Artist: Katy Rose
Album:Because I Can
Label: V2 Records
Rating:
Reviewer: Lilly Frost

The media is labeling her as the next Avril, but don’t be fooled. She may look strikingly similar to Avril, but the only thing she has in common with her is her young age. Katy Rose’s debut album, Because I Can, is being released on Katy’s 17th birthday. What a great birthday present. Her album may have been released in 2004 but she was actually finished recording it before Avril Lavigne’s debut album came out.

Katy Rose is from Los Angeles and her parents are both musicians. That’s why it’s not surprising that she wrote most of the songs on her album when she was 14 and 15. I have to say, her lyrics are pretty intense for a 14 year old, or 17 year old for that matter. The first song on her album is her first single titled Overdrive and talks about what it’s like to grow up in LA and the kind of people she encountered. “They all come here to find a scene, but end up girls on methadrine, naked on a TV screen.”

It seems as if each song on the album get deeper and deeper and have so many levels you can interpret. It’s amazing that a girl her age was able to write things like, “When you say you’ll always be there, it paints such a lovely picture, but no matter how you frame it, it’s still pornography”(Glow). It’s obvious that this girl is much older emotionally than her 17 years suggest. It’s sad that someone so young seems to have had to grow up so quickly, but writing songs seems to be therapy for her.

It’s hard trying to figure out what category this album would fit in. It definitely isn’t reminiscent of Lavigne’s punk-pop, but it’s not hardcore rock either. I think it could be best described as indie-rock. Don’t be put off by the unfamiliarness of her music or lyrics. Something about this album is very appealing. You definitely won’t be jumping up and down dancing to it at a party, but it’s great for sitting around your room reflecting on life.