Nowadays Pink (real name Alecia Moore) is more of a pseudo-rock wannabe than anything else. This reinvention is far removed from what the image and sound she presented on the release of her debut single back in May 2000. "There You Go" was unashamedly an r & b - pop combo, at a point when the two genres were beginning to intertwine thanks in part to artists like Destiny's Child and Usher. "There You Go" was a top ten hit and launched Pink into the public eye, branding her a follower of the new craze to stand up for yourself and don't take any crap from men in your songs. I'd pay attention, blokes, cos this girl is one scary lady - or WAS, once upon a time!
*** TRACK LISTING ***
1. Split Personality 2. Hell Wit Ya 3. Most Girls 4. There You Go 5. You Make Me Sick 6. Let Me Let You Know 7. Love Is Such A Crazy Thing 8. Private Show 9. Can't Take Me Home 10. Stop Falling 11. Do What U Do 12. Hiccup 13. Is It Love
*** MY OPINION ***
It seems like only yesterday but "Can't Take Me Home", Pink's debut album was actually released back on May 29th 2000. It's hard to believe she has been around so long, but she has!
"There
You Go" was a great example of funky r & b at its best, similar in tone and style to tunes such as "No Scrubs" or "Bills Bills Bills" - hardly surprising given that it was co-written by the same people! The lyrics are quick-witted, the singing quick-tongued and its set over a very cool, urban backing track. "There You Go" is a tune which sets the general tone of the album. Songs like opening track "Split Personality" - a cleverly concocted descent-into-paranoia tune about struggling to fit in, feeling invisible, and thinking she has multiple personalities, to the point where she is effectively DUETTING with her herself (Can it be my turn now? Said is it my turn Pink?) - follow a distinctly similar mould in terms of musical style.
Second single "Most Girls" is very dramatic sounding in comparison, string led, appearing to be backed by a choir at some points - yet retaining that distinctly r & b vibe due mainly to vocal arrangement. And, of course, the lyrics give it the definitive urban vibe, peppered with words like "bling bling" (before anyone really knew what it meant!), "shorty" and "fly girl"! Third single "You Make Me Sick", on the other hand, is a distinctly more laid back example of soulful r & b, with a jangly sound, a trumpet-style hook - and a sexiness about it that distinctly belies the song's title.
While there is a TLC/Destiny's Child angle to a lot of the music, this album also seems to take inspiration from other areas of the musical spectrum. "Hell Wit Ya", for example, has a bit of an eighties dance-pop sound to it, as well as the infectious singalong chorus and the nasty little asides Pink sticks in ("When did you become such a damn gentleman?") among the singing in the verses. The dark, sexy "Private Show" also seems to use the eighties idea, combining a retro-electro sound with r & b to great effect. "Do What You Do" leans to the jazzier end of music, and title track "Can't Take Me Home" seems to be inspired by garage music. Then there is "Hiccup", one of those nifty little songs that takes on the song's title in the style of singing, much like Joe's "Stutter" did - the way she sings the song makes it sound like she is almost hiccuping when she sings it. And while Joe's song could have been seen as offensive to stutterers (you never know!), "Hiccup" is more of a piss-take of herself.
Of course (and I'm sure you've been expecting this!!!) there are the downsides to the album. And what are these??? Why, of course, they are the r & b style ballads, of which there are three. Only one is just-about-acceptable - "Let Me Let You Know" sounds like vintage Mariah Carey, but what is most scary about it is the fact that Pink actually SOUNDS LIKE Mariah in the song. In fact, it makes you wonder if Mariah has hijacked Pink's album midway through. But she hasn't. Phew. (Not that I have anything against Mariah, it's just I paid good money to hear PINK's music, you know?)
In general, apart from those ballads, this is a very strong debut album, with a variety of catchy slickly-produced tunes with clever lyrics. Pink has co-written quite a few of the tracks and has been helped out on production and writing duties by Sh'kespear, Kandi and Babyface, as well as a variety of lesser known producers and writers. I feel Pink sounds better on the bitter full-of-attitude tracks like "There You Go" and "Hell Wit Ya" as she has quite a hard-edge to her voice at times and, when she is singing the ballads, the sweet voice which suddenly emerges just seems highly at odds with her image.
Following the release of the album "Can't Take Me Home", she emerged with "Missundaztood", an album which took an entirely different direction - and as far as I can see, she's been going downhill ever since. Okay so "Missundazstood" spawned her only number one single in the UK, "Just Like A Pill". I'm not disputing that the single releases from this album were good - they were. But I felt like she should have stayed in the r & b genre, where she was really beginning to make a name for herself. I think a lot of people had originally thought she didn't seem like your typical r & b chick - but I think this was a good thing, it's good to break the mould once in a while. Now it seems she has simply reverted to type and is yet another Avril Lavigne wannabe.
So if you haven't really been a fan of Pink's most recent sound but liked her first few singles, and if you liked Destiny's Child's earlier work circa "The Writing's On The Wall" or Kelis' "Kaleidoscope", then you'll enjoy "Can't Take Me Home". It's possible to get some really good bargains on it so its definitely worth investing in a copy!
*** Available from amazon for £5.97, marketplace from £1.90, or play.com for £9.99. Copies also available from 25p on ebay. ***
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Nice easy to read and informative music review there on her debut album. I agree with you too, that she has gone downhill since Mizunderstood, this was a good start though.....Roy
jimh1 12.07.2005 06:53
Ahhhh - so THIS is how you write a good review - Im relatively new here still and I think this is the highest rated review I have read. Its good too - I haven't heard the album but am off now for a listen. Any tips on writing?
angiebabyqueen 10.07.2005 20:55
i like some of pink's music, but then again her recent stuff hasn't been so good. great review though. angiex
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