Some people may say my tastes are limited; that I only
review rock and alternative bands (and the like). However, in today’s music landscape it’s near
impossible to find decent rock and roll and thus I feel it is my responsibility
to share my findings. Namely, bands and
artists writing and performing KILLER rock music and not getting the attention
they deserve. This is a perfect way to
describe Boston ex-pat Colleen Green who now calls sunny LA home. Green’s 2015 LP I Want To Grow Up perfectly captures the anxiety, fear, and excitement
everyone in their 20’s goes through as they leave college and school behind and
realize that it is time to get serious (just not too serious).
The record, which is out on Hardly Art and is the
third full length for Green shows tremendous artistic and lyrical growth as she
explores a multitude of millennial themes and feelings. The album opens with the titular track “I
Want to Grow Up” in which Green sings “sick of being young, sick of being dumb”
over a fuzzy, distorted alt riff and her simple drum machine back beat. Colleen’s drum machine is a staple of her
sound and though she has graduated to bringing a drummer on tour with her, the drum
machine on her records contributes heavily to her lo-fi aesthetic. “Wild One” brings her vocals to the forefront
and makes you realize, this girl can sing!
Poppier than the first track, “Wild One” gives way to “TV” one of my favorites
on the album. A chunky riff and faster
tempo give the song a pop punk feel a la Blink 182 and you suddenly realize why
she covered the bands classic hit “M&M’s” years ago. She sings “TV is my friend, and it has been,
with me every day…from an early age” something millennials who grew up with Nickelodeon
feel all too well. “Pay Attention” brings
things back to a pop leaning sound with a dance beat that gets your feet moving
and smoothly transitions into the darker, 80’s tinged “Deeper than Love” as
Green leaves behind the 90’s for the sounds of her birth decade.
A highlight of the album is back to back tracks “Things
That Are Bad for Me” part I and II. The
first sees Green happily singing “I’ve gotta stop doing things that are bad for
me” as she adopts the mentality we all have as we try to grow up and be more mature. No more late nights, no more partying every
weekend, eating healthier, all things everyone must come face to face
with. However, part two is the
contradiction. Adopting a significantly heavier
sound (the heaviest on the album) Green employs a driving, tonal riff and
steady beat as she talks about how anxiety and a little voice inside her head
make her keep doing things that she KNOWS are bad for her and yet she can’t seem to
stop. Something everyone in their 20’s
can relate to.
The following track “Some People” brings love back as
the central theme as Green sings of envying those around her who find love so
easily while she sits in a loveless, relationship void. Here we see the themes from “TV” showing up
again towards the end of the album. The idea
of loneliness, lack of a love life, and all this depressing negativity while
still feeling like it’s time to be an adult and be mature is ever present
throughout each song. The album closes
with a bang and a breeze. “Grind My
Teeth” is the punkiest on the album and brings to mind Southern California punk
gods The Descendents. The album then
finishes calmly with the positive, uplifting indie pop of “Whatever I Want”
which sees Green realizing that despite all the negativity and contradictions associated
with growing up, the best part of being an adult is the freedom of being able
to do whatever you want.
Colleen Green has hit the nail on the head when it
comes to getting older. Often times you’re
caught up in a whirlwind of confusion and mostly feel like you’re just faking
your way through each day/month/year.
Luckily for the rest of us, Green is here to put our minds at ease and
let us know we’re not alone.
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