Score: 3/5
When an artist puts out a live or acoustic album, fans rejoice.
There’s something about getting the opportunity to listen to an artist’s work a bit stripped down. It’s just what’s on stage being recorded— good and bad.
Karen O recently provided her fans that primary sound with her album “Live From Crush Palace.”
Karen O is the lead singer of the rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but has spent time releasing her own music. She’s released one studio recorded album, “Crush Songs” in 2014. Now, she has released an accompanying record with all the songs from her debut album plus two more tracks.
“Live From Crush Palace” brings the feel of the studio recorded album with refreshing added elements. The music keeps its soft rock sound, but adds talking and audience elements making the listening experience more intimate.
The album’s entire theme is a look into Karen O’s young life of love and loss. When she spoke of the music from “Crush Songs,” she said all of the music was written in her young adulthood. This comes across heavily in many of the songs.
Karen O’s lyrics shed light into her experiences falling in love and then falling out of it, something many listeners will be able to take away from.
One example is “Rapt” where Karen O sings soft melodies against an acoustic guitar about being unsure of being involved with someone. She sings of wanting to become involved but calls the interest something more of an unhealthy habit than a true love.
“NYC Baby” sheds a different light on difficult love as Karen O discusses leaving her love in New York City and yearning to be closer. While “Body” talks about making things right and telling someone you care about them, even if it makes things difficult.
The musical elements of those songs use soft rock to both compliment and counter the lovesick lyrics. Some tracks include acoustic guitars while other include heavy, loud rock band elements.
Overall, “Live From Crush Palace” provides an album that’s perfect for an evening roaming city streets with someone you love or someone you’re falling out of love with.