Written by Tom Bedding
On her sixth studio album, the iconic artist offers us an album that is filled with conviction and craze for particular 70's styles. With some great melodies, 'Daddy's Home' is a fine album but at times the focus on wanting to sound a certain, limits St.Vincent's obvious talent.
A cheeky opening of an Americana piano tricks us with the opening track, as we are thrusted into a Prince like single by St. Vincent. As the songwriter sings about getting through the day on 'Pay Your Way In Pain', we hear some experimental keyboards, guitars and vocal mixes that blends the ‘Purple Rain’ singer and Jack White’s last studio album together. St. Vincent sounds wonderful amongst the colourful production by Jack Antonoff, who again sprinkles his magic across the entire record.
Interestingly, St. Vincent’s favourite track on the LP is ‘Down And Out Downtown’, which has a premise of travelling back home through NYC after a night out. The morning after tone is done well with the twangy guitar and the transportation nature of the songs concept, is delivered by a solid bass line. It has a nice melody to it, backed up by backing vocals and Vincent singing into her mic with her hands distorting the delivery. You can see why the track is one of the artists favourites off ‘Daddy’s Home’ and is definitely one of mine!
There is a case to say that St.Vincent is doing wonders for exploring 70’s style on the album, yet at times you feel like the ambition of that gets in the way of the songs truly excelling. With the title track, there feels like a tug of war with the song really impressing and getting stuck behind its urge to feel out there or quirky. Regardless, its interesting to hear the singer include a song about her father in prison and that guitar solo is pretty bad arse at the end.
Born from Antonoff telling a story about a time when Bruce Springsteen was going into the depths of the price of fame, ‘Live In The Dream’ feels like a psychedelic journey into the life of being in the spotlight, with regards to dreams. It is a fascinating listen with the lovely mixing, the choir entering in the last third of the song and St.Vincent truly sounding like she is in a dream.
Some great early 00’s backing vocals fit really well with the 70’s style of ‘The Melting Of The Sun’, which again feels like it has having a battle of wanting to be chilled but serious. It feels like if these songs undid its top button a bit, then you could really have a blast with the music. Yes, the musicianship is fantastic with the guitar and Vincent’s vocal performance, however I just wish there was more room for the melody to toy with us.
After the first interlude (‘Humming’), we have a hushing and twilight experience called ‘The Laughing Man’. Its tone is done perfectly with the slight darker sounds and hushing delivery of St.Vincent, with feels very reminiscent of Arctic Monkey’s ‘Tranquility Base Hotel And Casino’. When the backing vocals come in, this song really becomes captivating and the working of the simple drums, goes along away on this cut.
‘Thinking that my little scratch was like your big victory, see? But I’ll take you down’ really sets the scene for this fantastic song called ‘Down’. St. Vincent is facing up to the people who think that they can take advantage of good quality and nice people, with a lot of bite and amazing sass (that comes through the vocals and percussion, brilliantly). The chorus gets into your veins like a drug, taking us for a spin and wanting to give two fingers to those people who try and take advantage of others.
After the second ‘Humming’ interlude, ‘Somebody Like Me’ comes in very calmly with an acoustic guitar and the nosies of children playing. However there is a dark sense of humour to the concept of love here, which flows so impressively along one of the albums best melodies, which is really pushed along by some fine drumming. When the song reaches to the beachy like guitar solo, it feels like we are taken somewhere so magical and special!! Here we have an offering that truly shows off the talent that St.Vincent has and how when she allows the songwriting do the talking, she shines so brightly.
‘My Baby Wants A Baby’ is another interesting listen, potentially not giving what many listeners would expect as the song goes along. It follows a good melody very tightly, that is allowed to develop due to another touch of group backing vocals, that do sound so wonderful. Jack Antonoff’s production stands out as this song concludes, with some fine fitting brass to back up a great guitar solo. It feels grand and musical like when it finishes, which does make the song feel better than what it is in truth.
We have all been in a space where we try and hide our sadness, yet our actions show off that sadness when we don’t realise. ‘….At The Holiday Party’ tackles this to good affect, to a standard where you can say it is one of the best songs on the entire album! It does feel like a Lana Del Ray inspired number with its vocal melody and rhythm, however it stills very much ‘Daddy’s Home’ and enhances the album to good affect.
Despite another interlude finishing the sixth album by St. Vincent, ‘Candy Darling’ is the final proper song on this record. 70’s is spread all over the final song and does it leave a good taste in your mouth? Im unsure but it is decent with its band feel to it and lovely melody to it. Overall, we are given an impressive and talented album that will go down for many who enjoy some 70’s sounds. However I feel like its need to stay inline with the sounds that St. Vincents is craving here, prevents the songs to truly be themselves and shine.
Bring Me The Music Recommended Tracks: Down and Out Downtown Down, Somebody Like Me and ...At The Holiday Party