QR Music Review: Amy Shark - Love Monster

The long-awaited debut album from the pride of Australia's Gold Coast, Amy Billings, a.k.a Amy Shark's new release Love Monster is a beast in its own right, but not one you should be in awe of. Heavy with addictive choruses, pop pedigree and soaring melodies, Love Monster is more than the average debut, filled with enough pop roots and indie hooks to draw in multiple groups, but not enough variety to be the truly special album it feels like it should be.

Residing comfortably in the niche market of indie pop, Shark displays an uncanny ability to write beyond her experience. Sounding more like a journeyman than a rookie, Shark switches from playful to heartfelt track by track. Lyrics tinged with wit, emotion and attraction fill each song but not in keeping with the tropes. That would be far too easy. Instead, Shark writes relatable and more importantly, believable ballads that had me either placing a hand over heart with emotion (lead single 'Adore') or fist pumping in support of her romantic endeavours (album opener 'I Got You').

Other than the heavy hitters, however,the album is somewhat lacking. While punchy and enjoyable, Love Monster suffers from the attrition of repetition and falls too easily into the  ease of electro-pop. I'm weary of booming synths and winced a little every time I heard one take my attention away from Shark's impressive voice (something between sad and angry… but also happy? Its very strange and I like it a lot) and lyrics.

Indeed, it is very much true that the lyrics are the saving grace of the album. This is not a knock, as they really are that good. Varying between the in-depth storytelling of 'I Said Hi', a victorious F*** You to everyone who counted out Shark, and the playful poetry of 'Don't Turn Around'. The former filled with triumphant venom, lofty vocals and exultant percussion; the latter witty, catchy and imaginative as Shark illustrates the story of an imagined romance. It is in these details that we see the full potential of Shark and what she could become: a standout songwriter with a fantastic voice.

While lacking a monstrous presence, Love Monster is an enjoyable and impressive debut that (hopefully) says more about her future than her present. The potential is there, Sharks just has to find a way to unleash it.

By Benjamin Magee