Lowell - We Loved Her Dearly

Lowell

We Loved Her Dearly

16 September 2014

Arts & Crafts

 

3.5 stars out of 5

 

 

Perpetual vagabond Lowell (born in Calgary, grew up in the Yukon, now based in Toronto and London) gives us her first LP, We Loved Her Dearly. The media is throwing around comparisons to Grimes and the like, which is baffling to say the least, as the two artists have completely different approaches to songwriting and production (Lowell has worked with some huge names in both co-writing and recording; Grimes prefers to follow a path of extreme independence). Aesthetically, they’re not at all alike either—Lowell isn’t into electronica; Grimes is into euro-trash cheese (see “Go”). So can we all just stop? Since when are artists similar just because they’re blonde Canadian women? Moving on…

 

So what does Lowell have to offer? Thoughtful but unpretentious pop music with some unconventional sounds and arrangements. Lyrically, Lowell’s feminist confessional style is in the tradition of Tori Amos; her subject matter touches on her former career as a stripper (“I Killed Sara V.”) and her sexual orientation (“LGBT”). Lowell’s politics are understated and subtle, her music is upbeat and inviting. As a resume it’s impressive, and while We Loved Her Dearly is not a classic by any means, it points to a future for Lowell in which classic albums could come into existence.

 

reviewed by Richard Krueger