I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’ve never been a big fan of Gossip Girl. That’s why, when I heard that when a star from Gossip Girl, Taylor Momsen, is also the lead singer of an alternative rock band, I was shocked. And when I watched a music video for the said band, I was shocked even more so. I was nearly terrified by the sheer gothic-ness of the video, which, based on my assumptions, probably never appears on Gossip Girl. Still, before I cast this album aside, I thought I’d give it at least one shot.
And let me tell you, I was shocked. I wasn’t blown out of my mind by awesomeness, mind you, but I was really surprised. And so, here’s the low-down on the tracks:
1. “My Medicine” – It starts off fairly slow, but picks up fairly quickly. 7.5/10
2. “Since You’re Gone” – A post-break up song. 7/10
3. “Make Me Wanna Die” – a very emotional song, can actually feel frustration through song; depressing, but a highlight of the album 9/10
4. “Light Me Up” – Album name; “Light me up when I’m Down” – somewhat of a positive song; 6/10
5. “Zombie” – It’s an emo song, and it deals a lot with treachery and death, hence her being a zombie. 7.5/10
6. “Just Tonight” – This is the song from the previously mentioned music video, and honestly, without the visuals, this is a great song. It’s almost like a ballad, but as a slow song, its very powerful. 7.5/10
7. “Miss Nothing” – It is definitely the most ‘popish’ rock song on the album, but that doesn’t completely make this a bad song. However, it definitely isn’t one of the most powerful tracks here. 6.5/10
8. “Goin’ Down” – I’m gonna spoil the story in this fast paced song: priest confession to killing her boyfriend, nuff said. But if you want to listen to her tell the story, the songs pretty fun. 7.5/10
9. “Nothing left to Lose” – “Lost between Elvis and suicide,” this song is an easy-going melody that makes you feel calm and fairly sad at the same time. 7/10
10. “You” – This is the ballad of the album, and it’s actually a very pleasant song. It’s calming and great to listen to. 8/10
11. “Factory Girl” – This is the party rock song. There’s a party in the backseat of a car and that’s it. However, this song was explosive, and her voice just seemed to fit this so well. Plus it was the only ‘unemotional’ song on the album. It’s completely different from the rest, and this contrast from the rest of the album just makes this song stand out even more. 9.5/10
Over all, the band seems to be trying out different rock genres – there’s a punk rock song, a few emo rock songs; the band does not seem to have a set style yet. However, Taylor Momsen’s voice is powerful, and it’s the string holding this album together. I wouldn’t say this is a must-have, but definitely give it a shot. You might just be surprised.
Album Rating: 7.5/10
Image Credit to Coverlandia.net