In September 2011, Carly Rae Jepsen released eventual smash hit, âCall Me Maybe.â After going viral in Canada, the song went from a national hit to a worldwide phenomenon which led Jepsen to release her latest album, âKiss,â earlier this week. After placing third on Canadian Idol, the sky seemed to be the limit for then 21 year-old Jepsen. Now 26, Jepsen has attempted to turn herself into an established artist. Unfortunately for her, those shoes may be too big for her to fill.
Overall, âKissâ is a very basic, almost childish album. For a 26 year-old, the songs seem more like something from âHigh School Musical âor âHannah Montanaâ than that of a true, mature, stand-alone success. The album cannot compare to everyoneâs guilty pleasure, âCall Me Maybe.â While the CD has a few just-okay songs, it sounds more like something you would use as background music in a roller-skating rink or a middle school dance than a club or party.
In terms of songs, both good and bad, five stuck out: âCuriosity,â âGood Time,â âMore Than a Memory,â âYour Heart is a Muscle,â and âDrive.â Originally, I had planned to include a piece about Jepsenâs âCall Me Maybe,â but I think that everyone has come to a concession that, while sometimes annoying, the song is at least very catchy.
In terms of the worst songs on âKiss,â âYour Heart Is A Muscleâ and âMore Than A Memory,â are pretty much terrible. âYour Heart is a Muscle,â literally contains only the words of the title as lyrics. It was difficult to listen all the way through, because it repeats the same un-catchy words over and over. The song sounds more like a first grade science sing-a-long than a potential hit.
The second song that I think needs addressing is âMore Than a Memory.â The reason I disliked this song so much was because it sounded like a song I would listen to on a Disney movie soundtrack- which would be fine, if that is what itâs intention was. Unfortunately, I really think she was trying to make some soulful, beautiful song, but instead it was like listening to Kidz Bop tackling the âHigh School Musical Soundtrack.â
In terms of songs that I would actually consider downloading, âCuriosity,â âDriveâ and âGood Time (ft. Owl City),â would probably be the top contenders. What I liked about âCuriosityâ is that it seemed to have a little bit more substance and depth to it. It seemed like an honest attempt at creating a ballad and, while it was slightly childish, it still was pretty good.
âGood Timeâ is actually already a hit, an end of summer song with real potential. It made me feel happy in some weird way.
Lastly, thereâs âDrive,â which has the best chance of becoming anything close to a hit for Carly Rae Jepsen. Itâs poppy, fun, and very much like âCall Me Maybe.â
The CD is all in good clean fun, but for a 26 year-old, she aimed a little too young.







