By Julia Difiori
Theme Editor
The riff that kicks off “Going to Hell,” the Pretty Reckless’s latest studio album, is as captivating and bold as the album’s brazen title. The entire album proves to be equally engaging and moving.
The album delineates Momsen’s various personal experiences, telling stories of personal development and change, as well as the evils of today’s society. Thoughtfully executed percussion and bold guitar riffs support relatable lyrics, which include vivid imagery that captures the attention of listeners.
The New-York based rock band is composed of leader singer and rhythm guitarist Taylor Momsen, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Ben Phillips, bassist Mark Damon and drummer and percussionist Jamie Perkins,with Phillips and Momsen being the co-writers of the band’s songs.
Momsen’s bold vocal range is a standout feature on the album. Taking advantage of her talent, Momsen alternates between a rougher, deeper singing style to a sweet and girlish one. The flexibility of her voice throughout each track simultaneously showcases her skills and engages listeners.
Various crescendos and diminuendos within each track create movement which keeps the music interesting and unique. This gives the album its noteworthy dynamic capacity.
Equally intriguing are the topics of the lyrics. Repeated motifs delve into an interesting mix of love, sex, conflict and unhappiness. For example, “Absolution” describes the pain of guilt over an unresolved mistake. While these themes sometimes overlap between tracks on the album, Momsen and her songwriting partner Phillips manage to use different metaphors and phrases to convey feelings and thoughts, making their music varied and relatable.
The first three songs are loud, strong and proud, but indicate a sense of trouble that is raw and relatable. By the fourth track, “House on a Hill,” personal growth is evident through the suddenly slower and softer track. Its appealing lyrics highlight the illusion of religion, pain and suffering that are fueled by society. This development in the album proves the genuine emotion behind each song, making it easy to connect to.
The following five tracks are also slower with beautifully played acoustic instruments and honest, vulnerable lyrics that further the depth in the album. Track ten, “Why’d You Bring a Shotgun to the Party,” brings back the attitude and lively guitar from the beginning of the album, while still maintaining the cryptic lyrics that make the album compelling, indicating a sense of conclusion that leaves listeners feeling empowered.
Throughout the album, the band also utilizes sound effects, such as school bells, sirens, the sound of guns clicking and more. This develops each song’s plotline, allowing audiences to connect to the tracks more deeply and enhancing the listening experience overall.
Between meaningful, slightly brash lyrics, tenacious vocals and support from the guitar as well as percussion, “Going to Hell” by the Pretty Reckless is a good album that is polished without being overproduced.
“Going to Hell” was released on Mar. 18, 2014 and is available digitally and in retail for $7.99.
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