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Better than Blood is better than the rest By Nicole La Hoz Pembroke Pines Charter Important: This article was last updated on November 15, 2007. Please call ahead to confirm hours, prices, dates and other information.
Bubble gum looks and G-rated lyrics just don't symbolize a woman, but Megan McCauley does. Her first major release, Better than Blood, does not hold back an ounce of emotion. Her personal and sometimes brutal lyrics leave you stunned. This artist is young, but powerful. Those who have known of this 18-year-old best-kept secret will be pleased to know that waiting two years was worth it. She released her self-titled EP back in 2005, but Wind-Up Records kept pushing back the release of Better than Blood. Not one track on this refreshing album is a let-down. Even the random song Tap That causes listeners to get up and dance. It's shameless and flirtatious with a beat resembling the likes of Pink's U + Ur Hand and The Veronicas' 4Ever. Lyrics such as "Yeah, I kind of like that/I want to tap that" seem to contradict McCauley's strong, raw image. But they show her versatility. Her vocals can range from glamorous to soft to feisty in an instant. Take songs Wonder and Reverie. Both are beautiful piano and acoustic ballads with strong vocals. McCauley experiments with soft introductions and deep singing. As the songs go on, drums are added and vocals go higher. The songs prove that age is just a number. Wonder and Reverie were both on McCauley's EP, along with the sarcastic Fragile — she was only 16 when these masterpieces were released. Along with her groundbreaking creations come gruesome lyrics of a painful past. I'll Pay You to Shoot Him, the album's standout track, deals with an abusive moment in McCauley's life. After a policeman arrived to break up a fight between her parents, McCauley yelled to the officer the song's vicious chorus ("I'll pay you to shoot him now!") Porcelain Doll shares the same vulnerability. McCauley cries for help as she begins to break apart from her parents' fighting. Her comparison of herself to a porcelain doll brings tears to your eyes. It's a shame Wind-Up Records didn't promote her more. Better than Blood is how a female artist should approach any album. Her fearless lyrics and huge voice outshine anyone. As the CD progresses, McCauley keeps raising the shock value. It leaves fans guessing what she'll sing next — and hoping Wind-Up will show some common sense. Albums like these are too good to be held back for two years. |
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