Album Review - Kat McGivern "K@ndy Pop"

There are times when I get overwhelmed with how much music there really is available out there. Yes, even the king of all underground and little known pop (I've got an ego, don't I?) can get a little lost in the mix sometimes. Truth be told, I have a lot of friends, and I take a lot of requests, because to me, it's all about helping out those who deserve it. Enter Kat McGivern - A very talented girl who has been at it for a long time. She's released a new EP that has been sent my way, and now it is my duty to make it known to you all!

It all started out with "Hit It And Quit It". In preparation for the EP release, I took up watching this video to get to know her more recent music. The song is very rock inspired, with a large dash of Ke$ha style sing-rapping in the verses. It doesn't really feel like a "reject" Ke$ha song, but more like one that she wrote for another artist. The whole song is about just having sex with no strings and going on your merry way. It uses a lot of adult humor, flipping around the usual perception that it's just men that want a one night stand. 

Strangely enough, the lead in single is not the most polished of the group. The song "Facebook Official" actually takes the cake. It is a bit borderline cliche (Ive never been a fan of songs that talk about social media), but it's so catchy and strangely relatable. The topic is all about there being more to a relationship than just what you do on Facebook. It is a bit of social commentary on how hilariously dependent we are on technology now, and don't use human interaction. This being said, it still edges on being "too late" as social media is moving forward to newer and even more obnoxious things, but I guess the next few months will tell is this song can really last out in "the real world". 

The EP may be called "K@ndy Pop", but it really is pretty far away from bubblegum pop. It focuses heavily on guitars and harsh lyrics, which work really well for her, even with the deceiving album title. The only song that really has any strong techno/electronic influence is in the lead in track "Mr. Sleazy", which follows the rule in music lately that is putting your best foot forward. This song gives you all you need to know about Kat. She is a rocker chick with a hard egde who is all about woman power. It's nice to have a female artists who thinks of sex as something more dirty than kissing and holding hands on the beach (IE Most of pop music these days). 

Being the weirdo I am, my favorite of the bunch is actually the most different track on the whole album. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the work as a whole, but the nice middle-of-the-album break song "Cheap Thrill" is a welcome addition. It not only pushes her vocals to places not heard elsewhere in the work, but it also shows a more vulnerable point of Kat herself. Throughout the rest of the album she is all about partying and getting exactly what she wants, but in this song, she lets her more vulnerable side show asking if she was just used or if those nights really meant something. 

My only real complain with the album is how it is marketed. Like I said before, the title of "K@ndy Pop" is a bit misleading. Most of her songs are about girl power, keeping a sharp edge and wit, but on the cover of the album she looks more like a raver chick ala Kerli. I know it seems like an odd thing to be complaining about (and trust me, it's not as big of an issue as I'm making it seem), but shelf appeal is a big deal when you are trying to target specific groups. 

Would I listen to Kat McGivern again? Hell yeah! I want to see more of what she can do. EPs are apparently the way of the future, combining five or six songs that are single-ready to release all at once. Hopefully she keeps on the same musical path she is on now so we can get even more hard-edged rocker girl jams. Luckily for you (yes, you!), the album isn't even six dollars on iTunes. Check it out and see if she's up your alley.