Overpowered and under-appreciated (Overpowered - Roisin Murphy)

Member Name: funkimunki

Product:	Overpowered - Roisin Murphy
Date:	04/02/09 (120 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great vocals and consistent music

Disadvantages: Shame that some tracks had to be dropped

Overpowered is the second album from Róisín Murphy and, like her debut 'Ruby Blue, received wide critical acclaim. But, unlike its predecessor this was much more of a commercial success reaching the heady heights of #20 in the UK charts ('Ruby Blue' only managed #84).

Murphy began writing this album after leaving her previous record label, Echo Records, and signing with EMI in 2006. The influence of having EMI behind her is clear on this album; a bigger budget brings bigger production and the ability to work with better writers and producers. In total, 30 songs were written and produced - some of the unreleased songs were co-written with Cathy Dennis and produced by Calvin Harris- an obvious sign that this album is high quality if these additions to the writing process can't get a song on the album.

There are 2 crucial differences with this album compared to her debut 'Ruby Blue':

1 - The music feels more considered and consistent throughout: this is an electro album that fuses great beats with a small amount of the experimental sounds found on 'Ruby Blue'. This has pro's and con's for me; 'Ruby Blue' was largely experimental and sounded like nothing before whereas overpowered lacks this element (but I suppose you can continually reinvent music...). Conversely, it does mean that 'Overpowered' sounds like a complete album rather than the somewhat sporadic offering of 'Ruby Blue'.

2 - Murphy's voice seems to have developed massively with more control and range being demonstrated. 'Overpowered' definitely benefits from this since a more considered album deserves this more considered voice.

Tracks:
1. Overpowered - 5:07
2. You Know Me Better - 4:17
3. Checkin' on Me - 4:39
4. Let Me Know - 5:09
5. Movie Star - 4:01
6. Primitive - 4:50
7. Footprints - 3:37
8. Dear Miami - 3:40
9. Cry Baby - 5:54
10. Tell Everybody - 3:51
11. Scarlet Ribbons - 5:35
12. Body Language - 4:39 (Bonus track)
13. Parallel Lives - 4:22 (Bonus track)

The album opens strongly with 'Overpowed', a mid-tempo, finger-strumming track and probably the most recognisable on the album being the first single released in July 2007. I'm not exactly clear why, but the physical formats of the single made it ineligible to chart but it did make it to #149 on downloads.

The likes of 'Let Me Know' and 'Movie Star' really highlight the fact that this is not an abscure eletro offering only but fuses pop effortlessly into the mix. 'Let Me Know' was released in October 2007 just a week before the album and was the second single from the album. Reaching #28 in the UK charts made this Murphy's first solo hit. 'Movie Star' has a more trouble history as the release date for this was postponed again and again, and eventually cancelled altogether. This is a real shame as, for me, this is one of the best tracks on the album.

For me, 'Primitive' is really where you start to hear the great vocals of Murphy. Running from deep and seductive to light and ethereal, the range here really fits well with the slow tempo beats of the electro-drum. 'Dear Miami' continues the showcasing of Murphys voice over a great beat fitting somewhere between electro, pop and soft rock.
Most tracks on the album have benefitted from great DJ remixes but 'Cry Baby' is the one track where you can tell it was just made for the dancefloor. A reoccuring synthisizer and electro-clashes mix with poewerful vocals and simple lyrics to give a storming track!

The weak points are 'Scarlet Ribbons', a mushy tale about her fathers love, and 'Footprints' which is similarly mushy but also has the added annoyance of vocals that seem just too light - without a decent musical beat, Murphy's voice seems to get lost. I can easily forgive these weak points since they are not actually terrible, just not as impressive as the rest of the album. Strangely, 'Scarlet Ribbons' was a last minute swap for 'Off and On' - a great pop track produced with Calvin Harris. Murphy eventually gave the track over to Sophie Ellis-Bextor who never ended up putting it on her album either - a real tragedy.

The 80's are given a revival in 'Body Language' and 'Parallel Lives' adding a nice touch of retro to the end of the album whilst still sitting firmly with the electro-pop theme of the rest of the album.

Artwork:
An additional intriguing element to the album and the single releases is the artwork which, according to Murphy, cost £125,000. The photographs show Murphy in everyday situations wearing her trademark extraordinary outfits some of which were designed by Givenchy. There is just one of these photos on the front of the album cover for Overpowered which shows Murphy in a greasy spoon cafe wearing an amazing woollen headdress and top with red latex covered arms - It looks amazing; I want one! The booklet inside takes the form of a sort of route map connected together by random pictures and quotes. My favourite quote being one from Murphy, "I got signed to EMI because I reminded them of Robbie Williams" !!

Whilst perhaps not as groundbreaking as Murphy's debut album, 'Overpowered' is certainly a triumph of musical originality. Great lyrics, a masterful voice and superb production have given Murphy an album that she and EMI (unlike her previous record label) can be proud of. 'Overpowered' manages to be mainstream and left-of-centre at the same time There are few artists that are able to blur this line effectively - Murphy is now amongst them. Go and listen. Now!

The album is 54 minutes 51 seconds long and was released in October 2007 by EMI.

It can be purchased from Amazon for £4.98 which is the cheapest I saw on my scout around the usual websites; great value for money from a fantastic artist giving yet another great musical offering. Role on album number 3!

© of funkimunki. Also posted on caio.co.uk under jonescraiga

Summary: A triumph of originality