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Day Two: Demi


Ghost

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SEPTEMBER 2
DEMI

DEMI LOVATO

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REVIEW:
Anyone who listens to radio or follows popular music in the slightest (or, I guess, enjoyed 2008 Disney Channel) knows the name and voice of Demi Lovato. The 25 year-old singer, whose sixth LP, Tell Me You Love Me, comes out later this month, already has a decent array of hits under her belt -- among them "Heart Attack," "Cool for the Summer," "No Promises," and more. But despite her pop influence, listening to 2013's Demi was my first time sticking with Lovato's music for an entire album. I'd also like to preface this review with the notion that I'm not the biggest fan of pure pop music, so some of my feelings about the record may be more a result of personal preference than technical imperfections. As a whole, Demi is a solid pop album. I didn't feel a story being told throughout, and jumps from tracks like the spare, heartfelt "In Case" to the much more boisterous "Really Don't Care" are questionable, but, thematically, I appreciate the way Demi juggles both a carefree persona musing on love and hookups as well as a more somber outlook reflecting on abuse and hardship. Musically, there's a number of good songs on this record. My favorite by far is "Shouldn't Come Back," a heartfelt acoustic track rich with feeling. "In Case," too, is successful in its solemnity, while tracks like "Fire Starter" and "Without the Love" are among the album's best pure pop tracks. My biggest issue with the album, however, is its production. Demi, despite whatever unfair criticisms may come from being a "Disney kid," has a powerful voice, and there were points during this album where the blaring, made-for-radio, pop instrumentals bothered me because of how they obscured Demi's vocals. "Neon Lights," for example, is annoyingly EDM, and "Nightingale," despite being one of the less dressed up tracks on the album, would benefit so heavily from a more stripped back production. Some of the tracks are flawed without regards to production (the way Demi drags out "hurt" in the chorus of "Never Been Hurt" is simply confusing), but I feel like this album might find some strength in a more alt-pop production for some of its tracks. Personally, Demi's voice is one I'd most like to hear in an alternative setting, anyway (which is probably why I so enjoy the track "Stone Cold" from 2015's Confident), so, naturally, I enjoyed this album less than someone who digs in-your-face pop. Demi is undoubtedly skilled, and with a more alternative sound and more lyrical maturity, this album would probably be a winner. I do appreciate, though, the handful of good tracks on it, and I'll be sure to check out Tell Me You Love Me when it drops in a few weeks.

RATING:
6/10

HIGHLIGHTS:
Shouldn't Come Back, Fire Starter, In Case, Heart Attack, Without the Love, Made in the USA, Something That We're Not

LOWLIGHTS:
Never Been Hurt, Neon Lights, Two Pieces, Really Don't Care

WOULD I LISTEN AGAIN?
DEFINITELY NOT          PROBABLY NOT*          MAYBE          PROBABLY          DEFINITELY
*I might revisit tracks like "Shouldn't Come Back" or "Fire Starter" from time to time, but as a complete body of work, Demi simply doesn't do much for me. If anyone has any Demi recommendations that are more like "In Case," "Shouldn't Come Back," or "Stone Cold," let me know!

LISTEN IF:
You like radio-friendly pop with attitude and strong vocals, as well as a fair share of deep, personal lyricism.

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