Annabel Rose’s Alt-pop EP, Something About Rose, is an interesting exploration of the genre, incorporating rich percussion and rhythmic energy, amplified by Anabel’s sultry vocals and an undeniable groove that runs through every track.
The EP showcases an array of intricate drumming and high-energy percussions that serve as the foundation from the start. From the opening track, Lungs, Anabel sets the tone with hypnotic Bossa Nova style drums and syncopated chords that immediately pull you in. Her smooth vocals blend well with the rhythmic guitars, panning synths, and heavy droning bass that create a lush backdrop.
The energy picks up in the next track, Smile, which has very snappy percussions, a solo trumpet blaring in the background, and a very hard hitting kick drum. All these elements surround Anabel as she tells the story of a highly desirable woman from the perspective of what sounds like a misogynistic man telling her to “Smile”… at least that’s the impression I got. The perspective Anabel inhabits feels like it shifts at different parts of the song. The description of the woman in the song also seems to conflict given that on one hand, she’s described as not very confident in the lyrics “She moves, eyes glued to the floor”. But later, she’s described as having the ability to “Wrap you around her fingers”.
The next song, Won’t Go Back, is probably my least favorite. It has a nice enough groove and rich vocal layers, but really failed to leave an impression on me. Anabel’s energetic delivery sounds great until, again, I try to follow the lyrics. Just like the previous song, I found it difficult to understand what she was trying to convey.
Following my least favorite song is Too Friendly, which may be the most lyrically consistent song so far, and likely my favorite song in the project. Anabel expresses her disappointment in allowing herself to be caught in an abusive relationship, lamenting that she “Should have never got too friendly, but my mama never warned me bout your type”. It’s a simple enough story woven into the background of some more hard hitting drums, melodic guitars, and pleasing vocal harmonies.
Love Me or Die features the most dynamic vocal performance on the project. Anabel delivers a strong performance about love and heartbreak akin to the pop rock ballads of past years, and with instrumentation to match. Though it doesn’t entirely feel sonically cohesive with the rest of the project, it’s still a nice detour.
The project wraps up with Do Not Disturb, a welcome return to the percussive production that has played a pivotal part in this project. It’s short and catchy, a fitting end to the EP.
All things considered , I like this EP. That said, while the album’s rhythmic elements are undeniably captivating, there’s a noticeable lack of variety across the tracks. Nearly every song features the same intensity in percussion, sometimes to the point where it feels like the album is stuck in a loop. This is more a critique on the production than Anabel’s singing which is the one thing that brings a much needed variety to the project. As mentioned before, the songwriting could be more cohesive from a storytelling perspective, but it doesn’t take too much away from the overall enjoyment of the EP. With more experimentation in future projects, Anabel has the potential to reach even greater heights, but for now, Something About Rose is a journey worth taking.
