Marina and the Diamonds Shows Growth, Insight In 'Froot'

Adam Reynoso ’15 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Immediately with the album’s first track, Marina and the Diamonds shows yet again that she has transformed her sound with her third studio album. Coming off of Electra Heart, where the album revolved around the titular narcissistic blonde persona, Froot turns the focus back onto Marina and allows the world to get insight into who this Welsh singer is. Working as cohesive, fun and heartfelt, the album displays the true talent behind the singer. It also boldly addresses the issue of rape culture and discusses what it means to be a feminist.
It’s never been a secret, but this album makes it a point to prove Marina has a strong voice; probably one of the best in the business. She plays with lower and higher notes, sometimes in the same verse, and does so with finesse. The opening track, “Happy,” is a moving ballad, playing on the lyrics of some of her previous songs and admitting that she found it in herself what she needs to be happy. It’s introspective and beautiful.

The title track, “Froot” sounds like a callback to the sound of the eighties with its fun electronics and beats. It’s an example of something different in the music scene and how she’s really playing with the traditional alternative, pop sound. It’s songs like “Froot” and “Forget” that show the playful side, the side with attitude on the album. They dip into how Marina views her sexuality and relationships. “Froot” is all about being ready to explore while “Forget” is about realizing that she can forgive and move on from a relationship, but she’s not going to forget. She’s going to remember everything she’s been through and use it fuel her forward.
But two of the best tracks on the album are the ones with heavy handed messages. “Can’t Pin Me Down” explores the traditional ways feminists and women are viewed by men and society. It deals with not letting anyone say who she has to be and that she is never going to fit their expectations. It’s the catchy beat and clever lyrics that really make it a standout song. With lyrics like, “Do you like my body?/Do you like my mind?/What is it that you are having trouble to define?” It’s entirety is shaking these preconceived notions of who a woman should be and not letting them be limitations. The best line is how she asks if you really want her to write a feminist anthem when she’d rather be cooking for her husband. It’s saying that it’s okay to be the housewife or the bitch or the lover; women don’t have to be just one or the other.
The second standout track is “Savages,” which takes a look at the state of world and human nature. It’s a brave song that takes a hard look at things like terrorism and rape culture, specifically with the one line, “I’m not afraid of God, I am afraid of man.” It looks at how people in society hide behind their everyday roles when in reality, they are just as capable of being bad as they are good. It’s a song that has an upbeat sound to it and is instantly catchy, and perhaps that’s the point. But yet again, it showcases the cleverness of Marina as a songwriter and artist.

Froot shows the growth of Marina and the Diamonds as an artist and a woman by completely shifting tones from her previous record. She’s just as talented as before and has allowed this album to dig into who she is behind the elaborate performances and music videos. And if the videos or albums are any indication, Froot is an example of her stripping her music down to basics and using her impeccable voice for all it’s got. Froot is highly recommended album that can be put on repeat for days to come.