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Annie - Anniemal
It’s been six years since Annie’s first single, Greatest Hit, became an underground dance sensation across Europe. Since then it’s been an almost, um, saga-like journey for the stunning Norwegian, which has seen her, amongst personal tragedy, work with just about every acclaimed producer in Europe. Now with the imminent release of her debut album Anniemal, it seems that we’re about to see a whole lot more of this Scandinavian beauty, and I for one shall not be complaining if she’s adorning my TV screen on a regular basis.
There hass already been more than enough written about last year’s Richard X produced single Chewing Gum, but that’s not going to deter me one bit. At The time of its release many people thought this song was annoying, a lot didn’t like it, some even hated it. They were all wrong to do so. Oh no! Oh no! You’ve got it all wrong, you think your chocolate but you’re chewing gum said Annie “Fantastic!” said I. It’s a brilliantly simple hook. The song mocks and infuriates like no other – this is the sound of Annie taking you for a ride and then laughing in your face for even thinking that she could possibly care for you, but she still looks as angelic as ever.
In a similar vein to Chewing Gum, but even catchier, is Me Plus One. Finnish producer Timo takes the reins here, and lives up to the standard set by X on the previous track. A playful, but not quite pounding synth bass line and some funky Euro-Pop chords, accompany Annie’s almost-rapped, but typically airy vocals. This time she, albeit in third-person, takes on the role of a wannabe pop star determined to succeed. It’s not clear how autobiographical Me Plus One is, but it’s a sure fire hit.
Latest single Heartbeat is next up. I’m not entirely sure that I can do this song justice; it’s as close to a perfect house song that you could ever imagine. Except that it isn’t, because to avoid any notion of cheesy dance it’s been stripped of all synthesisers, which makes Annie’s vocals all the more vulnerable and understated.
- Annie
- Anniemal (2005)
- Category: Album
- Label: 679
- Reviewed by: Luke
- Published on: 12 Mar 2005
- Comments: 1
- Beat Surrender Rating:
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A simple chord progression and an impatient bass line through the first verse leads up to a euphoric chorus in which Annie sings feel my heartbeat, drowning to the beat of the symphony and in doing so perfectly encapsulates the intensity and sheer exhilaration of the dance floor. But at the same time, it’s a deeply personal affair, it’s raw and it’s subtle, more so than any dance record has ever been. Quite simply, it’s amazing, and then some.
Now don’t worry, I’m not going to go into such detail for every song on the album. There’s no need – after this opening trio of pop brilliance, the rest of the album just seems so, unimportant? That’s not to say the other songs aren’t good though, because they most definitely are.
There are more quirky, bugglegum-pop moments on Helpless For Love and Happy Without You, although neither get anywhere near the dizzy heights of Chewing Gum or Me Plus One. Come Together is an eight minute disco epic, which is probably the highlight of the second half of the album. It finishes on My Best Friend, a dark and desperate track which suits Annie’s icy vocals excellently.
Overall, it’s a solid album with a few extremely good tracks. At the moment Annie has the world at her feet, only time will tell if she becomes the huge star that she seems to so desire to be. Anniemal is Fever for those who can’t bring themselves to listen to Kylie, it’s to 2005 what Girls Aloud’s What Will The Neighbours Say? was to 2004. Pop is cool again, and we should all embrace the fact – now get dancing.
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Comment Permalink | LukeM said:
Top review that, well done, small beer....
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We waffle on enough without letting you lot do it too. Comments are limited to 300 characters.
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