Sara Bareilles - Basket Case

Sara Bareilles became one of my favorite pop acts the moment I heard “Gravity” on her debut album. Despite the relative blandness of first single, “King of Anything,” especially when compared to the first single from her debut, the mega hit “Love Song,” Bareilles seems to have the chops to avoid the sophomore slump and produce a clever followup.   

The fast paced piano heavy tracks on the album are all fine, though many sound repetitive with interchangeable melodies. However, once Bareilles moves away from relying too much on piano pop numbers, the album picks up and the singer shows a maturity and versatility missing on her debut. Bareilles’ strength still lies in her ability to showcase her vulnerability in her ballads, especially “Basket Case” and “Breathe Again.” When Bareilles slows down the tempo, her voice shines through her piano prowess and you hear the emotions. 

Standout tracks: “Uncharted,” “Basket  Case” “Breathe Again” “Gonna Get Over You”

You can download the album here.