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Cassie Steele "How Much For Happy" CD Review
by thedonoman
An assorted collage of video clips and pictures of young singer Cassie Steele switch back and forth, as "Bluebird" the first single off her newly released album "How Much For Happy" play the soundtrack. In between the collection of images are behind the scenes clips of Cassie and her producers diligently at work in the studio. After watching, it becomes apparent that making music is a virtue that this talented girl has always craved.
Cassie, dressed in punk rock attire; a twisted school girl outfit, her arms covered in bracelets and long bangs hanging just over her eyes, belts out melodies as if it were second nature. At the end of the song while listening back on her headphones she quietly asks "can we do it again?," a cloudless example of the personal standards she sets for herself. The video, available on Cassiesteele.com, in many ways represents her album as a whole. A various assortment of feelings and emotions, wrapped up into an array of songs that tell a conceptual story of one moment in a teenaged girl's life.
How Much For Happy is the first step in a new genre of music for female singers. It is inarguably an original sound, coming from an angle highly unanticipated by fans. The music's meshing of classic guitar rock, mixed with the powerful vocals from starlet Cassie creates a style that departs from the "normal" standard of pop and rock. Even though the music was produced practically independent, the songs are well written and catchy. Cassie's voice showcases a variety of talents on many of the different textured tracks, ultimately creating a CD that you can listen to more than once. The songs are ballsy, unafraid of scaring off pop princesses and unapologetic. A majority of the tracks would be far too hard hitting for radio stations and prominently illustrate Cassie's desire to make a record for herself, and no one else.
Track 1 - Not Yours Truly
"Not Yours Truly," introduces both the pace of the album and establishes the mood and temper. "Don't expect too much from me, 'Cause I'm not your little girl," is the driving line of the chorus and also the songs most memorable part. These melodious lines hint upon a direct lyrical meaning, but also can be perceived as a personal message from Cassie to the listener. Soon after the release of her album, a fiery debate began in reference to the wholesome image many fans felt she was obligated to uphold. Unquestionably, this song was written prior to the heated controversy, but regardless has a strong say in the matter. Cassie may very well want you to know that she's not that sweet, nor perfect and she's definitely not Manny. The music rides an alternative rock edge, powerful from first to last second and is likely to get stuck in your head.
Track 2 - Famous
The 2nd song of the record, in fashion of many others opens with a straightforward rock guitar riff. The songs meaning I take to be quite literal, expressing Cassie's wishes to someday become truly famous. And yet, her statement is presented in such a way that it doesn't allude to arrogance, but instead confidence. Cassie has many motivations, and a strong work ethic. Like any child star, she has matured far before most her age, and has established what she wants to do with her career. Musically, certain parts of this song transcend the old school rock sound and move into a poppier No Doubt sounding pre-chorus. The actual chorus however, quickly reverts back to Cassie's own style, with constant guitar solo's overlapping the melody of the song.
Track 3 - Fantasy
In my opinion, definitely the best song on the CD. Simply put, Fantasy is 3 minutes and 12 seconds of pure, unrestricted emotion. The vehement drum loop solidifies the unyeilding power of the song, while Cassie's voice creates the most real feeling moments of the CD. Each word comprised in the line "You made an image who you think is me," is delivered at just the right time to create a strong addictive lead in to the chorus. The lyrics themselves touch upon a common topic of Cassie's storytelling involving reflection, image and aura. The bridge of the song best displays her vocal abilities, Cassie jumps from a soft-talking voice directly into an aggressive exibit of clamorous screams. Not to mention, the notes are hit perfectly.
Track 4 - Bluebird
Bluebird serves as the albums single, and most "listener friendly" track on the record. There is an unrelenting and also unanswerable question in respect to the explanation of what "bluebird" is. On first listen, it appears to be nothing more than a fantasy imagination of flying high in the sky. Nonetheless, a more analytical realist approach would lead one to believe the song is actually speaking about drug usage. Much like "puff the magic dragon". Cassie says that many of her songs are written in metaphor and analogy, but to me this track doesn't fit into that category. The songs sound and structure tests the lyrical capabilities of Cassie and she responds with an exuberent performance. Possibly the only bad thing about this track, is the very high note that she ends on. Unfortunately, it takes the climax of the song, and places it a few seconds after where it should be.
Track 5 - Jaded
Jaded is a word that at it's core means worn out, old, and perhaps cliche. What's ironic about naming a song jaded, is that because many bands before have both used that name for songs (Aerosmith, Green Day) and countless others have used the word in lyrics, jaded has become jaded. Cassie's lyrics broach upon the impossible idea of disappearing off the face of the earth, again touching upon a fantasy, somewhat of a pattern in Cassie's writing. The track also showcases alot of guitar solos that rock steadily throughout most of the short track. Unfortunately, at times the guitar seems to be overbearing and actually drowns out Cassie's vocals. Not one of my favorites.
