Album Review: Sky Ferreira's Night Time, My Time

Lately, I have been exploring the world of indie pop, which led me to Haim and has now led me to Sky Ferreira.  I believe that the genre with the highest quality music right now is a genre I call rock-based electronic pop, because it really is equally influenced by all three types of music.  What I like about the best artists in the genre is that they have actual talent.  I'm convinced that we're in the midst of a large musical shift that is centered in the United States (although the English have always been better at recognizing decent songs).  All of the Haim sisters are multi-instrumentalists who can seriously shred guitars and nail three part harmonies.  Sky Ferreira may have been discovered first as a model, but she will be remembered as a singer.  Here is my review of her debut album Night Time, My Time that I wrote for the Aquinas Saint:

image: theguardian.com

Sky Ferreira lights up the darkness

                Sky Ferreira has plenty of critics who refuse to accept her as a serious musical artist.  She made a name for herself as a model, and her name recently splattered across headlines for a drug arrest in New York while driving with her boyfriend, model and indie rocker Zachary Cole Smith.  But, as they say, haters are going to hate, and with her debut album Night Time, My Time, which was released on October 29, Ferreira has taken another step towards proving them wrong. 

                The 21-year old, who is “always anxious,” as she revealed in an interview with Bullett magazine, crafts surprisingly self-assured electro-pop songs that are edgy but comfortably familiar and modern, like a brand new pair of distressed jeans.  Although nothing on the album breaks new ground from a songwriting perspective, Night Time, My Time is an impressive effort from a singer who already knows the ropes of a music industry just as punishing as the modeling world.

                “You’reNot the One,” the first single, is a revelatory declaration of assertion at the end of a relationship.  The album encompasses both lows and highs of relationships, and Ferreira has a way of making even her struggles sound triumphant and motivating.  A breezy guitar loop soars above the dense synthesizer heartbeats on “You’re Not the One” and elevates the song above the likes of Lorde’s “Royals” and other hits from upcoming pop artists. 

                Ferreira’s voice is urgent and powerful, capturing the essence of her night owl lifestyle.  “24 Hours” begins with an alarm clock and explodes into a relaxed, churning groove immediately.  Drums give wings to Ferreira’s longing as she sings, “for 24 hours, you’re still mine,” and “there’s no tomorrow without you.”  Such lyrics could easily come across as overwrought or self-pitying, but Ferreira completely gives her voice to each word she sings, which lends the elegy undeniable honesty. 

                “NobodyAsked Me” is another highlight that showcases Ferreira’s ability to make vulnerability empowering.  Driven by refreshingly organic guitars, the song evolves into an alternative rocker with all the angst of early Avril Lavigne melded with the refined cool and smooth vocals of Blondie’s Debbie Harry.  The throwback vibe on the live version of “Nobody” is enhanced by the fact that Ferreira is a Harry lookalike who could easily play her in a biopic.  Ferreira never fails to drain all of the blood from her lyrics with the strength of her vocal control. 

                The title track closes the album and serves as a window into a haunting darkness not evident anywhere else on the album.  A dragging tempo, lethargic drum snaps, and an organ-based melody culminate in a state of dissonant paranoia.  The final song is a reminder of Ferreira’s life in the limelight just on the sane side of madness.  For the sake of all of her fans, I hope she stays that way.