Writing an album that puts one on the map is something every artist dreams of. Especially the first album. Then comes the sophomore album and perhaps a little pressure. I don’t know if Texas born, NY-based Katy Kirby got any sophomore album jitters when writing Blue Raspberry. Based on the early singles ‘Table’ and ‘Cubic Zirconia’ I’m going to assume she did not.
An ebullient strummy sweetness bubbles in ‘Cubic Zirconia’ like champagne efflorescence. The song is a journey, meticulously mapped out. Dynamics to the instrumentalization dominate the track. Her vocals rising on the verses and coasting on the pre-chorus are as good as it gets.
Katy Kirby’s latest release ‘Table’ is like a brisk walk in the park on an overcast day. Happy but not. Blending an acoustic and chunky guitar relives 90’s glory. The secret to this recipe is its simplistic straightforward nature. Picturesque vocal melodies lay over a lofi musical grit like watching a VHS tape on HDTV.
Releasing ‘Table’ and ‘Cubic Zirconia’ from her upcoming album gives us a range to anticipate. As a listener, that makes me eager to hear what else she’s got under her sleeve. With 11 new songs, Blue Raspberry is sure to have some surprises. I would bet on that.
