Review Summary: Haines' career has a strong start, and this album is like no other with acoustics, jazz, and lyrics that are one of a kind.
Emily Haines first work of art is within this album, to some that is a pretty big deal, to others that may be irrelevant, either way there are only a couple thousand hard copies of this album out there. This album is very dark and smokey, some of Haines' more underdeveloped yet still very sincere vocals can be found plastered in every song.
The album starts out with Dog setting you on a journey with some great acoustics and themes messed involving a boy who is just a sad trained dog which then rolls into Bore. One of my favorites, this song holds a great hook with the song based completely around missing the rush of sleeping around. Eden has some of the best acoustic feels to it of the whole album and really puts you in a place where you feel like you may just be in a cluttered little club in Italy drinking scotch and smoking cigars while you watch this little blond girl sing about her life on the stage.
Pretty Head has some of the most edited vocals to it and is accompanied by the weakest song, that being Freak. These two pair in a way that turns the album almost from a chilled cool feel to a little louder almost budding over onto a punk scene sound. Don't worry too much though because the album evens back out after The View's rock guitar in the background of the smokey combination of well designed song structure which Haines' compliments greatly.
Eau De Toilette puts you back into the urban scene with very upbeat jazz tones and the story of a scared girl living in the city with her family trying to fight time. Influences of her dad are very easily recognizable within Eau De Toilette and I think it is the cornerstone of the entire album. Rounding out is Carpet, later picked up by Metric with some reworking entitled "Too Little, Too Late" this song is very strong next to Eau De Toillete keeping the same jazz themes. Sitting in her apartment drinking wine as she plays the piano this song is very calm and eerie with some of her best lyrical work coming out. The album ends in a cliche of returning acoustics and strong lyrics in Pink. The final part of the song however is the cherry on top with a random homeless women on the street discussing with Emily about music.
Overall this album has its ups and downs but it is a very great start to Haines' musical career and really entrances you and takes you on a journey like no other. If you ever have a chance to listen to this album consider yourself lucky and bask in the glory that is the musical genius of Emily Haines.