Track 6 - Rock Your Bones
Rock Your Bones begins with a combination of distorted notes resembling an old school Bloodhound Gang song. This same rythm proceeds throughout the verses as Cassie rides a strong vocal progression gaining intensity as she goes. The chorus brings along a few choppy guitar chords, notoriously with hints of a solo in the background. The chorus's main phrase "I Rocked His Bones!" is tough to be interpreted in any other way than that of a sexual escapade. Regardless of the details a listener attaches to the theme, what is clear is that the song is about boyfriend stealing, perhaps some lyrics that were written in the vain of Manny's perspective on Degrassi.
Track 7 - Drink Me Dry
By a great distance the most atmospheric song on the album. A gothic phantasm lures throughout every piece of this song, but remains hard to put a finger on. The beginning of the song, displays keyboard sounding overtones, creating the feeling one would imagine as if they were walking through a crystallized hallway of a castle. This invisible radiating nature of the song, continues into the verse as Cassie adds dark low noted lyrics. The meaning, centered around death, despair and suicide further hammer down the backdrop to the darkest song on her recording. The chorus may very well be the least creative part of the song, comprised of Cassie singing up and down a simplistic scale, but it is nevertheless catchy, and a wonderfully original track as a whole.
Track 8 - Crimson Tears
This Motley Crue-esque diddy begins in ass-kicking form and ceases to quit until it's end. The song screams of 80's metal and proves that the Reagan-auts may have found a truly great genre of music. This song is hard, heavy and fast paced. It serves best as a strong statement that a females voice can combine with rock music and create not only something worth listening to once and a while, but a style worth respecting. The bridge offers up a slight lull in the crashing nature of the track, but continues in transformation as Cassie whispers almost indecipherable words along the rock edge. Vocally, Cassie also does a good job of creating an intense climax and resolution for the song, as she belts "cryy, cryy, cryy....crimson tears."
Track 9 - Broken (How Much For Happy)
Contrasting the previous track, the Title track of the album helps show the innumerable assortment of tastes that are all found within the 1 style of music Cassie has created. Broken, begins with a poppy guitar part and a few low sung wordless melodies from Cassie. As the drums join into the mix, the vocals hit upon some high notes speaking about an unhappiness. An abandonment is the focus of her words as she says "Why’d you leave me like this? With scars across my heart and on my wrists," some of the most dismal lyrics on the album. The chorus directly addresses what it means to be happy and the potential costs associated with that happiness. Hence, the title of the album, How Much For Happy? While the answer may somewhat elude Cassie, to me I feel that simply making this CD as a form of expression is the avenue to her happiness.
Track 10 - Empty Eyes
The intro of this song is a led by a fairly catchy guitar riff, simple to play, but perfect for the song. The verse kicks in with an acoustic guitar taking over the lead part and hitting a very "Incubus" like funk chord on the 12th beat. The similarity however, like in many other songs that sound like other musicians, stops there completely. Cassie displays the higher capabilities of her singing ability during the verse. For a listener looking to be serenaded to sleep by this CD, Empty Eyes may be the best to do so. Although, an acoustic version perhaps would better suit that purpose. The lyrics are dark, enriched in thoughts of sadness and a boyfriend who may be "looking" at Cassie, but isn't "seeing" her. The empty eyes.
Track 11 - A Sinner's Prayer
An echo filled, eerie prayer recited by Cassie begins another of the albums darker tracks. Without pausing for a second after "amen," an Evanescene like rock riff tears open the beginning of the song. The meaning of the song, deep seeded in religion, divinity and sacredness creates a mood unequaled by any other the tracks. A colossal feeling exudes throughout each beat, hitting the listener deep in their chest. At live shows this song will produce the most action from the crowd, being the easiest to mosh to. In that respect, the track goes to prove how unafraid Cassie was to produce a CD that departs so much from pop sounding filler. The songs epic nature is best displayed throughout the soft sounds of the bridge, overlapped and contrasted with distorted guitars persistently energizing the song. All the while, a mandolin sounding guitar picks up tempo, spinning out notes faster and faster until the chorus finally comes crashing back in. Musically speaking, this song displays the most talent in her writers.
Track 12 - Love Cost
The closing of the CD ends with a song near tempo to a slow dance. The topic covered, love. An intense, longing, love sick feeling that consumes a person. It's written from a longing perspective of a girl whose love seems to be insatiable in its very nature. Musically, the drums and guitar collaborate creatively to produce an elaborate and captivating beat during the verse. Minuscule pauses in between thumps and strums force ones head to jump up and down in succession.
I find the most alluring way to interpret this songs meaning is to imagine it as a girl not falling in love with a person, but with music. Cassie enjoys writing songs, she delights in singing, she cherishes being creative and this CD was her way to prove that. Cassie's drunk in love with being a musician, and this closing track is her own devoted love song to the opportunity she's been granted.
The above article was published by dTNGHO, please credit if cited or used. Pictures used from CassieSteele.com
author contact info: donovan@korn.zzn.com
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