Album: Godzilla
Artist: The Veronicas
Label: Sony Music Australia
Catalogue Number: 1943-988188-2
Release Date: 28 May, 2021
Six years after the release of their previous album "The Veronicas", Jessica and Lisa produced a concept album which was mostly about their alter egos as pop/rock icons and the trappings of fame. The eclectic nature of the previous album was replaced with an experimental journey into synth-pop from the 80's and 90's.
It topped the Australian iTunes chart the first day it was released, but quickly pipped by the new album by their labelmate P!nk.
Godzilla: Opening with a guitar riff reminiscent of Hole's "Celebrity Skin", the title track contains a vibraphone riff and irregular drumbeat topped with Jess and Lisa's vocals and the chorus screamed out, which is about how they are perceived to be show-ponies by the music and entertainment industry rather than multi-dimensional human beings. It was released as a single as a taster from the album, but did not chart.
Kaleidoscope: Contains a pounding digital piano intro before going into a somewhat overproduced pop track. Although this track has become a favourite with their fanbase, I personally find the autotuned chorus and hooks unnecessary, it would sound better if this was a more basic acoustic rock number.
In My Blood: Released in 2016, it was a chart topper in Australia. The song refers to finding love at first sight and the adulation of meeting somebody whom you feel you can instantly click with. It has an anthemic dance vibe to it. The song was helped to the top with a dramatic promo video.
In It To Win It: One of the most intriguing tracks on the album it has an early 60's pop drumbeat which is reminiscent of The Angels' hit "My Boyfriend's Back" combined with rapping and a siren-like keyboard riff and some heavily reverbed guitar scrubbing.
High Score: Their experimentation with synth-pop has an 80's sounding harpsichord synth riff which gives way to their vocals and a dreamy soundscape.
Stealing Cars: This song tells the tale of living in the inner-city suburbs amidst squalor and crime but keeping a sense of comradery in spite of what other people do to wile away their time and eventually getting tired of it to find a greater purpose in life.
Supernatural Girl: A beautiful pop ballad, which sounds like early 90's Duran Duran and Johnny Hates Jazz.
101: This is a poignant track about being able to live to be 101 years old, and the challenges to be able to sustain such a relationship. The keyboard riff sounds similar to Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", but the song has a more modern feel to it.
Catch Fire: A very beautiful and dramatic track, with some sitar playing and surf guitar interspersed with symphonic chords and unequalized vocals in the chorus. The track is interesting for its lack of drums, and has whiffs of Enya, Sarah McLachlan and even Sparks recent material to it.
Silent: Featuring Travis Barker on it, it's a pleasant track with some buzzy guitars and strings and a powerful rousing chorus.
The Only High: This was the last song to chart for The Veronicas in 2016, it's a song about reminiscing about long lost partying days and finally looking to human love for natural highs and dependency as one matures.
Sugar Daddy: The closing track is another one which started life several years before this album came to date. The subject matter is very much self explanatory - making oneself available for a wealthy man to treat them as a trophy girl. It's also one of the most anticipated tracks from the band's fan base, who had been wanting an official release of it since 2013.
9/10
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