Review: "Undertow" EP by Kylie Odetta

Some artist try to invent new borders. To reinvent the wheel and make a public statement addressing, "this sound is the new thing!"

Taylor Swift is the most recent global status phenom in recent years. But will her sound still be deemed classic and will it ever be deemed dated in the not so distant future?

Well, mostly everything becomes uncool sooner or later. The sixties were covered in hippie aroma, the seventies was a big monopolized disco bender, the eighties was overly flamboyant and ridiculously majestic, and the nineties were anti-pop until around '96, when it rebelled on the initial rebellion and ended up churning out sweet bubblegum jams from groups like Aqua and Spice Girls. In those late 90s', a sleeper hit rose up by the London based funk rock group Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" that embellished in late 70s' funkadelic, creating a new and more importantly, young fan base. In the case of Kylie Odetta, her jazz/soul influenced songbird nobility might of been difficult to breakthrough with the high demand club bangers and over-tuned pop anthems that usually take over the Top 40 charts. But now in 2017, the independent stream of value is only getting more accessible. Discovering an audience that's been accidentally hiding all this time. 

Opening track,"Sunny Day" does a good job describing the vibe with the songs title. Reminiscent of Sheryl Crow's "I Want To Soak Up The Sun" with its pretty and positive charm. Meanwhile. a rich jazz smoothie with happy organs accompany the 19 year old. Odetta is not simple taking about 'Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows" but confessing her lust for live and to always try to seize the day. The following track, ""You Don't Love Me"  is a sad love song about blind fools and the relationship lenses we often times accept. Rivaling a Tori Kelly radio hit, but with more adult lyrical undertones. The delicious guitar licks that layer the soundscapes, creates a fine mood as Odetta sings her melancholy soliloquy: "you're not saying what you mean. what do you mean? what do you mean? you don't love me. you don't love me anymore." A pure display of emotional power delivered with seamless delicacy. 

Even the third titular track, Undertow, gives an equal amount of emotional strength that only adds to the highlight. The easy and slick neo-funk instrumentation against metaphoric ripping currents: "The undertow is all i know and it's taking me down. The undertow is all i know but i'm not afraid to drown". 

These are just some examples of a perfect antidote of time and nostalgia. The young Kylie Odetta is pushing her classy, ageless tunes effortlessly (seeing that shes been a practicing professional single since the age of 12 with early Youtube videos of Odetta even performing the national anthem at a baseball stadium at the age of 13.) Her undertow is her care for her craft in music. An unknown tunnel of hardship and success. Odetta has created her own personal time to breakthrough and what a perfect time to do so. If Amy Winehouse was an old soul in disguise, then Kylie Odetta is her younger sister. 

Only with a indie pop twist as a hint of Norah Jones coolness embraces her preferable piano driven songwriting.  

B+

Purchase on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/undertow/id1228329996