Melanie Martinez "Cry Baby"

I have never been a fan of spilled milk, or wasted time, yet I refuse to cry over them; simply because neither have occurred. The album is paired with a storybook that chronicles the unfortunate events that are instigated by or befall the eponymous entity "Cry Baby."                                                           It is a cohesive record, partially due to occasional utilization of song samples/choruses (reinterpereted)  often associated with toddlerhood and adolescence and sound effects that follow suit; the most effective would have to be "Pity Party."                                                                         Yet this record also dabbles in duality. It can be mildly endearing and infuriating at the same time; the biggest offense is the self diagnosed proclamations of psychosis, and sometimes the self-pity can be overbearing ( if we use the opening track as evidence: "I have the same faucet in my eyes/ so your tears are mine/ they call me cry baby...") then it self pity it can be.                                                      The protagonist is sweet, sensitive and misunderstood, yet retaliates in a passive aggressive manner, sometimes solely aggressive, but if you were help captive underground by a ravenous, salacious wolf and your only escape was to poison its cookies to save yourself would you do so?  Even the titles reinforce the theme, yet they can be misleading, such as the sound; most of the songs sound fun in spite of their depressing and occasionally unsettling lyrics ( which aren't age appropriate). Martinez manages to toe the line between Child-like and childish, without losing complete balance, so she no longer requires "Training Wheels" as her fear of falling is muted ("fully undressed, no training wheels for you"); a moderately graphic siren song . "Mrs. Potato Head" is about self acceptance, as I perceive it, while criticizing the reliance on plastic surgery rather than finding security in the self.         If I had to name a contemporary, Lana Del Ray, is an equivalent in tone (sound and attitude). Ariana Grande is another one that comes to mind, except she is cleaner even with all of that "Soap."

Carrie Underwood "Storyteller"

Carrie Underwood's latest offering is a testament to the opinion that she is a swell Storyteller that others may or may not agree with. I have always been a moderate fan of Underwood and her consistent career. She has a great voice, and it is pretty adaptable to different tones, and on this album she ventures into the darker side;I like when she delves in the edgier country rock, or the country with rock flair, but that is just me. "Church Bells" anyone? or was it karma calling? They never did find out the true cause of his death, but we did know he would no longer delve in abuse of any kind. As for the bluesy stomp of "Choctaw County Affair," it may have lacked the energy that the aforementioned had, but it inspired the journey we would take when listening to this album.
Dirty?  that is an adjective she had also attached to the song, but then without a washer where would all the "Dirty Laundry" go? The subject matter is easily discernible when she compares lipstick shades, but all of the good songs in the world cannot extract this earworm from your memory. "Heartbeat" is one of her slower songs with a tender tone and bare toes, and while it does not engage in  another session, it serves as a "Smoke Break" before she enlightens us with how a matriarch can serve as a bastion of strength. "The Girl You Think I Am" is her father's own perspective written in her own words, another worthy addition to the canon; as is "What I Never Knew I Always Wanted," which was a song dedicated to her son Isiah Michael Fisher, so her album is not completely without its lighter and more positive additions. If we focused on the appeal of just the instrumental aspect, I would choose "Relapse."