Review: B+
As a listener, what surprised me most about the NYC based ‘pop rockers’ Elisa Lovelie & The Device is not their heavier tunes, but the folk-acoustic saturated tracks in the debut EP Undertow.
“Fire & Icicles” is one of the two most Pat Benatar sounding track of the lot. The beginning electronic guitar pluck is a bit like The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” with this lush string and roaring guitar riffs on its bookends. Lovelie’s voice is heavy with passion and strong with rock credo.
“I Don’t Need You” is the second of the two Benatar flavored songs. Right out of the gate the throbbing base and crunchy guitar chords elevate the intensity. While these rockier tracks might not carry the listener into a far off world of lyrical wonderment, they certainly hold attention. For music lovers wanting stretching prose and to be transported into a breezy, reflective state, keep listening to the second part of Undertow.
“Try” is like a slow dance between the audience and the artist. A mesmerizing string orchestration takes the lead, and the listener is lost in Lovelie’s vocal embrace. Her voice sighs out loud like a beautiful flower; while at times she flutters through notes like a butterfly. This track is rich with folk thread, but sewn stronger in the country quilt.
“Make Up Your Mind” begins with a majestic, stirring Spanish guitar. The strings gallop and transcend the listener into this sultry salsa flare. Lovelie’s vocals taunt and tango alongside the robust music bed. This song transports into a world of dance and spinning sensation. The chorus is contagious; the subtle backing vocals eerily whisper. But, it is the guitar that takes center stage.
Much like “Make Up Your Mind,” the engaging “When the Tide Goes Down” makes one feel like the waves of acoustic guitar and sweet, finely polished vocals
drown the listener. The lyrics are wound like ribbon, unraveling in such flare and deep emotion.
“When the Tide Goes Down” has a bit of a stronger punch than “Make Up Your Mind,” but I never felt like this could fall into a rock category. In their official bio, Elisa Lovelie & The Device draw some comparison to The Pierces, and I think this track falls into that vein. Like The Pierces, something wicked stirs in Lovelie’s vocals on this track. Something dark.
“Black and Blue” and “Bad Boy Blues” round out the Undertow. These are both strong tracks, but overall, after a few spins, the “Make Up Your Mind” and “When the Tide Goes Down” stood out the most. That acoustic guitar and lyrical tapestry won me over!
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