Marina and The Diamonds // The Family Jewels

If you missed out on all the hype surrounding Marina and the Diamonds in 2009, worry not! After much anticipation her debut album has finally arrived. Marina and the Diamonds is actually just 24 year old, half Greek, half Welsh Marina Diamandis. I say “just”. Marina has been compared to Kate Bush and Lene Lovich for her theatrical vocals and is set to take over the world in 2010. The album is a perfect mix of upbeat new wave style songs, from shiny to punky pop, with a few keyboard based ballads thrown in for good measure. Her voice is a force unknown to itself which she throws around effortlessly as she pours out her heart and soul breaking anything and everything that gets in her way. The album is part autobiography, part fairytale. Her lyrics simple, but to the point. The opening track "Are you Satisfied?” showcases her voice perfectly and confidently advocates that this young lady just raised the bar. Her trademark voice haunts the fragile track “Obsessions” which honestly captures modern social values perfectly. “Hollywood” is a playful and upbeat, yet truthful account of celebrity culture and is the most commercial sounding track on the album. Do we have space for another overly quirky, mouthy, young, pretty girl with her "and the” band? Marina definitely deserves a chance. But despite the obvious comparisons to similar female artists, it is also obvious that Marina is a little bit different and definitely deserves a box of her own.