Gabby Young & Other Animals - We're All In This Together 4.5/5
Buzz-worthy is a term that gets thrown around with the majority of new artists that emerge every year across the musical landscape, most fizz out faster than a bowl of Rice Crispies can snap, crackle and pop! In North America buzz may be an accurate way of describing Gabby Young & Other Animals, but if you've spent any time in Britain than you've either come across of the many positive responses to her debut record or caught her live at one of the many festivals this past summer, buzz-worthy is an understatement.
We're All In This Together is a pitch-perfect blend of swing, jazz, folk, and pop, a cabaret act that comes to life from the album opener, "Umm" to fading horns of "Two By Two". Young's vocals are a show all on their own, elegant with the occasional explosion into Bjorkesque madness, all the while demanding your attention.
Young never stays still in one sound for long, from the quirky spirit of "Ladies of the Lake" where Young seems to have spent time with Fiona Apple's "Paper Bag", to the playful, undeniably catchy "One That Got Away", a swing-pop song with great horns, the album keeps you on your toes. Meanwhile, the straight forward guitar driven pop of "Lipsink" allows for a more stripped listen to Young's considerable talents as a songwriter as well as a singer. Standout title track "We're All In This Together" is a rich folk ballad, starring the opera trained, Young's emotionally charged vocals.
Young never stays still in one sound for long, from the quirky spirit of "Ladies of the Lake" where Young seems to have spent time with Fiona Apple's "Paper Bag", to the playful, undeniably catchy "One That Got Away", a swing-pop song with great horns, the album keeps you on your toes. Meanwhile, the straight forward guitar driven pop of "Lipsink" allows for a more stripped listen to Young's considerable talents as a songwriter as well as a singer. Standout title track "We're All In This Together" is a rich folk ballad, starring the opera trained, Young's emotionally charged vocals.
While the We're All In This Together sways between flamboyant, energetic romps and mid-tempo, heartfelt songs, there is a feeling that this is one finely tuned cabaret act, that is wildly entertaining and rewarding. At the heart of this record is impressive instrumentals, equally strong songwriting and the talented vocal performance of Gabby Young. With her 'Other Animals' in tow, Gabby Young is more than just buzz-worthy, she's the genuine article.
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