For those who may not know, Sky Ferreira is the artist responsible for the very aesthetically pleasing tracks such as Obsession, One, and 17. She is at it again with As If!, a five-track EP that serves as a teaser to what Sky can deliver once her talents are unleashed in a full album. It has to be reiterated that Sky was on the verge of releasing her debut album only for the album to be put on hiatus a week before its scheduled release.
The EP kicks off with its lead single, the Billy Steinberg-penned Sex Rules. Billy Steinberg is the man responsible for Madonna’s Like A Virgin and Nicole Scherzinger’s Don’t Hold Your Breath. “Sex rules / Use your God-given tools,” Sky says with intense ferocity as she delivers the track that is sprinkled with a filthy bass and a shimmering electronica vibe.
Meanwhile, Sky shows off her versatility as an artist with Traces, which was co-penned by Get Over U songstress Neon Hitch and Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Colin Munroe. It could be said that this track is the EP’s darkest moment in terms of the story presented by the lyrics. Embedded with haunting strings and piano chords, Sky tells us how she wants to get rid of the traces of her past relationship.
A personal favorite, Haters Anonymous, ends up as the best cut in the EP. Written by Klas Ahlund (Robyn’s Indestructible, Ke$ha’s Blow, and Britney’s Piece of Me) and produced by the production duo Bloodshy & Avant, the track is scrumptiously loaded with weirdly mumbled pop choruses and lets the listener hear Sky sing-speak that may be reminiscent of Robyn (Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do anyone?). I have to say that the track is cleverly crafted especially in a society that has been going gaga over the multitude of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Perhaps the most accessible track in the EP is 99 Tears, produced by Greg Kurstin whose credits include Sia’s We Are Born and Ladyhawke’s self-titled album. The instrumentation is actually superb – the meshing of the xylophones, drums, and the electronica beats provides an extremely pleasurable aural experience. The track is absolutely catchy with cheerful beats accompanying the track. It is one of those tracks that you can listen to anytime and your interest in the track will not even waver.
Another Bloodshy & Avant-produced track closes out the EP. 108 has the electronica vibe present yet again albeit the mood’s dark just like in Traces. The piano chords provide the perfect opportunity for Sky to air out her grievances as she embarks on her soul-searching process.
The five-track EP may only last for roughly 17 minutes but it does a superb job in showcasing Sky’s talents to the listening public. As a result, curiosity regarding the singer builds up. Hopefully, with As If!, more anticipation gets built for Sky’s still-to-be-released debut album. Simply put ladies and gentlemen, As If! is one of the most, if not the best, superbly done pop records ever.
If you have not listened to As If! yet, I recommend that you better buy it immediately and listen to it right away.
Best Track: Haters Anonymous
Other Recommended Tracks: Sex Rules and 99 Tears
Date Released: March 22, 2011
Label: Capitol Records
