Albert Einstein once said, “A ship is always safe at the shore, but that is not what it is built for.” Lauren Mayberry takes a brave step forward on Vicious Creature, the debut solo project from the front-woman of CHVRCHES that features a fun mix of pop anthems filled with thoughtful lyrics and great beats. Mayberry mentioned in a Rolling Stone interview leading up to their release of this record that, “So much of this process has been an exercise in empowering myself to listen to my own intuition — something I really trained myself out of. That’s ultimately why you start making things — because you felt a feeling, and you wanted to articulate that somehow. I think it was important for me to relearn that kind of independence, and recognize what I bring to any table I choose to sit at.” By crafting an album different than what she has grown accustomed to creating with her bandmates, Mayberry solidifies herself as someone willing to take creative risks to grow as an artist.
The album sets off on the right mark with the bass-heavy “Something in the Air,” that finds Mayberry quickly finding her solo footing as the song quickly accelerates to a pleasing chorus of, “You come up with your stories / Conspiracy theories / Of why we’re all here / Oh, I just want to be someone / Someone who’s happy / But why do you even carе? / Must be something in the air.” Her vocal attack is well-crafted, and she never forces the big moments in the song, instead letting the song breathe a bit and pick her spots. This poise pays off by delivering a solid opening statement.
The album’s best track comes in the second song, “Crocodile Tears,” that is constructed over a great beat filled with programmed strings and disco-infused breakdowns similar to what Dua Lipa has cut her teeth to. Mayberry sets the tone for the lyrical material in the pre-chorus of, “I wish you would stop yourself from calling me every time / You need validation for the qualities you wanna hide / Maybe I’m a villain, but I find it kind of thrilling when you cry,” to explain her mindset in the relationships she has experienced in her life. The song really gives the entire Vicious Creature album legs, and her pointed lyrics are a brave statement for an artist getting fed up with people pleasing others.
”Shame” is a brief song about the pitfalls of one-sided relationships, yet Mayberry’s captivating vocal performance prevents the song from feeling like an unnecessary inclusion. The vulnerable “Anywhere But Dancing” takes a detour from the synth-pop beats in favor of an acoustic guitar and some well-timed piano moments to get the most out of the ballad. The journey that Mayberry takes her audience on is remarkable, and she covers a lot of ground lyrically.
”Punch Drunk” is reminiscent of the quirky solo pop that Hayley Williams put forth on Petals For Armor, but Mayberry still manages to put a unique spin on the track by adding in layered vocal harmonies and frenetic beats. The bridge of, “Just like a peach, you’re sickly sweet / I bite the lip that’s feeding me / Screaming, ‘You’re the one for me’ / So close the lock, swallow the key / Promise you’ll me never set me free / Baby, please,” paints a picture of a person looking for love while still experiencing the same setbacks as everyone else.
The piano-laced ballad of “Oh, Mother” closes out the front-half of the LP, that is filled with thrilling moments, with a rare look into Mayberry’s psyche and coming to terms with the fact that no one is around forever. Given the 180-twist that the back half explores, it makes sense for Mayberry to sequence this track here.
The near-industrial rock found on “Sorry, Etc.” is vastly different from what Mayberry has done in CHVRCHES as she confesses, “I killеd myself to be one of the boys / I lost my head to be one of the boys / I bit my tongue to be one of the boys / I sold my soul to be one of the boys.” The song is an ultra-creative exploration and a complete departure from the sound that she has become known for in her career, which makes it such an invited inclusion in her repertoire.
”Change Shapes” is a more straight-forward pop song that features a cool bass line to allow for Mayberry to lament on her struggles in relationships, while “Mantra” adds in some nice atmospheric elements to the musical attack as she ascends above the mix with some great falsetto vocals on the verses. “A Work of Fiction” uses some unique piano strokes in the beginning before explaining the title of the album in the chorus of, “What if all I want is a work of fiction? / A way to run away from my own ambition / I know denial’s an odd addiction / I kept playing the game / Nostalgia is such a vicious creature / Another way to say that you fear the future / I see it now as a different picture / Fading frame by frame.” Mayberry’s vocal cadence is impressive, and she remains captivating in her performance.
”Sunday Best” is a shimmering pop song that allows for Vicious Creature to avoid the trap of feeling too dark, all the way down to the artwork aesthetic. Mayberry excels at commanding the song with veteran ease and quickly makes it her own in the crowd-pleasing chorus. The album closer of “Are You Awake?” is a tender ballad that invites her audience into her headspace that feels like you’re sitting right beside the talented artist at the piano bench as she pours her soul all over the track. Lauren Mayberry’s Vicious Creature is a solid reminder of why publications shouldn’t rush out their end of the year lists before all of the music has come out for the year. The record is pretty damn remarkable, and definitely worthy of your time.