Know-It-All (Deluxe)

The album begins with a song that I think all teenagers need to hear. “Seventeen” is a song in which Alessia reminiscing on a time in her life when she wanted to grow up despite her parents’ advice telling her otherwise. Now that she is older she looks back on it and wishes she listened to them. The song follows a it of an R&B vibe that follows the album for a while before we hit a majority of pop tones, as well of containing a super fun drum beat carrying the song. The album is followed with the song that was the first song I heard by here. “Here” is a song about a personal experience that she had. The song is about her going to parties before realizing she hates them and is a bit of an anthem for the antisocial awkward people who try to fit in with the crowd. It is a bit of a slower tone and seems like it could have been influenced by a little bit of jazz; however, the album also features another version of the song in which she recorded it at 2am with only her and a piano. The 2am version shows a beautiful side of her vocals in a careless type of way, in a type of way that she isn’t trying she’s just playing the piano and singing her song. We dip into a few of relationship songs for a bit starting with “Outlaws.” “Outlaws” is a song about a relationship in which your significant other is your partner in crime. She uses descriptions of well-known partners in crime, both a lawless couple and a couple of comedians. It too seems a bit like Jazz played a little bit of an influence in making the melody for the song. It is a super fun song that is contrasted nicely with the next song. “I’m Yours” is a song that shows a different side of love. It shows a side of Alessia that is resisting falling in love after past relationships, but someone comes around that makes her fall in love again despite her efforts to protect herself. The track is started with a bit of a hippidy-hoppidy beat and is carried by it, but incorporates a super sweet chorus.

A song that goes back years and years ago is “Four Pink Walls.” The song depicts a time when Alessia was dreaming about achieving her goals and becoming a professional music artist. It shows her in her past life, sitting in her room and being a bit of a loner while dreaming of coming out of her shell and out of her room. This song is a bit more R&B meets Jazz and incorporates a smooth beat that is an easy listen for anyone. Another song for the outsiders is next. “Wild Things” is a song that is a bit of an anthem for those who are outsiders. The song is to tell those people to embrace themselves for who they are and to not conform to society’s standards and to do what others want them to. The beat that carries this song features some African-esque vibes is super iconic for us outsiders. A song that is a love song for every aspect of love in your life, “Stone.” This song is a very general love song that could be for any love in your life. It could be for a relationship, a friend, a family member, etc. It is about having one person that is your rock through your hardest times, or in this case your stone. It doesn’t matter what happens or how overwhelmed you get in your life, your rock is there to good up down. The song is a fun acoustic ballad that features Sebastian Kole whose vocals blend with Alessia’s towards the end of the song. But is followed by a faster tempo-ed song with some dance pop elements. Alessia creates her own version of a popular topic of love being a drug. “Overdose” is a song that is about the hold that love has on you even when you want to leave because you get addicted to the highs of being in love.

One of the simplest song on the album is titled “Stars.” The album is the simplest in form of meaning. The song is a simple love song about the positive side of love, in contradiction to the others on the album. Another ballad from Alessia, but this one is piano fueled. Following it is yet another pop anthem about society. “Scars to Your Beautiful” is a song about the beauty standards that society has set but tells everyone that society is the one that needs to change not you. The song is an anthem. Period. It features a fun and infectious chorus and an obviously important message. One of the saddest songs, yes it made me cry, is “River Of Tears.” The song is about losing a loved one and slowly recovering from it. It is a reminder that nothing lasts forever, not even sadness. It comes to a close when she realizes that she will be fine without the love. It is also a piano ballad that features a lot of emotion from Alessia and a heartbreaking chorus. But is followed by a lighter song. Alessia ends her debut album with “My Song.” The song is a song she uses to tell us that she isn’t trying to conform to whatever she is told to. She is saying that she is going to continue doing what she wants and what she believes and intends to remain real with us. Which is amazing.

