COUNTDOWN TO COACHELLA: Every day this week leading up to Coachella weekend one, I’ll be reviewing an album from a performer at this year’s festival. At the end of the week, on the first day of the event, I’ll be releasing a review for an album by one of the headliners! Stay tuned to find out who I’m reviewing this week!
About the artist: Laufey is an Icelandic-Chinese songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist. Vogue Magazine describes Laufey’s sound as “straight out of a twinkling Nordic fairytale.” Her music combines pop, jazz, and classical sounds to create enchanting, magical music.
About the album: Bewitched is Laufey’s second studio album, released September 8th, 2023, through AWAL Recordings.
Reviews:
Album cover: This cover is SO STUNNING! From the hair, to the makeup, to the outfit, to Laufey, this cover is so beautiful and matches the title wonderfully. I also love the ever-so-slightly hazy effect.
This cover is a perfect 10/10.
Songs:
Dreamer: Right off the bat, her voice is beautiful! I love how she stacks her vocals; her voice sounds so classy. This song overall is so charming!
I absolutely love the jazziness of this track. It’s a beautiful opener for this album, and really sets the tone. I give it a 9/10!
Second Best: Immediately, this song tells a story. It’s one that makes the listener really feel for Laufey, as I think anyone can relate to feeling like the “second best” every so often. I also really love the instrumentals of this song.
I give this one an 8/10! I’m not much of a jazz girl, but I love how Laufey does it!
Haunted: This song is about a love that is unfulfilling yet intoxicating. This one really fits the title of the album, Bewitched. This one overall just sounds so enchanting.
This one is a 9/10; it feels so magical.
Must Be Love: I love the guitar on this one! This one also sounds so magical. This one is so lovely and dreamy.
I give this one an 8/10!
While You Were Sleeping: This one has such a stunning sound to it. I love how this one is a bit more upbeat than the last few. Laufey has such a romantic, enchanting style.
I also love the vocal flips in this song; it’s something I really love in music. This one is just so lovely, once again! This one is a 10/10!
Lovesick: This one sounds like something out of a romance movie. I also love the use of background vocals in this song. This one is just so beautiful and really encapsulates what it’s like to be “lovesick”.
This one has such a fun sound to it, too. It’s a 9/10 for me!
California and Me: This song has such beautiful way of setting the scene. This one describes the feeling of heartbreak whilst describing the gorgeous California landscape. It paints a picture of driving down Sunset Boulevard and reconnecting with her surroundings after a breakup.
This one really makes me feel like I’m in California with her. I love this one, a 10/10.
Nocturne (Interlude): This is such a cute little interlude with beautiful instrumentals. This one lacks lyrics, but it is still beautiful and fits so perfectly into this album.
I love how classical this one sounds. I give it an 8/10!
Promise: This is a song that anyone can really apply to their own life, with anyone or anything. This song is another jazzy one, and it’s so beautiful. Laufey’s use of deeper tones in this song is the cherry on top.
This one actually got me emotional. I love how the instrumentals get more prominent as the song goes on. Promise” is a 10/10 for me.
From The Start: This tune is about being in love with your best friend who does not reciprocate the feeling. This one is such a fun, little, upbeat tune. The instrumentals are so jazzy and cute!
This one has such a nice sound to it. This one is a 10/10!
Misty: This song is a cover of Erroll Garner’s 1954 classic jazz standard. I love Laufey’s version of this classic tune. I’ll give it a 9/10!
Serendipity: This one has heavy jazz influences. This one really captures the feeling of unexpectedly falling in love. I really love the sound of the string instruments in the latter portion of this song.
This is another beautiful track, and once again really fits the theme of this album. I’ll give it a 9/10!
Letter To My 13 Year Old Self: This song about self-acceptance and growth is another one that can really resonate with the listener. This one really made me think back to the early years of my life, and it made me emotional. This is just a gorgeous tune that really makes the listener reflect; it’s a 10/10.
The lyrics really are just perfect.
Bewitched: This last track is a magical song describing the feeling of falling in love. I absolutely love the orchestra on this one, I know this whole album is magical, but this one is next level. This song makes me feel like I’m ascending. It’s so beautifully done and perfectly captures the feeling both through lyrics and instrumentals.
This is another easy 10/10; this one gave me chills.
OVERALL RATING: 9.2/10
I really loved this album. Though I’m not huge on jazz myself, Laufey definitely won me over with her dreamy vocals and instrumentals. I will definitely be listening to this album again, it made me feel so much love and warmth.
Copyright & Fair Use Notice: Album artwork is the property of its respective copyright holder and is used here for non-commercial, educational purposes under fair use (17 U.S.C. §107). This review includes commentary and criticism of both the music and the artwork.
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