In June, the now-viral video, “All About That Bass,” was released to the world. Its catchy tune, doo-wop beat and charismatic accompanying video skyrocketed on iTunes and now holds a 55 million view count. Now, Meghan Trainor has released her debut EP, “Title”
Despite the lack of a creative title, “Title,” offers at least some imagination and effort. As each track plays out, listeners will hear more of the same from Trainor nostalgic sounds, and light-hearted sass. But, as the EP closes, listeners may actually feel encumbered by the repetitive nature of Trainor’s style and lyrics. Additionally, at only four songs, the lack of diversity on “Title” is especially apparent.
This issue is apparent and reflective of the current entertainment industry. It seems as though they picked up on the adage that if something works, you should just keep doing it over and over again. Part of the dazzle of “All About That Bass,” was how novel it was. It was cute, yet sassy and all about loving yourself; all things that go into a potential viral song.
The inclusion of “All About That Bass,” is a welcomed one. There is no doubt that it is by far Trainor’s best work so far. It’s everything that makes the pop genre so appealing. “All About That Bass” is confident, determined, and unforgettable. Even when someone doesn’t want to know the words, chances are they will.
The title track off of “Title,” is the main offender of the shtick that Trainor unfortunately falls into. Playing up the old-timey nostalgia; “Title” plays into the shtick so much that it’s almost hard to finish. Even when Trainor breaks into a rap session, it’s hard to justify.
On the “Dear Future Husband,” Trainor especially plays into the rhythm of “All About That Bass.” It has the entertaining and fierce style elements Trainor is now known for, but certainly not enough to make it stand out.
The most salvageable song on “Title” is “Close Your Eyes.” More acoustic than her others, “Close Your Eyes” has some polka components, but ultimately doesn’t play into the gimmicky novelty of her other tracks. This is especially true due to its sweet, slower beat which makes “Title” feel far more heartfelt.
When you make four songs that all sound similar, but are far less catchy—as well as far less original, listeners will most likely get tired. That being said, “Title” does have some substance and perhaps a whole album is what’s necessary to show Trainor’s unarguable talent.
