This album starts out with “Wayside”, which is certainly a very dreamy, sweet intro. I actually do really like some of Renata’s very bluesy, airy vocals, and some of the atmosphere as well. But as a whole, I just can’t get into the majority of this. The chorus is memorable and all. But Renata’s vocals that follow are just so boring and shallow. I’m sorry, but as a whole, I’m not as into “Wayside” as I would like to be. I feel like Renata has a good base and a solid sound deep down, but there’s no substance here at all. Her songwriting isn’t nearly as quaint as she thinks it is, and I’ve never heard anyone want to be Regina Spektor more in my entire life. “Bug” on the other hand brushes off the dreaminess for a much more standard, upbeat track. But even that isn’t enough to give Renata the quirky edge I want to hear from her. I feel like she’s taking on so much of a sound she’s not ready for. I would love to enjoy “Bug”, but this just seems like amateur hour for Indie Pop. I do have to say though, Renata’s vocals are often very charming. Now, if I had to pick one aspect of this that I do seriously love, and I mean LOVE, it’s the sort of tropical vibe that’s floating out of reach occasionally. Take for example on “Below”, it’s not strong, but some of those breezy instrumentals really do add a cool aspect. Now, this one is also hazier, which I do think is the right direction for Renata to go in. But my God, I really still feel like Renata is taking on way too much. These song structures aren’t easy to tackle by any means, and she’s practically getting swallowed up by them.
Now, with “After All” Renata does start to win me over a little. Her vocals on the intro here maybe some of her most commanding on this album. This one really isn’t that bad at all, mostly because of how much more straightforward this track is. It’s not spacey or left field, it’s just a really sweet Indie tune. There’s a charming chorus, and easily one of the better-executed instrumentals on this entire album. Overall, “After All” really is the sound Renata should be going for. Not only are there a ton of charming and adorable moments, but there are some chaotic moments as well. On the other hand, “Dreambone” really capitalizes on that strong, Dream Pop element that we heard a little bit earlier. To be honest, it’s a whole lot more interesting to hear Renata in this much more quiet atmosphere. It’s incredibly lovely, even though it’s more on the delicate side. Once again, this is just so much simpler of a tune for Renata’s first album, and something that she can easily handle. I can only imagine just how strong a track like this can come off in the future once Renata really gets the ball rolling. Then we have “Follow Me Down”, which is practically a slow dance track. Capitalizing on the same Dream Pop influences that made the last track stand out, this one is even more about Renata. Honestly, that’s really the key. She doesn’t need some flashy instrumental, and “Follow Me Down” becomes a seriously charming ballad that has Renata sounding better than ever. Is it Indie Pop/Chamber Pop by the numbers? More than you could imagine But I have to say I’m incredibly charmed by this, and I can’t help but getting all swept up in this.
But just like that, sadly Renata completely loses me with “Neck of the Moon”. This track is an instrumental disaster, with this riff that doesn’t sound edgy or abstract, just really awkward. Even her vocals are so uninspired and boring. Now, I have to say, when the bluesier riff kicks in about a minute in, things do start to rev up a little bit. But it all just flies right out the window almost instantly. This track is just a tease, a really awkward one too. There are some really compelling moments in here, but Renata lets it go almost immediately. “They Are Growing” is up next, and Oh, but what’s this? Is that some actual energy thrown into these lifeless Indie Pop tunes? I must be dreaming. But no, this is a punchy, upbeat, and sort of bluesy Indie tune. It’s smooth, and Renata actually sounds really charismatic and in charge of her vocals. Her very airy vocals are really charming, and I actually am totally into the stop and go mechanics here. For a bubbly, sweet Indie tune, “They Are Growing” has a seriously nice punch to it. But as I sort of expected, “Gravity (Old Ghost)” shows that Renata doesn’t last long in this much more upbeat sense, and is back to her semi-sweet and sort of quaint Indie Pop. Now, lyrically Renata did bring her A-Game here because this is really solid as far as that goes. Even instrumentally, this is nothing too wild and seems to be something she can totally handle. But I just really can’t get into “Gravity (Old Ghost)”. It’s all just so painful, OK, and nothing about this is calling me back for seconds. Mehhhhhhhhhhh.
Rating: 6.4/10
Give a Listen To: “After All”, “Dreambone”, “Follow Me Down”, "They Are Growing"
Genre: Indie Pop / Baroque Pop / Dream Pop
Overall Thoughts:On this recording I feel like Renata Zeiguer shows tons of potential. Her very airy vocals and colorful instrumentals are very pleasant to listen to. But way too much of this album shows Renata really going for tracks that quite frankly sound way too complicated for her. The instrumentals almost constantly swallow her whole in places, either that or just come off seriously sloppy. It's the more Dream Pop instances that Renata seems most comfortable, and it's there where I think she'll succeed in the future.
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