Tina Parol – Shrinking Violet

Album Reviews • Thursday July 23rd, 2009 • 9:52 am

I’ll readily admit to being a fan of bubblegum pop on occasion. But when an album fails to define itself beyond the flavor of the moment, it’s difficult to form a lasting impression of such an album’s worth. Beyond that, when the music is catering to a pop flavor which descended to the depths a decade ago, it becomes even more difficult to imagine the music making an impact even on the chosen genre’s most diehard fans.

Such is the plight of Tina Parol, a first-generation American raised by Polish immigrants, who has made it her life’s goal to be a pop songwriter. She’s clearly had success in that vein, even writing the B-side to Britney Spears’ “If You Seek Amy” from her most recent effort. But Parol aspires to more than Spears’ blend of pop. She seems to want to be more of a Pink, being able to merge the sounds of Pat Benatar and that ilk into the world of modern radio pop. And in that goal she fails miserably.

The album’s single “Who’s Got Your Money?” is such a misfire it’s hard to imagine a worse single being aimed at 2009 radio, particularly in this economic climate. It’s a cheesy pseudo-cheeky revenge track involving the spending of a man’s money by a jilted lover, spending every dime of the rich man’s money including selling stocks, bonds, cars, etc. While songs like this can be successful (see “Before He Cheats” for the blueprint) they have to be somewhat anchored in reality. That’s where “Money” misses the mark by a mile. It’s hard not to laugh out loud at what is clearly supposed to be an empowerment anthem. Face it, Blu Cantrell already wrote this song better in 2003, and that’s where it should have stayed.

The album has a few tracks which almost – but don’t quite – work. “I’m Alive,” the album’s opener, uses its strong hook to its fullest extent, but even then it sounds like an American Idol reject, something Kelly Clarkson might have passed on for stronger material. Beyond the hook, there’s not much here and nothing that resonates. “Fall To Pieces” manages to sound the most modern of all the tracks on the album, at least from a background-music standpoint. Lyrically and vocally, however, it’s a 1999 retread. And these are the best songs. The rest is a crapshoot.

There’s better pop music out there, and no need to waste much time on this tripe. When Shrinking Violet hits stores this fall, expect it to make a small ripple and then disappear rightly among the other music hitting the airwaves. In 1999 the music might have made her a one hit wonder, but in 2009 it’s an embarrassing example of how far behind the curve a major label artist can stray.

Tagged as: New York City, Pop