For the first time in a while,
The Pink Album presents
Unloved's music free from connections to any television shows or movies -- except the imaginary ones their songs suggest so richly. An unapologetically indulgent double album with plenty of guest stars, the trio's third full-length examines love from every angle. "How good it feels, how bad it hurts," as
Jade Vincent sighs on "There's No Way," and just how terrifying it can be. If
The Pink Album was a film, it would probably be a horror movie: shrouded in gauzy reverb, "I Don't Like You Anymore" falls somewhere between a breakup and a seance, while "Foolin'" adds a dose of camp with its creature-feature organ riff. Later,
Vincent sounds truly haunted on "Walk On, Yeah," the kind of apocalyptic torch song
Unloved pulls off better than just about anyone. As expected from a group with two award-winning composers (
Keefus Ciancia and
David Holmes), the trio boasts an encyclopedic knowledge of pop music. The way
Unloved use this knowledge remains stunning, whether they leave behind their fondness for retro sounds on the swirling strings and electronics on opening track "Rainbrose" or subvert nostalgia for their own purposes with the
Suicide-meets-
Shangri-La's thrill ride of "Girl Can't Help It" or the shuffling glam rock beat underpinning "Mother's Been a Bad Girl." Driven by a whip-cracking beat, "Sorry, Baby"'s sexy electro is a standout, as is the lush, unguarded ballad "Ever," and "Number in My Phone," a piece of tear-stained
Bacharach pop updated for the cell phone age. "Love Experiment," a duet with
EÌtienne Daho where
Vincent channels
Julie London over synth frissons teetering between fear and ecstasy, is intriguing, and the way
Jon Spencer's howls fade into the background as
Vincent gives him the kiss-off on "Call Me When You Have a Clue" flips expectations cleverly.
Unloved bring in
Jarvis Cocker for "Accountable," which gives the work of
Lee Hazlewood and
Nancy Sinatra a murderous twist, and reunite with
Raven Violet, with whom they worked on the 2020 single "Strange Effect," on the sullen synth pop of "Turn of the Screw," all of which find
Unloved pushing pop's boundaries with vivid results. ~ Heather Phares
![Give Up [Deluxe]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0098787104523_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Give Up [Deluxe]")
