Amy Shark - Love Monster



The long-awaited debut album for the pride of Australia's Gold Coast, Amy Billings a.k.a Amy Shark new release Love Monster is a beast in its own right, but not one you should be in awe of. Heavy with addictive choruses, pop pedigree and soaring melodies, Love Monster is more than the average debut, filled with enough pop roots and indie hooks to draw in multiple groups, but not enough variety to be the truly special album it feels like it should be.

Residing comfortably in the niche market of indie pop, Sharks displays an uncanny ability to write beyond her experience. Sounding more like a journeyman than a rookie, Sharks switches from playful to heartfelt depending in the track. Lyrics tinged with wit, emotion and attraction fill each song but not in keeping with the tropes. That would be far too easy. Instead, Sharks writes relatable and (more importantly) believable ballads that had me either placing a hand over heart with emotion (lead single Adore) or fist pumping in support of her romantic endeavours (album opener I Got You). Other than the heavy hitters, however, I found the album somewhat lacking. While punchy and enjoyable, Love Monster suffers from the attrition of repetition and falls too easily into the boring ease of electro-pop. I'm weary of booming synths and winced a little every time I heard one take my attention away from Sharks impressive voice (something between sad and angry… but also happy? Its very strange and I like it a lot) and lyrics.

Indeed, it is very much true that the lyrics are the saving grace of the album. This is not a knock, as they really are that good. Varying between the in-depth storytelling of I Said Hi, a victorious ‘F*** You’ to everyone who counted out Sharks filled with triumphant venom, lofty vocals and exultant percussion, and the playful poetry of Don't Turn Around, witty, catchy and imaginative as Sharks illustrates the story of an imagined romance. It is in these details that we see the full potential of Sharks and what she could become, a standout songwriter with a fantastic voice.


While lacking a monstrous presence, Love Monster is an enjoyable and impressive debut that (hopefully) says more about her future than her present. The potential is there, Sharks just has to find a way to unleash it.

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