I stumbled upon Gagging Lolly while perusing CD Baby, and I was inexplicably drawn in. I sampled a few songs, and Gagging Lolly themselves sent me a CD to give a proper listen. Well who is Gagging Lolly?
From the press release: “Gagging Lolly is a pop electronica based dance music duo with an edge as sharp as a straight razor, bringing to life the lyrical adventures of lead singer Charlie who writes from personal experience on themes that are recognizable and relevant to our audience.”
The group originated in 2005 when Charlie and DJ Rotten HD split from their previous group Kelly Greenn. Together, the two of them produce a hybrid Electronica/Dance/Vocal mix.
The first song on I’m an Ocean EP is the title track. My first listen was just terrible, to be honest. The song is way over produced, but in the wrong parts. The electronic in the background is mediocre at best. Almost monotone, and very repetitive. Some repetition is to be expected from any type of electronica, but this is repetitive to the point of boredom. With the background lacking any depth to the music, the song relies on outstanding vocals to save it. Unfortunately they are just not delivered.
When Charlie starts singing, her voice absolutely covers the background, with the exception of the cymbals. This is where some of the production really could come in handy, instead her voice is cut into channels and processed. It gives a cold feel, and destroys any possible imaging. Instead, toning down the vocals, and blending them in more would probably serve the song more justice. It seems as if the high hat is fighting with her voice. The song really could use a more complimentary backing. In this form, however, it is a very forgettable listen.
I’d like to take a minute to point out that not all is bad! Charlie has a very good, if not great voice. The first song only hints at it, but the second, Yes He Does, really lets Charlie shine..
Yes He Does hints at some potential the group has. The electronica is much improved through a better melody and combining multiple synthesizers. The major weakness are poor transitions, which abruptly change from one theme to another. Charlie’s vocals are markedly improved. Less processing, and more rawness really tells me she could make a fantastic album, as she builds upon experience. She really has an enjoyable voice, but I get the feeling she doesn’t fully know how to use it to her full potential. The vocal contribution doesn’t clash nearly as much with the background, so both parts can have their time to shine, while not sounding like complete chaos. All in all, this song is the clear standout on an underdeveloped concept.
The third track is a live version of I’m an Ocean, and to my ears, is MUCH better than the “studio” produced one. Little to no reverb, equal channel levels, and the general the lack of overproduction that plagues the studio version surely helps, but doesn’t completely win me over. It is a marked improvement, however, and show that there is some potential, which makes me eager to hear their full length LP, Lick at Your Own Risk.
The final song I will not take into consideration as far as the album goes, since as far as I know it is unrelated to the group and their work. It is named Overclocked, and sounds like it was made by a 12 year old who just figured out how to customize the sounds on their windows 95 machine. Completely random thoughts and sentences spoken by text-to-speech programs. Absolutely terrible, and I hope their full length disc has nothing even remotely close to this. Its a terrible last thought to have on a disc, and is just unprofessional. While I understand and appreciate the amount of work that goes into making something like this, I don’t understand putting it onto a ‘commercial’ disc. These are the actions of a bored teenager hanging out with some friends.
All in all, this is a starting place for Gagging Lolly, where they can get a feel for their music, and establish a fan base. With a voice like that, Charlie is the clear standout of the group, and with some growth on both members’ parts, Gagging Lolly could make some groovy music.
I would like to thank Charlie from Gagging Lolly for the opportunity to hear her music. I look forward to hearing the full album!
Please visit Gagging Lolly at their website: http://www.gagginglolly.com/
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