You know what I love about Pop music? The unlikely success stories- artists that don’t fit the mold and become the mold. Artists like Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, Ben Folds, The B-52’s, Prince, Alanis Morrissette, Natasha Bedingfeld, etc. The talented and true artists that run circles around the Britney and Christinas, Beyonces, Lady GaGas, and Boy Bands of the world. Enter Kate Miller-Heidke, and Australian born Londoner that has more Pop sensibility in her pinky than everyone currently on the Top 40 charts. Miller-Heidke is starting to make some headway here in the U.S. and Curiouser contains twelve reasons you should be paying attention.
Given the Pop bounce of much of the album, Miller-Heidke’s slightly different-from-the-norm voice, and the album’s cover art, it’s pretty hard not to make Cyndi Lauper comparisons here. Miller-Heidke is off-kilter brilliant all over this album nodding heavily towards 80’s New Wave and the singer/songwriter side of Pop.
Highlights abound here. The strongest tracks are easily the opening number, “The One Thing I Know,” the inspirational “Supergirl,” and the Garage Pop of “I Like It Better When You’re Not Around.” The album sort of sways back and forth between straight up, huge hook, Pop and a more creative side of said genre that reminds me a lot of what artists like the aforementioned Folds and Tori Amos were offering when they were “young and hungry.” Regardless of the songs leanings though. She manages to insert a Sci-Fi theme throughout. Not necessarily in the lyrics but in the overall sound.
Really, this is an excellent album. The only throwaway track in my book is “Motorscooter” which is terrible if it’s serious and tolerable if it’s entirely tongue in cheek. Either way, Kate Miller-Heidke’s Curiouser will make you stand up and pay attention when you hear it and that is what good music does.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
