P!nk - I'm Not Dead
(2006)

Review by Anne Davis

I'm not exactly sure at what point in time that we all needed to refer to Pink as P!nk, but somewhere between B*Witched and 5ive - it suddenly became acceptable for recording artists to throw grammar completely out of the window. Thankfully for P!nk, unlike the other two aforementioned pop acts, she continues to kick some pop chart butt after a career spanning almost a decade.

Her latest album, the follow up to 2003's relative chart disappointment "Try This", is a welcome return to form for the muscle bound singer-songwriter (who's real name, Alecia Beth Moore, contains no punctuation symbols whatsoever). Plain and simple - "I'm Not Dead" is a fun loving party album. 

There have been many artists in the past that have tried to not "take themselves too seriously" - but in doing so -  no one else has either. But there seems to be a street cred that accompanies P!nk despite her teenage pop fan base.

The first single off the album, Stupid Girls, set the trajectory of the album - and was a relative chart success - with the lampooning of everyone's favourite tarts, The Hilton Sisters, among others. The rock-pop inspired Who Knew again seems to show P!nk's versatility (although despite its worldwide success, Who Knew flopped in the U.S., peaking at a disappointing #118 on the Billboard charts).

Her tendency to let her critical mouth run riot is no more prevelant than with the open letter to U.S. President, George Dubya, in Dear Mr. President. It's scathing, touching on many political hot spots including the brilliant verse, "And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay" going onto say "I can only imagine what the first lady has to say...You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine". 

In fact, it is the lyrical prowess of P!nk that really stands out on "I'm Not Dead". She's come a long way from the R&B stylings of her debut album "Can't Take Me Home", and even further from the often nonsensical lyrics of that album's third single You Make Me Sick.

There are some fantastic standout's here including the new single U & Ur Hand which is one of the best party songs of the year (although sounding amazingly similar to The Veronica's - it was penned by the same songwriter), and for any girl who has been out on a Saturday Girls Night Out anytime in the last decade - you will no doubt identify with the lyrics - well and truly telling where all those sleazy guys at clubs can go: "Keep your drink just give me the money, It's just you and your hand tonight". 

There is the odd slow spot - Conversations With My 13 Year Old Self seems somewhat misplaced and dark for such a party pop album, while the ballad The One That Got Away is a pleasant change of pace - and proof of her diversity, with Who Knew destined to be this one of this year's favourite end of school Goodbye songs. Keep an ear out also for the delightful hidden track sung by P!nk and her father, with an intro explaining it was the ditty the pair used to sing to each other when she was young.

Surprisingly fun, and getting way more spins in the CD player than I would have expected - but it's just that sort of album. It's fun, it's easy to listen to and most of all - the lyrics hit life right on the head. 

RATING: 4 out of 5