Marina and the Diamonds : The Family Jewels
Released: out Now.
Label: 679/Warner
So seldom do artists who have been subjected to such an intense hype as Marina and the Diamonds manage to deliver the goods, La Roux has disappointed and it’s likely that many will have forgot who Little Boots is in 12 months. Couple that with the fact that Marina missed out on both BBC Sound of 2010 and The Brits Critics Choice Award to the much more saccharine Ellie Goulding, and it was never going to be an easy feat for this upcoming half Welsh, Half Greek artist to prove her worth.
The Family Jewels however, is a thing of beauty, innovative, different and risk-taking. Marina it seems is not afraid to shy away from the un-conventional and her debut proves that despite her quirks it is still possible to produce 13 near on perfect pop songs.
On first listen ‘The Family Jewels’ sounds like catchy yet somewhat perplexing mix of over the top theatrics and quirky sound effects contrasting with beautifully written ballads that talk of heartbreak and loss. The album certainly takes some getting used to, but the time you spend listening to it will be highly rewarded, once you get your heard round it all.
If you do manage to grasp her sound you will found yourself highly rewarded.
Her lyrics are refreshingly direct and transparent, where artists like Florence Welch delight in long-winded imagery and metaphor, Marina will come out and say things exactly as they are, less pretty in ways but more honest, her lyrics read almost as audible diary entries.
Album opener ‘Are you Satisfied’ is tells the tale of Marina’s identity crises and her own issues of self doubt. Not only a well chosen opening track (you get a whole array of her quirks in one song) but also one of her most personal and self-deprecating ‘my problem is my problem/ that I am never happy is my problem/ that I will never succeed’
Fortunately, the album is not simply crammed with a dozen songs of self-referenced character assassination, the likes of ‘Champaign’ and ‘Girls’ are light hearted romps through 80’s synth-pop cheese whilst poking fun at the stick-thin celebrities that dominate the media today, ‘You stick to your yoghurts/ I’ll stick to my apple pie’.
‘Obsessions’ a song Miss Diamandis penned in ten minutes is one of the albums strongest moments, a Tori Amos style ballad telling the story of a broken relationship. Stripped back and without the ‘quirk’s Marina is at her best, intelligent lyrics complete with true passion in her vocals far surpass anything tracks like ‘Mowgli’s Road’ have to offer.
Current single ‘Hollywood’ is easily the weak link, in an otherwise near perfect debut. Taking a vicious attack at false and shallow US culture, the song makes tenuous links and lacks the depth that the other songs have, in short it all feels a bit weak.
Marina may not be instantly radio friendly pop as the likes of Lady GaGa, she does however bring something new and interesting to the industry, and if you can give ‘The Family Jewels’ a couple of listens, you are sure to soon fall in love with it, a strong first from a young lady not afraid to try something different.
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