In her most recent project, pop singer Rebecca Black released a full-length album titled βSALVATIONβ on Feb. 28. The new release made me thankful that she never gave up on her music. With this new album, Black completely reinvented herself as a certified pop girl, tailored for the new generation of idols amongst singers like Addison Rae and Tate McRae.
Blackβs title trackβs music video brings to mind Charli XCXβs βGood Onesβ music video. The bumping 1980s bass and smooth pop production were also similar. Black mixes sweet and sultry in this track; itβs a sexy song comparing getting hot and bothered to salvation, which is unexpected. Outwardly, Blackβs vocals sound sweet and angelic.
βTRUST!β continues with raunchy themes and refers to the trust you must instill in your partner when in a relationship. The song makes me think of Lady Gagaβs βChromaticaβ album and Rina Sawayamaβs βHold The Girlβ album because of Blackβs highly polished vocals and the western guitar elements at the beginning. The guitar riff sounds like the one from Sawayamaβs song, βThis Hell.β
Sexy, fun and stylish, this dance-pop track will make you want to get up and party. Whip sound effects and βamenβ breaks are sprinkled throughout, adding a touch of spice to the track. The βooh la la/get me going like ga ga gaβ is fun and flirty and will get stuck in your head for days. Itβs a fun single but doesnβt quite hit the mark. It just barely misses the threshold of pop perfection, with a chorus not loud and punchy enough for my tastes.
However, βSugar Water Cyanideβ is my favorite out of the three pre-release singles. Thereβs the super catchy high-pitched hook, which contrasts with the smooth vocals of the chorus. Somehow this track finds a way to smoothly blend the two into a near-perfect pop dance track. I absolutely love the part in the bridge where the hook repeats and the song breaks down into a heavy bouncing bass. This song tastes sweet and sour, like neon pink, which I guess makes it really like sugar water cyanide.
βAmerican Dollβ is a snappy, bass-driven feminist pop anthem. The first few lyrics seem to speak to the societal expectation of female subordination. However, Iβm not a fan of the chorus, and Rebecca Blackβs drawling monotone delivery of βAmerican doll, American doll / smashinβ her head against the wallβ doesnβt quite do it for me, unfortunately.
βTears in My Pocketβ starts a bit more emotional but then cuts the tranquility with a sharp synth and a speedy βamenβ break. The synth bit feels sharp, like cascading glass shards. Blackβs vocals wind and weave through this track so well. Songs on this album are constantly running, racing and building up to their big punchy choruses.
βDo You Even Think of Me?β is a similar track to βTears in My Pocket,β complete with glitchy drums and bass. It seems to be an emotional breakup song contrasted by a punchy dance-pop beat, which is an interesting change of pace. The chorus makes me feel like Iβm running away from something, perhaps a broken heart. In my opinion, βDo You Even Think of Me?β is better than βTears in My Pocketβ because of the satisfying drop moments that make the song feel fuller.