Healing, unconditional love and straight talking seems to be the topic of choice in Angel Olsen’s latest releases ‘Shut Up Kiss Me’ & ‘Intern’.
Ashville, North Carolina based singer songwriter Angel Olsen has kindly graced us with two new singles entitled ‘Shut Up Kiss Me’ and ‘Intern’ ahead of her upcoming 4th LP release MY WOMAN. Both ‘Shut Up Kiss Me’ and ‘Intern’ are quite different from each other as the former delivers an edgy pop/rock song while the latter carries a more reflective and moody atmosphere.
This duality in styles does seem to be the intention for her new album as described in this press release:
“The album is put together as a proper A-side and a B-side, featuring the punchier, more pop/rock-oriented songs up front, and the longer, more reflective tracks towards the end. And because these new songs demanded a plurality of voices, Olsen sings in a much broader range of styles — her disarming, timeless voice is even more front-and-center than before.”
The urgent and unapologetic tone of the opening lyrics to ‘Shut Up Kiss Me’ reads as a sort of conflict against conflict, as Olsen delivers the words “I ain’t hanging up this time. I ain’t giving up tonight” with so much sass and indignation.
These defiant first two lines of the song set the stage for what turns out to be a pleading to her other/lover to softly accept and acknowledge that “This heart still beats for you”, a kind of lay down your arms offering. And then Olsen gets right down to business, when she demands “Shut up kiss me hold me tight”. Indeed! Why would you bother arguing when you could be hugging and kissing Angel Olsen?!
Personally, I find this simple answer to relationship insecurities a refreshing change from the millions of songs written about heartache or loss of love that desperately beg to know what went wrong. Letting go of fears and allowing love in is a wonderful idea.
“You could feed me all of your fears
We could end all this pain right here …
You don’t have to feel it anymore
A love so real that it can’t be ignored”
And then there’s the film clip! If a picture is a thousand words then this clip is an Icelandic Saga trilogy!
‘Intern’ takes on an entirely different persona sonically with its synth-pop-ballad textures. Though despite the songs 80’s-synth-pop landscape Olsen’s song-writing and crooner style vocal delivery is reminiscent of artists like Roy Orbison or Elvis Presley.
However, the same unwavering, unapologetic, I’m-doing-this-my-way tone pervades the lyrical element of ‘Intern’. Olsen’s beautifully simplistic, yet strong and direct lyrics display a wise, precocious charm.
“Doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done,
Still got to wake up and be someone
…
Doesn’t matter who you are or what you do.
Something in the world will make a fool of you”
The film clip is only a trailer but the full song is available on Spotify and iTunes.
Angel Olsen’s forthcoming album MY WOMAN is out September 2nd on Jagjaguwar. In the mean time why not familiarise yourselves with some of her previous releases such as 2014’s Burn Your Fire For No Witness.