Having had to suffer through a few unfairly overlooked singles that didn’t take off and countless other leaks as her debut album was subsequently delayed, perhaps the time is finally right for Sky Ferreira to take off.
Ferreira released a new single, “Sex Rules,” a couple of weeks ago, and today brought four more songs on As If!, an EP that serves as a sampler platter of her talents. Cynics might assume that Ferreira’s casting in a new CK One campaign was the impetus for this release, with her record label looking to capitalize on the extra exposure. As if! No, seriously, such cynics would be right: Corporate suits love them some synergy.
“Sex Rules,” as previously noted, is fantastic, produced as if was 1984 and Prince was still purple-reigning. “Traces” is an arresting electro-ballad with the briefest of dips into dubstep. I’d probably find more to like about “Haters Anonymous” if the 18-year-old Ferreira had been around long enough to be the target of such veiled ire. It would be a stronger tune in someone else’s hands who had (Britney’s, for instance). But after that brief valley, Ferreira finishes strong with “99 Tears” and “108.” The latter bubbles with echoes of Madonna’s “Dear Jessie,” making a thematic move from cradle to (near) grave, with the May-September romance that Ferreira discloses indeed as “strange” as she sings.
The revenge-pop of “99 Tears” has to be Ferreira’s ace in her pocket. If “Sex Rules” doesn’t do it, then this unabashedly disco tune surely will, or she really should just pack it in and call it a day. Extra credit for the Jam-Lewis drum pattern in the bridge, which makes me love the irresistibly hooky “99 Tears” even more.
Purchase Sky Ferreira – As If! EP via iTunes, Amazon MP3.