by Mikey (Gillingham, Kent, UK) - Each week I preview an album which I think deserves a listen to and if it's worth to buy, I will cater for all tastes of music from R'n'B to Rock, Hip hop and Pop. At the end of the page, you will find all future album releases.
Pink - Try This
Release Date: 10 November 2003
Just how do you describe Pink? Rude, raunchy and rough as the proverbial bear's bottom perhaps.
She's beyond pop, is way more frantic than rap, but never quite hits a traditional dance beat. But there's nothing orthodox about Alecia Moore (a.k.a. Pink) anyway. Her roots are from the Philadelphia clubs, where at 14 she had recorded her first single.
Having kicked her career off as the first white R&B artist to get signed to the LaFace label, Pink's second album completely turned the tables as she re-invented herself as an uncompromising rock chick. 'Try This' continues the trend as Pink calls in the help of none other than Rancid mainman Tim Armstrong to add a further edge to her already rockin' status. That doesn't necessarily mean that Pink has gone ska-punk, though. 
In the same way that 'Mizundastood' didn't sound like 4 Non Blondes despite the involvement of Linda Perry, so 'Try This' is still very much Pink as her own woman. More down and dirty than latter-day Madonna, more believable than Christina's grinding grooves, the 'Try This' album is Pink's show of strength - the kind of strength that means she's going to be around for some time.
Ten years on, and with two top albums already under her low-slung belt, she's got more singular distinctiveness than most of her peers.
Beyonce may pout, Missy Elliott posture, and Christina radiate, but Pink takes a slice of all three, throws in more energy than the three combined (on speed), and thrusts an album of massive presence right in-yer-face.
'Missundaztood' blew away the opposition 2 years ago, and although this is no carbon copy, if that hit the mark, then this will thrill in equally distinctive amounts. Skanky vocals, huge sounds, and a defiant attitude that simply is Pink. "Trouble" is nearly as catchy as "Get The Party Started" - the tarty, brash, pop party anthem which remains the yardstick (or burden) for anything that has followed in its wake. But 'Try This' has a better consistency than the first two albums - appropriately enough for the nutty fruitcake that she is.
"God Is A DJ" has nothing to do with the Faithless track, but instead is a typically saucy blend of funky rock that is her forte. "Tonight's The Night" is a beautifully lazy, laidback yet upbeat track. Incredibly easy to digest, and the perfect upper before heading out. It's as mainstream as she's ever done. Catchy but no way inane. "Last To Know" takes the wacky rhyme award ("sushi" teamed up with "cutie") but also bitches about the no-show boyfriend. Quite, "Oh My God" won't be hummed by your local vicar, and is more passionate expletive than praise the Lord. "Make my meat slide / as we're all Pink inside". Exactly. So be warned that this album is very explicit throughout, even if wrapped around some thundering fab tunes.
Her weak spots before were ballads - but she's dumped anything too dreary this time, and gone for the full out attack. "Catch Me When I'm Sleeping" is the dreamy interlude, "Waiting For Love" a lower key yet vivid story, and "Love Song" distinctly stripped bare (and a fine way to end), but the emphasis is on full frontal ballsiness. She's undoubtedly rockier (aided by Rancid vocalist Tim Armstrong who co-penned most tracks), while still having input from Linda Perry - who had helped make 'Missundaztood' the melodic triumph that it was.
This is not an album of meaningful messages, but there are poignant moments. "Save My Life" is the tale of drug induced depths and a cry for heroic help, whilst "Walk Away" is the requisite broken heart tale. The brassy, decidedly un-punk "Unwind" exposes confusion from overwhelming success gained too soon. Autobiographical perhaps, but the whole album feels more open and liberated than before. You may be no nearer knowing who Pink really is at the end, but after a rush like that, it hardly matters. And she's not the type to bring back to meet your Mum anyway. Like it or lump it, she tells it how it is. Rock bravado chick.
7/10
Tracklisting
1 Trouble
2 God Is A DJ
3 Last To Know
4 Tonight's The Night
5 Oh My God
6 Catch Me While I'm Sleeping
7 Waiting For Love
8 Save My Life
9 Try To Hard
10 Humble Neighbourhoods
11 Walk Away
12 Unwind
13 Feel Good Time
14 Love Song
15 Hooker
Album Release Schedule
December 1
Alicia Keys - The Diary Of Alicia Keys
Girls Aloud - Sound Of The Underground (re-packaged)
Mis-Teeq - Eye Candy (re-packaged)
Various Artists - Hits 57
Will Young - Friday's Child
January 5
D-Side - Stronger Together
January 19
Mari Wilson - Alibi
January 26
Air - Talkie Walkie
February 9
Emma - Simply Me
