As someone who admits freely of their fascination for Disney Channel starlets, when Demi Lovato’s new album, Demi, released, I grasped my Hannah Montana doll (that may or may not exist) in delight. I also admit that I’ve blared Lovato’s single “Heart Attack” several times in my vehicle, risking broken speakers.
However, Lovato’s new album, as a whole, offers a generic mesh of songs that sound like they are from the summer of 2012. With standard synthesizers seizing mostly every song and Lovato’s shuddering voice, the album is forgetful and…plain. Sorry Demi, I still love you.
As the album opens with her current single, it’s all down hill from there – the tracks lose themselves with similar vocal keys and even beats, all blurring together. Songs like “Without The Love,” “Nightingale,” and “In Case” are ripe with lackluster lyrics, while “Neon Lights” sounds awfully similar to “Feels So Close” by Calvin Harris.
“Really Don’t Care” is ironically titled as the verses resemble Icona Pop’s song “I Love It” about not caring. Cher Lloyd joins the track to offer a “quirky” rap twist, but it probably would have been less painful without her.
I thought the album was heartless until “Shouldn’t Come Back” had Lovato singing “tired of being so sad” in a gut-wrenching softness while a miserable guitar and violin join along with her.
The track at the end of the album, “Warrior,” sounded different from every other song. Although she mentioned she was confused again (like in “Nightingale’), the simple song featured an elegant piano melody with soft harmonies and surprising key changes.
Top 3 Best Songs:
1. “Warrior”
2. “Heart Attack”
3. “Something That We’re Not”
Top 3 Worst Songs:
1. “Without the Love”
2. “Two Pieces”
3. “Never Been Hurt”