Fruit is an important part of daily life. It is nourishing, colorful and diverse. So is "Froot," the latest gift from pop artist Marina & the Diamonds.
"Froot" offers an eccentric glimpse into an experience of raw emotion, struggle and hints of self-discovery, with bumping catchy hooks and rich, dynamic vocals.
The Guardian referred to the album as being "steeped in introspection," and Spin applauded her on "shattering the pop system's ceiling." Both comments are entirely accurate; but did we really expect anything less of Marina?
This album strengthens and reaffirms the image of Marina Diamandis as a gleaming juxtaposition of a person: edgy, blunt and bold, yet emotional, thoughtful and provocative.
Any careful purveyor of "Froot" will quickly notice the song "Savages," and its honest discussion of rape culture with lines such as, "Another day, another tale of rape / Another ticking bomb to bury deep and detonate."
Marina has never been one to shy away from expressing opinions or confronting dark situations, and "Savages" addresses the horror of rape in the broader context of animalistic humanity. Marina wonders, "Were we born to abuse, shoot a gun and run / Or has something deep inside of us come undone?"
In keeping with "Froot's" introspective nature, Marina also confronts existential questions and concerns in "Immortal," a track that deserves repetitive play. Themes of spirituality and enlightened self-discovery are prevalent throughout several other tracks as well.
"Immortal" paints a picture of Marina as an eternal entity in the heart of a loved one, as opposed to "Happy," which examines happiness from a divine perspective ("I was looking for a holy ghost / Like the land joining the sea / Happiness it followed me.")
(Photo courtesy of New Elektra)Of course, Marina always comes through with an infectious lovelorn jam. "Weeds" examines the remnants of a lost love and confronts the struggle of escaping the past.
"I thought I cut him at the root," she croons, "But now I think my time is up / 'Cause he keeps growing back."
"Froot," the album's namesake, offers a bit of her characteristic alliteration. In retrospect, it offered a pretty good first taste of her album back when the single was released in November.
Its suggestive, thoughtful themes and general kookiness reflect aspects consistent in the album as a whole, though some themes still remained a surprise.
Marina reminds listeners that the disconnections and confusions of life do not necessitate a sense of self-deprecation.
"Solitaire" is chaotic and messy, but in the midst of it all, she remembers her own value and rarity. Meanwhile, "Can't Pin Me Down" is another reminder of her brazen individuality and personal freedom.
Lyrically, the album offers a glimpse into Marina's vulnerability and confusion, but she certainly doesn't shy away from her trademark confidence and quirky self-expression.
If anything, she seems to have grown into her image more, and with it, embraced a revived passion for openness and emotion.
This album is simply exceptional, and Marina is well on her way to becoming one of the most impactful international artists of our time.
Tell the reporter your favorite froot at celina.jimenez@asu.edu or follow @lina_lauren on Twitter.
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