Brooke Fraser

Brutal Romantic

2015-03-05

Brook Fraser is a New Zealand pop musician and "Brutal Romance" is her fourth studio album. Most of her work to this point has been acoustic and raw. On "Brutal Romance," Fraser experiments with a darker, more electronic sound. Her strong, beautiful vocals are overlaid on infectious dance beats as well as bleaker, more ethereal soundscapes. The result is something that would sound at home on a dance floor illuminated by strobe lights.

The album opens with Fraser's bare, breathy voice and a powerful choir of background voices on "Psychosocial." The song is an intense way to open the album, confidently presenting the dramatic difference from Fraser's previous albums. The rest of the album is generally more upbeat—"Thunder" and "Kings and Queens" are both danceable, fun pop songs. Fans of Lorde or Feist will probably find themselves digging this album.

review by Marie

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 06/2016

    Kerosene Stars
    A Million Little Trees

  • reviewed 02/2008

    KEVIN DREW
    Spirit If...

  • reviewed 03/2014

    RON POPE
    Calling Off The Dogs

  • reviewed 09/2008

    PRETENDERS
    Break up the Concrete

  • reviewed 06/2017

    Matthew Ryan
    HUSTLE UP STARLINGS

  • reviewed 11/2006

    BARENAKED LADIES
    Are Me

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.