Dragonette
Royal Blues
Dragonette Inc.
After four years, Toronto synth pop trio Dragonette is back, but βRoyal Bluesβ might not be what you expected.
The bandβs fourth studio album is filled with thirteen dance tracks that provide easy listening and could inspire some lighthearted fun. Still, it would be hard to differentiate from a list of top 40 songs.
“Royal Bluesβ is a little bit slower and more serious than previous albums, which speaks to a new level of maturity for the band. Although the album is expertly produced, it doesnβt have that unique feel that fans have come to expect in the past.
“Secret Stashβ and βLet The Night Fallβ have gotten a lot of radio airplay, but are reminiscent of Dragonetteβs extremely successful collaboration with Martin Solveig in 2010 for the repetitive but peppy βHelloβ. Both are positive catchy pop anthems that could easily be the next hits for the band.
“Body 2 Bodyβ has also been a popular track on the album with an upbeat melody, but it simply isnβt breaking any new ground in terms of the lyrics. Itβs the never-ending story of a couple breaking up and finding their way back together, but itβs just not meant to be.
The change of tune is justified when heartbreak arises within the band. While front woman Martina Sorbara and bassist Dan Kurtz are married, they have been reportedly separated since 2013. This undoubtedly changed the bandβs creative process. During the creation period, instead of collaborating during the songwriting stage, Sorbara wrote lyrics and Kurtz produced the material. This was the first time they hadnβt collaborated on the lyrical side of the music.
The pairβs relationship could also change how you listen to the album. During the first listen of βRoyal Bluesβ, I had no idea that they had split up. Their relationship changed my perspective on the lyrics and showcased how personal the album is underneath the catchy hooks.
The pair has said that making the album helped them sort through their emotions, but the album doesnβt delve too deeply into the emotional side. But then again, how deep can dance music get?
Although it must have been a challenging feat, the new dynamic in their relationship didnβt put a damper on their sound and they havenβt let their relationship get in the way of their music.
The situation may have inspired some of the slower, more thoughtful songs on the album.
“Darth Vaderβ is a fun, self-empowered, dance party song with Sorbara singing βIβm going to do it for myself for a change.β
The emotional gems of the album are βSweet Poisonβ and βDetonateβ. These tracks are the only ones that veer away from the rest of the album that tends to have overly repetitive lyrics that likely already have several club remixes. The almost-a-ballad βLove Canβt Touch Me Nowβ also seems to comment on the coupleβs complicated relationship, but doesnβt dig as deep as the other tracks.
Sweet Poisonβ is a moment of vulnerability, and possibly the best glimpse the listener gets into the pairβs relationship. It’s bittersweet and emotional, but everything you would expect from a break-up song.
“Detonateβ is a reflective track is soft and hopeful about dangerous love, that has exploded. Itβs a positive spin on the explosion that likely happened in the band and the complications around love.
Almost every song is great, but production isnβt the problem in this case. Unfortunately, they arenβt different enough to be relevant next year.
For easy listening and a fun night with friends, βRoyal Bluesβ is perfect, but it likely wonβt stand out from the rest of their discography or the rest of the genre in the future.
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DRAGONETTE – ROYAL BLUES
Josie Mills