Karen O’s ‘Crush Songs’ was a charming and lovely album, if nothing spectacular. So it seems perhaps a bit odd that a companion live album has been released. Recorded during a 3 night residency at Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Masonic Lodge, the set actually shows a great intimate live performance that’ll suit that Sunday afternoon cuddle up with the better half.
‘Crush Songs’ as a studio album often felt a bit too much like playing voyeur on someone’s private ditties, the sort of songs you compose when you’re in love with someone, songs made for two and no one else. This live set is a lot more inviting and warm, although relatively minimal in stage chatter, there’s a feeling that is hard to pin down that invites you in. Perhaps it’s the great instrumental backing, which serves to pad out the often incomplete songs from the album, maybe it’s the occasional bits of audience cheering, or perhaps it’s just the extra energy and feeling in Karen O’s live delivery. Either way it makes for a lovely listen.
With each song clocking in at under 3 minutes (many under 2), the songs float into your consciousness before drifting away again, creating a sleepy and dreamlike feel that’s perfect for a nice relaxed afternoon on the couch. No songs particularly stand out, with everything having a concurrent and recurring theme, which is in many ways both the album’s strength and it’s weakness.
To call it dinner party music, would be to do it a disservice but it’s a fascinating album that in many ways doesn’t aim to hold your attention or captivate you. This is an album that’s happy to sit in the background and allow it’s essence to fill up the room. However you listen though, it’s a lovely realization of an initially average album.
