. Yes, the song sounds like it's been done before, but it comes off as honest from The Veronicas.
Released as a promotional single prior to the album's premiere date, "Line of Fire" is another pop/rock stomper that appears to have been written and recorded during the early stages of the project's development. Written to vent their frustration caused by a troubled relationship, the girls notice all of the signs pointing to love's end. The track is a bit darker than what we are used to hearing, that's what makes it powerful.
For the first time on the album, The Veronicas appear to be happy, on the surface at least. "Teenage Millionaire" would not sound out of place on a Katy Perry or Avril Lavigne album, and it thankfully pulls the duo out of their depressive rut. "We don't need no jet plane, we don't need no ride, baby when you kiss me, feel like I could fly," The Veronicas cheerfully sing. It's a nice change of pace for the emotion-filled album.
The album takes another turn, towards a simple, guitar-driven, acoustic sound with "Born Bob Dylan". There's no catchy chorus or unexpected production breakdown, just honest and heartfelt songwriting supported by solid vocal performances from both sisters. The finished products sounds to be a mix of The Veronicas' desire to create meaningful music with an understanding for the need of hit potential.
It's hard to imagine The Veronicas singing a track they did not have a hand in writing, but "Always" is just too precious to have been ignored. Written by the talented Emeli Sande, the sisters sing of being committed to a relationship, no matter what happens. With soft, minimal production and convincing vocals, the duo delivers a sweet anthem of love and sentiment that many listeners will gravitate towards.
"Mad Love" is another optimistic, thumping love song that perfectly blends into what has been blasting on every radio station this year. At times sounding like a Meghan Trainor creation, the song may be the poppiest effort on the new album. The song is nowhere near groundbreaking, or the best track from the artists' catalog, but the formula is done right and in the end the song is enjoyable and well-crafted.
"You Ruin Me" is a vast departure from the rock-laced tunes we heard from The Veronicas before. It's a dramatic, heart-wrenching ballad that fans of the sisters knew they were always capable of. Taken as the official lead single off the new album, The Veronicas seem more comfortable telling personal, touching stories from their own lives. "In the end, I hope she was worth it, I don't care if you love me, you make me numb," the sisters belt.
All the good, lovey-dovey feelings have disappeared on "More Like Me", an explosive, country rock-leaning track where the sisters confront the former flames of the new men in their lives. If those jilted lovers wanted to keep their boyfriends, they should've been more like The Veronicas: better kissers, better lover and not have let go so easy. The song is a mix of genre inspirations and one of the stronger cuts off the album.
On "If You Love Someone", a more uptempo, poppy single compared to its predecessor, The Veronicas provide listeners with an inspiring message of love and acceptance. The song definitely has a better chance at worldwide crossover potential. Clocking in at just under the three minutes, the track does not waste any time at becoming quite an enjoyable earworm capable of taking over the charts wherever it is released.
Intentionally offbeat songs work only a small percentage of the time. Thankfully "Cold" is a part of that rare group. Spoken word verses shed light on the tragic details of a tough breakup while a glorious chorus pulls all the broken pieces together for an intriguing music moment. "And I'm crying for the you that I remember, but now you make me shiver, you're so cold," the sisters sing on the somber effort.
Everything gets scaled back on "Let Me Out", another emotional, raw plea begging for the end of a relationship. The verses are solid and showcase the artists' focus on lyrical content this time around, but it is The Veronicas' delivery on the chilling chorus that carry the track to become something great and memorable. Even as the longest effort on the album, it's still a shame when this touching, heartbreaking track comes to a close.
The album closes out with "You and Me", another country-inspired tune where the sisters express their utmost love to each other. With a simple guitar supporting their strong yet delicate vocals, the closing track shows a completely different side to The Veronicas artistic abilities. While it may not be the strongest way to finish the album, it definitely hints that more bright and shining moments are still to come.
The Veronicas was an album a long time in the making, weighed down by unfortunate record label drama. However, the wait was well worth it. The Veronicas have released a collection of killer, effective tracks that balance their old sound with new, intriguing influences, never coming off as dated. Instead of a full fledged rock/dance pop album, the sisters experiment with different genres and smartly focus attention on their ever-improving vocal performances and clever songwriting skills. Seven years is a very long time to wait for any project, many of their fans may have given up, but The Veronicas' new effort seems to be an album that only got better with time. It's another strong, acclaimed release.
Tracks to Here: "Sanctified", "Always", "More Like Me" and "If You Love Someone"
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