Kate Miller-Heidke - Liberty Bell
2011, Sony Music
2011, Sony Music
Australian singer/songwriter KateMiller-Heidke is an enigma. Classically trained, Miller-Heidke can sing folkballads, electric dance tracks or classic opera arias with equal grace. Herrise to world-wide eminence was fueled by a viral video on YouTube for the song"Are You F###ing Kidding Me", but Miller-Heidke is a talentedsongwriter who doesn't let humor get in the way of great songwriting (and viceversa). Her quirky approach has been lauded around the world, and caught theear of Ben Folds, whom Miller-Heidke spent a large portion of 2010 opening for.Miller-Heidke recently returned with Liberty Bell, the follow-upto Curiouser.
Liberty Bell kicks off with "Are You Ready", an infectiouslittle tune that gets stuck in your noggin and bounces around for hours. It's adate night song that's sweet and quirky at the same time, and has been pickedup for a NYS Lot commercial. Don't let that impugn the song however; this is alegitimate pop hit - light, fluffy and a lot of fun. "The Devil's In TheDetails" is a distinct change of pace; a lyrically minimalist dance trackthat's novel ear candy. Miller Heidke's songwriting partner and husband KeirNuttall rips it up here with some intriguing guitar riffs and an energetic dancetrack that might just spawn its own dance. The pair keeps it simple on"Liberty Bell", an infectiously catchy and fun track that's danceablebut retains enough organic pop sound to make it a potential pop hit. The briefchorus is reminiscent of They Might Be Giants in sound, right down to theangular guitar work and simple lyrical scheme.
"The Tiger Inside Will Eat TheChild" is surprisingly bland dance-oriented pop, not the sort of materialyou'd expect from Miller-Heidke based on her previous releases. "HollowayPark" is cut from similar cloth, but Miller-Heidke recovers nicely with"Let Me Fade". While not her most engaging pure vocal performance,"Let Me Fade" is heartbreaking and powerful. The song is an apologyand goodbye from a parent who loved imperfectly and rests at death's doorstep.The simple, piano-based arrangement enhances the power of the song. "YouGot The World" is a catchy pop/rock number set to an incessant dance beat;a solid album track that might fit well on a movie soundtrack.
"Better In Spain" is agentle rumination on a slower pace of life. The vocal harmonies on the choruswill catch your ear first, but this quietly well-written tune is more likely togrow on you over time than grab your attention the first time through."Fatty Gets A Stylist" is an infectious novelty dance track that islikely to well in the clubs and would fare well in a Farrelly Brothers movie.The song is entertaining, and the vocal harmonies are stark and appealing, butfans of Miller-Heidke may feel as if this tune is below the level of hermusical talent. "The Flasher" under-uses Miller-Heidke's impressivevoice in another dance track sourced on loops and riffs. The arrangement iscatchy, and is likely to do well in the club set, but is bit inane aside fromthe dance beat. Liberty Bell closes with "The Plane WentDown", a somewhat obtuse and dramatic narrative on a plane crash in thefirst person. Miller-Heidke is impressive on vocals, and the arrangement iswell constructed, but the tune itself is likely to leave listeners scratchingtheir heads.
Kate Miller-Heidke is a singulartalent, as is her partner in crime Keir Nuttal. However it's not clear what themusical motivation is on Liberty Bell. Miller-Heidke's is a rare gem inthe world of pop music, and her quirky sense of humor and personality allowsMiller-Heidke to tackle traditional subjects in a non-traditional fashion. Herprevious album, Curiouser, was full of heart, wit and several instancesof pure pop magic. Those elements aren't exactly missing on Liberty Bell,but their clarity has been muddled by the striving for chart success. LibertyBell is a solid effort that leans a bit too heavily on sound and effect andnot enough on the natural musical talents of Miller-Heidke. This could havebeen so much more.
Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn more about Kate Miller-Heidke at www.katemillerheidke.comor www.myspace.com/katemillerheidke. Liberty Bell is released under Kate Miller-Heidke's name in the US. In Australia, the album is considered a side project for both Miller-Heidke and Nuttall, and is released under the band name Fatty Gets A Stylist.
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