Carly Rae Jepsen
The Loneliest Time
604/School Boy/Interscope
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When we last left Carly Rae Jepsen, she’d just unleashed Dedicated Side B (2020); it followed behind her triumphant fourth studio outing Dedicated (2019). The “Side B” format had come into existence, initially, through a link to her third record E•MO•TION (2015). But whereas E•MO•TION Side B (2016) was a simple, but effective clutch of eight leftovers from those corresponding sessions, Jepsen expanded it into an album with Dedicated Side B.
Connecting all of these projects was the Canadian-born, now California-based singer-songwriter herself—Jepsen’s way with the pop genre was beyond impressive. While pundits and fans raved over this fifth long player, Jepsen revealed that new music was forthcoming. Working tirelessly for close to two years, the result of this labor cycle was The Loneliest Time, her sixth offering hosted on the label triptych of 604, School Boy and Interscope Records.
Sitting at the core of this LP is a stunning array of selections that platform the reach of Jepsen’s lyricism. Like many during the COVID-19 pandemic, this creative made good use of her time studying myriad states of romantic attraction. Whether she’s negotiating her own complex desire on “Joshua Tree,” basking in love’s glow with “So Nice” or taking stock of problematic suitors via “Beach House,” she does so with sensitivity, depth and humor. Jepsen also maps her mind and heart in the context of daily living on “Bends” and “Anxious,” two of the best pieces here.
Although Jepsen drives every cut, collaboration is never outside her wheelhouse. A highly decorated crew of co-writing and production support notably includes Rostam Batmanglij, Tavish Crowe, Nate Cyphert, Imad-Roy El-Amine, John Hill, Jordan Palmer, Oliver Lundström and Kyle Shearer.
Of equal importance to these songs are the lustrous soundscapes that they’re affixed to. If “Surrender Your Heart” and “Talking to Yourself” are any indication, synth-pop holds fast as a touchstone for Jepsen in various shades and shapes; her anthemic, detailed approach is still singular. Excursions into dapper yacht rock (“Bad Thing Twice”), vibrant nu-disco (“Shooting Stars”), late-night pop-soul (“No Thinking Over the Weekend”) and minimalist electronic R&B (“Sideways,” “Keep Away”) yield a range of tempos sure to satisfy audiophiles of every persuasion.
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There’s definitely no shortage of sonic excellence to engage with on The Loneliest Time, although “Western Wind” and “Go Find Yourself or Whatever” manage to separate themselves from the pack. The former entry is a rhythmic slice of folktronica and the latter is a bittersweet, country-tinged ballad. One assumes that leading the campaign for The Loneliest Time with “Western Wind” was a purposeful maneuver to break from the formula journalists and less experienced Jepsen fans expected of her. This is only partially true.
With a breezier launch single Jepsen circumvented gun-blazing expectations; longtime adherents to her career path will notice that both songs recall the indie-pop acoustica from Tug of War (2008), Jepsen’s vastly overlooked debut.
Returning to “Go Find Yourself or Whatever,” it sits comfortably as a showcase for Jepsen’s faculties as a singer. She has always been a solid stylist with plenty of pluck and verve at her disposal. This reviewer has seen her most recently at The Eastern in Atlanta, Georgia where she thrilled a sold-out crowd three weeks ago. Jepsen knows how to throw down vocally, but on wax, “Go Find Yourself or Whatever,” the equally compelling “Far Away,” and title track duet with fellow Canadian icon Rufus Wainwright highlight the bright, expressive grain contained within her instrument.
In a recent interview with The Atlantic, Jepsen summed up her genre’s ethos succinctly, “Pop is like love. It’s limitless.” This statement is realized on an album where Jepsen expands her musical-lyrical palette with a rainbow of layers and textures. The Loneliest Time will make every return listen an experience to be savored.
Notable Tracks: “Go Find Yourself or Whatever” | “Joshua Tree” | “The Loneliest Time” | “No Thinking Over the Weekend
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