Album Review: Diary 001 by Clairo
Clairo, aka Claire Cottrill, began releasing music on Bandcamp and SoundCloud in 2014. A classic story. The now 19-year-old pop star’s songs and remixes started picking up traction in 2017 when her Photo Booth-produced music video for “Pretty Girl” went viral. Not soon after, signing with Fader Label, who also works with Matt & Kim. Some may write her off as a suburban teen who happens to have connections, moving her music career hastily along. But I find her intriguing! From the massive amounts of music she has self-released on social media platforms like Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and YouTube. To the numerous collabs she’s done recently with similar, teeny-bopper, elctropopper artists like SG Lewis (“Better”), Cuco (“Drown”), Mellow Fellow (“How Was Your Day?”), and Brennan Henderson (“Girl”). I’m on board. And if her growth in the short time since being signed is any indication of where she’ll go, it’s gonna be a long ride.
Her first release, the EP titled Diary 001, compiled some never released tracks as well as some older, already-released ones and only lasts 14 minutes. She maintains the “this could have been / very well may be edited solely on Garage Band” feel while amping some of the tracks up a bit with more production/tools. All of which have an infectious feel about them. Beats that you cannot help but bop and groove to.
Play “Hello?” quietly on your phone and it will actually sound like you butt-dialed someone and didn’t realize it (which happened to me during the research for this piece). One of two tracks with features, this one features Rejjie Snow, an up-and-coming Irish rapper, who adds that seemingly essential rap verse in all pop albums. I’m not mad at it.
“Doo doo doo doh doo”. Clairo hits us with another opening that doesn’t necessarily sound like a hit track but more like someone riffing in their bedroom or walking to class. “Flaming Hot Cheetos” tugs at the millennial heart strings:
“girlfriend or girl, that’s a friend?”
In the age of hookup culture where people don’t really date anymore, relationships can be confusing. And Clairo points that dilemma out with the simple question most people will wonder at some point or another: “what are we?”
“4EVER” is forever stuck in my head, the chorus is just so catchy: “Is it ever gonna change? Am I gonna feel this way forever? Are you gonna be around for me to count on?” Relatable in its basic-ness with an inescapable womping rhythm.
Clairo captures the insecurities and struggles of many young feminists today in the ironic, “Pretty Girl”. Everyone has moments where they catch themselves changing for someone else. Clairo understands just how ridiculous it can get, “I’ll wear a skirt for you… shut up when you want me to”. But mashes that with the real emotions that come from self-growth experiences, “I was a fool! / I’m alone now but it’s better for me / I don’t need all your negativity”.
“B.O.M.D.”, Boy Of My Dreams, is the most kitschy, sugary pop song on the album. “Hold me close / but don’t you lie / put me in your dreams tonight.” In a video with Genius, Clairo denounced the label of “bedroom pop” or DIY as pigeonsandplanes.com puts it. But I don’t think it’s something to be ashamed of. We’re in an age so digital that people can even make it in one of the toughest industries out there by simply possessing a basic knowledge of the computer … and some talent. This wave of Bandcamp and SoundCloud artists has made new music so accessible, something I, for one, am super excited by.
What's That Smell? 