The summer smash of 2012 was, undoubtedly, ‘Call me Maybe.’ Though I can’t consider it a massive improvement over 2011’s summer smash ‘Pumped Up Kicks,’ it was absolutely a saccharine super sugary pop gem. Carly Rae Jepsen’s latest full-length, Kiss’ completely bombs with 35,000 units sold. The album was released September 14th.
Early 2012 saw the release of Carly Rae Jepsen’s EP ‘Curiosity’ which featured the hit song ‘Call Me Maybe’ alongside 5 other almost as sweet pop tracks. It seems obvious to any with a modicum of “put two and two togetherness” that the release of her latest LP ‘Kiss’ is a quick cash grab trying to capitalize on the surprise success of the hit single. None of the songs match the immediate accessibility and warming cuteness of ‘Call Me Maybe.’ In 3 minute bursts, she’s excellent. Over 45 minutes, she is an absolute chore.
In all fairness, Carly Rae Jepsen nabbed another chart-topper with her collaborative track ‘Good Time’ with famed electronic artist Owl City. Owl City has his own slew of success that added brilliantly to Carly’s own style and approach.
The pop landscape is dominated by larger than life personas, so it is naturally refreshing to see Jepsen take a more Taylor Swift girl-next-door approach. I can’t vouch for her longevity (ok I can- its short lived) but there is definitely a quality approach being taken here. If only she could make people care outside that singular hit.
Carly Rae Jepsen actually released her debut full-length in 2008 to little attention and measly sales. She isn’t the only one to debut with a modest little album before blossoming into massive success. Katy Perry debuted a whole seven years before her breakthrough hit “I Kissed a Girl” with a quiet little acoustic Christian rock album called “Katy Hudson.”
