★ ★ ★ ★ out of 5
The most unconventional pop star in the world is finally able to bravely spread her wings. Austrian artist Conchita Wurst is enjoying the recent release of her debut album, Conchita, following her buzzworthy Eurovision 2014 triumph and a string of catchy and inspiring singles.
After being thrown into the public spotlight, for better or for worse, Wurst went to work to craft the album she wanted to make. With an empowering statement as the foundation, the intriguing, talented artist showed the world she was doing more than making a political statement, she was trying to justify a music career.
Preceded by "Heroes", "You Are Unstoppable" and "Rise Like a Phoenix", her winning Eurovision entry, Wurst's new album is a blend of mainstream and European-styled pop with an overdose of piano and strings. While her charsmatic vocal performances are always superb, the production and songwriting could have used some finishing polish. All in all, the project is one fans will rejoice over.
The album opener, "You Are Unstoppable" is a powerhouse ballad carried by an absolutely stunning vocal performance from the artist. Supported by beautiful string instrumentals, the song is one that screams Top 40 pop but holds true meaning, unlike other empty efforts. The song starts off soft and sweet, but then explodes into a soaring Celine Dion-like number when the chorus comes around. With all its flash and glitter, and a hint of possibly cliched lyrics, Wurst still shines bright.
"Up For Air", aka the album's next single contender, is another soaring mid-tempo effort where Wurst is hoping her love will still be there when she's ready to make the leap. "And I wanna dive through the river, I wanna see behind the mirror, out of the darkness and into the light, will you be there when I'm coming up for air?," she sings on the chorus which builds the energy until the artist hits a note that seals everything up as the listener's jaw drops.
The first thing that comes to mind on "Put That Fire Out" is its state of urgency. As Wurst sings of a fight for freedom, of not stopping until the message is clear, the energy of the song builds and builds as if Wurst was leading the march herself. There's no catchy production this time around, just the artist's vocals loud and powerful as she makes her statement. It plays as if a soundtrack to a feature film.
While "Colours of Your Love" does not immediately sounds like anything incredibly interesting, Wurst's delicate vocals act as the perfect counter to the the production's deep and slightly dark tone. The artist compares love to friendly fire, just before a strange, unexpected but brilliant beat drop occurs to amp up the impact of the track. It's not the strongest of the bunch, but keeps the album moving on the right path.
Things take a turn for the weird and slightly disjointed on "Out of Body Experience", a tribal-sounding experiment that doesn't prove extremely effective. In a Broadway-styled performance, Wurst describes the feeling of love as an euphoric moment. "Shooting off like a meteorite, leave my body and I never come down, your loving got me buzzing all night, super real and I never come down," Wurst chants.
Campy and cabaret come to mind when "Where Have All The Good Men Gone" comes through the speakers. There's a welcomed sass and female empowerment vibe that's heard loud and clear, and Wurst's vocals are true perfection, however the song sounds like it could have been left on the cutting room floor. All the elements work, the trumpets are a fun addition, but as a whole, it stands out for the wrong reasons.
Supported by a beautiful vocal performance, a choir-enhanced chorus and 80s-sounding background production, "Somebody To Love" is a soft yet powerful offering where Wurst just longs for someone to hold. The uplifting and joyous hook is a definite highlight where a crash of synths envelop the listener. The song is a dazzling pop moment that should easily silence even the harshest of Wurst's critics.
"Firestorm" picks up the pace with an exciting 90s house beat that becomes the shining beacon of the track, leading it to "pop perfection" status. "My heart is a firestorm, and all that I needed was your flame, and now that you've gone out the door, tell me who could love you more," Wurst sings on the infectious yet slightly somber chorus. The song is tailored for the dancefloor, countless remix ideas come to mind, and showcases Wurst's versatility.
Supported by a simple piano, Wurst beautifully belts out "Pure", a stripped back, raw, emotional ballad that only continues to build for the better. The artist sings of giving up her soul, of giving up all control, just to feel pure as a crash of gorgeous strings come through to aid her tender vocal performance. With no pop-driven beat, the song is the one moment on the album where Wurst's vocals shine bright.
The album's second single, "Heroes", showcased Wurst going for a more pop-leaning effort instead of the classical-inspired pieces she released before. The song boldly details the issue of universal love, empowering listeners with encouraging, story-like lyrics. While the song may not have been the strongest candidate to receive the single treatment, it is a solid and interesting take on a pop ballad from an equally unique artist.
Fans were immediately hooked when they heard "Rise Like A Phoenix", Wurst's winning Eurovision entry, and luckily the soaring, empowering ballad found its way onto the album's final track list. The track remains in its original state, with added emphasis on the instrumentals and background production, cementing its powerful presence, iconic status and as a contender for the next Bond film.
The album closes out with "Other Side of Me", another traditional ballad where Wurst sings of doing what she pleases and shining as she exposes a different side. "Tonight, you're gonna see like a star, I'm shining, I'm right where I belong, but I'm scared to my bones," the artist sings on the track's attention-grabbing chorus. While a sincere, emotional and heartfelt plea, the ballad may not have the best way to close a debut album.
Conchita is an anticipated album that could have gone one of two ways: a collection of sophisticated pop tracks or a pile of gimmicky and cliched throwaways. Luckily, the 12-track effort goes down the former path as Conchita Wurst puts her gorgeous vocal talent to good use. With a solid blend of pop, dance and opera, the artist's inspiring way with words creates powerful, impressive and soaring numbers that should bring a smile to any listener's face. Isn't that what pop music should do? Cause a smile? Wurst may use the persona of "the bearded lady" to stand out from the crowd, but she really doesn't need it. Her beautiful performances across the album do all the talking.
Tracks to Hear: "Up For Air", "Somebody To Love", "Firestorm" and "Rise Like A Phoenix"
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