(For a TRACK-BY-TRACK REVIEW, scroll down.) The third studio album in Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis' (known professionally as Marina and the Diamonds) discography, is the ever-colourful FROOT, which the quirky singer has been working on since 2013. After the commercial and cult success of Electra Heart (2012), which saw the singer take on a different persona and multiple personalities, FROOT is a significant difference in styling's which shies away from the gimmicky for a more personal touch. Showcasing an obsession over fruit-machine style conceptuality, Diamandis assigns a particular colour and relevant 'fruit' to each track, starting off with yellow 'Happy' and concluding with green 'Immortal'. But does this vividly colourful style pay off for the singer? Read our track-by-track review below (or simply scroll to your favourite song to hear our thoughts!).
#3 'I’m A Ruin' – One of the most notable songs on the album,
and the first official single, ‘I’m A Ruin’ is a synthpop disco mix which ramps
up the energy for the vibrant chorus. Like many tracks on the album, the song
starts off in a more sombre, introspective manner, and the element of the
personal (which comes from being penned solely by the singer, like the other tracks)
adds a special touch to the overall feel of the track. In at #4 is 'Blue' which is decidedly disco, sounding in a way like an arcade
song, coinciding with the fruit-machine feel of the album. It’s undeniably
quirky and upbeat for a song which is essentially about not feeling down or sad
about anything anymore. It is certainly a pattern that the more emotional songs
tend to possess a more cheerful acoustic, even if the song itself is not happy
at all.
#5 'Forget' is a like an individual with a relinquished
past, striving for the new with every thought and action it takes but not
forgetting its memorable life before that, it combines the old and the new (it’s
only suitable it should follow on from ‘Blue’!). A more sedated angst and
brimming confidence underlines the song, and Diamandis’ switches between
beautiful soaring vocals and quieter, subtle murmurs. #6 'Gold' is a euphoric, glitzy addition with sweet falsettos
from Diamonds, and the acoustics are reminiscent of a lazy summer afternoon. #7 'Can’t Pin Me Down' is a snappier and sassier addition to
the singer’s discography and features some explicit vocals and smooth rock beats that
add to the punchy more brash nature of the track. This one's a bit like Marmite – you’re
either gonna’ love it or hate it.
#8 'Solitaire' is possibly one of the best records on the
album. Blissfully understated, it has a particularly relaxing effect, with the sounds of
waves crashing over the background in a calming manner. A prominently
individual track, the sound is unlike anything else on the album, showcasing Diamandis' talent in both song-writing and singing. Not content with mere people-pleasing, the singer goes all out for the chorus; “Solitaire/ Something
you consider/ Rare/ I don’t wanna be compared/ With that cheap shimmer and glitter/
Solitaire”. #9 'Better Than That' is perhaps a little bit out of place,
although not terrible, it doesn’t feel like it lives up to the quality of the rest of the
songs on the album. Perhaps give this one a pleasant miss. #10 'Weeds' on the other hand, is a perfectly pleasant pop addition, that is
drenched with personality and flair, and an interesting guitar rift in the
latter part of the track.
Perhaps just surpassing 'Solitaire', 'I'm A Ruin' and 'Immortal' in quality is the society-central 'Savages' at #11. Possessing a
fascinating and intriguing chorus that tackles the possible true nature of humanity, the track is unapologetically provocative; “Underneath it all we’re just savages/ Hidden
behind shirts, ties and marriages/ How can we expect anything at all?/ We’re
just animals still learning how to crawl”. One of the more frenetic and
fast-paced additions on the album, Marina switches between haunting ending
vocals and deeper toned mid-shifts, culminating in a truly captivating chorus
and pre-chorus. #12 'Immortal' concludes the album in an ever-eternal fashion. Hauntingly combining soft and elusive instrumentals with particularly catchy, brash lyrics, this one is hard to forget. One segment that particularly sticks out is “everybody dies,
everybody dies/ If I could buy forever at a price/ I would buy it twice, twice”, which benefits from an addictive rhyming pattern. Surrounded by a certain sense of solemness but also enlightenment, ‘Immortal’
is the type of though-provoking track you just don’t come across in certain
mainstream pop songs, and is aided by angelic vocals from the singer that soar
above the slow rhythmic beat.
Diamandis certainly has a certain knack for combining catchy choruses with real contemplation on life and society, and FROOT
is an example where this all pays off well for the singer. Long gone are the days of Electra Heart and The Family Jewels (2010) era, and whilst some singers may be dwindling in creativity by their third album, Marina and the Diamonds is coming into her stride. Rare in its cohesive nature and overall quality of concept, FROOT doesn't just settle for a few massive hits, but offers up plentiful supplies of pop perfection. Diamandis' latest album shows that it has the heart and emotive content to compel its listeners and the catchy choruses to keep them hooked. Likely to satiate fans for a few years, FROOT is a rare gem amongst some desolate pop shores.
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If you want to hear more from the singer, you can check out our 'Top 10 Marina and the Diamonds' segment, which details her best songs pre-FROOT era.
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