Review
Melanie Martinez's "Cry Baby" burst onto the scene in 2015 with the angst of a teenage drama and the aesthetics of a Tim Burton fever dream. This opus blends lonely echoes of alternative pop with the glitchy underbellies of electropop, creating a soundtrack that seems perfect for wandering through haunted amusement parks. While Martinez spins tales as Cry Baby, her alter-ego lacks anything resembling a chill family dinner. No, she orchestrates pity parties where the only party favors are twisted family secrets and sinister relationship insights, a narrative seasoned heavily with dark, Burton-esque visuals that could give your average bedtime story a run for its money.
Praising the debut as merely "pop" would be doing it a disservice. It's an Edward Scissorhands-style cutout in a world of simple paper dolls. From plastic surgery ballads to sinister lullabies about much darker subjects, Martinez masterfully stitches a quilt of societal taboos set against backdrops both dreamy and nightmare-ish. The album was both a commercial triumph and a critical darling, having been certified double-platinum and heralded for Martinez's refreshingly twisted storytelling chops. And if trekking through her distorted pop fairytale world during the extensive "Cry Baby Tour" wasn't enough, fans could continue to carry a piece of this macabre wonderland through illustrated picture books. While heartwarming might not be the operative term here, intriguing certainly is. Melanie Martinez offers a twistedly poignant exploration of growing pains, complete with a melody. - Chloe
