Washington - Insonmia

by Sophia
(Sydney, Australia)

“I only believe that you are what you love.” - Plastic Bag

…Which by all rights should make me Megan Washington. So this review may be a little biased, considering it’s of my favourite singer.

I've been eagerly anticipating the release of this album - an Australian-only special, coinciding with the US release of I Believe You, Liar, and it certainly didn't disappoint!

We should all be familiar by now with the tribal exuberance of Holy Moses, complete in all its bongos and kazoo glory. But Plastic Bag, which has been doing the rounds at Washington’s tours for a year or so now and is the second song on the album, almost outshines it.

Oh, not for wackiness or originality, perhaps, but for vocal gymnastics, imagery and sheer catchiness - definitely, in my opinion!

After these two dance-inducers the album becomes a little more contemplative and wistful with songs such as Public Pool and Sentimental Education.

There’s a definite echo of a little country Australian town, both in the lyrics and laidback tempo, and Washington really exploits her husky yet full-bodied, sensuous voice to its full emotional capability.

The album ends on an ironically dreamy note with its title track…

...however if I could bring myself to criticize this goddess at all, I would venture to say that it’s a little too sing-song and repetitive to be really captivating.

But overall the album is a beautifully-crafted piece of art, reminiscent of I Believe You, Liar tracks like Lover/Soldierand 80 Miles.

Anyone who fell for Washington’s more exciting tracks like Rich Kids or Sunday Best but isn't a fan of the slower stuff would love the first two tracks of this album, but might be best off buying them singly from iTunes rather than splurging on the whole album.

People with more patience and time for introspection should definitely head to the nearest Sanity store and buy the whole CD!