Album Review: Rachel Platten – Wildfire

Rachel Platten gave us a year to remember with her 2015 hit single “Fight Song”. Now she gives us her new album Wildfire, which is a good start to the New Year and it’s sure to put Platten more into the pop spotlight.

The New York born pop singer had successful year in 2015 with “Fight Song”, which had very popular radio airplay and topped the charts worldwide. Her album Wildfire has received positive reviews and is filled with catchy pop songs with simple friendly lyrics. With that being said Platten stayed true to herself, but at the same time experimented and wrote with songwriters who worked with artists such as Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Kelly Clarkson. She also worked with Jack Antonoff from Fun. and Bleachers.

The album opens up with Platten’s second single “Stand By You”, an uplifting pop song, which could be “Fight Song”’s sibling. It’s a friendly generic pop song, yet catchy. However, Platten experiments with different pop sounds and also seems that Platten went for anthem like theme with every song on the album.

In the track “Hey Hey Hallelujah” featuring singer Andy Grammer, Platten seems to use Grammer’s influence for the track’s sound. Listening to the song makes you feel like you are listening to an Andy Grammer song. Platten also gives us a dance pop inspired track “Beating Me Up”. She doesn’t stop there, in the track “Lone Ranger” Platten shows us her western chops and as well as R&B in “You Don’t Know My Heart”.

The album may gain a following among music and beat lovers, but not lyric people. Its radio friendly lyrics and sounds will attract the young crowd. The overall album is simple, which makes the album and Platten gain an audience of pop fans that want something different other than auto tune.
Rate: 4/5