Witty, sexy, confident, and charged with live energy, ‘I’m Not Your Man’ is the sound of Marika Hackman making the album she always needed to make.
I’m Not Your Man is an album of complete gay abandon, an artist freeing herself in every aspect of her process and we could not be happier.
A forthright treatise on sexuality and relationships, told with an uncanny sense of comedic timing and a penchant for reaching for the throat with its hooks, arrangements, and, most resoundingly, its lyrics.
The outcome though is that the album works so well on every level, the quality control as ever is astonishing; I’m Not Your Man is a fantastic addition to the catalogue of this most singular artist.
‘I’m Not Your Man’ sees Marika Hackman’s talent shine brighter than before, strongly showing skill, powerful storytelling and a strapping sense of artistic direction.
Not abandoning her folk roots entirely, I’m Not Your Man proves an emotional and sonic progression for Hackman, a record that at its best is affecting and fun.
I’m Not Your Man is a meandering undercurrent of predatory slyness, advancing with a slack but completely controlled swagger.
She may have lost the kooky melodrama and charm that she enveloped earlier on, but I’m Not Your Man feels strangely right, if quite startling in its shift in direction.
The London singer’s sophomore album is a bracing, darkly funny blend of folk and Britpop. Her tactile lyrics keep the songs melodically strong and full of surprises.
Reinvention is fine in a singer, so long as the new guise is worn with purpose. Marika Hackman surprised doubters with the Summerisle folk of 2015 debut We Slept At Last, and the follow-up promises another turn, this time into spiky alt-rock turf. But it’s only a partial gear shift, as if Hackman isn’t sure of her preferred or most effective speed or setting.
8/10
exceptional
Fav tracks: Boyfriend, Good Intentions, My Lover Cindy, Round We Go, Violet, Cigarette, Time's Been Reckless, Apple Tree, So Long, AM, Majesty
Boyfriend — 8.7
Good Intentions — 8.3
Gina’s World — 7
My Lover Cindy — 8.3
Round We Go — 7.4
Violet — 7.2
Cigarette — 6.1
Time’s Been Reckless — 8.7
Apple Tree — 7.2
So Long — 8.5
Eastbound Train — 7.8
Blahblahblah — 6.5
I’d Rather Be With Them — 7.6
AM — 8.2
Majesty — 7.8
|
likes: 13/15
overall final score: 76.86
favs: Time’s Been Reckless • Boyfriend • So Long • My ... read more
8/10
exceptional
Fav tracks: Boyfriend, Good Intentions, My Lover Cindy, Round We Go, Violet, Cigarette, Time's Been Reckless, Apple Tree, So Long, AM, Majesty
Boyfriend — 8.7
Good Intentions — 8.3
Gina’s World — 7
My Lover Cindy — 8.3
Round We Go — 7.4
Violet — 7.2
Cigarette — 6.1
Time’s Been Reckless — 8.7
Apple Tree — 7.2
So Long — 8.5
Eastbound Train — 7.8
Blahblahblah — 6.5
I’d Rather Be With Them — 7.6
AM — 8.2
Majesty — 7.8
|
likes: 13/15
overall final score: 76.86
favs: Time’s Been Reckless • Boyfriend • So Long • My ... read more
1 | Boyfriend 3:59 | |
2 | Good Intentions 3:37 | |
3 | Gina's World 4:14 | |
4 | My Lover Cindy 3:11 | |
5 | Round We Go 3:36 | |
6 | Violet 4:02 | |
7 | Cigarette 2:37 | |
8 | Time's Been Reckless 3:54 | |
9 | Apple Tree 2:55 | |
10 | So Long 3:43 | |
11 | Eastbound Train 4:02 | 100 |
12 | Blahblahblah 4:44 | |
13 | I'd Rather Be With Them 4:09 | |
14 | AM 4:05 | |
15 | Majesty 3:17 |
#12 | / | Dork |
#13 | / | ABC News |
#18 | / | Earbuddy |
#27 | / | The Guardian |
#42 | / | Under the Radar |
#44 | / | musicOMH |
#44 | / | The Line of Best Fit |
#73 | / | Rough Trade |
#92 | / | Crack Magazine |