After three long years, Welsh-born singer Marina Diamandis, better known by her collective stage name “Marina and the Diamonds,” is back. And she is giving fans a good helping of music via her new album Froot. With the commercial success of her sophomore album Electra Heart, the not-so pop star has risen from the ashes and taken to a new form. Like Sasha Fierce, the former alter ego of Beyoncé, Electra Heart is dead. Welcome back, Marina, the music world missed you.
Two albums in, Diamandis has saved the best for last… well, let’s not hope this is her last. The pop-heavy routine that was The Family Jewels and Electra Heart have simmered down to a cohesive balance, still maintaining the essence that is Marina and the Diamonds. Head-banging, memorable pop ballads like the titular “Froot” are followed by melancholic slow jams like “I’m A Ruin” in a well-orchestrated fashion. While there are singles, no song truly overpowers the other. It is symphonic.
Don’t let the track titles fool you. They masquerade their true sound. Songs like “Happy” play on the singer’s sultry and reserved side, while others like “Blue” reflect her high-tempo, indie pop roots. While the electro-disco pop hybrid “Froot” is the album’s titular single, it does properly summarize its immense versatility. The 12-track record could better be represented by songs like “Weeds” or “Forget.”
The singer’s unique vocal range along with powerful lyrics make for a great coupling. Her lyrics demand as much attention as her voice. Each song has a sense of universal energy that caters to all. It is happy. It is sad. It is somewhere in the middle, but it works. Songs not only have a catchy beat, but a good deal of quotable absurdity. Where else can one find themselves humming the words “Froo-oot… juice”? But at the same time, her ballads take serious a turn. This flow is what keeps fans on their proverbial toes. Capturing the essence that is 80’s pop, Diamandis manages to find a way to make the vintage style fresh. In this, the indie pop singer has fused the past with the contemporary, making a beautiful Gordian knot that cannot be broken no matter how many times one listens.
Froot is fun, but serious at times. It is great audio indulgence, worth the almost one hour run time. The flow of it all is like fruit for the ears. Each song has its own feel and taste that caters to the soul in a different way.
Marina, I been saving all my summers (three to be exact) for this album; It was not a let down. Hopefully there won’t be such of a long wait for the next album.
Froot is a must listen.
