Noise from the Basement
By Kaitlyn R. Bayne, Teen News Contributing Writer
Artist: Skye Sweetnam
Genre(s): Rock, Pop
Label: Capitol
Release Date: September 21, 2004
Format: Audio CD (1 disc)

The guitar in the first song, coincidentally titled "Number One," really gets the blood flowing immediately. It’s a great tune for a dance club. The drumbeat emphasizes the meaning of the lyrics, which is a bit mainstream -- a boy who’s cheating on his girl or something along those lines. The concept of cheaters is too recycled; almost all the pop female artists lament about cheating boyfriends. But the sound is still rocking with its rhythms and heavy strumming background guitar.

Both middle and high school teens can relate to “Billy,” which talks about not wanting to go to school. Lyrics like “Monday mornings suck, it’s way too early to catch a bus,” hit the target. The bridge’s repetition has a uniqueness to it. The drum is good to groove to, making for easy listening.

The song “Tangled Up In Me” brings it home with lyrics that name things I do myself. “Kick the coke machine” “Honk at you cause I left late again” When I get my driver’s license, I will tend to leave late and consequently take it out on the slow poke in front of me on school mornings. But once again, the song is about a boy. This time, she entices him by playing hard to get.

I wish female artists in the pop world would use something else besides the opposite sex for inspiration. It gets annoying for an outspoken-against-the-rules-girl like moi. I reviewed the "Billboard Top 100" songs to confirm that the top most 25 or so are about relationships. My mom says it might be age appropriate. Right. Girls only think about make up and boys when they’re in their teens right? Well, if pop idols would write lyrics with substance, perhaps the stereotype wouldn’t be the norm. Sorry about that, I had to get that rant out somehow and this seemed the place to do it.

“I Don’t Really Like You” crosses over into metal, which is fine since I’m starting to lean toward that genre lately. The song’s got serious guitar throughout, with the best right at the beginning with its really hot mood-setting rift. But if you get past the guitar and booming bass, there isn’t much to the lyrics. Skye repeats the chorus about twenty times. Of course, that’s an exaggeration.

There is one song that concerns greatly. From what I can tell, “I Don’t Care” is about a girl telling a boy not to tell his (other) girlfriend that they kissed. It gives listeners the wrong message; that it’s okay to cheat on your girl or boyfriend.

My goodness, there are so many things on this album to anger a parent. I hope Sky’s next album is a bit more conservative in its messages, but she continues to maintain her perkiness.

TRACKS
1. Number One
2. Billy S.
3. Tangled Up in Me
4. I Don't Really Like You
5. I Don't Care
6. Heart of Glass
7. Sharada
8. It Sucks
9. Fallen Through
10. Hypocrite
11. Unpredictable
12. Shot to Pieces
13. Smoke + Mirrors
14. Tangled Up in Me [Multimedia Track]
15. Tangled Up in Me [Video: Including Live and Behind-The-Scenes Footage!]

Product Resource Guide

Buy Skye Sweetnam's Noise from the Basement at Amazon.com.

Download Pop music on iTunes.

Editor's Note: "Kaity" writes selected content for Teen News under the supervision of her Mom Kim. All email sent to the Teen News Editor is received and reviewed by Kim M. Bayne.