Amy Shark – Cry Forever
(Sony Music)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy.
The last five years have been monumental in the rise and rise of Amy Shark. The Australian songstress jettisoned from YouTube sensation to a bona-fide musical icon; a path that was forged by Shark’s fierce determination along with honing her skills and becoming a master at her chosen craft. With eight ARIA awards under her belt (from a very impressive twenty two nominations), Shark’s career trajectory is set to become meteoric, which is clearly evidenced with the arrival of her eagerly awaited second album ‘Cry Forever’.
Shark released her debut album ‘Love Monster’ in 2018 to critical acclaim. Riding high on the crest of a wave of adulation, ‘Love Monster’ saw Shark solidify her signature confessional style; one that sees her place her heart firmly on her sleeve, laying her somewhat bruised soul to bare. With tracks such as fan favourite ‘Adore’ and the irrisistably catchy ‘I Said Hi’, ‘Love Monster’ was met with critical acclaim far and wide, not to mention a number of renowned musicians expressing a keen interest to collaborate with her.
Fast forward almost three years, and Shark has lovingly released ‘Cry Forever’ into the world. In much the same manner as ‘Love Monster’, Shark’s sophomore album is in part characterised by her confessional, no-holds-barred approach to song writing. While some tracks are more electronic and upbeat in nature, there are also a number of stripped back songs that place her voice and acoustic guitar in the spotlight. Along with composing entrancing music, Shark is a supurb storyteller with the adept ability to punctuate her lived experiences of despair, heartbreak and human frailties with moments of beauty. She also masterfully stays away from self-pity or self-flagelation; rather she presents musical tales of occurrences and feelings that undoubtedly resonate with a majority of listeners. In this sense Amy Shark has true universal appeal, not only through shared experience, but also through the authenticity of her work.
The opening track of the album, ‘The Wolves’ is immediate testament that Shark’s sound has evolved in a subtle manner over the last three years; her voice resonates with an extra degree of confidence and maturity that comes from sheer hard work and experience. As the album progresses it also becomes evident that Shark has taken a more pared-back approach to the production of the songs. Yet despite being stripped back to embody only what the song needs, the tracks paradoxically sound fuller, with each and every track earning its place on the album. Subsequently, there are a number of standout tracks, including the sublime ‘C’mon’ (with Travis Barker on drums), pop anthem in the making ‘Everybody Rise’, and the driving beats of ‘Baby Steps’. There are also a number of quieter, stripped back moments, including ‘All the Lies About Me’, ‘Lonely Still’ and ‘Love Songs Ain’t For Us’ with Keith Urban. Suffice to say, there is something for everyone here.
‘Cry Forever’ is a tour-de-force in its own right; a beautiful example of exquisite lyricism and musicianship; an example of musical storytelling at its best. It should definitely be on your ‘must listen’ list.
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