There’s Synth Pop, and then there’s commercial Synth Pop – yet hear me out. “Seventeen” learns from everything that worked in music before it – such as the dichotomy of quiet measures and huge hooks, yet instantly rewrites the norm here by actually applying the same level of noise to both parts. A very cool decision. Then there is the bombastic boom-clap Pop beat, totally motivating my attention, while the very low motoring synth builds in not such a predictable way. If this was the first time hearing Alessia Cara’s voice – you would, or should, be blown away -especially as such a young woman, talking about young woman concepts, rarely sounds so womanly. Gone also is the cliched whispery nonsense that passes for singing – no thanks to so many cookie cutter artists after the same market. No – Cara can freaking sing – she has pipe which are full of breath and need no auto-tune, Melodyne, or vocal trickery. I’m not a vocalist – just a music fan, but I do wonder if someone as young as Alessia Cara, with vocals and range such as she displays on her debut album Know-It-All (Deluxe), couldn’t reach a Sia level talent one day?

Sorry, but I must point out some limitations herein, not with this young woman’s voice, but rather with her sometimes underwhelming, or moreover, teasing melodies, evidenced by the stripped down remix of “Here (2:00 AM Version).” On the one hand, homegirl is going for an R&B moment, probably channeling her inner Lauryn Hill, but the clear problem, made much more noticeable by the last of super symphonic digital backing, is that the basic undercurrent of a song is no more grand than a non-description piano melody supporting a vocal exercise . The notes just keep treading the same territory ad nauseam, yet never ‘get there’, but rather just devolve into the big hook and the accompanying who-oh-ohs, a clear indication of creative exhaustion. What’s funny is that I didn’t dig the song that much to begin with, writing it off as a typical Pop EDM mash up, beholden to it’s ‘drop’ and not really trying to be a well written ballad about being the quintessential wallflower non participant moody teen; “I just came to kick it but really/ I would rather be at home all by myself not in this room / with people who don't even care about my well being.” I think there is a space for music about the rage associated with not wanting to ‘fit’ in, yet this song is surprisingly hollow when stripped down to it’s naked Soul.” I find that I appreciate more this acoustic take on “River of Tears”, for it’s raw vocal emotion, and for some of the smart chord usage underscoring the somber atmosphere as it unfolds, though, if I must be real, there is nothing terrible impressive about the notes being played here. “My Song” at least tries a little to make a statement, with some essential volume, yet the song does feel like it is still in its demo form, where ideas are brought together to create a cohesive movement, but it feels like the result is half baked. Add in a bigger hook part and some who-ohs, and this song would like to call itself done, but I must call it something else privately.

All the songs here have promise and talent, but I find they also play it too safe for my tastes. I mean, am I really going to play these tracks, however ‘motivational’, over and over again? The answer for most of them is no. I like the sonic attitude and actual instrumentation of “I’m Yours”, especially when the very versatile and original beat comes slamming in, but the notes are to be expected. “Four Pink Walls” is strange and funky, finding Alessia Cara doing her Amy Winehouse impersonation, and it does transcend such a category with lots of colorful creative parts that move it into more Soul territory than Pop territory, especially with its jazzy little classic Hip Hop breakdown moments. “Wild Things” is not a track for me, but it has an adventurous atmosphere perfect for fans of Sia. Love the harmonizing on “Stone” and some of the uncharted territory explored with the very subtle melody, though this is a vocal forward track all the way. “Overdose” is heavy on the boom clap theatrics, and has a definite edge and creative spark, but comes off, again, a little dull-noted, with the only thought provoking sounds existing for me in parts of the chorus. “Scars to Your Beautiful” is the big anthem clearly, but is this a song, or just a really really loud PSA? For many, this is memorable music, so I have to defer to the majority on that one I suppose. In comparison, I find that this mega talented artists has developed her sound immensely, applying her already powerful vocal shops to more adventurous melodies and beats on her next album, The Pains of Growing, where the songs themselves have more room to grow and seek new avenues. Check it out, especially if you are already a fan of this first one.