Listening to Scrutiny, it's hard to believe that Fashion Club's Pascal Stevenson never considered herself a frontperson until she wrote the songs that became her debut album. She spent years in the shadows of the Los Angeles indie scene before getting sober, a decision that caused her to take a long, hard look at her life and the world around her and share her feelings. True to the album's title, she calls out hypocrisy wherever she sees it with the confidence and eloquence of a seasoned artist; as she snarls on "Scrutiny" ...
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Listening to Scrutiny, it's hard to believe that Fashion Club's Pascal Stevenson never considered herself a frontperson until she wrote the songs that became her debut album. She spent years in the shadows of the Los Angeles indie scene before getting sober, a decision that caused her to take a long, hard look at her life and the world around her and share her feelings. True to the album's title, she calls out hypocrisy wherever she sees it with the confidence and eloquence of a seasoned artist; as she snarls on "Scrutiny" over cavernous bass and gloomy synths and guitars, she "brings the spectacle down." On this song and the driving "Reaction," there's a similar confrontational post-punk energy to her other project Moaning, but Fashion Club has its own distinct identity. Stevenson's deep, raw-throated vocals help set Scrutiny apart from any of the other music she's worked on before, particularly on tracks like "Phantom English," where the combination of her blunt delivery and the Jam & Lewis-inspired production defines Fashion Club's tension between the proudly fake and the all too real. She captures the nuances of this conflict evocatively, singing "You'll never see it/But the chapel walls are filthier than your bedroom," on "Chapel"'s meditation on growth and doubt; on "Dependency," she expresses lingering trauma poignantly ("Weaponize your brain/What good is a weapon if it drives you insane?"). The empathy in Stevenson's songwriting makes Scrutiny all the more relatable and indelible, especially when she reveals the desperation behind deception. She rightfully skewers performative allyship on "Pantomime," but while its words are cutting, its flowing melody adds complexity and sympathy. On the standout "Feign for Love," Stevenson builds a house of mirrors out of shimmering guitars and lyrics full of knowing denial. As dark as the mood can get, Fashion Club doesn't forget to reach toward the light, and the glimmers of hope and redemption in "Failure" and "All in Time" elevate the record beyond mere brooding. Scrutiny delivers the seemingly out-of-nowhere brilliance that takes plenty of time and energy to create, and as Stevenson brings the spectacle down, she crafts a stunning debut album. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi
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Add this copy of Scrutiny to cart. $18.86, new condition, Sold by Importcds rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sunrise, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Felte.
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Stevenson. New. New in new packaging. USA Orders only! Brand New product! please allow delivery times of 3-7 business days within the USA. US orders only please.
Add this copy of Scrutiny to cart. $22.43, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Felte Records.
