Melanie Ungar, like many singers these days, began through YouTube. She's posted dozens of covers (many of them Taylor Swift songs, whose influence shows in this EP), all showing off her haunting, beautiful voice. She now has almost 6,000 YouTube subscribers and over a millions total views. This is her debut EP, released on iTunes on December 4, 2014. Although she has posted some acoustic renditions of originals, this is truly the introduction to her own music, in its fully produced form.
The EP begins with the title track, "What is Love," a Kelsea Ballerini-esqe dance pop/country song. There is a sassiness on this track that is not found in the rest of the record. Ungar uses pop elements to create a catchy track, but maintains the country influence in order to convey the story of the song with more persuasion. It's not the best song on the EP by any margin, but it does make an excellent title track. The whole EP is a journey, where Ungar is learning the ups and downs of love, and how it's not all black and white. This is a beautiful journey that everyone goes through and all of the songs on this EP reflect that journey. This song is a perfect opening because it sets the scene for the preconceived vision Ungar had of love, and how it is slowly being broken, as she grows up and experiences more and more love.
"Madly Deeply" comes next. This track is excellent, with the pop rock Taylor Swift circa 2010 production, but it's placement on the EP is not a smart decision. After the cynical "What Is Love," this track does not continue the story as well. It should have been the last track on the EP, because it rounds out the story, where Ungar does find her fairytale in the midst of the chaos. There is an acoustic version at the end that fulfills this, and actually outshines the original version, with the more stripped down country production that creates a masterpiece of a song.
"Madly Deeply" comes next. This track is excellent, with the pop rock Taylor Swift circa 2010 production, but it's placement on the EP is not a smart decision. After the cynical "What Is Love," this track does not continue the story as well. It should have been the last track on the EP, because it rounds out the story, where Ungar does find her fairytale in the midst of the chaos. There is an acoustic version at the end that fulfills this, and actually outshines the original version, with the more stripped down country production that creates a masterpiece of a song.
"Deeper For You" is another highlight on the EP. It has prominent banjo at the beginning, but has a nice, uptempo folk pop vibe, similar to singer/songwriterHayley Sales. The mainly acoustic instrumentals suit Ungar's voice and highlight her vocal strengths. The lyrics on this track are typical from a young female singer songwriter - about falling in love with a boy - but the production overshadows the flaws in the lyrics.
Besides the bonus track (the acoustic version of "Madly Deeply"), the EP finishes with "Let's Start Again." This song is the best on the EP. However, it doesn't exactly fit with the rest of the record, for this track is plain pop rock, in the vein of Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson. There are country instrumentals, but this is not a country song. This production suits Ungar's voice as much as the stripped down production does. Ungar has a particular voice in which she sounds her best at the two opposite ends of the spectrum, when the production is loud and noisy, and when it is quiet and acoustic. Lyrically, again this is no highlight, but it is a fun teenage summer anthem.
The question I am left with at the end of this musical journey, is why Ungar decided to go into country music. Yes, this EP is good, and she does do the country pop well, but her vocals would be much more suited to a more folk pop sound, like in "Deeper For You" or a pop rock sound like in "Let's Start Again." Ungar has talent and potential, but she does have to find the right genre for her music, because she hasn't quite found what is the best for her to take her career yet. She's still young, so it's understandable, but as soon as she does figure out her musical direction, she will be a force to be reckoned with.
Best tracks: Deeper For You, Madly Deeply (Acoustic Version), Let's Start Again
Throwaway tracks: Open
Overall rating: 3 and a half crowns
Besides the bonus track (the acoustic version of "Madly Deeply"), the EP finishes with "Let's Start Again." This song is the best on the EP. However, it doesn't exactly fit with the rest of the record, for this track is plain pop rock, in the vein of Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson. There are country instrumentals, but this is not a country song. This production suits Ungar's voice as much as the stripped down production does. Ungar has a particular voice in which she sounds her best at the two opposite ends of the spectrum, when the production is loud and noisy, and when it is quiet and acoustic. Lyrically, again this is no highlight, but it is a fun teenage summer anthem.
The question I am left with at the end of this musical journey, is why Ungar decided to go into country music. Yes, this EP is good, and she does do the country pop well, but her vocals would be much more suited to a more folk pop sound, like in "Deeper For You" or a pop rock sound like in "Let's Start Again." Ungar has talent and potential, but she does have to find the right genre for her music, because she hasn't quite found what is the best for her to take her career yet. She's still young, so it's understandable, but as soon as she does figure out her musical direction, she will be a force to be reckoned with.
Best tracks: Deeper For You, Madly Deeply (Acoustic Version), Let's Start Again
Throwaway tracks: Open
Overall rating: 3 and a half crowns
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