Album Review: Meiko - Dear You
By Cortney Willis, Copy Editor
[Fantasy/Concord; 2014]
Rating: 6/10
Key Tracks: “Go To Hell,” “Dear You”
American singer-songwriter Meiko has come a long way since her self-titled, independently-released debut album in 2007. Over a dozen of her quirky, acoustic songs have been featured on major network television, she’s gone on tour, been signed and developed a solid, niche fan base.
Said fan base, however, will likely be disappointed with her latest LP Dear You upon first listening to it. Acoustic guitars and whimsical percussion instruments have been replaced with samey-sounding synthesizers and drum machines straight out of the early ‘80s. Happy lyrics about falling in love are replaced by a whole album of bitterness, sadness and longing. Whoever the “you” Meiko is writing to on the album has seemingly really messed up.
Opening track “Bad Things” sounds slow and like an underground, soft industrial song if such a thing exists. The song is very moody and will probably follow in the steps of many of Meiko’s previous songs by ending up as the backing track to a television show scene. Probably a “sad montage” bit. You know the song that plays in the background at the end of the episode while the shots switch among fictional, melodramatic characters looking angsty? This is that song.
Unfortunately, the abundant use of synthesizers and drum machines begin to make the songs all sound the same. While the change in Meiko’s musical style isn’t exactly bad, to fans it’s jarring.
When Meiko finally pulls out her acoustic halfway through the album on “Sweeter,” she lyrically channels Taylor Swift, essentially telling her ex-lover’s new beau to f*ck off while praising herself as the clearly better choice. “Give him back to me / Cuz I’m sweeter than you’ll ever be.” It’s sad that Meiko dips into these shallow poetic waters on the track, because her vocals are exquisite.
Actually, Meiko’s vocals are amazing throughout the album. While everything else about it is overproduced, it sounds as though technology didn’t get its hands on her vocals, leaving them pure.
After a couple more forgettable songs that sound the same, Dear You closes out with two fantastic acoustic numbers that sound like a better version of the Meiko her fans fell in love with.
“Dear You” is a heartbreaking ballad relatable to anyone who’s ever gone through an adult breakup. Meiko’s fingers fiddle her acoustic guitar delicately as she yearns and reminisces over what was and might have been.
The crown jewel of the album is closing number “Go To Hell.” While quiet in sound, the track’s lyrics pack a loud punch. Judged by someone from quite a young age, the narrator is verbally abused. “And you say that / I will die and go to Hell / Because you know me so well.” The narrator goes on to stand up for themself, nicely telling their accuser to shove it. “One day I’ll see you again / At the pearly gates of Heaven / And I’ll be on the list.”
While her change in artistry might have been too abrupt, Meiko continues to show remains of talent and deliver at least a few memorable songs.
