Lenka (Self-titled), 2008
1. The Show
2. Bring Me Down
3. Skipalong
4. Don’t Let Me Fall
5. Anything I’m Not
6. Knock Knock
7. Dangerous And Sweet
8. Trouble Is A Friend
9. Live Like You’re Dying
10. Like A Song
11. We Will Not Grow Old
So I’ve been listening to this album off and on for about a month and a bit. My cousin introduced me to Lenka during the holidays and twisted my arm asked me to accompany her to the her show on February 2nd. If you’ve read my review of that, you’d know that I think she’s awesome. I’m back a week later with this full review of her debut album in standard blm format.
We Will Not Grow Old
As with all blm reviews as of late, It’s not that it belongs here, it’s just something has to go here. It’s got the lyrical content and a nice tune but nothing quite sticks with me for this song. I guess it doesn’t quite have an internal meaning for me just yet. I enjoyed hearing it live but just like listening to it again, it just doesn’t affect me like other songs on this album. I can’t quite put my finger on why. I just don’t have much to say on this track. That’s all.
Live Like You’re Dying
I like the message in this song and it makes me want to do something with my life like it should but as a song, it doesn’t quite have any staying power. These are good words to live by but as a song, I usually skip it.
Skipalong
I’m not sure what to say about it. Watching it live was a treat; whenever Lenka said Sugar Bomb, she’d make an exploding action with her hands and her eyes would widen. It was adorable. I wasn’t particularly attracted to this song otherwise.
Dangerous And Sweet
Lenka gets upbeat and lively with this track complete with clap track! This song reminds me of a few people I’ve met in my life. I, too, am sometimes oversensitive but I don’t think I let people’s words get to me as much as it does Lenka and whoever she’s serenading in this song. It’s a cute song. It’s dangerous… and sweet.
Knock Knock
This was the first song that really touched me on this album. I feel everyone needs someone dependable in their lives. This one goes out to all those who’ve dropped everything or who’ve gone beyond the call of duty to help a friend in need. It’s not particularly catch but Lenka’s vocal performance just grabs at your heart and makes you feel all fuzzy like the person she’s singing about probably made her feel when they helped her out.
Trouble Is A Friend
It’s really hot seeing her do this live because she has this seductive look, like trouble himself. I really enjoy the line “I won’t let him in but I’m a sucker for his charm.” Everything about this song feels real and honest. It makes me wonder what her inspiration for this song was. The combination of Drum, Piano, and Bass create the solid foundation for this song with little dabs of other flavours like the Brass and extra Percussion/Bongos. It’s a pretty little song.
The Show
At first it reminded me of Yawl Naim’s New Soul but once the beat dropped, I knew Lenka was more than just another “unfolk” vocalist in the still growing genre. This song is so cheery and pleasant which contrasts well against the insecurities that are shown in the lyrics. It’s like the song is “let[ting] it go and just enjoy[ing] the show”.
Don’t Let Me Fall
This is one of the cutest songs I’ve heard in a long time. Everything about this song is as she said at her show. I can’t remember quite what she said about it but it had to do about how dependent the singer is on the one she loves. The feelings I get from this song is that it’s a whole-hearted, dependent, and kind-of-love-you-can’t-find-these-days kind of love song. It’s the love song that sounds like a lullaby. On a technical/fanboy note, in the show, she was playing those string hits that are most prominent at the start and throughout the quiet parts on her little Robot Pet, the M-Audio 25 Key Controller.
Anything I’m Not
Her honesty on stage as she sung this song was just adorable and magnetic. What this song lacks in self-esteem, it makes up in honesty and its optimistic instrumental. What I like to imagine goes on in the song is that our protagonist has become a mindless 9-5 zombie and while she tries to enjoy it for the sake of mental sanity, she wishes should could break away form the regular routine from everything she is and become anything she’s not while trying to maintain her uniqueness. That’s a mouthful, but then again, that’s life for a lot of us, am I right?
Bring Me Down
This is easily the most aggressive and emotionally charged song on the album. It is also her break up song. And it also sounds really happy. Why is that? *whistle*
It’s odd that it’s my second favourite song but I can’t really tell you why it is. I do think that that second last “The writing’s on the wall” is quite hot.
Like A Song
I think it was watching her do this live, and a cappella, is what really threw this song into the top spot. Taking it for what it is, it’s a creepy sounding song. Sounds like I should be walking around Silent Hill. Add in the lyrics and it becomes one of the saddest songs I’ve heard in a while. It does somewhat relate to Silent HIll 2’s story line, which creeps me out even more. I do wonder what the inspiration to this song is. If a song like this managed to come out of my head, I’d feel bad singing it regularly. I probably wouldn’t be able to sing it without crying. The pain I feel just hearing this song is enough to make the eyes water. I wonder if I can do a cover…
