After three years of silence, rebel princess Elle King came back to reclaim her throne on Friday with a stunning sophomore album, Shake the Spirit, that encompasses the kind of sonic diversity that most modern records lack.
In the age of appallingly low record sales, many artists have chosen to focus on streaming singles, writing in whichever style will appeal to the most people. But King leapt unapologetically into her new record full-force, not attempting to impress anyone but herself.
The record tells the story of King becoming the strong, independent woman she has always portrayed onstage. That fierce persona becomes a reality for King as she learns to love herself in the aftermath of her abusive marriage.
The record displays every high and low point of moving on with her life, and it’s her honesty that makes this country-meets-alternative full-length so special.
“Runaway” is an old-school blues masterpiece explaining that she only leaves as a defense mechanism. It feels like something a young couple would have danced to at a 1950s soda fountain. King’s self-awareness is beautiful and sobering. It makes one want to look inward and join her on her journey to self-discovery.
“Shame” was the obvious choice for the first single from the record. Catchy, edgy and oh-so-sassy, the track is the perfect alt-pop anthem. The glowing single helps tie the entire record together. A well-rounded album, even of the most emotional variety, needs a few dance tracks to prevent it from being a total downer. “Shame” is the sparkling gem that raises the stakes and shifts Shake the Spirit from the league of good records to great ones.
“Naturally Pretty Girls” is another attitude-filled addition to the record. The innovative track chronicles King’s life among the average-looking people, intimidated by the Barbie-like clans that LA boasts.
But in “Talk of the Town,” King is back to her old tricks. Claiming whatever she wants and stomping over anyone that gets in her way with the heel of her bedazzled boots. The confidence that felt like an act in her debut record is suddenly convincing. She is a changed woman and it shows as she takes exactly what she desires.
King has set the precedent for other modern artists. Shake the Spirit is what music should sound like: honest, genre-bending and full of personality. King took a leap of faith and it paid off, earning her a timeless work of art with no visible boundaries.
The album ends definitively with “Little Bit Of Lovin,’” King’s fight song. It’s her declaration of rebirth — stronger and smarter than ever before. King’s soulful voice aches with the pain of her damaging relationship, but it also screams the triumph of coming out the other side.
Nothing is more compelling than an artist that believes in themselves. Pain can manifest in some of the greatest work of an artist’s career, but it’s not until they pick themselves up that they are truly ready to shine. The spoken-word monologue that separates the first half of the 6-minute tune from the second is the perfect conclusion to the record. King has channeled her negative experiences into something positive; she rose to stand on her own two feet again. And for the first time, she truly feels alive.
