Quitzow: Juice Water

Quitzow: Juice Water
Multi-instrumentalist Erica Quitzow has a love for dance and for music, so maybe it should be unsurprising that she makes dance music on her latest album, Juice Water. The album is the follow up to her critically acclaimed 2008 album, Art College from which several songs were licensed to Gossip Girl.
Now, any time Gossip Girl comes knocking to use one of your songs, you know you have a commercially accessible record and the reviews proved it. Art College was critically praised but never quite caught on commercially. I am not sure why. Quitzow does not have a unique sound but rather focuses on having unique arrangements. Which is to say, Quitzow’s albums feature the kind of snotty female vocalist that has become very popular right now. Listening to Juice Water, you would see what I mean. The album’s first single “The Cut” is a good example. Quitzow utilizes a chanting vocal style that reminds me of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ “Heads Will Roll” or The Ting Tings‘ “That’s Not My Name”. The track features dirty synth sounds that are popular in the music of Daft Punk and The Faint. The song is very well done and catchy as hell, but not extremely unique. So Quitzow adds little extra touches to set herself apart.
When possible, Quitzow adds cello to the mix of electronic instruments. “More Keith Richards” balances classical influences with the standard dance music fair. The track has the sound of a stringed quartet being remixed by Armand Van Helden. The song actually reminds me of something from Her Space Holiday‘s The Young Machines album.
While the majority of the songs on the album are above average, there is a decent amount that fail to rise above mediocre. The album’s closing track “Whatever” is on the cusp of unlistenable. Quitzow’s attempt at snotty hip hop style vocals is vexing. It sounds like being taunted by girls at school when you were a kid (but maybe that was just me). A couple other songs have similar problems, but overall the album is pretty solid. The album definitely has some mainstream appeal and with the esoteric instruments brought into the mix, I’m sure it will repeat Art College‘s critical success.
Rating: 6.7/10
MP3: Quitzow “The Cut”
Buy: iTunes or Insound!