Within the "DEEP CUTS" section, I dive into the newest and hottest albums of the year. In this post, I’m highlighting my personal "Album of the Year" 2023: REVAMPED by Demi Lovato. Let's find out why of all things this record has been such a surprise.
REVAMPED - Demi Lovato
Rating ⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎ 5,0
Release Date September 15, 2023
Producer Warren "Oak" Felder
Genre Rock
Runtime 35:49
Label Island
Demi Lovato is back with a rock firestorm that hits hard!
REVAMPED is like a “best of” album from her career, featuring rearranged hits like "Heart Attack", "Cool for the Summer" and "Give Your Heart a Break." The album was produced by Warren "Oak" Felder, also known for his work with names like Alicia Keys and Rihanna.
Arrangements & Instrumentation, Production & Mix
The songs deliver everything you need for a solid rock album. The drums are present but never overpowering, perfectly complementing the songs. The guitars are thick and wide in the mix, with the bass bringing real depth. The whole thing is occasionally enhanced by synths, but no excessive experiments or electronic elements, making it almost entirely playable for live settings.
Modern rock at its finest!
Vocals & Musical Performance
Demi Lovato first caught my attention back in 2008 with her breakout role in the movie Camp Rock. Even then, her voice showed incredible potential. Over the years, I lost a bit of interest as her style became too pop-oriented and, at times, too cheesy for my taste. A few standout singles kept me checking in now and then though. In 2022, she announced the end of her touring career due to health issues. Surprisingly, I felt deeply hurt by these news since a part of my 13-year-old self had always longed for that Camp Rock moment.
With REVAMPED, she shows her full vocal power again: her range spans from G#3 to an incredibly C#6, and she delivers it all without losing any strength, sounding both powerful and impressive. With such a rock voice, she would do well to release more albums in this style.
And the crazy thing is: she can bring it live. She's just insanely good. Referring solely to her vocal technique, Demi Lovato easily ranks among the best female singers in the business today.
Album Structure
The album kicks off strong with a banger version of her arguably most famous hit, "Heart Attack". The momentum stays strong through the first four songs, including "Confident", "Sorry Not Sorry" and "Cool for the Summer", before slowing down with "Tell Me You Love Me". It’s a nice dynamic, as "Neon Lights" immediately picks up the pace again. The album hums along nicely with tracks like "Skyscraper", "La La Land" and "Give Your Heart A Break," before ending on a high note with "Don’t Forget".
Sonic Atmosphere & Emotional Impact
Lovato’s performance showcases both her commanding presence and a slightly melancholic touch (often referred to as "emo" style). With stadium rock-ready compositions, you can easily imagine standing in a massive arena when you close your eyes. The ballads, "Tell Me You Love Me" and "Skyscraper" create the perfect balance, allowing us to reminisce about our past loves.
Overall Impression
I always try to be objective when it comes to evaluating artists, musicians and their work, listening to as many genres as possible. For me, REVAMPED was the surprise of 2023. The arrangements and vocal performance blew me away to the point where the album made it into my top 3 most-played albums of the year on Spotify — and it only dropped in the last quarter!
Now let me know, have you listened to the record already?
What's your take on it?
Stay tuned!
-A
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