"Now What" (Lisa Marie Presley)
"Now What" (Lisa Marie Presley)
...this girl can really rock...and she's not afraid to reveal her innermost feelings...
From the pounding beat of the catchy opening track I'll Figure It Out and the cogent lyrics of each subsequent song, I realised I was in for a rollercoaster ride.
Lisa Presley's second album, Now What, resonates with gritty rock tracks and poetic, eloquent ballads. As a singer-songwriter Lisa continues her exploration of relationships and self-esteem as she reveals more and more of her inner feelings. And she does so exhibiting her vocally inimitable rock and smouldering style.
Turbulence is a nicely sung, beaty ballad with piercing lyrics and clear vocals. Lisa excels with her ability to paint vivid pictures through the evocative imagery of her lyrics:
"Hey you, you slither around while you rip every vein out And you, your once so charming self indflicted tortured act It's a loser and a poser's tool
"Hey you, you wore me out there was nothing left for anybody else"
Thanx is another solid ballad with a great melody line:
"Thanks for throwing me the line When I lost sight of it"
Shine is the track featuring well known contemporary artist, Pink. Sung in lilting fashion by both singers it wafts through your senses like a warm Sunday afternoon breeze. A cute track.
The first single from the album is the Don Henley penned Dirty Laundry, a powerful attack on the invasive and sensationalist nature of of our mass media.
When You Go again has Lisa in reflective mood and this time her lyric echoes the pain felt when someone leaves a relationship and the theme of "choices":
"When you go you break my heart Don't you go cause it chokes. It chokes"
The opening to track 7 suggests we are about to hear a glorious ballad before a rapid drum beat takes us on a journey of chastisement as Lisa wails:
"You're an ***** And I hate your guts"
A curious mix, ***** is a powerful track with a strong sentiment but at the same time a fun listening experience.
High Enough is a breathy ballad and its title is symbolic of its theme. Lisa pours through her lyrics in search of "getting there", the underlying message being the subject of the song isn't OK!
Turned To Black has a cute, almost surreal, opening instrumental before settling into a lyric reflecting the pain of a breaking or broken relationship. My mind wondered just who was the cause, the subject of her pain.
The next track, Raven, is a very interesting one. It starts and ends with the sweet voice of an angelic child. It is a beautiful ballad with an emotional lyric:
"And as the raven flies she feels unwelcome
She's fallen out of her tree and caught on a limb with silver lining
Her wings uncertain oh but she's still flying
Yeah little Raven I see you there"
The song ebbs and flows and is nicely cut up by the use of a distorted instrumental from time to time.
The title track closes the album (or does it?) and again Lisa's ability to write a cogent lyric line shines with sentiments each of us will readily identify with:
"Now whose gonna save me next time It won't be you for the first time Somehow I'll be alright Somehow I'll be alright"
As with her first album, Lisa includes a "hidden" track. This time it is Here Today, Gone Tomorrow. A reflective, guitar distorted ballad communicating the fickleness of many relationships, it is a fitting closing to the album.
Now What has been released in two editions: with explicit and non-explicit language. The Parental Advisory Explicit Content edition will not be to everyone's taste. The language is choice and while it fits neatly in the context of the narrative of various songs it will be affronting to many listeners.
While first week sales of Now What are disappointing...only 56,000 copies sold in the USA for a #9 debut on Billboard (Lisa's debut album, To Whom It May Concern, sold around 100,000 copies more in its opening week), as a follow-up album, Now What has definite appeal.
Importantly, it is aurally more accesssible (and mellower) than To Whom It May Concern (which had a decidedly hard edge), and consequently should have wider appeal than its predecessor. Many of the tracks on the album have "singles" potential, particularly the rocky I'll Figure It Out and more musically reserved, but emotionally charged, Turbulence and Raven.
A downside of To Whom It May Concern was the way Lisa's vocals were drowned out by her musical backing. Thankfully that is not the case on Now What and her (alternating) deep raspy and poignant vocals are allowed to showcase their considerable appeal. Also, Now What improves on To Whom It May Concern through its greater musical variety.
Now What was produced by Lisa and new beau, Michael Lockwood. The Executive Producer was Bob Fosse. All tracks, bar the single, Dirty Laundry, were written by Lisa Presley.
Verdict: Now What is Lisa Marie Presley...Now What is a **************** good contemporary rock album which further highlights the performer's status as a singer-songwriter in the rock music market. Lisa's established fan base will love this album...and with its greater aural accessibility and mellower sound it will win over more of her father's fans.
Take the time to listen to Now What and you will be rewarded on two levels...musically, and through potent lyrics that are emotionally strong and personally revealing.
