“The Good War” starts this album off, and instantly these banging beats and Kimbra’s haunting performance is everything about where I want to hear her. It’s breezy and has plenty of space to it. But there’s also some very modern and hip production. Now, Kimbra has always been a fantastic singer. But here, I feel like she’s coming into her own light so much. While her work in the past has been average, it’s always been so desperate to be artsy. But “The Good War” genuinely has some incredible Art Pop flair to it. It’s a booming track that seriously makes you groove. It’s heavy, it’s booming, but it’s also beautiful and genuinely experimental and wild in parts. Hell yes, I’m into this. Then we have “Top Of The World”, which is an absolute, all around banger. I love the pounding drums, Kimbra’s incredibly steamy performance, as well as just how much incredible swagger she has here. Like, she sounds like a bonafide Pop Star here, and it’s incredible. The genuinely artsy vibe to this album continues strong with some left-field production from Skrillex of all people. I’m absolutely into this, and as far as a single goes this is easily my favorite track here. Also, you have to really appreciate just how passionate and intense the performances are here. It’s even seriously wild and noisy at parts, as well as anthemic. Kimbra is off to an incredible start. Not to mention, there are some World Music influences here which I’ve been dying to hear from Kimbra for years. “Everybody Knows” is up next, and I continue to really love the production on this album. This may be a straightforward Pop release by the books most of the time, but the bass really hits hard. This one is a little more subdued, but it still has a very icy, hip sound. There are subtle nods to world music still, but that shows that Kimbra is much more than just a Pop Star. It’s a very wonky track that more times than not is really hard to place. But Kimbra continues to have so much swagger in her performance. While in the past Kimbra seemed totally lost with trying to remain hip, here it comes off effortlessly, with some of the best Pop music I’ve heard all year. Then we have “Like They Do on the TV”, which is a totally different animal, to say the least. This one is much less commercial sounding, and on the other hand is just so chilling and haunting. But this track is still a wildly groovy, current Pop tune that’s triumphant and empowering. There are almost some Dream Pop influences thrown in, and I love that pulsating beat and just how eerie this one is. It’s funny, so far this album has been so accessible and catchy. But “Like They Do on the TV” just seems so synthetic and the antithesis of everything so far. It’s cold, and while it’s still catchy is certainly much harder to take it. However, it ingrains itself in your head and sticks with you. And that saxophone solo is a very VERY nice touch.
On the other hand “Recovery” has so much more of a stripped down sound, almost venturing into Baroque Pop. This one is very quaint and almost comes off like the work of Regina Spektor. Right from the start, it’s incredibly bouncy and likable. But of course, the very groovy production and slight World Music feel really remains a big factor. Now, this one actually took me a while to really take in and appreciate, but it’s just so likable and sweet, not to mention catchy as hell. Also, I may be the only one but I just love the little attitude she shows in later verses. On the other hand, “Human” is the exact opposite, being one of the most straightforward Pop tunes here. But I am really into some of the vocal effects and the booming production. Thankfully, Kimbra really makes this one pop with a gigantic and anthemic chorus that leads to some of her bluesiest and most interesting vocals of the album. She comes off so sultry here, she may be a Pop singer at heart, but she’s one that’s really pushing all sorts of boundaries. “Lightyears” is even more of a straightforward Pop tune. But this time, there’s no left-field production and no World influences in sight. The result sadly is actually really strange. Like, I’m totally into the driving beat and this instrumental. Not to mention, I love just how triumphant this track is. But if you told me this was a Kimbra song, I wouldn’t believe you one bit. And sadly, that’s what it comes down to. Honestly, there isn’t much here that doesn’t sound ripped off from what Carly Rae Jepsen is doing these days. Now, “Black Sky” is a whole lot more low-key, with Kimbra really stepping back up to the limelight here quickly. However, I still feel like some of the earlier tunes that blended more World Music elements came off so much bigger. Not to mention, I'm not really into this sort of slower, dragging performance. I think Kimbra sounds commendable and all, but structure-wise this album is slowly getting rocky.
On the other hand, “Past Love” is the genuinely cool throwback that I didn’t know I needed. This track has a super vintage, old school Pop feel to it. Kimbra has a real sense of innocence here that just comes off so well. It’s snappy, catchy, cute, and seriously memorable. Not to mention, there’s just a small World Music feel in the background, just enough to really remind you who you’re working with. And for the more somber tunes here, the tunes with serious human emotion, this one hits home. “Right Direction” is a somber tune in an entirely different direction. This is easily Kimbra’s most personal and biographical track yet. But to be honest, it’s endearing and totally respectable. There’s still a sort of throwback vibe to this, and I love that one lone woozy synth hanging out of reach. This is a solid tune and all, but not nearly what I expected. Now, the last thing I was really expecting to hear up next was a sort of light ballad. But that’s what we get with “Version of Me”. And I don’t know, this just really doesn’t do anything for me. Like, I think Kimbra’s very bluesy and smokey performance is very real, and once again gives this album a very human feel. But of all of the tracks here, I honestly think this is one of the blandest here, and sounds like a Lady Gaga “Joanne” ripoff. This album ends off with “Real Life”, and right off the bat this one sounds seriously out there and experimental. James Blake fans will be all over this. While this track is on the quieter side, this actually comes off mouth watering and incredibly interesting. Why is this so short though? Why is this the finale? This is the start of something even more interesting! The production is totally out there, and I love hearing Kimbra go all out and go wild here. All of this and more, please.
Rating: 8.2/10
Give A Listen To: "Top of the World", "Like They Do On The TV", "Recovery", "Past Love"
Genre: Pop / Art Pop / Indie Pop
Overall Thoughts: Kimbra on "Primal Heart" has come through with her most genre-busting and interesting album to date. Period. The majority of this album is banger after banger, with Kimbra's already incredible vocals booming over it all. The production is flashy, the beats are colorful, and Kimbra for the first time in her career sounds like a bonafide Pop Star. Now, I have to say, I was expecting this album to be even better. But some of her more personal ballads in the second half of this album just really give me the impression that they could have been done a little differently. But, for a seriously left field Pop album with incredibly lush production and some serious swagger, this Kimbra album rules.
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