Search - Marykate O'Neil :: 1-800-Bankrupt

Supergirlpop!

Friendly Porpoise | Nashville, TN United States | 05/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""I'm shedding all the black in my wardrobe, I'm gonna brighten up my despair," Marykate O'Neil sings on the opening track "I'm Ready For My Luck to Turn."



That desire for an emotional costume change speaks to the way these songs tackle their subjects. In a way, they almost function like Clark Kent's phone booth, a place where O'Neil can step in, a slightly downtrodden Brooklyn songwriter, and step out, a Pop Supergirl. Her foes are the usual arch-villains: loneliness ("I Sleep With My Clothes On"), heartbreak ("Past All The Stars"), miscommunication ("Stay"), anxiety ("Things Are Too Good"), and she takes them on with valor. In the end, she knows that a catchy chorus and a well-placed fuzz guitar lick can go a long way towards beating the blues.



Produced by Roger Moutenot and Jill Sobule (who co-wrote half the tunes), the record sparkles with classic touches: a burst of Byrds-y jangle here, a piping of Zombies mellotron flute there, a wash of Bangles wah-ooh-ahh's everywhere. And Marykate's winnings vocals are full of tenderness and humor throughout.



To paraphrase XTC's Andy Partridge: "It's really super, Supergirl."



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