REVIEW: Lissie – Catching A Tiger
If you didn’t know already, I recently did an interview with the almost certain to be massive mainstream sensation Lissie You may have seen her on Jools Holland, or even heard her on Radio 1 already. But, although this may increase some trepidation in you, the reader, who most likely steers clear of those acts touted by the main media or the DJs of daytime radio, I beg you, read on.
If you have read the interview, you’ll see that she is pretty straight talking and actually quite funny. Obviously, you might scoff and say this has nothing to do with the music which for all you know may be lacklustre. Yet, I feel her attitude in the interview has definitely built up some enjoyment with the music for me. First off, as you would expect for someone who fits her marketed bill, being the alt-singer songwriter and oh-so kooky, the traditional mix of fast-paced and mellow songs that attempt to bridge indie credentials and a soothing “Middle-Aged People will like me” approach. Now I feel like I’ve slagged her off. Yet, as much as Lissie is rather easily applied to these rules, there is something about the songs that just work.
The song “Little Lovin’” sound like the upbeat descendent to Bon Iver’s Skinny Love and “Everywhere I Go” sounds as if it is straight off a Laura Marling album. Not to say that she is just an eclectic mish mash of prior indie songwriters, no, I feel that Lissie’s songs do her justice. And her faster songs like “When I’m Alone” are genuinely good, nothing out of the ordinary or genre-pushing, but just good at what they attempt to do, album opener “Record Collector” has a nice mix of Cure-inspired (see: Lovecats) tin bashing in the opening and what could be judged a Gogol Bordello homage in the mid section. I may have made some tenuous links there, but the influences are identifiable.
Yet, I still feel the album falls short of the hurdle, it has a few highlights that are worth a listen, but doesn’t have enough big-hitting songs for me to actively recommend a full album purchase. However, I’m rather sure that Lissie will be big very, very soon. And “Catching A Tiger” if not a triumph, definitely promises more of what we can see in the future, the major label production spring board will undoubtedly unlock more creative potential for future releases. For now, enjoy Little Lovin’.
The album is released 21st June via Fat Possum (US)/Columbia
Nathan – “Like” the blog on Facebook.