Search - Anna Oxygen :: All Your Faded Things

Cosmic bounce

Sam | st. louis, mo USA | 12/31/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'll be honest. I can't write a review for this CD. I don't know what to tell you that you haven't heard before. So, here's the deal, this month I won't pretend to be a pretentious critic. We're just going to have a talk, music geek to music geek.
The CD is ` All Your Faded Things' by Anna Oxygen. She's a Seattle artist on the fledgling Cold Crush Records. The thing about Anna is that she basically sounds like everything you've ever heard, but different. I know it's confusing, but I'll try my best to explain.
The first track, `Baby Blue' is a good representation of the album. I guess the basic genre would be electroclash, even though there are many different sounds. `Baby Blue'is a slick pop song. It's awash with pulsating drumbeats and this `crazy' instrument called a synthesizer. I hear a lot of bands are using it these days. Anna's vocal style is very...organic. It's very warm and emotive and a lot of times operatic. This isn't heard much in the electroclash genre.
Next up is, `Red Horse Café'. I feel that this is one of the strongest tracks on the album. The electronic beats are highly danceable and they mesh incredibly well with Anna's voice. There isn't a point where the synthetic pandering distracts from Anna. In fact, they may give her more depth and style. In short, this song makes you wanna shake your butt.
Another great song is `Aviva'. I think this is a song that anyone can relate too. This song is definitely a pop song. The simple drumbeat and the synthesizer give it the pop swagger while Anna's voice makes it sound very human and at times somewhat curious. The chorus is extremely catchy. You'll suddenly catch yourself singing, `I wonder if you know if you look so...cute.'
`Ponytails' is also a strong contender. This song has more an electronic feel than the others. I could see this song being a huge club hit. `Ponytails' sounds a bit darker than the other tracks. The subject matter is also somewhat somber. This song has a steady eighties fueled beat. Anna sounds a bit bleak on this tune almost like she's been hardened by her experiences throughout the album. However, this chorus is also very catchy. You can't help to dance as Anna is singing, ` I don't want to be your rebound girl. I just want to be the queen of your world.'
`Nerve Angels Two' is an interesting song. It is reminiscent of a Jane Fonda workout video. This vision is complete with the synth-laden soundtrack and Anna sounding like a relaxing yoga instructor.
Dare I say, `Loose to the Tight' has somewhat of a hip-hop feel? I'm currently picturing Eve singing this and it works. So, yes, it has a hip-hop feel. This song was an interesting break on the album. I wasn't expecting this at all. I have to say that I really liked it. The lyrics are fairly basic, but the beat reminds me of break dancing. I just can't explain it.
`Painted Yellow Crown' is one of the more ambient numbers on the album. This song is all about a girl that has had some hard times, but is still strong thanks to support of her girlfriends. I have to say, the jury is still out on this one. I really enjoy the music on this song, but the lyrics make me cringe. At some points, it reminds me of Madonna. Whether this is good or bad, remains to be seen.
There are a couple more songs that I don't especially care for. `Man on the Screen' is a serious amount of shrill guitar work and an odd collection of sounds. All together it sounds like complete noise. I have no idea why the man is on the screen. That could be the idea of the song, but why did have to be so annoying?' Psychedelic Dance Party' is an obnoxious display of `tripped out' sounds and Anna's opera style vocals really get on my nerves. The main chorus in this number is, ` just open your eyes'. Frankly, after what I just heard I don't want to. `Scientist' proceeds to tell a bizarre sci-fi story and lists every -IST you can think of. Oddly enough, I like its continuation, `Mine all Mine' much better.
While `All your Faded Things' does have a few frustrating moments (only because you know Anna can do better) it is a sound album. However, I will leave you with a few words of warning. You may not like this CD when you first listen to it. It, like a lot of things in life, seems a little strange and foreign at times. However, like a lot of things in life, it grows on you and you start to like it, maybe even love it. In short, don't knock it `till you try it."

The Keytar Queen of the Check out Scene!

Jason D. Wick | Seattle, WA United States | 08/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Forget your tired electroclash low-fi rehash, this is the real deal! Anna Oxygen makes great neo-new wave intrepreted pop art with very tight hooks and cosmic aerobic energy to boot. She sings a very talented, mean souful and operatic scale, recalling Lene Lovich (and there's some Kate Bushisms going on as well) over catchy electronic Keytar driven melodies ala OMD, Yaz, and newer cut and paste aesthetics as well. Quirky songs of check out girls and scientists are catchy and will remain with you for days. Buy this album now!!"