Clairo, Sling | Album Review 💿

Alternative singer/songwriter Clairo ‘ups the ante’ on her incredibly mature and artful sophomore album, SLING.

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laire Cottrill returns! Of course, Cottrill is best known as alternative singer/songwriter 🎙 Clairo. She dropped a fine debut album in 2019 with 💿 Immunity.  As great as her first ‘hurrah’ was, her second ‘hurrah,’ sophomore album 💿 SLING, ends up being much more accomplished.  On SLING, Cottrill channels here best Emeril and “kicks things up a notch.”  There’s plenty to love about this LP, with no misses to be found. With 🎛 Jack Antonoff producing, it’s no surprise SLING ends up being something truly special.

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“Bambi” 

“I’m stepping inside a universe / Designed against my own beliefs…” ✅ 🎵 “Bambi” sets the tone of SLING, establishing early on that Clairo is going a starkly different direction compared to her debut album.  Following a stunning intro, Cottrill sings beautifully with poise and restraint.  Notably, the musicianship exhibited here continues throughout the course of SLING. I adore the use of keys, guitar, and various wind instruments. Besides gorgeous, thoughtful music – the backdrop is picturesque – the songwriting is elite too as Cottrill reflects on her music career and the resulting fame.

✅ 🎵 “Amoeba” keeps SLING gong strong.  It features another brilliant instrumental introduction.  Where it contrasts “Bambi” is the groove, which is among the most potent of the LP. Furthermore, regarding form, there are clearer, more accessible sections. Clairo sings in an undertone initially, giving a more post-verse. Like the opener, the songwriting continues to be mature, personal, and thoughtful.  Here, Cottrill reflects on needing to make changes within herself, highlighted on the memorable chorus:

“Aren’t you glad that you reside in a Hell and in disguise?
Nobody yet everything, a pool to shed your memory
Could you say you even tried?
You haven't called your family twice
I can hope tonight goes differently
But I show up to the party just to leavе.”

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“Partridge”

🎵 “Partridge” commences with radiant “ooh” vocals – simply celestial! Musically, I heart the live drums and robust bass line. Furthermore, love the additional instrumental touches used throughout such as keys (including organ) and guitar. Beyond those opening “oohs,” Clairo continues to provide sweet ear candy with her poised but nuanced vocals. Another pro that appears early on SLING in general is moving away from traditional harmonic progressions, as well as going beyond one tonal center/key.  Moving onto matters of the pen, The personal nature of the lyrics helps make “Partridge” authentic:

“Calling someone else is only harder
I'll explain myself again
Take the chance on someone's daughter
She makes me feel like I'm the best.”

Cottrill deals with unrequited love – that’s a total bummer!  🎵“Zinnias” is bare bones at the onset, with Clairo’s vocals accompanied by rhythm guitar.  With an abrupt start, it requires the listener to adjust to what she serves up. Notably, on the chorus, she references the title of the album: “I could wake up with a baby in a Sling.” As “Zinnias” evolves, we get more instrumentation and an electrifying groove from the drums.  I love the timbre of the guitars.

“Why do I tell you how I feel / When you’re too busy looking down my blouse.” On ✅ 🎵 “Blouse” Clairo is searching for a deeper connection, yet feels like everything is centered on a physical relationship and admiration for her body.  “It’s funny now I’m just useless and a whore,” she sings on the second verse, continuing, “But I get a cosign from your favorite one-man show.” Worth noting, one Genius annotator connects this reference to the 🎙 Joni Mitchell classic, 🎵 “For Free”. The bigger point is, she’s seeking an emotional connection, confirming so on the chorus: “If touch could make them hear, then touch me.” That’s brilliant for sure.  There are plenty of brilliant things regarding “Blouse,” including the intimate nature of the performance, relatable songwriting, and the gorgeous production.

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“Wade” 

✅ 🎵 “Wade” features a beautiful melody sung by Clairo. Here, she’s initially accompanied by piano. Eventually, we add rhythmic guitar, more luscious sounds including keys and warm winds. Once more, I love the way that she and Jack Antonoff aren’t locked into sameness – there’s ample freedom.  That freedom includes unique harmonic progressions, detailed, musical backdrops, and experimenting with form. Is “Wade” a tad over ambitious, running nearly five minutes in duration and featuring so many changes? Perhaps, but I appreciate its artful nature too. Lyrically and thematically, it’s emotional, with ample pessimism. Among the best lyrics:

“There’s memories to be made
And water that's to wade
I used it all up drying tears.”

✅ 🎵 “Harbor” marks another song that begins abruptly. Even so, it turns out to be among of the best of SLING – the crème de la crème. Once more, Clairo delivers a well-rounded vocal, which benefits from modesty. Musically, “Harbor” starts out minimally, expanding instrumentation gradually and ascending to higher heights. Once more, there is musical experimentation harmonically, at least where much of pop music is concerned. “Harbor” also benefits from being hypnotic – it draws you in and you simply can’t stop listening. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the theme revolves once more around the heart: 

“Know we could use a break
Because I can't feel my feet
Carried you all the way upstairs
So, you can sleep and I can think.”

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“Just for Today”

On 🎵 “Just for Today,” Clairo is accompanied by guitar, continuing a winning, minimal formula.  Once more, she has a tuneful melody. Like many songs, I love the way additional instrumentation enter gradually.  This time, that includes heartfelt strings.  There is no percussion on this song, but it feels right – sorry drummers! The other instruments, namely guitar, carry the torch.  The lyrics are sad: “And two pats on the back, ‘It just takes time’ / It’s getting late / Since when did taking time take all my life? Mm-mm. Notably, Cottrill references suicidal thoughts and her mental health in general. The chorus is ‘variable,’ but both versions are awesome. 

🎵 “Joanie,” among the most adventurous songs, is instrumental.  Named after Cottrill’s dog, Musically, it’s a sight to behold – rather, candy to the ears! Running nearly five minutes in duration, it’s worth every electrifying second. 🎵 “Reaper” follows, running a tight two minutes and 40 seconds. Clairo sings on an undertone once more.  As she has done consistently, I like her modesty; it shows vulnerability and makes you really key into what she’s singing. Even given her poise, she locks in a f-bomb (“I can’t fuck it up if it’s not there at all”).

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“Little Changes” 

Clairo also manages to keep things brief on the stunning penultimate song, ✅ 🎵 “Little Changes.” Cottrill is backed by piano accompaniment initially before those celestial colorful splashes arrive. The chorus marks one of the biggest selling points, especially the final couple of lyrics: 

“He loved me good enough to calm me down
But tried to trick me into little changes.”

SLING concludes with 🎵 “Management.” The production continues to shine, with keys and strings highlighting. I like the freeness of the tempo and the marvelous harmonic scheme. Clairo sounds utterly sublime on the chorus. Following the epic chorus, the final verse marks a dramatic shift – the story of SLING, right? The songwriting, as well as the emotions conveyed by the songwriting is terrific.

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Final Thoughts 💭

I enjoyed Immunity, the debut album by Clairo.  However, SLING eclipses it.  Cottrill delivers an album I didn’t expect, and that’s part of the charm.  Immunity was alternative but had more pop leanings.  This album right here, it’s much more mature, unpredictable, and features better songwriting.  There are no glaring miscues to be found.  Claire Cottrill brings the heat, in a calm, cool, and emotionally charged way.

✅ Gems 💎: “Bambi,” “Amoeba,” “Blouse,” “Wade,” “Harbor” & “Little Changes”

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🎙 Clairo • 💿 Sling • 🏷 FADER / Republic • 📅 7.16.21

[📷: FADER / Republic]

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