If every spunky teenager had a recording contract, then "Noise from the Basement" would be the end result. Essentially an album for the brats and bratty at heart, Skye Sweetnam skips the introductions and dives right into her history of cheating boyfriends, forbidden love, skipping school, and then gives all of the hypocrites out there an anthem to justify their ways. She knows her audience, even though this is her debut. But in many ways, "Noise from the Basement" doesn't feel as flawed as first offerings usually are. All fourteen tracks flow together very nicely, and hit every possible demographic possible. Burned lovers will find plenty of solace in "Fallen Through" and "Number One", while those who don't need no education can find their place in "Billy S", and then there's the power pop for those just looking for someone to understand them. Songs like these, mostly "I Don't Care" and "", are the strongest points on this album, being as determined in their earnestess as well their production. Songs like "Unpredictable" and "Sharada" prove Skye's versatility, solidifying her talent to do punk-ish rock/pop just as well as indie-pop. And considering the fact that she is still a teenager, this is an impressive first album for someone that seems like she would be inexperienced. Even if she was making music well before this album, it's worth taking notice of the fact that she is so confident with her abilities already.
Most new artists don't have control over their career, and must walk through the motions of the label. But Skye Sweetnam is different; she couldn't hide her true feelings even if her recording contract was worth more than the music she was making. All of this freedom has lead to a stellar record, even if it ends on kind of a sour note. The bonus track "Split Personality" is a short, dark rock number that was probably put to excite the listener for the last time before bring the record to a close. "Smoke + Mirrors", the album's actual ending track, is indeed compelling, yet it leaves "Noise from the Basement" kind of unfinished. But, with the flawed ending sequence aside, the album still ends up to be a satisfying and timeless listen. And the best part, is that Skye Sweetnam actually is a fine singer, and picks material appropriate for her attitude and her voice. These elements, complete with her unwillingness to fit in, make this album one of the most endearing and relatable albums of 2004.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Number One 2. Billy S 3.
Tangled Up in Me
4. I
don’t really like you5. I Don’t Care 6. Heart of Glass
7.
Sharada 8. It Sucks 9. Fallen Through
10.
Hypocrite 11. Unpredictable 12. Shot to Pieces
13. Smoke + Mirrors 14. Split Personality
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