The Daily Spin, November 8
Rina Sawayama | SAWAYAMA
Welcome back to the Daily Spin, the series in which I review 365 albums during 2023.
Each album will be given a rating on a scale from 0 to 10. You can look at the entire set here. Additionally, you can check out a list of my favorite songs from each album right here.
Album: SAWAYAMA (2020)
Artist: Rina Sawayama
Link:
This is pop-rock that pulls from every conceivable influence and in most regards, fails to live up to the hefty heights that it sets for itself.
The throughlines to her influences are deeply evident throughout, with direct parallels to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera vocals as apparent as the guitar-laden rock that strikes similar to Korn, maybe even a Limp Bizkit-type.
On the surface, I think I was under the impression that this would appeal to me more. After all, I’m a huge fan of butt rock, as it’s been the backing to basically every sports video game soundtrack of my youth, and I do love the occasional little pop ditty, but man. Despite influences and bases that ostensibly should have set her up to land right in my wheelhouse, I just didn’t vibe with this record in the slightest.
Instead, I found myself sort of awkwardly anticipating the ends of songs I didn’t enjoy, and brief moments where I did really like tracks were cut short unfortunately soon. I think she’s at her best when she leans more into dark pop, lets the unruly synths and steady beats a little more frantic, but when it’s too tightly controlled it winds up feeling like a B-version of Lady Gaga - and that’s the majority of this album.
Rating: 7.5/10
Best Tracks: Who’s Gonna Save U Now?; Snakeskin
Worst Tracks: Chosen Family; Paradisin’; XS