Meg Myers
Sorry


3.8
excellent

Review

by DaveyBoy EMERITUS
September 24th, 2015 | 653 replies


Release Date: 2015 | Tracklist

Review Summary: This quirky, edgy & uncompromising talent has nothing to be sorry for.

It’s become cliché to conclude that certain artists are searching for their true sound, but as with most clichés, it’s only the extent which is up for conjecture. On her debut EP ‘Daughter in the Choir’, one just had to determine that Tennessee native Meg Myers was exploring where she best fit into the musical landscape. How else could you explain the dog’s breakfast that the seven tracks brought to the table? Vocally, Myers went from gentle crooning to banshee screams and spoken word, while the musical backing included radio-friendly pop, clubby house and grungy rock! Follow-up EP ‘Make A Shadow’ streamlined her style with greater use of guitar, but the diversity on offer still fell somewhere between messily unfocused and outrageously impressive. For these reasons, debut LP ‘Sorry’ was always going to be a fascinating listen.

It doesn’t take long for proclamations of “here we go again” to be heard, since opening track ‘Motel’ contains a clip of an interview that folk/country legend Townes Van Zandt gave concerning the topic of sadness! For the most part, however, Myers and her producer/songwriter cohort Andrew “Doctor Rosen” Rosen do (relatively speaking) further refine the twenty-eight year old’s schizophrenic nature. Comparisons to this quirky and edgy musician are difficult to make, but a cross between Fiona Apple and Alanis Morrissette is possibly the most apt description. Like both of those singers, Myers is at her best when performing a dark and brutally honest brand of pop-rock that also retains accessibility. Here, the title track and ‘Desire’ stand out in that category, the former making an apology sound anthemic, while the latter – which comes complete with a guitar solo - turns seduction downright menacing with lines such as “I wanna skin you with my tongue”.

While recent single ‘Lemon Eyes’ and EP holdover ‘Make a Shadow’ follow the template of the aforementioned highlights, the back half of ‘Sorry’ is a decidedly down-tempo affair with relatively sparse instrumentation. This is both a blessing and a curse, since it places further prominence on Myers’ soul-baring – if occasionally melodramatic - lyrics, but also results in some redundancy and a lack of rhythmical variety. As a group, the exercise in self-loathing that is ‘I Really Want You to Hate Me’, the lovelorn ‘Parade’, the soothing acoustics of ‘The Morning After’ and closer ‘Feather’, ultimately stall momentum. Thankfully, Myers’ impressive vocal range anchors the pieces individually, channelling the subtleties of PJ Harvey one moment and then bellowing like Florence Welch the next.

When all is said and done, ‘Sorry’ is an album that is rather tricky to rate. It’s as difficult to ignore the talent and potential that is apparent, as it is to disregard that not everything comes together in cohesive fashion. Yet, even when it’s not wholly successful, it’s almost always captivating. The promising songwriting is above-average for a debut long-player, while the mix of organic and electronic instrumentation is spot on for the most part. Most gratifying is the manner in which various guitar techniques allow the songs to retain an edge, instead of having them descend into the well-worn and over-crowded synth-pop scene. One thing is for certain; there’s nothing to be “sorry” for on this authentic, uncompromising and distinctive forty-one minutes worth that contains barely any filler. If anything, Myers is still searching for her true sound.

Recommended Tracks: Desire, Sorry, Motel & Lemon Eyes.



s
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user ratings (171)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

This lady is seriously talented. Apologies if the rating & review don't quite mesh, but it's just one of those albums.



And man, what a busy release week it has been. I think this is the 10th staff review of an album released in the 18-24 September block.

Kupasexy15
September 24th 2015


365 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I do like "Desire" and I'm really surprised that no one has reviewed her here before.

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

She hasn't exactly got a huge profile, but her best work should be right up Sputnik's alley.

Pangea
September 24th 2015


10740 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Im pretty excited for this. Desire and t/t are really good

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

Tbh, those 2 tracks are head & shoulders above the rest imo... But I'd almost have them as SOTY contenders. 'Motel' was the one that really grew on me. It took me a while to get over the gall of putting a Townes Van Zandt interview in the middle of a song. After a few listens, I actually figured out that it worked!

KILL
September 24th 2015


81580 Comments


edgy? damn will check

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

Check out 'Desire' for edgy. Well, that's my definition, anyway.

Willie
Moderator
September 24th 2015


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 3.4

Hey Davey! Sorry I never got back to you. This album is really good. I especially like the opening track. She has a good sound that is kind of unique.

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

No sweat Trey. I feel like there are touches of a lot of other female singers (all in my recos section really) in her sound, but there is no-one that I know of that she is even remotely identical too.

enedwaith
September 24th 2015


1865 Comments


i'm gonna check this out just cause she got some fat lips bitch is cute

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

It took longer than I thought it would for someone to mention her looks.

GiantSpeck
September 24th 2015


325 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I had never heard of her until Spotify's "Discover Weekly" playlist suggested that I listen to "Sorry". Holy shit. I'm obsessed now.

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

Yep, she's the kind of musician (yes, she does play instruments) that could easily become an obsession.

enedwaith
September 24th 2015


1865 Comments


checked out sorry as well. dig her voice but i always have issues listening to electronic bass for whatever reason

love the voice though

enedwaith
September 24th 2015


1865 Comments


and goddamn she's a looker

Source
September 24th 2015


19917 Comments


Now I know who lemon eyes is by. I've been hearing it on the radio recently

tempest--
September 24th 2015


20634 Comments


I like the recommended section I iwll check this (the review and the album) soon

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

There's a fair bit of electronic this-and-that here, but it's nowhere near as prevalent as I expected it to be.



I'm here to solve all your riddles Source. I like that song as one of the poppier singles here, although you don't want to think about the lyrics too much.

enedwaith
September 24th 2015


1865 Comments


i really dig this review, i'll check out your others. you should review mazzy star

DaveyBoy
Emeritus
September 24th 2015


22503 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

Go easy on me. Metal fans usually find my writing a little too... how shall I put this... non-metal. LOL.



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