WE.ANIMALS.

Lila Rose

Independent release, 2015

http://lilarosemusic.com

REVIEW BY: Vish Iyer

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/21/2015

The title of an album doesn’t always have to be of any significance, but in the case of WE.ANIMALS., it makes perfect sense. One of the ways in which Lila Rose identifies herself is as someone who is passionate about our planet. This Toronto-born, California-based singer-songwriter has always wanted to – as per her website – “dare us humans to be better stewards of our planet with an album that vents her frustration and expresses her affection.” The result is WE.ANIMALS., which consists of “11 songs which match her dismay and distress,” as her website proudly proclaims.

The album’s title does give a peek into the conceptual force behind it, but what it doesn’t say is that the realization of this force is anything but preachy. This is because my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250 WE.ANIMALS. is an album that someone like Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor would make, if he were to become a tree-hugger: this album is dark and passionate; and it bites!

Rose embraces an “animalistic” singing style on this record that sounds jarring and in your face. This does create the effect that Rose intends, as it is impossible to ignore her peculiar vocalizing approach. This is further complemented by the music, which seems to always be in a “fight-or-flight” mode and creates an on-edge mood. At first, this approach to Rose’s singing and music does seem harsh and unsettling. But as is the case with most great albums, with a little patience, one eventually will come around to appreciate the deliberate eccentricity of WE.ANIMALS. and eventually enjoy it.

Even though this record is unambiguously and flauntingly primal on the surface, it is extremely well produced and sophisticated. Comparing Rose to Trent Reznor wouldn’t be too far fetched, especially in terms of how effectively she is able to use chaos in her music to create an atmosphere of disquiet. At the same time, she is able to keep a tight rein on her sound so that it doesn’t get out of hand, something that Reznor has such great mastery of.

There is a lot of musical depth and emotional range in WE.ANIMALS., from the stripped-down organic rock songs like “Tracking” and “Misunderstood,” poignantly melodic cuts like “Easy Love” and “We Animals,” brash and bombastic pop songs like “Nothing To Lose” and “Servant,” to the hushed minimalistic acoustic pop of “Stars.”. This is a cathartic album. And while Rose isn’t even a tiny bit shy when it comes to expressing her pain, she does it with a creative enthusiasm, that takes her feelings – and hence, the listener – to exciting and beautiful musical places. Now that’s a mark of a mature and talented musician!

Rating: A-

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