REVIEW: Holly McNarland, Stuff (Universal)
- Scott Byron
Holly McNarland fits snugly into the Alanis Morissette/Meredith Brooks axis of the current wave of female pop: catchy, sassy, strong, just a little angry. This style has become successful because it hit nerves with a large number of previously unserved listeners, filling a gaping hole in the pop marketplace. Due to the overwhelming success that Morissette has earned, we have already seen lots of releases aimed at the same audience, just as wave after wave of nuevo-Nirvanas and proto-Pearl Jams followed in those bands' wakes, as also trailed behind hundreds of other breakthrough successes in the rock/mass-media era.
It's hard not to approach all wanna-be's without a large dose of cynicism, holding them to a higher (and admittedly unfair) standard
- after all, it's unlikely that any of Morissette's followers will ever match her level of sales (read: reach that number of people with the same massive impact) or even match her level of pop artistry (whether you like her or not, you should admire the craft of the songwriting and production, and how squarely she hit her mark).So what it all comes down to, my friends, is whether Holly McNarland distinguishes herself in some way - as a songwriter, a lyricist, a musician or a vocalist -- at least enough to make her deserve distinction from the pack. Stuff starts out promisingly enough with "Numb," a crafty, groovin' rocker that showcases some tight musicianship (the album features the Pixies' Joey Santiago on guitar), clever songwriting and sharp production. And McNarland delivers the song convincingly, in an expressive, full voice that's consistently appealing.
Unfortunately, it's only rarely that the rest of the album lives up to its opener, and often it falls squarely flat on its face. The second track, "Elmo," begs the most obvious comparisons to Morissette, with its vivid sexual imagery recalling "You Oughta Know," but it sounds second-rate and silly in comparison. The nadir is undoubtedly "U.F.O.," which features the lyric "Don't have many choices/Like a dog in a parking lot" and the chorus "My body feels numb/My legs are as smooth as candy/I'm as liquid as the sea/A place for you and me." Perhaps this prose will appeal to sensitive teenagers, but it makes me wince.
Holly McNarland may yet find her own voice, but this Stuff just isn't unique enough to hold interest for long.
