One of the most underrated albums of 2015 was Carly Rae Jepsen’s "E•mo•tion." This past weekend, in honor of the album’s one-year anniversary and as a gift to fans, Carly released a collection of B-side tracks from that very album.
The album starts out with "First Time," which feels like it could be the intro music to the best John Hughes movie you never saw. Next up is "Higher," a song about how love can bring out the best in a person, with lyrics like, “I don't know how you managed/to wake me up and come alive.” Yet, it never gets too serious, with lines like “Your love turns me on."
With "The One," the album continues with its "just having fun" theme as Jepsen repeats, “I don’t wanna be the one” and “it’s too much pressure.” “Romance is fine, pour me some wine” is my favorite line from the track.
"Fever" is the fourth track, and it contains peak nostalgic vibes, as Jespen sings about stealing her crush’s bike. “Don’t break my heart tonight,” could be an annoying or silly line, but in "Fever" it's more like Jepsen is remembering her hopes that this boy wouldn’t break her heart – it’s all very "Sixteen Candles."
The next track, "Body Language" boasts a yelling chorus of “I think we’re over thinking it” and is begging to be sung at the top of your lungs by you and all of your friends. Meanwhile, "Cry" is a song that needs a music video complete with smoke and hazy flashbacks, slinky dresses and dim lighting, as Jepsen expresses her frustration with boys who won’t just show their feelings and cry. This track has some of my favorite vocals of the album; the maturity which made "E•mo•tion" such a cult success really shines through.
"Store" is a natural sequel to E•mo•tion’s "Boy Problems." Jepsen sings about breaking up with someone by avoiding goodbyes and saying, “I’m just goin’ to the store/you might not see me anymore” in the most fun chorus of the album.
Jepsen ends the album strongly with "Roses," a track with poetic lyrics and yearning vocals. After I listen to "Roses" I can’t decide if I want to put the track itself on repeat, or listen to the whole album again.
Too long; didn’t read – please love yourself and listen to a CRJ song besides "Call Me Maybe."
"E•mo•tion Side B" is on Spotify here!
