Sucker [Bonus Track]

by Charli XCX

Overview

For a while, Charli XCX seemed to be tiptoeing into the spotlight. After co-writing and singing on Icona Pop's smash hit "I Love It," her album True Romance -- which had a darker, indie-friendly sound -- earned more acclaim than sales. Her next big break came with another collaboration, 2014's inescapable "Fancy," where she provided the sing-songy chorus to Iggy Azalea's brash verses. On Sucker, she keeps more of that hit-making swagger for herself, delivering attention-getting pop that's bold enough to ensure she isn't overshadowed by anybody. She makes her purpose clear with the album's title track, a musical middle finger to the clueless set to revved-up synths and stabbing guitars. It's a big change from the gothy pop of True Romance, though even on that album, XCX's hooks were undeniable. Sucker is also full of should-be hits, but these songs also show how creatively she fashions the shiniest parts of the '80s, '90s, 2000s, and 2010s into her own highly stylized sound. "Famous" bops along on a riff that nods to Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"; there's a bit of Elastica in "Breaking Up"'s buzzsaw guitars and flirty put-downs; "Caught in the Middle" could be vintage Gwen Stefani; and "Doing It"'s retro dance-pop feels equally informed by XCX's own fascination with the '90s and HAIM's update on that decade. Similarly, Charli still exudes plenty of sass on Sucker, but the exact kind of attitude has changed. She retrofits some of True Romance's atmosphere on "Boom Clap," turning it into a sparkly anthem to young love that seems more innocent than it actually is. If she was trying to keep up with the hip kids before, now she sounds like an older sister sharing her tricks on "Break the Rules," where she's literally too cool for school. Anytime it feels like XCX may have oversimplified her sound -- like the notable absence of one of her finest singles, "Superlove" -- she proves otherwise. There's a realness to her writing no matter how shiny the album's surfaces are, and while these songs are influenced by the success she's had with others, she's saved her most personal songs for herself. It's hard to imagine any of her collaborators or contemporaries belting out a lyric like "When I'm driving down the wrong side of the road, I feel like JFK you know" with as much mischievous glee as Charli does on the standout "London Queen"; later, she states her independence, sexual and otherwise, on "Body of My Own." From song to song, she bounces from hanging out in her friends' bedroom to flying on private jets, making both sound like the coolest possible thing to do. Sucker's mix of youth and sophistication is more than a little volatile, and sometimes it feels like XCX is still figuring out what really works for her music. Nevertheless, it succeeds as an introduction to Charli XCX the Pop Star while retaining her whip-smart songwriting and attitude. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	02/16/2015
Label:	Asylum / Atlantic / Warner Bros.
UPC:	0825646216826

Tracks

1. Sucker
2. Break the Rules
3. London Queen
4. Breaking Up
5. Gold Coins
6. Boom Clap
7. Doing It
8. Body of My Own
9. Famous
10. Hanging Around
11. So Over You
12. Die Tonight
13. Caught in the Middle
14. Need Ur Luv
15. Red Balloon

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Charli XCX   Primary Artist,Vocals
Daniel Thomas Omelio   Guitar
Shags Chamberlain   Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Andrew Blakemore   Vocals (Background)
Matthew Eccles   Drums
Macy McCutcheon   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Katie Littlewood   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kirstin Hume   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Markus Krungard   Vocals
Angel Deradoorian   Vocals (Background)
Remi Nicole   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Aaron Redfield   Drums
Mr. Rogers   Bass,Drums,Guitar (Bass),Bass,Drums
Ariel Pink   Harmonica,Mouth Organ,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Noonie Bao   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Dan Omelio   Guitar
Sarah Chernoff   Vocals (Background)
Chris Laws   Drums
Steve Mac   Keyboards
Greg Kurstin   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Dano Omelio   Guitar
Adam Redfield   Drums
Bea Rexstrew   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Keefus Ciancia   Keyboards
Daniel Pursey   Percussion
Andrew Wyatt   Vocals (Background)
Patrik Berger   Vocals (Background)
Jerry James   Bass,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Justin Raisen   Guitar,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Markus Krunegard   Piano,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Steve Pearce   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Rita Ora   Featured Artist
Lars Skoglund   Drums

Technical Credits

Young & Sick   Programming,Instrumentation,Producer
Charlotte Aitchison   Composer
Bella Howard   Photography
Cashmere Cat   Musician,Producer,Programming
Jarrad Rogers   Composer
Geoff Swan   Mixing,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
John Graham Hill   Producer
Julian Burg   Engineer
Jeremiah Raisen   Composer,Producer
Harry Fieber   Illustrations
Tony Lake   Engineer
Christian Ohlsson   Composer
Stefan Groeslund   Producer
Martin Stilling   Engineer,Musician,Programming
Christian Olsson   Musician,Producer
Alex Pasco   Engineer
Martin Cooke   Engineer
Remi Nicole   Composer
Mr. Rogers   Engineer,Producer,Engineer,Producer,Programming
Sam Riback   A&R
Nick Rowe   Vocal Editing,Editing
Dave Schiffman   Mixing
Fredrik Berger   Composer
Ed Howard   A&R
Rob Orton   Mixing
Matthew Burns   Composer
Neon Gold   A&R
Ariel Rosenberg   Composer
Charli XCX   Composer,Executive Producer
Noonie Bao   Composer
Dan Omelio   Composer
Caleb Laven   Editing,Vocal Editing
Shahid Khan   Composer,Musician,Producer
Daniela Rivera   Engineer
Chris Sclafani   Engineer
Stefan Graeslund   Composer,Producer,Additional Production
Mikkel Storleer Eriksen   Musician,Producer,Audio Engineer,Composer
Chris Laws   Engineer
John Morrical   Engineer
Ariel Rechtshaid   Composer,Producer,Programming
Rostam Batmanglij   Composer,Producer
David Schiffman   Mixing
Steve Mac   Composer,Producer
Benny Blanco   Musician,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation
Magnus August Hoiberg   Composer,Musician,Producer
Frank Fieber   Design
Seif "Mageef" Hussain   Production Coordination
Nick Van Hofwegen   Composer
Charli Atchison   Composer
Chris Gehringer   Mastering Engineer,Mastering
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing
Robert Orton   Mixing
Greg Kurstin   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Rivers Cuomo   Composer
Phil Tan   Mixing
Miles Walker   Audio Engineer
Daniel Pursey   Engineer
Andrew Wyatt   Composer
Benjamin Levin   Composer
Chris Kasych   Engineer
Pontus Winnberg   Composer
Patrik Berger   Composer,Engineer,Musician,Producer,Programming
Stuart Hawkes   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Dave Shiffman   Mixing
Jerry James   Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
Justin Raisen   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
Markus Krunegard   Composer,Musician,Programming
Stargate   Producer
Nick Meul   Engineer
Andrew Luftman   Production Coordination
Tor Erik Hermansen   Composer,Musician,Producer
Naughty Boy   Composer,Musician,Producer